US man dies on cruise after 33 alcoholic drinks, fiancee sues Royal Carribean for negligence

A U.S. man died after he was apparently served at least 33 alcoholic drinks on a cruise, according to a lawsuit filed against the ship, Navigator of the Seas, reported CNN.

The 35-year-old, Michael Virgil, was on a round-trip voyage from Los Angeles to Mexico with his son and fiancée, Connie Aguilar, in December 2024.

After he had consumed the alcohol served by staff, he got lost and became agitated while trying to find his room, the lawsuit stated.

Crew members tackled him and stood on him, while subjecting him to prolonged prone restraint, the lawsuit also stated.

CNN, citing the lawsuit, said the crew then administered a sedative and sprayed him with pepper spray.

Here is video of the confrontation on the cruise before his death. pic.twitter.com/0Q4hOQC3bc

— TMZ (@TMZ) December 8, 2025

A passenger on the ship said no one deserved to die that way and that Virgil just needed some help.

The lawsuit said the crew's intervention led to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and the man's death.

Unlimited drinks on cruise

Virgil had reportedly purchased Royal Caribbean’s "Deluxe Beverage Package", according to the suit, which gives passengers unlimited drinks of up to US$14.

It was further claimed that crew members should not have served Virgil alcohol because he "exhibited obvious visual signs of intoxication".

This, the lawsuit claimed, was a negligent act, further citing maritime common law that requires carriers to "supervise and assist passengers likely to engage in behaviour dangerous to themselves or others".

Royal Caribbean also failed to exercise its right to stop serving alcohol to Virgil to protect his life, the lawsuit said.

Image from CruiseWestCoast and the Internet