Royal Caribbean Passenger’s Death Sparks Wrongful Death Suit, Echoes of George Floyd Raised
A family is alleging excessive force lead to the death of a passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise last December, with the family’s attorney drawing parallels to the death of George Floyd. The lawsuit, filed Monday, claims the cruise line served the passenger an excessive amount of alcohol before security guards allegedly asphyxiated him.
The case centers around the death of Michael virgil, who, according to the lawsuit, consumed as many as 33 alcoholic beverages over seven hours while benefiting from an unlimited drink package. despite the package, the family’s attorney argues there should have been limits to the amount of alcohol served.
According to the legal complaint,Virgil,while heavily intoxicated,became agitated while searching for his family and reportedly damaged property on the ship. Security personnel were then called to the scene.
Did you know?-Unlimited drink packages on cruises are common, but responsible alcohol service is still legally required. Cruise lines can face liability for over-serving passengers.
The family’s attorney,Kevin Haynes,alleges that security guards restrained Virgil by placing their full body weight on him for approximately three minutes,leading to asphyxiation.This,combined with the significant alcohol consumption and the administration of sedatives,is cited as the cause of death in both the lawsuit and a report from the L.A. County Medical Examiner. Haynes stated, “This death had echoes of George Floyd,” highlighting the similarities in the manner of restraint.
The suit further alleges that crew members administered a sedative, Haloperidol, and deployed pepper spray during the incident.
A key point of contention is Royal Caribbean’s refusal to release surveillance footage that could show who served Virgil the alcohol, according to Haynes. The attorney claims this footage is crucial to understanding the circumstances leading up to Virgil’s death.
Pro tip:-When traveling, document any interactions with service providers, especially those involving potential safety concerns. This documentation can be vital in legal proceedings.
The FBI has reportedly launched an investigation into the incident, though its current status remains unclear. As of Thursday, December 12, 2025, neither Royal Caribbean nor the FBI have responded to requests for comment.
Michael Virgil, 53, of Los Angeles County, died December 16, 2024, while aboard the Symphony of the Seas during a cruise to Mexico. The L.A. County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident,citing positional asphyxia,acute alcohol intoxication,and the effects of Haloperidol.The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Royal Caribbean, alleging negligence and wrongful death. The case is currently pending in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The FBI investigation is ongoing,with agents reportedly reviewing ship logs and interviewing crew members. As of today, no arrests have been made and the cruise line maintains it is indeed cooperating with authorities.
Reader question:-What obligation do cruise lines have to monitor passenger alcohol consumption, even with unlimited drink packages? What are your thoughts?
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
