Image: Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean has reached a settlement with the family of a passenger who died aboard Navigator of the Seas following a confrontation with ship security.
Michael Virgil, 35, died aboard the Royal Caribbean ship on December 13, 2024, shortly after departing Los Angeles for Ensenada, Mexico.
His family subsequently sued Royal Caribbean, alleging crew members had served Virgil at least 33 alcoholic drinks in a matter of hours despite visible signs of intoxication, before security personnel used excessive force while restraining him.
Court records now show that the parties have reached a settlement, with an undisclosed amount to be paid for the benefit of Virgil's minor son.
The settlement brings the civil lawsuit to an end without a public trial determining whether Royal Caribbean was legally responsible for Virgil's death.
What happened aboard Navigator of the Seas?
Virgil boarded Navigator of the Seas in San Pedro, California, on December 13, 2024 with his fiancée, their seven-year-old son and other family members.
According to the family's complaint, they boarded at approximately 11am and their cabin was not yet available.
The lawsuit alleges Virgil subsequently spent several hours drinking at an onboard bar.
Virgil had purchased Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package, which allows passengers to order alcoholic beverages throughout their cruise, subject to the cruise line's responsible service policies.
The family alleged Royal Caribbean employees served Virgil at least 33 alcoholic beverages within several hours, despite him becoming visibly intoxicated.
That number is an allegation contained in the lawsuit. The settlement does not establish that Virgil consumed 33 drinks or make a judicial finding about how much alcohol he was served.
The situation escalated later that day
According to reports and the lawsuit, Virgil later became agitated while attempting to locate his cabin.
Video of part of the incident subsequently circulated online, showing a confrontation in one of the ship's corridors.
Witnesses reported Virgil kicking doors and making threats towards passengers and crew before Royal Caribbean security personnel intervened.
What happened during that intervention became another central element of the family's lawsuit.
The complaint alleged security personnel tackled Virgil to the ground and restrained him, including placing weight on his body while he was lying face-down.
It also alleged pepper spray was used and that a shipboard doctor administered a sedative.
Virgil subsequently became unresponsive and died aboard the ship.
Image: Royal Caribbean International
Medical examiner ruled the death a homicide
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that Virgil died from the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication.
His manner of death was classified as homicide.
That terminology can sometimes be misunderstood.
A medical examiner's classification of a death as homicide means the death resulted at least in part from the actions of another person. It does not itself establish that a crime occurred or determine criminal responsibility.
Virgil's death subsequently became the subject of the civil action brought against Royal Caribbean.
Family accused Royal Caribbean of negligence
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida in December 2025.
Virgil's fiancée, Connie Aguilar, brought the case against Royal Caribbean.
The complaint alleged negligence across several areas, including the service of alcohol and the actions of security and medical personnel.
On the alcohol issue, the family argued that Royal Caribbean employees should have stopped serving Virgil once he became visibly intoxicated.
The complaint also alleged that the methods used to restrain Virgil contributed to the physiological conditions that caused his death.
Royal Caribbean previously told CBS News that it was saddened by Virgil's death, had worked with authorities investigating the incident and would not comment further while litigation was pending.
Settlement reached before a public trial
The lawsuit will now conclude without those allegations being determined at trial.
Court records show an agreement was reached between Royal Caribbean and Virgil's family.
Because the settlement includes Virgil's minor son, the court was required to review the arrangement.
An order approving the settlement found that it was in the child's best interests.
The amount being paid has not been publicly disclosed.
Importantly, settling a civil lawsuit does not necessarily amount to an admission of liability.
The agreement means there will not be a public trial determining whether Royal Caribbean was negligent, whether Virgil was served the amount of alcohol alleged by his family, or whether the actions of individual crew members created civil liability for the cruise line.
The lawsuit put cruise ship alcohol service under scrutiny
The case also attracted attention because of its allegations surrounding Royal Caribbean's beverage package.
Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package provides passengers with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during their cruise, although purchases are generally limited to one drink at a time.
An unlimited beverage package does not mean unlimited service regardless of a passenger's condition.
The family's complaint specifically argued that Royal Caribbean had the ability to stop serving a visibly intoxicated passenger and alleged that crew members failed to do so in Virgil's case.
Because the case has settled, however, those allegations will not now be tested at trial.
That distinction is particularly important given the attention generated by the reported figure of 33 drinks.
It remains a claim made by Virgil's family — not a finding by the court that Royal Caribbean served him 33 alcoholic beverages.
Image: Royal Caribbean International
A tragic incident that became a major lawsuit
Virgil's death attracted widespread attention when video of the confrontation aboard Navigator of the Seas circulated online in December 2024.
Almost a year later, his family filed the civil lawsuit alleging that both the amount of alcohol he was served and the way he was subsequently restrained contributed to his death.
Royal Caribbean and the family have now resolved that dispute privately.
The settlement provides compensation for Virgil's son, but with the amount confidential and the case ending before trial, many of the allegations at the centre of the lawsuit remain legally unresolved.
