The fiancée of a cruise ship passenger who died after being detained during what authorities described as a drunken, threatening outburst aboard a Royal Caribbean ship bound for Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the cruise line.
Michael Virgil, 35, died within an hour of being detained by security on the Navigator of the Seas on Dec. 13, 2024 — the same day he boarded the ship from the port of San Pedro, near Los Angeles.
According to the wrongful death complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Virgil was on the cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, with his fiancé, his then 7-year-old son and family members.
The complaint claims that starting around 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 13, Virgil, who participated in the ship’s all-inclusive drink package, was “negligently served” at least 33 alcoholic beverages.
“[Virgil] was visibly intoxicated such that each of Royal Caribbean crew members should not have continued to serve alcohol to him while he was exhibiting these visible signs of intoxication, and each of these crew members were negligent for continuing to serve [Virgil] alcoholic beverages in his intoxicated state,” per the complaint.
Per the complaint, Virgil tried to find his cabin but got lost and became agitated.
A video captured by passenger Christifer Mikhail and obtained by Fox 11 showed Virgil repeatedly kicking down a door in the hallway inside the ship and loudly shouting, “I’m going to knock you the f— out,” as members of the vessel’s security surround him.
Mikhail told Fox 11 that Virgil began making threats when he got off an elevator on the wrong floor of the vessel.
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Michael Virgil’s Fiancée Files Suit Against Cruise Company After Man’s Death
