Cruise passenger was served 33 drinks before deadly encounter with crew, suit says

"Virgil, who lived in Southern California, embarked on a cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, aboard the Navigator of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship, on Dec. 13, 2024, with his fiancée, their then-7-year-old son and other family members. Within hours, as the ship sailed in the waters off the California coast, he was dead. The Los Angeles medical examiner ruled his death a homicide in April, and the FBI, which handles most serious crimes on cruise ships, is investigating the case."

"Their cabin was not yet ready, so the family members were directed to a bar area to wait, the suit said. After waiting for "some time," Aguilar's lawyers said, Virgil's son, who is autistic, grew impatient, and Aguilar took him to check on the cabin's status. Virgil stayed behind, and internal records from the cruise ship showed that over the course of the next few hours he was served 33 drinks, according to Kevin Haynes, Aguilar's lawyer."

Michael Virgil, 35, boarded Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles to Ensenada on Dec. 13, 2024, with his fiancée, their seven-year-old son and other family members. The family waited in a bar area because their cabin was not ready; the son became impatient and his fiancée left to check the cabin while Virgil remained. Internal ship records show Virgil was served 33 drinks over several hours after purchasing a deluxe beverage package. He became agitated and was forcibly restrained by at least five crew members, with some reportedly standing on his back. The Los Angeles medical examiner ruled the death a homicide in April. The FBI is investigating, no criminal charges have been filed, and a maritime wrongful-death complaint alleges excessive force by crew members; Royal Caribbean said it was saddened but would not comment on pending litigation.

Read at Boston.com