Connie Aguilar, acting for Michael Virgil’s estate, sued Royal Caribbean over Virgil’s death aboard the Navigator of the Seas. The complaint alleged that the crew served him at least 33 alcoholic drinks and later used a restraint that contributed to his death. September 2026 reporting says the case settled, with a court approving a payment for Virgil’s minor son; the amount was not disclosed. No public trial determined Royal Caribbean’s liability.
What happened aboard the Navigator of the Seas
Virgil, 35, was on a roundtrip cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada with his fiancée, their son and other relatives. The incident and his death occurred on December 13, 2024, according to the complaint and contemporaneous reporting.
Aguilar’s complaint alleged that crew members served Virgil at least 33 alcoholic beverages despite signs of visible intoxication. It further alleged that crew members later tackled and restrained him, compressed his body, used pepper spray and administered haloperidol. The complaint claimed that the alcohol service and restraint contributed to his death. These are allegations in the lawsuit, not findings established at trial. Read the complaint’s account of the allegations.
What the medical examiner said—and what it does not mean
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner classified the manner of death as homicide. The cause reported in the complaint and news coverage was the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication. Coverage of the medical examiner’s findings.
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Here, “homicide” is the medical examiner’s classification of the manner of death. It does not by itself establish that a crime occurred, that any person is criminally guilty, or that Royal Caribbean is civilly liable.
What Aguilar’s lawsuit alleged
Aguilar filed the action as personal representative of Virgil’s estate in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on December 5, 2025. The case was docketed as 1:25-cv-25704. Filing-date reporting.
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The complaint asserted maritime wrongful-death and negligence claims, including allegations concerning alcohol service, the restraint and the hiring, training and supervision of crew. It sought damages and requested a jury trial. The complaint sets out the estate’s claims; it is not a court finding that the allegations are true. The reproduced complaint.
Royal Caribbean’s response
In an email dated December 11, 2025, Royal Caribbean chief communications officer Heather Hust Rivera told the Miami Herald: “We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting further on pending litigation.” The Herald’s report and statement.
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Did Royal Caribbean settle the case?
Yes. September 2026 reports from Law&Crime and Royal Caribbean Blog said the family and company reached a settlement and that a court approved a payment for Virgil’s minor son as being in the child’s best interest. The reports quoted the order as saying, “The court finds that the settlement is in the best interest of the minor child.” The settlement amount was not disclosed in those reports. September 2026 settlement reporting.
The reported settlement resolved the civil case without a public trial deciding whether Royal Caribbean was liable. Public reporting does not disclose the settlement’s amount or other terms.
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