Lawsuit Alleges Royal Caribbean Served Passenger 33 Drinks Before Death

Lawsuit Allegations Against Royal Caribbean

• ⚖️ A lawsuit has been filed by the family of 35-year-old Michael Virgil, who died on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship last December, alleging negligence by the cruise line.
• 🍹 The family claims Virgil was served at least 33 alcoholic beverages in a matter of hours while waiting for his room to be ready, despite being visibly intoxicated.

Alleged Incident and Death

• 💥 According to the lawsuit, Virgil, while intoxicated, became agitated and was tackled by crew security, who then allegedly stood on his body, administered a sedative, and used pepper spray.
• 💔 Virgil died hours later, with an autopsy determining his death was a homicide due in part to mechanical asphyxia and alcohol intoxication.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The family stated this behavior was out of character for Virgil, whom they described as a "gentle giant."

Royal Caribbean's Response

• stmt Royal Caribbean expressed sadness over the guest's passing, stated they worked with authorities, and will refrain from further comment pending litigation.

Cruise Industry Expert Insights

• ❓ Maritime attorney Michael Wkelman noted that while passengers have a duty to drink responsibly, serving 33 drinks in a few hours would be a dramatic deviation from industry protocols.
• 📊 Cruise expert Stuart Chiron explained that drink packages are for passenger convenience but have limits and precautions.
• 🚫 Chiron expressed skepticism about the timeline and possibility of serving so many drinks in a short period, stating cruise lines are trained to monitor passenger behavior and do not want to over-serve anyone.
• 🚨 He also questioned why local authorities weren't involved if the passenger was becoming unruly while the ship was in port, suggesting there's more to the story.