• A passenger died after being served 33 alcoholic drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
• The lawsuit alleges crew negligence and inappropriate use of force contributed to his death.
• The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by mechanical asphyxia and intoxication.
• The family seeks damages for emotional distress and funeral expenses.
• Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on the ongoing litigation.

A family has filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean after Michael Virgil, a passenger, died on a cruise following the consumption of at least 33 alcoholic drinks. The incident escalated when Virgil, visibly intoxicated, became agitated and was restrained by crew members who used excessive force, including pepper spray, according to the legal complaint. Kevin Haynes, representing the family, stated, "What was supposed to be a beautiful family vacation came to an unimaginably tragic end..." according to latimes.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims that Royal Caribbean’s staff failed to intervene despite obvious signs of Virgil's intoxication, serving him more drinks and later restraining him face down. Video footage showed Virgil acting aggressively before being tackled to the ground by multiple staff members who exerted their full weight on him, and he was subsequently injected with a sedative at the captain’s request, according to accounts from family members and internal records cited in the suit, as noted by indiatimes and sfgate.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, attributing it to mechanical asphyxia and ethanol intoxication, compounded by the crew's actions during the incident. Virgil was pronounced dead after efforts to intervene and stabilize him failed due to the combination of excessive alcohol consumption and physical restraint, according to reports from both indiatimes and latimes.

The family's suit alleges that Royal Caribbean prioritized profits over passenger safety, supporting claims that their business model encourages increased alcohol sales. They are seeking damages for loss of support and emotional distress, among other expenses, stating that the company mishandled the situation poorly from the beginning, as reported by sfgate and indiatimes.