The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) started an investigation to look into the death of a Royal Caribbean passenger. On December 13, 2024, an unidentified passenger aboard the Navigator of the Seas became disruptive. Crew members were called, and he was detained in a cabin hallway. It is unknown at what point the passenger died, but it is assumed to be from the sedative he was injected with. When the ship docked in Los Angeles on Monday, the FBI informed Royal Caribbean that they would begin their investigation.
An Unruly Passenger
Michael Virgil, a 35-year-old man, was on the Royal Caribbean ship with his fiancee and 7-year-old son. He was caught on video attempting to bust down an interior cabin door less than an hour after the ship departed from Los Angeles. He allegedly attacked two crew members, and one ran into the nearest accessible room. He began kicking and banging the door to get to the crew member. Security aboard the Royal Caribbean ship arrived to de-escalate the situation. However, Virgil was drunk, screaming racial slurs, and becoming increasingly violent.
A group of passengers gathered around in the hallway to witness the incident. A few of them who witnessed the incident shared their experience with news outlets. Royal Caribbean cruise passenger Christifer Mikhail filmed it and reported, “The gentleman that was drunk said he was going to kill us.” He continued to state he chased them down the hallway, and they were scared to be stuck in the same hallway as him. The surrounding circumstances are still unclear, and the events leading up to the incident are unknown to the public. Mikhail alleges Virgil kicked a crew member in the face with a steel-toed boot and punched another.
At one point in the video, he took off his shirt and spoke with the security guards, but they could not reason with him. Fox 11 reported they were eventually able to restrain him on the ground with either bear or pepper spray, zip ties, handcuffs, and towels from the room Virgil was attempting to break into. It is unclear if and when they injected him with a sedative, but family members are accusing Royal Caribbean of doing so, causing him to die. They also reported that Virgil died within the hour of receiving it. However, Royal Caribbean has not confirmed the family’s claim.
Royal Caribbean Ship Security
Royal Caribbean insists the safety and security of all guests and crew are their highest priorities. If Virgil was injected with a sedative, it is concerning what kind of security personnel Royal Caribbean employs. Many are concerned about their level of training and whether they are simply there to intimidate passengers. Those who apply for these positions must have a minimum of two years of security experience, specifically with access control, screening methods, and equipment operation. They claim all of their ships are equipped with dedicated security to respond to alleged crimes at all times.
Final Thoughts
Royal Caribbean released a statement following the incident, “We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests. We offered support to the family and are working with authorities on their investigation.” Virgil’s relatives reported that his actions were completely out of character for him and that he did not deserve to die over it. His cause of death has still not been determined as the FBI is still investigating the incident. However, Virgil’s death was most likely due to a combination of the alcohol he consumed and, if true, the amount of sedative he was injected with.
