A Royal Caribbean cruise ship en route to Mexico turned tragic after a passenger, 35-year-old Michael Virgil, passed away following a chaotic incident aboard the Navigator of the Seas.
The altercation occurred just an hour after the ship departed from San Pedro, California, on its way to Ensenada, and involved threats, violence, and attempts to subdue the unruly man.
Incident Details
Passengers reported that Michael Virgil, who was reportedly intoxicated, became violent shortly after boarding. Witnesses, including passenger Christopher Mikhail, described how Virgil began yelling racial slurs, threatening passengers and crew, and attempting to break down doors.
“The gentleman that was drunk said he was going to kill us,” Mikhail told reporters. “He started chasing us down the hallway.”
In video footage captured by Mikhail, Virgil is seen shirtless, kicking a door, and screaming profanities. At one point, Virgil attacked two crew members, kicking one with steel-toed boots and punching another with enough force to knock him several feet back.
A crew member reportedly managed to escape by locking himself in a towel room.
Security Response
Royal Caribbean’s security team eventually detained Virgil using pepper spray, zip ties, and handcuffs. According to witnesses, he was taken to one of the ship’s two holding cells.
A family member of Virgil claims security injected him with a sedative during the ordeal. Within an hour of his detainment, Virgil was pronounced dead.
Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident in a statement:
“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.”
Family and Witness Reactions
Virgil’s family expressed devastation over his death, calling his behavior during the incident “completely uncharacteristic.” According to relatives, Virgil was a devoted father and fiancé who left behind a 7-year-old son with autism and his fiancée, both of whom were on the cruise.
“I just want to give my condolences to the family,” Mikhail said. “Nobody deserves to die, especially like that.”
Passengers recounted how the violent start to the trip cast a shadow over their vacation. “It just sucks that it happened in the first couple hours of the vacation,” said Mikhail. “He kind of ruined it for his family.”
Investigation Underway
The FBI is leading the investigation due to the incident’s occurrence in international waters. Authorities are reviewing multiple pieces of evidence, including passenger video, surveillance footage from the ship, and body cam footage worn by some crew members.
“I did talk to the FBI many times today,” said FOX11 reporter Hailey Winslow, who broke the story. “They are looking at this with a fine-tooth comb… meeting with Mikhail for the third time tomorrow, as well as reviewing footage and interviewing crew members.”
A Tragic End
What was meant to be a celebratory cruise quickly became a nightmare for Virgil’s family. His relatives are now seeking answers about what caused his extreme behavior and the circumstances leading to his death.
While the ship continued its voyage as planned, the tragedy has reignited discussions about safety and security aboard cruise ships, especially in light of other high-profile incidents in the industry.
This story is still developing and will be updated with additional information.
