S 2640119th CongressIn Committee

Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025

Introduced: Aug 1, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-Connecticut)

Infrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025 would create a new federal framework to strengthen security, safety, and consumer protections for passengers on covered cruise ships and similar vessels. It would establish the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection within the Department of Transportation to oversee compliance, handle complaints, process investigations, and enforce requirements. The bill requires cruise lines to provide clear, standardized summaries of key contract terms to prospective passengers, limits or invalidates pre-dispute arbitration and class-action waivers for covered contracts, and creates a Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights advisory committee to help shape protections. It also expands crime reporting, victim assistance, and data transparency, including enhanced logging, public incident dashboards, and mandatory cooperation with law enforcement and consulates. The overall effect would be closer Federal oversight of passenger contracts, clearer disclosures for travelers, stronger response mechanisms for crimes on board, and greater data on incidents and safety practices. In short, the bill aims to ensure more predictable disclosures, easier recourse for passengers, stronger on-board safety and reporting standards, and greater Federal coordination to assist victims and monitor incidents on passenger vessels.

Key Points

1Office of Maritime Consumer Protection: Establishes a new Office within the Department of Transportation (led by an Assistant General Counsel) to enforce consumer protection requirements, process complaints, inspect vessels for compliance, investigate violations, and implement duties under the act.
2Passage contract disclosures and terminology: Requires standards for a clear, conspicuous summary of key terms in passage contracts (including undisclosed costs, fees, waivers, liability limits, and where to file claims). These standards must be applied to most covered vessels (with potential applicability to small vessels) and preempt weaker State disclosures.
3Invalidation of pre-dispute arbitration and class-action waivers: Notwithstanding other laws, arbitration may occur only if all parties consent in writing after the dispute arises, and predispute class-action waivers in covered contracts are unenforceable.
4Advisory committee: Creates an advisory committee for covered passenger vessel consumer protection with diverse membership (vessel owners, small vessel owners, industry associations, state and local governments, public-interest/victim-assistance groups, and relevant Federal agencies). The committee advises on protections, highlights key terms to disclose, and annually reviews recommended updates. It terminates 15 years after enactment.
5Bill of Rights and enforceability: Requires an assessment of enforceability of an international cruise line passenger bill of rights and requires a disclosure in standards about which rights are legally enforceable and how passengers can pursue enforcement.
6Victim assistance and support: Establishes a Director of Victim Support Services to provide victims with a written rights summary, a primary Federal contact, and access to free, confidential support services. This includes a 24/7 toll-free line, coordination with NGOs, and liaison with vessel owners and U.S. embassies/consulates.
7Incident data and transparency: Creates a public-facing statistical compilation of incidents (including missing persons, crimes, and alleged crimes), updated monthly, aggregated by cruise line and vessel, with identifiable data. Requires owners to provide links to the data on their booking sites and notices about how to file complaints.
8Crime reporting and public notice: Improves mandatory reporting by vessels for incidents (to FBI, consulates, and DOT’s website) with specific timelines (e.g., within hours for certain incidents), expanded log access, and broader reporting requirements including logs such as captain’s logs, security logs, engine-room logs, and other records.
9Crime prevention and surveillance: Enhances requirements for video surveillance and access to video records, integrating independent risk assessments and guidance from the Coast Guard commandant to ensure effective and compliant surveillance.
10Penalties and rulemaking: Allows civil penalties up to $25,000 per day for violations, and criminal penalties up to $250,000 or up to 1 year imprisonment for willful violations. The Secretary of Transportation would issue necessary regulations to implement these provisions.
11Scope and applicability: Applies to passenger vessels carrying 250+ passengers with overnight accommodations on voyages that embark or disembark in the U.S., excluding vessels operated by the Federal government or owned/operated by a State.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- American passengers on covered passenger vessels (cruise ship passengers and, where applicable, small passenger vessels) and the companies that operate them. They would experience clearer contract terms, a more robust rights framework, and improved access to victim support and incident data.Secondary group/area affected- Cruise lines and vessel operators: Must implement new disclosure standards, ensure compliance with enhanced reporting and surveillance requirements, participate in the advisory committee process, and potentially adjust arbitration/waiver provisions in contracts.- Federal agencies and port/country-based authorities: Increased coordination for incident reporting, victim assistance, and data sharing; federal oversight expands through the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection.- Victims and witnesses: Expanded victim-support services, a dedicated Federal liaison, and improved access to information about rights and reporting processes.Additional impacts- Legal/operational: Arbitral and class-action waiver changes could shift dispute resolution dynamics for voyage-related claims; standardization of terms may affect how contracts are drafted and marketed.- Transparency and data: Public incident dashboards and monthly reporting would provide more visibility into safety and crime trends on cruise vessels, potentially influencing consumer decisions and industry practices.- Costs and implementation: Vessel operators may incur costs to implement new standards (disclosures, logging, surveillance upgrades, training for staff, and enhanced reporting). The bill also contemplates a study on onboard victim-support presence and related logistics, which could inform future requirements.

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