Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025
The Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025 would expand the federal framework governing passenger vessels (cruise ships and certain small passenger vessels) by creating a new Office of Maritime Consumer Protection within the Department of Transportation. The bill adds mandatory consumer protections for covered vessels, including clear disclosures about passage contracts, a right-to-sue window (statute of limitations), and limits on arbitration and class-action waivers. It also establishes a Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights advisory committee to evaluate enforceable rights and recommend improvements, and creates a comprehensive victim-support program for crimes on board, with a toll-free hotline, a direct federal liaison, and a data-sharing/incident-tracking portal. In Title II, the bill broadens crime reporting, public notices, and safety/surveillance obligations for cruise vessels, including enhanced logs, prompt reporting to authorities, and accessible incident data. Overall, it aims to increase transparency, accountability, and support for passengers and victims while strengthening enforcement. Key new mechanisms include (1) a dedicated Office within DOT to handle maritime consumer protection, (2) standardized, binding summaries of key passage-contract terms for prospective passengers, (3) removal of predispute arbitration/class-action waivers for covered contracts, (4) a formal advisory body and enforceability assessments of existing passenger rights, and (5) enhanced victim-support services and public incident data, along with stronger crime-reporting and surveillance requirements for cruise vessels.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection within the Department of Transportation, headed by an Assistant General Counsel, to oversee consumer protections for covered passenger vessels, handle complaints, enforcement, and industry compliance.
- 2Standards for passage-contract disclosures: within 180 days after advisory committee recommendations, the Secretary must develop standards to provide prospective passengers a binding, conspicuous summary of key terms before they’re binding. This includes requirements for small vessels, accessibility of the summary online, inclusion in promotions, and a clear 3-year statute of limitations for lawsuits. The standards also preempt weaker state rules.
- 3Prohibition of predispute arbitration and class-action waivers: for contracts to purchase passage on covered vessels, arbitration and class-action waivers cannot be enforced before a dispute arises (consent must be written after a controversy begins). Courts, not arbitrators, determine applicability. Applies to contracts entered into or renewed after enactment.
- 4Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights and Advisory Committee: the Secretary must assess which rights from the international CLIA cruise line passenger bill of rights are enforceable under federal law and must include a statement in the new standards about which rights are legally enforceable and how to pursue enforcement. An advisory committee, with diverse representation (vessel owners, associations, state/local governments, consumer/victim groups, and federal agencies), must evaluate programs, recommend improvements, identify key terms to highlight in contracts, and report to Congress on progress and non-implementation.
- 5Victim assistance and data transparency (Section 16106): creation of a Director of Victim Support Services to act as a primary federal contact for applicable passengers who are alleged crime victims on board. The program includes a 24/7 toll-free line, coordination with NGOs and other entities, on-board and post-incident support, guidance for reporting incidents, potential mental health and advocacy services, and a written summary of victims’ rights. It also requires an on-line incident data portal with regularly updated, port- and vessel-specific data (including whether crimes were committed by a passenger or crew, whether victims were minors, and any overboard incidents). A study on the feasibility of on-board victim-support personnel is due within a year.