Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025

Consumer Transparency: The bill requires vessel owners to provide a summary of "key terms" in passage contracts, such as undisclosed costs, fees, and limitations on liability, before they become binding (Section 16104(a)(1)).

Improved Legal Rights: It invalidates pre-dispute arbitration and class action waiver clauses, meaning passengers can more easily pursue legal action through courts rather than being forced into private arbitration (Section 16105(b) and (c)).

Victim Support Services: The act establishes a Director of Victim Support Services to provide victims of certain crimes on board with a primary point of contact, a written summary of their rights, and access to support services like mental health and counseling (Section 16106(a) and (d)).

Enhanced Safety and Medical Care: The bill mandates higher medical standards, including ensuring a sufficient number of qualified medical staff are on board and requiring that crew members receive basic life support training (Section 3525(1)(B) and (7)).

Accountability Through Data: It requires the maintenance of a statistical compilation of consumer complaints and crime incidents on a public website, allowing the public to see data aggregated by vessel and cruise line (Section 16104(b)(2) and Section 16106(i)(1)).

Financial Penalties for Owners: Vessel owners face significant civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day for violations of consumer service standards, as well as criminal fines of up to $250,000 or imprisonment for willful violations (Section 16104(c)).

Increased Operational Burdens: Owners are required to implement various new requirements, such as maintaining electronic records of crew access to passenger staterooms and keeping video surveillance footage for up to five years (Section s 3523(f)(1)(C) and 3523(b)(4)(A)(ii)).