The section describes how the "Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2024" can be referred to by its short title, and explains that any changes or repeals mentioned in the Act are specifically referring to parts of title 46 in the United States Code, unless stated otherwise.

The document outlines the table of contents for a legislative act concerning passenger vessel consumer protection. It includes sections on improving consumer services for passenger vessels, establishing a cruise line passenger bill of rights, addressing crime reporting and prevention on vessels, and detailing safety and security requirements.

The legislation establishes the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection within the Department of Transportation to handle consumer protection issues related to passenger vessels. It includes the development of standards for clear communication of contract terms, the establishment of a consumer complaints hotline and website, and enforcement measures for violations, while also invalidating pre-dispute arbitration and class action waiver clauses in passenger vessel transportation contracts.

The section defines various terms related to maritime laws, such as "applicable passenger," which refers to U.S. citizens on specific passenger vessels, and "Assistant General Counsel," who works for the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection. It also clarifies what "covered passenger vessel" means and other terms like "key terms," "Office," "owner," "passage contract," and "Secretary," to ensure understanding of the law's applications.

The section explains that the rules in this chapter apply to passenger vessels and small passenger vessels. However, it does not apply to vessels operated by the Federal Government or those owned and operated by a State.

The bill establishes an Office of Maritime Consumer Protection within the Department of Transportation, led by the Assistant General Counsel. This office is responsible for handling consumer protection issues related to passenger vessels, assisting with compliance, processing complaints, inspecting vessels, investigating violations, and enforcing consumer protection laws in the maritime travel sector.

The section outlines new requirements for passenger vessel owners to create clear summaries of their passage contracts, provide consumer complaint channels, and ensure transparency in advertising. It also details penalties for non-compliance and authorizes regulations to enforce these measures.

The section explains that for contracts involving tickets for passenger vessels, any dispute can only be settled by arbitration if all parties agree in writing after the dispute arises and that class action waivers signed before a dispute are not enforceable. It also states that issues about the applicability of this rule are decided by the court under federal law for contracts made or renewed after a specific date in 2024.

In this section, the bill aims to enhance consumer protection for cruise passengers by determining which rights in the international cruise line passenger bill of rights are enforceable under federal law and by establishing an advisory committee to recommend improvements for passenger vessel customer service. The advisory committee, composed of industry representatives, government officials, and public interest groups, will evaluate existing consumer protection programs and suggest necessary changes, while also advising on key terms that should be highlighted in passenger contracts.

The section establishes a framework for assisting victims of crimes on certain passenger vessels, including creating a victim support services director and a toll-free hotline. The director coordinates with various organizations to provide immediate and confidential support, ensures passengers are informed of their rights, oversees public outreach, and maintains a statistical database of incidents available online.

This section of the bill aims to support victims of crimes on passenger vessels by establishing a director of victim support services and providing victims with resources such as a written summary of their rights, a primary contact within the government, and access to free, confidential services. It also includes setting up a toll-free number, utilizing vessel resources, and maintaining an online database of incidents, ensuring victims receive proper assistance and relevant information.

The clerical amendments section of the bill introduces a new part to the table of chapters titled "Office of Maritime Consumer Protection" and adds a new section, "Assistance to victims of crimes on board certain passenger vessels," to the table of sections for chapter 161.

The section organizing the Cruise Vessel Chapter sets up general provisions and cruise vessel-specific subchapters. It defines which vessels the rules apply to, excluding federally operated and state-owned vessels, and provides definitions for terms like "exterior deck," "owner," and "qualified medical staff member."

This section outlines the regulations for passenger vessels, stating that it applies to those carrying at least 250 passengers, offering sleeping facilities, and starting or ending trips in the U.S. However, these rules do not apply to vessels operated by the Federal Government or those owned and operated by a State.

This section defines key terms related to vessels, including “exterior deck” as any outside deck space accessible to passengers, "owner" as anyone in charge of a vessel, "applicable passenger" as a U.S. citizen passenger, "physician" as a doctor with specific credentials, and "qualified medical staff member" as someone certified in advanced life support skills.

The bill section amends existing laws to improve crime reporting on vessels by requiring various logs and records to be accessible to investigators, setting deadlines for notifying the FBI about incidents, and mandating reports to the Secretary of Transportation, United States consulates, and State fusion centers. It also ensures the availability of a security guide online and modifies other reporting requirements without replacing current laws.

The section outlines various amendments to laws related to crime prevention and response on passenger vessels. It includes changes to video surveillance requirements, access to video records, procedures for crew access to passenger rooms, retention of surveillance footage, maintenance of supplies to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and the provision of support services and crime scene preservation training.

The section outlines new safety and medical standards for passenger vessels. It includes requirements for vessel design, such as unobstructed peepholes and emergency equipment access, as well as medical staffing and training, the return of deceased U.S. citizens' bodies, and language proficiency for crew members. Furthermore, it grants the Secretary the power to waive certain requirements with recorded justifications.

The section outlines changes to penalties and enforcement measures related to passenger vessel security and safety requirements. It allows for the sharing of information between different federal agencies and grants the Secretary of Homeland Security the power to withhold or revoke a vessel's clearance if laws are violated, as well as deny entry to the U.S. for non-compliant vessels.

The section mandates that, unless there is a legal restriction, leaders from specific government agencies must share necessary information with each other to fulfill the requirements of the subchapter. It clarifies that sharing this information does not waive any legal privileges the agencies or individuals might have.

The Secretary of Homeland Security can refuse or revoke a ship's clearance if the owner breaks certain rules or doesn't pay a fine. Similarly, the Coast Guard can deny entry to a ship into the U.S. under these same conditions if notified by certain government authorities.

The section makes several amendments related to chapter 35, including changing references from "section" to "subchapter" and removing specific subsections in certain parts. It also updates reporting requirements from a 2021 defense act, adjusts the table of contents for chapter 35 to organize sections under "General Provisions" and "Cruise Vessels," and revises section titles to reflect updated security, safety, and medical standards for passenger vessels.

The section updates limitations and definitions in certain legal cases, specifically removing references to commercial aviation accidents and including definitions for "cruise ship" and "nonpecuniary damages". It clarifies that limitations apply not only to commercial aviation incidents but also to cruise ship voyages.