Cruise Passenger Protection: Enhanced Safety and Rights
This new law aims to enhance safety and protection for cruise ship passengers. It introduces new rules for contracts, crime reporting, and victim assistance, ensuring travelers have better access to information and support. This will empower citizens with clearer understanding of their rights and responsibilities during cruises.
Key points
Establishment of an Office of Maritime Consumer Protection to handle passenger complaints and enforce regulations.
Requirement for clear presentation of key terms in cruise contracts, including hidden costs and liability limitations.
Prohibition of pre-dispute arbitration and class action waiver clauses in contracts.
Creation of a toll-free hotline and website for passenger complaints, with public statistics on onboard incidents.
Appointment of a director for victim support services on vessels, providing assistance including mental health support and rights information.
Mandatory installation of overboard detection technology and longer retention of video surveillance records.
Increased requirements for onboard medical staff and basic English language proficiency for passenger-facing crew.
Authority to deny port clearance or entry for vessels whose owners violate regulations or fail to pay penalties.
Introduced
Citizen Poll