Summary

Amends a federal maritime statute to add clear legal definitions for “cruise ship” and “nonpecuniary damages,” and makes small wording updates to related provisions. The change narrows what vessels count as cruise ships for the law (250+ passengers, sleeping berths for each passenger, embarks/disembarks in the U.S., and not on a coastwise voyage) and defines nonpecuniary damages as loss of care, comfort, and companionship. It also updates the chapter table to reflect the revised heading.

• Defines “cruise ship” for the statute as a passenger vessel (not government/state-owned) with 250+ passenger capacity, sleeping berths for each passenger, that embarks/disembarks in the U.S., and is not on a coastwise voyage.
• Defines “nonpecuniary damages” as damages for loss of care, comfort, and companionship.
• Replaces the prior subsection containing definitions with the new, more specific wording.
• Makes small textual insertions in existing subsections to align with the new definitions; these are largely editorial.
• Updates the chapter table of sections to reflect the amended statutory heading.
• Does not appropriate funds or create new federal programs or enforcement mechanisms.
• Primarily clarifies statutory scope and likely affects how courts, insurers, cruise lines, and passengers interpret liability and damages rules.