With news agencies covering the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian impact across the Bahamas, many cruise lines have already committed millions to aid in the relief efforts.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean International was one of the first cruise lines to publicly announce their plans to help those in need in the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean posted the following:
“The Bahamas has always been more than a destination for Royal Caribbean and our guests. For more than half a century, we’ve made many friends and many memories. The Bahamas is also home to more than 500 of our colleagues who work at Perfect Day at CocoCay and the Grand Bahama Shipyard. So in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, we’re rolling up our sleeves to help our friends, and inviting our guests to help.”
Royal Caribbean is committing $1 million to Dorian disaster relief, and ITM—our partner in the Holistica joint venture that is developing the Grand Lucayan resort in Freeport—is also donating an additional $100,000.
To make sure our donations go where they can do the most good, we are collaborating with the Bahamian government and our non-profit partner, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), and a network of Bahamian charities and other local organizations, including the Bahamas Feeding Network.
We are loading all kinds of goods onto our ships— generators, water, cleaning supplies, clean sheets, towels, and more—for direct delivery to the Bahamas. The trained employee volunteers we call the GO Team are on their way to assist with relief efforts. And we’re taking special care of coworkers and their families who were affected by the storm.
Those wishing to donate to PADF, may do so by visiting www.padf.org/hurricane-dorian-royal
Carnival Corporation
Carnival Corporation that operates several cruise brands including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, along with the Mickey & Madeleine Arison Foundation have pledged $2 million in funding and in-kind support for relief efforts in The Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian.
Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation said:
“We are fully committed to supporting the critical relief and recovery efforts already underway for The Bahamas, and we are working closely with officials and affected communities to identify the needs for support and assistance,”
“Our company has always been closely tied to The Bahamas with a rich history spanning many years, so it’s heart-breaking to see the impact of Hurricane Dorian, and our thoughts and prayers are with the people of The Bahamas. We have long admired the unyielding spirit of the Bahamian people and have no doubt they will overcome, rebuild and recover, and we look forward to supporting their efforts.”
A portion of the combined pledge will immediately go to support efforts being managed by Direct Relief, an international humanitarian organization that provides critical medications and supplies during emergency situations. Direct Relief is currently assembling and delivering requested medical aid and additional emergency medical caches with first-aid supplies to the affected areas in The Bahamas.
In addition, Carnival Corporation and its brands are working together with local officials, community leaders and key relief and recovery organizations to identify the most timely and urgent relief needs and immediate allocations for additional funds and support.
Separately, the company today announced an effort to collect and deliver food and supplies donated in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties for the people of The Bahamas, through a partnership with Tropical Shipping and The Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The effort, funded by Carnival Corporation and Tropical Shipping, will work in partnership with NEMA to provide immediate assistance to the people of the Bahamas where it is most needed.
NEMA-Approved Donated Food and Supplies List for the People of The Bahamas
Drop -Off Locations for Food and Supplies For the Bahamas
Miami-Dade County Main Library – Miami Dade
Hours: Accepting donations Monday – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
101 W. Flagler St.
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 375-2665
Stephen P. Clark Center – Miami Dade
Hours: Accepting donations Monday – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
111 NW First St., Miami.
Miami, FL 33128
Joseph Caleb Center – Miami Dade
Hours: Accepting donations Monday – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
5400 NW 22 Ave.
Miami, FL 33142
Office of Emergency Management Warehouse – Miami Dade
Hours: Accepting donations Monday – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
8008 NW 14 St.
Doral, FL 33126
Tropical Shipping Cargo Receiving Location – Miami
Tropical Shipping
Hours: M – F, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
9505 NW 108th Avenue
Medley, FL 33178
(561) 881-3999
(561) 881-3951
hurricanecentral@tropical.com
Tropical Shipping Cargo Receiving Location – West Palm Beach
Hours: M – F, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
1489 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Riviera Beach, Florida 33404
(561) 881-3999
(561) 881-3951
hurricanecentral@tropical.com
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises & Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has pledged a minimum of $1 million toward immediate short-term relief for those affected by Hurricane Dorian.
The Company has also vowed to match donations dollar-for-dollar to assist with rebuilding efforts across the Bahamas, including debris cleanup and removal, and the delivery of supplies and temporary shelters.
Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said:
“Our hearts are heavy after witnessing the impact and devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian across the Bahamas,”
“We have been cruising to these islands for over 50 years and remain committed to its wonderful people during this unprecedented event. Through our partnership with All Hands and Hearts, we vow to match all donations collected to support the country’s rebuilding efforts.”
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is also coordinating with local Bahamian authorities to bring needed provisions to the affected areas, as quickly and as humanly possible. On Sept. 5, Norwegian Breakaway will depart Miami with hurricane relief supplies donated by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and its employees, in addition to items collected by the City of Miami, Baptist Health South Florida, the 305 Gives Back foundation, and other Miami-based organizations, to be delivered to Nassau, Great Harbor Cay, the company’s private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.
To support the hurricane relief efforts of Hope Starts Here, please visit www.nclhltd.com/hurricanerelief
Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, led by Disney Cruise Line, made a commitment of more than $1 million to help relief and recovery efforts in The Bahamas.
This commitment includes a $1 million donation to non-profit relief agencies who will be undertaking recovery and rebuilding efforts, as well as the provision of supplies – including food staples and basic construction materials – to those in impacted areas.
Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said:
“The Walt Disney Company stands with the people of The Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian.”
“We hope our $1 million donation will provide much-needed relief and help our neighbors, colleagues, and all those impacted by this devastating storm begin the long process of recovery as they work to put their lives and communities back together.”
Additionally, Disney employees with immediate needs in impacted areas of The Bahamas will have access to a range of resources. Disney Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in The Bahamas, which experienced tropical force strength winds, employs more than 60 Bahamians from Abaco and Grand Bahama, as well as several employees from other Bahamian islands.
Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line said:
“The Bahamas is such a special place to us and our guests, and we have watched the devastation created by Hurricane Dorian with concern and heartache,”
“We stand with the Bahamian people, and especially those in Abaco and Grand Bahama, as they recover from the worst storm to ever make landfall in The Bahamas. As the needs in these communities are assessed, we are prepared to aid the relief and recovery efforts through funding, the provision of supplies and by providing support to our Bahamian Crew Members.”
The Red Cross is also accepting donations for those affected by Hurricane Dorian. Please visit www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-dorian-donations.html/ to pledge your support.
