Key Aspects:
- Carnival cruise director MarQ Anthony has added a small twist to St. Jude fundraising efforts with a fun shirt size choice.
- Cruise directors often go above and beyond to encourage donations for the fundraisers held on every sailing.
- More than $33 million has already been raised for St. Jude through various events, with a goal of $50 million by 2030.
Carnival Cruise Line has been a charitable partner for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since 2009. Enthusiasm for supporting the charity has only grown, and Carnival’s cruise directors are leading on-the-deck efforts to encourage bigger and crazier donations.
One of the fleet’s most popular cruise directors, Marq “MarQ” Anthony, recently went in the opposite direction, however. Instead of bigger, he went smaller.
For a shirt size, that is!
During the onboard “Groove for St. Jude” events held on every Carnival sailing, guests donate to the charity and receive a t-shirt for their participation. In general, larger shirt sizes are often the most popular.
Currently the cruise director for Carnival Vista, MarQ honored a challenge for the smallest possible shirts following a $2,000 guest donation, and even took photographic evidence to prove it.
“After making a donation of $2,000, we decided to take on the challenge to squeeze into the smallest shirts possible… How did we do?!” he asked.
Posing on the Lido Deck, MarQ and the guest are styling shirt sizes I probably haven’t worn since middle school, if I’m being generous (and those shirts certainly aren’t generous).
What is big about the photo, however, is the smiles and the fun, which is what Groove for St. Jude is all about. Not only is the event intended as a good time for guests, but it is also to bring smiles and fun to children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
At St. Jude, no family is ever turned away due to financial considerations, and families never receive bills for treatment, travel, housing, or food.
The research hospital operates primarily through such generous donations, including through compassionate corporations like Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival has pledged to raise $50 million for St. Jude by 2030.
To help reach that goal, there are regular “big ticket” fundraisers. For example, a pair of custom cowboy boots was auctioned off for Carnival Jubilee‘s inauguration in Texas in February 2024, ultimately raising $50,000.
Another notable fundraiser was when Carnival Cruise Line’s president, Christine Duffy, took on the challenge to skydive over Tampa Bay in October 2024. More than $85,000 was raised for that special event.
Some sentimental events have also encouraged fundraising. When Carnival Ecstasy retired in October 2023, onboard memorabilia was auctioned and raised more than $39,000.
To date, Carnival has already raised $33 million toward the overall $50 million donation goal.
Cruise Directors’ Best St. Jude Fundraisers
While headline-grabbing fundraisers can raise big bucks, it is the cruise line’s individual cruise directors who are truly making outstanding efforts to increase contributions to St. Jude.
Different cruise directors have taken extra special steps for their own Groove for St. Jude fundraisers, and guests step in to help beyond just their own donations.
Read Also: Carnival Cruise Director Schedule for 2025-2026
On the August 8, 2025 Carnival Jubilee sailing, the combination of a donated John Heald-shaped duck and a Jubilee sea turtle, along with dozens of participating guests, raised more than $10,000.
Many guests also donate blinged-out ducks, custom tumblers, and other unique souvenirs to encourage even higher fundraising totals. Whether the items are accepted is often at the discretion of the cruise director.
Few cruise directors have gone so far as Alex Siegler aboard Carnival Spirit, however.
In late January, he pledged to go totally clean-shaven for the first time in over 10 years if guests raised $5,000. While the total came up slightly short at $4,700, Siegler still went through with his pledge.
Three months later, Siegler upped his dedication to supporting St. Jude by offering to wax his chest hair if guests raised $10,000. As before, the goal wasn’t quite reached, but because the $8,000 total was still so outstanding, he went through with the painful promise.
Have you joined in St. Jude fundraisers onboard? What unique twists have you seen? Share your experiences on the Cruise Hive boards!
