Carnival Cruise Line set an ambitious new fundraising goal, aiming to contribute $50 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by 2030, bolstering the fight against life-threatening diseases in children.

New Pledge Announcement By Carnival

In a significant philanthropic commitment, Carnival Cruise Line has announced a new fundraising goal of $50 million by 2030 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The new pledge was unveiled during the naming ceremony for the cruise line’s new Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, Texas, on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

To kick off the new effort, Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, marked the occasion with a symbolic $50,000 donation presented to Richard C. Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude.

The donation was made in honor of the ship’s godmother, global music superstar Gwen Stefani, who is renowned for her support for numerous charitable causes, including Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. This organization is dedicated to providing medical care to children with life-threatening conditions, mirroring the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“The unwavering devotion from our guests and team members is the reason we’re able to make an impact in supporting St. Jude’s important mission,” said Duffy. “Thanks to our crew and guests’ continued generosity, we’re able to raise our fundraising goal and extend that impact.”

She continued by celebrating the long-standing partnership with St. Jude, saying, “As the cruise line that serves more children and families than any other, we look forward to seeing the good that will come from reaching this new and ambitious goal.”

More Than a Decade of Partnership

Since forming a partnership in 2010, Carnival Cruise Line and St. Jude have collaborated on numerous fundraising initiatives, both onboard and ashore.

These include the Groove for St. Jude dance party, the Build-a-Bear Workshop at Sea, where kids can create their own St. Jude-themed keepsake bear; and a cookie amenity package with proceeds going to St. Jude, engaging passengers in contributing to the cause.

Carnival recently surpassed its previous goal of $33 million to St. Jude ahead of schedule in 2024, resulting in the new pledge that continues to solidify a lifesaving partnership.

Carnival Cruise Line’s commitment to St. Jude is also evident through patient-inspired and designed artwork on Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Celebration, and Mardi Gras.

Shadyac expressed profound gratitude for Carnival’s support, “We’re deeply thankful for Carnival committing to helping children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases through financial support and for honoring our patients by featuring their art-inspired sculptures on new ships.”

A Fun-Filled New Cruise Ship

Carnival Jubilee, now the line’s flagship, embodies the spirit of Carnival’s commitment to St. Jude in the very fabric of its offerings.

The ship itself is a floating gallery of hope, featuring patient-inspired artwork, and introducing a special sculpture depicting sea life, inspired by a St. Jude patient named Ty.

Based in Galveston, Carnival Jubilee offers an array of kid-friendly entertainment and amenities, including the debut of a reimagined Seuss at Sea experience with a Dr. Seuss Breakfast and Carnival’s signature BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea.

The ship also features a space-themed Camp Ocean, designed in collaboration with Kennedy Space Center to provide engaging, hands-on experiences.

For teens, the 5,400-passenger Carnival Jubilee introduced the Panagbenga Festival, an authentic Filipino cultural experience with a flower parade and jewelry-making activities.

Additional kids’ programming includes an updated Night Owls Camp Out and the introduction of the space-theme Planet Play at Sea playground.

The 183,521-ton Carnival Jubilee followed the naming ceremony and fundraising pledge with the first in a series of 7-night Western Caribbean roundtrip cruises, visiting Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Carnival Cruise Line is giving one lucky Grand Bahamian the opportunity to name a key feature of Celebration Key, the upcoming exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island.

The local community competition will be for the honor of naming Artisan Village, a dedicated space in Celebration Key where local artists will be showcased and visitors will be immersed in authentic Bahamian culture.

Local Contest to Name Artisan Village

Carnival Cruise Line, along with the Ministry for Grand Bahama and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, is hosting a naming contest for Artisan Village on Celebration Key. The project will help the local community be even further invested in the destination, cementing the partnership between the cruise line and Grand Bahama.

“Carnival has sought to prioritize authentic Bahamian culture throughout every aspect of this project, from the food to the architecture, and nowhere more than in the Artisan Village,” said Philcher Grant-Adderley, Carnival Corporation & plc’s Public Affairs and Community Engagement Director. “It is only fitting that the name should be chosen by a Bahamian.”

The contest is open to all Grand Bahamians, including individuals, families, groups, local organizations, and classrooms. Entrants can be under the age of 18, but youth entries must include a release form from a parent or legal guardian.

The entry period will close on Monday, March 25. At that time, a selection committee will review entries to determine finalists, and a winner will be announced in early April. Local officials and representatives of cultural and creative industries will all be on the selection committee, though Carnival will have the final say for the winning entry.

“We can hardly wait to see the creative, inspired submissions that we know will be submitted,” said Grant-Adderley. “I encourage all Grand Bahamians to take part, get your submissions in early and submit as many ideas as you have!”

How to Enter

Entries for Celebration Key’s Artisan Village Naming Competition must be submitted online. Each entry should include a 200-300-word explanation of the name, including how it relates to Bahamian culture and Celebration Key, as well as the entrant’s complete name.

One entrant may submit multiple entries, but each must be submitted separately. Name proposals that include corporation or business names, political figures, brands, or other proper names will be disqualified.

As is standard for corporate contests, employees of Carnival or any of its related companies, the Ministry for Grand Bahama, and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture are not eligible to enter the contest. All entrants must also be following Celebration Key’s Facebook and Instagram accounts to be eligible to win.

A Prize Package to Celebrate

Not only will the winning entrant have the honor of their name being used for the Artisan Village on Celebration Key, but they will receive a generous prize package as well.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line Reveals Details on New Private Destination

The prize includes $5,000 cash (Bahamian dollars and US dollars have the same value), as well as the opportunity to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Celebration Key, with transportation, food, and beverages for the event included. The winner will also receive a day pass to the private destination, including drink vouchers, food, and a private cabana to enjoy.

A Bahamian-Centered Project

From its inception, Carnival has been committed to ensuring a beneficial partnership with Grand Bahama that will truly bring benefits to the local community once the new private destination opens in 2025.

“Bahamian architects have collaborated on the design of the destination in an effort to ensure its character is as authentically Bahamian as possible, most especially the Artisan Village,” explained Grant-Adderley. “It seems natural that its name be chosen by a Grand Bahamian.”

The $600 million project – which includes a recently announced pier extension to welcome even more ships beginning in 2026 – is the largest of its kind ever undertaken by Carnival Corporation & plc.

Design elements throughout the destination will highlight the vibrancy and diversity of Bahamian culture, and visiting guests will have opportunities to enjoy not only local artwork, but also music, food, beverages, and retail shopping.

Celebration Key will bring more than 700 permanent jobs to Grand Bahama and will welcome more than 2.2 million guests each year once it opens. By 2028, it is projected that up to 4 million guests annually will visit the exclusive destination, with ships from multiple US homeports, including Celebration Key on a wide range of itineraries.

Carnival Celebration was able to celebrate swift, humane action that undoubtedly saved lives on Saturday, February 24 when the ship rescued an overcrowded refugee boat in the Florida Straits. The cruise ship provided supplies to the small craft and notified authorities, which were dispatched to take in the stranded group.

Carnival Celebration Facilitates Refugee Rescue

During the last day at sea on her most recent sailing, a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise that departed Miami, Florida on Sunday, February 18, Carnival Celebration spotted a small craft north of Cuba in the Florida Straits, overloaded with occupants and signaling for help.

The cruise ship immediately responded, pausing to assess the situation and offering assistance. Authorities were quickly notified and sent appropriate rescue craft to lend aid to the 20 people in the small boat.

“Carnival Celebration’s team helped a group of 20 people in distress on a boat in the Florida Straits on Saturday,” a statement from Carnival Cruise Line read. “The ship’s team gave them food and water and called the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, which deployed a cutter and rescued the stranded group.”

The exact position of the incident has not been released, but refugee encounters are not uncommon in the Florida straits as migrants from Cuba seek refuge in the United States. U.S. Coast Guard boats routinely patrol the waters and are able to respond to distress calls, illegal crossings, suspected drug trafficking, and more.

In the case of refugees, they are typically given medical care, food, and water, as well as kept safe until they can be turned over to the proper authorities. Except for extreme circumstances, they are returned to their country of origin.

At the time of the rescue operation, Carnival Celebration was on her final full day of the 7-night cruise, a day at sea that followed calls to Cozumel, Roatan, and Costa Maya. The 183,521-gross-ton, Excel-class ship is homeported from Miami year-round, offering Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean itineraries, depending on the sailing date.

There was no delay to the ship’s return to Miami, nor was her next itinerary impacted by her compassionate action.

Another Carnival Celebration Rescue

This is not Carnival Celebration‘s first refugee rescue. The ship encountered her first group of refugees aboard a small raft on January 2, 2023, less than two months after she welcomed her first guests aboard. That incident occurred in the same general area as this most recent rescue.

In March 2023, Carnival Celebration offered assistance to another small boat overcrowded with at least a dozen refugees. During that incident, the individuals in the small craft accepted supplies but declined to be taken aboard the cruise ship. That encounter was also during a Western Caribbean cruise, but happened northeast of Cozumel.

While all vessels are obligated to render aid whenever possible, it is not mandatory that individuals accept that aid, particularly if they are in good health and not in immediate danger.

During each encounter with refugee craft, the cruise ship would contact both local maritime authorities as well as the cruise line’s own shoreside team to report the incident. Further action may be undertaken by the authorities as needed.

This time of year – as winter storms are dwindling but hurricane season has not yet begun – is popular for similar refugee encounters in the Caribbean. The close proximity of many islands and popular shipping and cruise travel routes make it easier for desperate individuals to take the monumental risks of setting off in less-than-seaworthy craft.

All cruise ships remain alert at all hours to the possibility of sighting small craft, and stand ready to offer assistance and rescue whenever necessary.