Sponsored By

Carnival Corp., Arisons support California wildfires reliefCarnival Corp., Arisons support California wildfires relief

'Our colleagues, families, friends, neighbors and many loyal guests remain deeply affected,' Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein said.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

January 23, 2025

2 Min Read
LOGO: CARNIVAL CORP. & PLC

To support California wildfire relief efforts, Carnival Corp. and its North American brands and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation are donating a combined $200,000 to World Central Kitchen.

The World Central Kitchen relief teams are on the ground providing free hot meals to emergency workers, first responders and families affected by the continuing fires. 

Carnival Corp., Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn are donating $100,000, to be matched by the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation.

'Tragic and unprecedented'

'The images from the fires in Southern California are truly heartbreaking. Seeing the destruction of homes, businesses and entire communities is both tragic and unprecedented,' Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein said in a note to employees.

'California holds a special place in our hearts, as it is home to many of our team members and has been a significant part of our operations for decades,' he continued. 'Our colleagues, families, friends, neighbors and many loyal guests remain deeply affected, with some still temporarily displaced and others unable to ever return home. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these devastating fires, and we are committed to helping residents, first responders and firefighters on the ground.'

Related:Fires not currently impacting cruises from Los Angeles/Long Beach

Further support

Weinstein said teams from the Carnival group are helping in other ways, too.

During the next two weeks, Carnival Cruise Line is inviting passengers aboard its three Long Beach-based ships to join in supporting World Central Kitchen.

Princess will share opportunities for its team members in other parts of the country and world to help those affected through donations, volunteering or other ways of assisting.

Holland America is inviting passengers to help with relief efforts through its 'On Deck for a Cause' walks temporarily supporting Direct Relief’s work to take medical supplies to people displaced by the fires, as well as respirators for those in the fire zone. 

Josh-Weinstein.jpg

Weinstein encouraged team members to help California residents by volunteering or contributing in their own way.

He provided a link where donations may be made directly to World Central Kitchen, and said he will be doing so personally.

Emotional toll

Weinstein also acknowledged the emotional toll of events like the wildfires, and told employees their well-being is 'always our priority,' adding they can reach out to their managers or HR teams if they need support or have any concerns.

'The true brilliance of our culture and the heart of our people shine the brightest when we unite in shared compassion to help others,' Weinstein said. 'I am both proud and honored to be part of this team.'

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

The latest cruise news, analysis and more straight to your inbox
Get the free newsletter read by industry experts

You May Also Like