In light of the devastating aftermath of the Hurricane Dorian, the cruise industry is helping and offering support to the Bahamas. The Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island were hit by the storm, which made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane.
Specifically, the Bahamas Paradise cruise line used their vessel ‘Grand Celebration’ from the port of Palm Beach to transfer relief supplies to Freeport. According to the company, the vessel will return on Friday and will be able to transmit Bahamians, who wish to evacuate, to Florida free of charge, under the condition that they show valid documentation. Also, the cruise company has collected donations of relief supplies at its Riviera Beach, Florida warehouse for shipment aboard the Grand Celebration.
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Moreover, Royal Caribbean announced that they will provide $1 million to Hurricane Dorian disaster relief, commenting that
We can’t make every bad memory of Dorian go away. But we can start making things better—today.
In addition, ITM, Royal Caribbean’s business partner, will also donate $100,000.
According to USA Today, The Walt Disney Co. also provided more than ‘than $1 million in cash and in-kind support to help relief and recovery efforts for those in 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
… added Disney CEO Bob Iger in a statement.
Disney also owns a private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, which employs more than 60 Bahamians from surrounding islands. The company said they are offering a “range of resources” for their employees.
Carnival Corporation is also collaborating with Tropical Shipping and The Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide donations collected in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach, Florida. Carnival is partnering with the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, both donating $2 million in relief to the Bahamas.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it will deploy the Norwegian Breakaway to deliver supplies to Nassau donated by team members and the city of Miami. The line provided $1 million to All Hands and Hearts organisation.
Whereas local news informed that Grand Celebration, a vessel owned by the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, departed on Thursday night from Palm Beach, Florida, on a trip to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, on a humanitarian cruise.
Overall, the ports that have reopened are:
- PortMiami
- Port Everglades
- Port Canaveral
- Jacksonville’s seaport, Jaxport
Yet, according to the USCG the ports of Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina are in condition Zulu, meaning that they’re closed for marine traffic and cargo operations.
