Carnival Pledges $1 Million to Help Jamaica Recover from Hurricane Melissa

ByJenny Motley Hours Published Hours Last Updated
Jamaican flag representing Carnival’s $1 million hurricane relief donation

What to Know

  • Donation: $1 million total
  • Donors: Carnival Corporation & plc, the Miami Heat, and the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation
  • Relief Partner: Direct Relief (medical and disaster aid for Jamaica)
  • Additional note: Onboard Carnival Dream, Cruise Director mentioned redirecting fundraiser toward hurricane relief

Carnival Corporation & plc, the Miami Heat, and the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation have donated $1 million to Direct Relief to support emergency medical and recovery efforts in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall as a Category 5 storm on October 28.

Direct Relief is using the donation to send medical supplies requested by Jamaica’s Ministry of Health. That includes 100 field medic kits with first-aid and triage gear, plus antibiotics and other medications. The group is also preparing additional shipments, such as insulin and hospital support items, based on what local teams say they need.

Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein said the company’s connection to Jamaica made the response personal:

Our connection to Jamaica runs deep, and we need to support its communities now more than ever. Donating to Direct Relief will help fund vital assistance to individuals and families whose lives have been upended by this devastating storm.

Onboard mention from Carnival Dream

During the Debark Talk on October 31, 2025, Carnival Dream Cruise Director Leo Alexander told guests that once the ship returns to Galveston, the team will be “switching from Groove for St. Jude to hurricane relief.”

He did not specify which organization would receive the donations or how long the change would last. Carnival Cruise Line has not issued any public statement confirming a broader shift in onboard fundraising events.

How Carnival Brands Raise Money Onboard

Carnival’s Groove for St. Jude program has raised millions since 2010 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through shipboard events and guest contributions. Other Carnival Corporation brands, including Holland America Line, have temporarily redirected similar charity initiatives toward hurricane recovery through Direct Relief.

Cruisers who wish to contribute to Jamaica’s hurricane recovery can donate directly through DirectRelief.org/SupportJamaica.

Sources & Related Coverage

Featured image: Jamaica will receive emergency medical aid supported by a $1 million donation from Carnival Corporation and partners.
Photo by: Oleksii Liskonih from Getty Images via Canva.com

Jenny Motley

Founder & Editor of Into the Funnel, an independent site covering Carnival Cruise Line news and updates, opinions, and real-world tips from 25 cruises and 176 days at sea.

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