Carnival Pledges $1M to Direct Relief for Jamaica After Melissa

Carnival Corporation and its partners committed $1 million to the humanitarian group Direct Relief as Jamaica began recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck the island on Oct. 28, 2025.

The donation was paired with ship-delivered supplies and onboard fundraising, and it came as other major cruise operators, including Royal Caribbean Group, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, also pledged financial support and aid for the hard-hit cruise destination.

Carnival’s donation, medical support, and on-the-ground delivery

Carnival said its $1 million contribution, made with the Miami Heat and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, is being routed through Direct Relief to support immediate medical and humanitarian needs. Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, said, “Our connection to Jamaica runs deep, and we need to support its communities now more than ever.”

Direct Relief said it prepared 100 field medic packs at Jamaica’s request, with each pack stocked with first-aid and triage supplies for frontline responders. The organization also shared a full medical inventory list with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and said it is prepared to send additional medicines and supplies as needs are identified.

Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief, said the support “accelerates urgently needed medical assistance for communities in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall,” describing the goal of moving medicines, supplies, and clinical support to local health workers quickly.

In addition to the donation, Carnival Horizon made a relief stop in Ocho Rios on Nov. 4 to offload supplies intended for response efforts across Jamaica. The items were delivered to Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, with offloading assistance from the Jamaica Tourism Cares Taskforce. Carnival said Jamaican crew members aboard Carnival Horizon also participated in delivering the supplies.

Why Carnival Horizon’s Ocho Rios stop was not a guest call

The relief stop followed an itinerary change. Carnival Horizon’s scheduled Ocho Rios visit was canceled as a guest call, even though the ship still went in briefly to deliver aid. Captain Rocco Lubrano told guests in a letter dated Nov. 2 that Carnival had been coordinating with Jamaican officials, but local infrastructure and shore-excursion partners were not ready for normal operations.

Carnival Cruise Line processed refunds tied to the canceled port day, including full refunds for shore excursions purchased through the cruise line and reimbursement of applicable taxes and fees for Ocho Rios.

Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald said in a video update that the ship was carrying “much-needed supplies” to be taken into Jamaica, adding that the delivery method could depend on pier conditions in Ocho Rios.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said the line looked forward to returning with guests when government officials indicate Jamaica is ready. “We also proudly have many Jamaican crew members across our fleet and we have been providing support to them as well,” she added.

Industry-wide aid commitments from major cruise lines

Other cruise operators also announced aid for Jamaica in the wake of the storm, with donations and supply deliveries tied to nonprofit partners and longer-term recovery coordination.

• Royal Caribbean Group pledged $1 million for hurricane recovery efforts in Jamaica through the Global Empowerment Mission. The company said supplies including bottled water, bedding, canned goods, and non-perishable food were delivered to Falmouth aboard Royal Caribbean ships, including Rhapsody of the Seas, and that its crew and partners were helping coordinate relief packages and logistics.
• Disney Cruise Line pledged $1 million in aid to Jamaica, directing funds toward organizations including UNICEF USA, World Central Kitchen, and Good360. Disney also said the donation included support for employees and their families affected by the hurricane.
• Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings promised up to $100,000 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief, starting with an immediate $50,000 corporate donation and a matching contribution program for employee and public donations.

Partnership and fundraising efforts tied to passengers and onboard events

Alongside corporate giving and ship-delivered supplies, Carnival offered guests aboard Carnival Horizon a way to contribute during the sailing. Lubrano encouraged passengers to donate through onboard options tied to the Groove for St. Jude event on the last sea day, with Carnival matching donations made during the cruise.

Story A also described other passenger-facing fundraising initiatives across the industry, including Holland America Line’s “On Deck for a Cause” onboard 5K walks being dedicated to raising funds for Hurricane Melissa recovery.

Carnival also framed the Direct Relief contribution as part of an ongoing relationship with the organization. Carnival Corporation, the Miami Heat, and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation said that, including the new Jamaica-focused contribution, the three organizations have donated nearly $17.2 million since 2013 to support Direct Relief responses to events including the crisis in Ukraine, multiple hurricanes, tornadoes in Kentucky, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Eric Woolworth, president of the Miami Heat’s business operations, tied the effort to storm experience in Florida, saying, “In Florida, we are all too familiar with the widespread devastation caused by a Category 5 storm,” and added that Direct Relief’s role is vital as communities begin rebuilding.

Damage to ports and the timeline officials are targeting

Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica with winds of 185 mph, described in the source material as the strongest storm to ever strike the island. The storm was reported to have killed at least 19 people, displaced more than 25,000 residents, and left about 70 percent of the island without power. In heavily affected areas, the articles also reported that about 90 percent of homes were damaged.

The storm prompted itinerary changes across the cruise industry, and Jamaica’s three main cruise ports, Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Ocho Rios, sustained severe damage and were unable to support normal visitor operations in the immediate aftermath.

Jamaican officials have said inspections and repairs are required before full cruise operations resume. Professor Gordon Shirley, president and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica, said significant inspections are required to ensure safe operations, and he described cruise tourism as integral to Jamaica’s economic recovery.

The timeline cited across the two versions converged on mid-December, with the Jamaican government setting an expectation that cruise operations will resume by Dec. 15, 2025.

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, thanked cruise and tourism partners for supplies delivered via Carnival Horizon, saying the assistance provides immediate help for families and individuals in need, including tourism workers, while supporting the country’s broader recovery.

Early signs of a return in Ocho Rios

After the initial relief delivery, Carnival Cruise Line said it marked a return to guest visits when Carnival Sunrise made an official call to Ocho Rios. During the visit, Captain Martino Pellegrini presented a commemorative ship model to Mayor Michael Belnavis and Shirley, and Shirley welcomed guests back and presented local artwork to the captain.

Even with that visit, the articles described the broader restart as dependent on continuing repairs and inspections, with cruise lines and local officials watching for when normal operations can resume across Jamaica’s main ports.

As Jamaica works toward reopening, the source material cited the country’s importance to the cruise economy, describing cruise tourism as contributing more than $197 million annually. Cruise lines involved in the relief effort said they expect support to continue as the response moves from immediate needs toward longer-term recovery milestones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Did Carnival Horizon passengers get off the ship in Ocho Rios during the relief stop?

No. Carnival Horizon made a brief call to offload relief supplies, and guests were not able to disembark because the stop was focused on aid delivery and local infrastructure was not ready for normal operations.

What refunds were provided after the Ocho Rios port visit was canceled?

Carnival issued full refunds for shore excursions purchased through the cruise line and reimbursed applicable taxes and fees tied to the canceled Ocho Rios call.

What is Direct Relief sending to Jamaica using the support from Carnival and partners?

Direct Relief prepared 100 field medic packs containing first-aid and triage supplies and shared its medical inventory list with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health, with additional medicines and supplies available as needs are identified.

When will Jamaica’s ports reopen to cruise ships?

The timeline cited in the source material points to mid-December 2025, with the Jamaican government setting an expectation that cruise operations will resume by Dec. 15, 2025, as inspections and infrastructure repairs continue.

Which organizations are facilitating aid in Jamaica?

Groups cited in the source material include Direct Relief and the Global Empowerment Mission, as well as UNICEF USA, World Central Kitchen, Good360, and the American Red Cross, with donations and supplies being coordinated with Jamaican agencies and partners.