Western New York Firefighters Plan Royal Caribbean Training Cruise

Longtime Western New York firefighters Dawn and John Gauthier are organizing a five-night cruise that will combine fire service training with family time aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. The Valor Voyage Firefighter Cruise is scheduled to depart March 4, 2028, with 500 cabins allocated to the group.

The organizers have booked 27 cabins so far, drawing firefighters from multiple states.

Training scheduled for two sea days

The itinerary includes calls at Belize City and Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico. The two days at sea will feature sessions covering leadership, firefighting tactics, mental health and other fire service topics, with nationally recognized speakers expected to participate.

“Someone might have an idea or a story about something that they did that might help you at your job,” Dawn Gauthier said.

Training will occupy part of each sea day, leaving firefighters and their families time to use the ship afterward.

“We wanted to make sure the family was involved,” John Gauthier said. “The families are the ones that take a large hit when they’re left home at the dinner table.”

Proceeds to support fallen firefighters’ families

A portion of the cruise proceeds will benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which assists the families of fallen firefighters and honors those who died in the line of duty. The amount or percentage designated for the foundation was not specified.

The Gauthiers connected their choice of beneficiary to the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Both were prepared to respond after the attacks, although the Depew Fire Department was not ultimately called to assist in New York City.

John Gauthier spoke of the firefighters killed that day. “It hurt,” he said. “And it still hurts.”

Bookings are now open to volunteer and career firefighters and their families.

See current Freedom of the Seas fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.