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Cruise line ships supplies to Haiti
Thursday, 18 Jan, 2010
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Royal Caribbean Cruises is to provide at least $1 million in humanitarian relief to earthquake-hit Haiti.
The cruise line has a beach resort in the country, Labadee, where ships call regularly on Caribbean itineraries.
The line’s Independence of the Seas’ call last Friday to Labadee included supplies for the strife-torn country.
The goods were loaded on the ship during its call in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and included items such as rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water and canned goods.
All of the company’s net revenue from the destination will also be contributed to the relief effort.
In the next two weeks, the following ships are scheduled to call on Labadee with additional supplies: Navigator of the Seas today (January 18); Liberty of the Seas tomorrow (January 19); and Celebrity Solstice on Friday.
When the supplies arrive in Labadee, they will be transported to an offsite location to be distributed by Food for the Poor, a long time partner of Royal Caribbean in Haiti.
In addition to working with Food for the Poor to distribute relief supplies, passengers sailing onboard Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises will be able to make donations to Food for the Poor’s Haiti Relief Fund, via a charge to their onboard account.
Those who wanting to contribute immediately can visit www.foodforthepoor.org/royalcaribbean to make a donation.
Royal Caribbean also plans to use a portion of the $1 million donation to augment the company’s Crew Relief Fund, which can be drawn on by any of the company’s more than 200 Haitian crew members for assistance, as well as to match employee contributions to the partner organisations.
As the initial response effort gives way to the long-term recovery effort, Royal Caribbean will consider further support efforts, the company said.
Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said: “The effect of the earthquake on Haiti has been catastrophic, leaving the country in need of not only immediate support, but assistance in their long-term recovery.
“Royal Caribbean wants to do its part to help out not only the general response, but also our hundreds of Haitian employees and their families through this disaster.
“In addition to our financial contribution, Royal Caribbean will continue to provide economic support through the continuous business we bring to Labadee.”
Leslie Voltaire, special envoy of the government of Haiti to the United Nations said: "Given the terrible economic and social challenges we now face in Haiti, we welcome the continuation of the positive economic benefits that the cruise ship calls to Labadee contribute to our country."
by Phil Davies
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