Recently, the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line received acknowledgement for the humanitarian work they performed during the Bahamian hurricane that occurred last year. Ah, it’s always great to get some positive and uplifting news to report on! The cruise line received recognition from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, which is in charge of international trade, regulations, immigration and more. They awarded the cruise line with a certificate for their achievements in a ceremony that happened at the Port of Palm Beach.
Speaking to the actions of the cruise line, Diane Sabatino, director of field operations for Customs and Border Protection, said that their “innovative actions to quickly deliver relief to Grand Bahama Island residents is truly commendable and working alongside their team during the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian is an experience we’ll never forget” and that they “hope that this certificate serves as a token of our gratitude for their efforts.” In response, the CEO of the cruise line, Oneil Khosa, said “we are grateful to the CBP for this amazing recognition of our efforts on Grand Bahama Island, our second home. Our onboard volunteers and ship personnel came together and showcased the true American spirit of friendship and selflessness, and we couldn’t have done it without their support.” There were over 600 volunteers that assisted with the operations.
For those that aren’t familiar with the cruise line’s assistance, we’ll break it down for you. After the hurricane, they arrived with upwards of 700,000 pounds of aid. This included canned goods, building supplies to help reconstruct anything that had fallen during the hurricane, potable water, hygiene products, first aid kits, bug repellent, blankets, chlorine tablets and baby items.
They also launched a huge evacuation effort that brought over 1000 Bahamians to Florida, where they would be much safer. Finally, they also increased the number of cruises going to the Bahamas in order to stimulate the economy and encourage growth in the area.
They weren’t the only people to help out, though: many organizations and charities also contributed, including Entrepreneurs’ Organization of South Florida, Mission Resolve, Bahamas Relief Cruise and The Everglades Trust. Residents of Florida also donated relief items that assisted greatly.
Seeing cruise lines helping people in such a tangible way is always a treat, and they definitely deserved to be recognized for their efforts. Cruises are an excellent way to help those in need in situations like this, and we can only hope that other companies step up and do the same if there’s ever a need!
