Carnival Cruise Line and local offices of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have teamed up to honor hundreds of military heroes with “a series of tributes” during the week leading up to Veteran’s Day on November 11, 2023. The week-long tributes will take place on board six ships in six homeports.
“We’re so proud to carry more active and retired military service members than any other cruise line, so we wanted to honor our hometown heroes in some of our port communities for Veterans Day this year,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “These tribute events serve as our thanks for the sacrifices made by local veterans, active military personnel and their families.”
While in each homeport, local veterans have been invited to come on board the ship for a special military tribute and luncheon. The ceremonies will begin in Miami aboard Carnival Horizon and Carnival Paradise on November 5, 2023. In Galveston, local veterans will be invited aboard Carnival Breeze on November 6; Carnival Miracle’s tribute will take place in Long beach on November 7; Carnival Valor will hosts New Orleans’ veterans on November 9; and Mardi Gras will be in her Port Canaveral homeport when she welcomes local veterans on Veterans Day, November 11, 2023.
Not only will Carnival honor the veteran’s military service, but the cruise line will also donate a van to each local VA office to assist in providing transportation for VA programs and services.
Carnival and Operation Homefront have had a long-standing relationship in support of military families. Operation Homefront is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that “builds strong, stable and secure military families so they can thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities – OUR communities – they have worked so hard to protect.”
Carnival also has held a Military Appreciation Gathering on every cruise since 2016. In 2023, the fleet will have hosted more than 1,500 of these military gatherings with tens of thousands guests having attended. Additionally, in July, Carnival expanded the gathering to be a full Military Appreciation Day on all North American sailings. The Military Appreciation Day includes special messages on the Seaside Theater screens, a flag raising in the atrium along with other recognition and events throughout the day.
Carnival Cruise Line truly honors the United States service members not only on Veterans Day but also the other 364 days of the year.