The final 2025 shipment of hurricane relief supplies from Carnival Cruise Line arrived in Jamaica on December 18, as the Carnival Horizon docked in Ocho Rios, carrying 24 pallets, more than five tons, of urgently needed medical supplies.

Direct Relief coordinated the shipment in partnership with Carnival Corporation & plc, the Miami HEAT, and the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, which together committed US$1 million toward Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa response.

Donations are being delivered through the Jamaica Tourism Cares Relief Taskforce to support the National Health Fund.

The multi-agency taskforce, comprising the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ministry of Tourism, Jamaica Tourism Cares, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and Jamaica Customs Agency, is responsible for ensuring the efficient processing and distribution of the supplies to communities most in need.

This delivery complements a major airlift executed on December 13, when Direct Relief dispatched a Boeing 767 from Miami to Kingston carrying 120 pallets of medical aid in response to requests from the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Together, the air and sea shipments delivered 144 pallets, approximately 68 tons, of lifesaving medicines and medical supplies, representing one of the largest private humanitarian deployments supporting Jamaica’s health system recovery.

The arrival of the Carnival Horizon also highlighted the role of tourism partners in national recovery efforts, with relief operations carried out alongside routine cruise activity in Ocho Rios.

PAJ president and CEO Professor Gordon Shirley said the authority was pleased to support the operation and emphasised the importance of operational efficiency in ensuring the timely movement of relief supplies.