Passengers of Glamorous Cruise Ship on Detour to Help Hurricane Victims

Passengers and crew of the luxury cruise ship The Celebrity Equinox went out of their way to help the survivors of one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic, handing out around ten thousand meals, hundreds of thousands of water bottles, and clothing.

The fully booked cruise ship was reaching the end of its seven-day journey on September 6 when it redirected from its destination port at the Bahamas’ capital of Nassau, to the partially destroyed Freeport on Grand Bahama Island.

The ship’s staff prepared the meals while guests volunteered to plate and pack them. Other guests donated clothes, and children created handcrafted cards to comfort the distressed Dorian survivors.

The cruise line promised to compensate their guests for missing their planned destination in a letter explaining why they extended aid in the archipelago, where some of their employees have also been affected. “The Bahamas hold a special place in our hearts as a treasured place for our guests, and home to more than 500 of our colleagues,” they said. “Now, in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, we are rolling up our sleeves to help our friends.”

The company will send more of its cruise ships to the Freeport offering more items such as lawn chairs to sleep on, bedding, towels, and medical supplies, and is working with the government of the Bahamas to help any evacuees looking to go from the Freeport to Nassau. Other cruise lines, including The Walt Disney Co. and Carnival Corp., have pledged to donate money or supplies to Dorian relief efforts.