by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:00 PM ET, Mon November 9, 2026
Carnival Cruise Line is committing $300,000 to organizations supporting military members, veterans and their families across seven U.S. homeport communities in recognition of Veterans Day.
The funding includes contributions to national and local organizations, as well as continued support for longtime partner Operation Homefront. Carnival kicked off Veterans Day week by sponsoring the nonprofit’s Homefront Celebration on November 8 in Norfolk, Virginia, bringing together 150 military families for a day of activities and recognition.
As part of the event, Carnival Cruise Line welcomed 50 new and expectant military couples aboard Carnival Sunshine while the ship was docked in Norfolk. The couples participated in a military appreciation program and enjoyed lunch prepared by Carnival’s culinary team, photos with Seuss at Sea characters and a military-themed Build-A-Bear experience.
The brand is also offering a $50,000 matching contribution for Operation Homefront’s annual year-end holiday mail campaign.
In addition to its Operation Homefront support, Carnival is contributing to several organizations serving military members and veterans, including the National Medal of Honor Museum, Gary Sinise Foundation, K9s For Warriors and Military Family Advisory Network. The cruise line is also supporting Veterans Affairs healthcare systems serving Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and North Florida, New Orleans, Long Beach, and Houston and Galveston.
“Honoring those who serve is part of who we are, on every ship and every sailing,” says Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Veterans Day gives us another opportunity to say thank you and extend that commitment into the communities we’re proud to call home.”
Carnival has partnered with Operation Homefront since 2015, providing financial and in-kind contributions to support the organization's mission of building strong, stable and secure military families.
The cruise line also recognizes service members through a Military Appreciation Day program on every North American sailing. Its other community initiatives have included donating passenger vans to local Veterans Affairs facilities to help veterans get to medical appointments and hosting Veterans Day celebrations.
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