Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)

As the 10th annual Holiday Gift Project wraps up, 6,000 children have smiles on their faces as they experienced a day to remember. The FCCA Member Lines helped spread cheer to underprivileged children in 27 destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America this holiday season. The children were treated to a fun filled celebration, which included the distribution of holiday gifts and party thrown in their honor!

Celeste de Leon of the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic shares her thoughts. “ We are anxious to participate in this good cause and joy you bring to the children of our country, we understand the need these children live everyday and this is why we love to support you every year”.

Mark Witko of Disney Cruise Line notes, “ We really can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to partner with you on this special event. Visiting the children with our VoluntEARS and Disney Characters has become an annual tradition at Disney Cruise Line and we sincerely look forward to it every year”

“The students and teachers of the Dr. Martin Luther King Junior School were very surprised and very appreciative of the gifts given to them by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. The program was a huge success” states Nzinga Lake of St. Maarten Tourist Bureau.

Cameron Jeffrey of Celebrity Cruises shares their enthusiasm, “ This is the second time I have been involved with this program and I must say that it was so heart-warming and touching to be involved with this year’s event. The children had a great time, the Celebrity crew came in dancing and having a great time with the children, it brought a tear to the eye. It definitely put us in the Holiday spirit!”

Margaret Jones of the Jamaica Tourist Board offers a heartfelt thanks, “ It was once again my pleasure to coordinate this year’s FCCA Holiday Gift event here in Montego Bay. The teachers and children at the Salvation Army Basic School were ecstatic! It was a very fun filled activity, especially with Santa handing out the gifts. We were also very surprised and felt honored that the Master of the Conquest was there with us and the children loved him!”

“On behalf of the students of Stapledon School, I would like to say a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ for arranging for the special students to be recipients of Christmas Gifts. Many of our students would not receive gifts at all if it were not for the kind gesture by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.” Notes Mrs. Curlene Burrowes, Principal of Stapledon School, Nassau, Bahamas

In its 12th year, the Foundation for the Caribbean continues to improve the lives of Caribbean citizens through projects such as this. The Foundation has impacted the lives of thousands providing over $ 2 million in funding to a number of organization and causes.

Each year the FCCA along with FCCA Member Lines, take pride in participating in this very special event. Throughout the month of December, the following destinations and Cruise Lines diligently worked together to improve the lives of our children:

Aruba
Freeport, Bahamas
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Mazatlan, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Antigua
Curacao
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Costa Maya, Mexico
Ensenada, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Progreso, Mexico
St. Croix, U.S.V.I.

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issues and builds bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.