Bahama Paradise Cruise Line's Grand Celebration arrived in
its home port of Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 7 from its humanitarian mission to
Freeport, Bahamas.
More than 1,000 Bahamian residents who were evacuated as a
result of Hurricane Dorian traveled on the ship to Florida, and the line spent
a day clearing evacuees, vetting their visas and passport documentation.
The line had departed from Palm Beach on Sept. 5 with 300
first responders, including representatives from the West Palm Beach Fire
Rescue as well as 60 medical professionals and other humanitarian groups.
Ship personnel prepared 850 boxed lunches and delivered them
to local shelters.
In addition to delivering medical supplies, medical personnel
onboard delivered a baby when visiting a local facility in Freeport.
The ship carried 150 palettes totaling more than 225,000
pounds of supplies, including water, food, hygiene products, medical equipment,
generators and dog food.
More than 100 Bahamian bins also were transported, sent from
family members in South Florida and delivered directly to Grand Bahama
residents who picked them up in Freeport.
The cruise line canceled its Sept. 7, 9 and 11 scheduled
sailings. Its next commercial cruise departs Sept. 13.