Carnival Corporation Expands Surplus Meal Donation Program to the Dominican Republic | News
Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise line, today announced the expansion of its surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic. This makes it the second Latin American country to join the company’s initiative to safely deliver prepared, unserved meals to the local communities where the cruise ships visit.
As part of Carnival Corporation’s food waste reduction strategy, the donation of approximately 200 portions of prepared, non-served meals from Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras was made to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata, Carnival Corporation’s local program partner, for distribution to area organizations assisting families and the elderly. Supported by government collaboration, coordination with local shore-based partners and Carnival Cruise Line’s culinary teams, the effort aims to move meals safely and consistently from ship to shore. The program is expected to quickly expand to all Carnival Cruise Line ships calling at Amber Cove.
With the addition of the Dominican Republic, the program has expanded to 19 ports since its launch in 2017, addressing food insecurity in port communities where the company’s ships call. By the end of 2025, the program has provided more than 320,000 meal servings to global communities since its inception, with plans to further expand the model into new markets.
“Bringing our surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic is an important part of expanding this work across Latin America,” said Vicky Rey, vice president of government relations for Latin America, Carnival Corporation. “This work depends on clear processes, strong coordination with government and local partners, and a shared commitment to supporting the local community. Amber Cove’s long-standing presence in Puerto Plata gives us a strong foundation to build on. We are grateful to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata for serving as our local program partner, our business partner Fabio Valenzuela, advisor to Rannik Group, and the government agencies for their help in making this possible.”
“We appreciate Carnival Corporation’s continued investments in Puerto Plata and its work with the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata to ensure these meals reach organizations serving those in need,” said Claritza Rochtte Peralta de Senior, Governor of Puerto Plata. “This donation reflects the value of bringing together the right partners to support communities across the province.”
The announcement builds on Carnival Corporation’s long-standing role in Puerto Plata through Amber Cove, which opened in 2015 as an $85 million cruise destination that helped bring cruise tourism back to the region after more than three decades. Since then, Amber Cove has welcomed approximately seven million visitors, helping position Puerto Plata as a leading cruise destination in the Caribbean and creating opportunities for local tour operators, artisans, vendors, transportation companies and small businesses.
The meal donation milestone adds to Carnival Corporation’s broader work with local partners in Puerto Plata, including Maimón Basura Cero, a partnership with the Maimón District Municipality and Fundación Héroes del Medio Ambiente that is nearing completion of its third and final phase. The initiative aims to strengthen local waste management by reducing solid waste sent from Maimón to the landfill in Puerto Plata, encouraging separation at source and supporting recycling opportunities and the circular economy within the community.
As the leading cruise operator in the Dominican Republic, Carnival Corporation’s eight global cruise lines will visit six Dominican ports in 2026, attracting more than 1.3 million guests and representing 50% of the country’s cruise market share.
