- Latin America Expansion: Carnival Corporation has expanded its meal donation program into Latin America for the first time, signing agreements in Mexico, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.
- Meal Donation Strategy: The program redirects surplus, high-quality prepared, unserved meals from cruise ships to local communities as part of the “Less Left Over” food waste reduction strategy.
- Global Impact: The expansion brings the total number of port destinations participating in the meal donation program to 19 worldwide.
- Key Local Partners: The company partnered with major food banks like Red BAMX in Mexico and community leaders in Roatán and Puerto Plata for effective local distribution.
Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, is taking a major, positive step by expanding its meal donation program into Latin America for the first time. The company has successfully signed historic agreements with food banks and community partners in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Mexico, making it the first cruise company to establish formal meal donation agreements with organizations in these nations. This initiative is a core part of Carnival’s ongoing Less Left Over strategy, which is designed to reduce food waste while simultaneously addressing food insecurity in the destinations its ships visit.
This impressive program redirects surplus prepared and unserved meals from its ships to a growing network of trusted local partners, ensuring high-quality, healthy meals reach families and children who need them most. With the addition of these three new ports, the program will now operate in 19 destinations worldwide, demonstrating a strong commitment to global giving. The food banks involved are respected members of the Global FoodBanking Network.
Specific agreements are set to make a significant impact on the ground. In Mexico, meals will be distributed through Red BAMX, with a pilot program starting in Ensenada. In Honduras, the partnership with the Mayor of Roatán will see meals and surplus ingredients distributed directly to local schools, hospitals, and community organizations. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, agreements with the Catholic Diocese of Puerto Plata and Banco de Alimentos will provide meals to local organizations. This expansion builds upon a successful program that has already delivered over 300,000 unserved meals since 2017, reinforcing the company’s commitment to giving back to the communities that welcome their guests.