Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced it has met the company’s goal of raising $2.5 million for the hurricane relief program in the Caribbean Hope Starts Here.  In less than four months, since start of the program more than $1.25 million was collected in donations from the company’s valued team members, travel partners, loyal guests and business partners, which NCLH has matched in order to assist the non-profit organization All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response, focused on natural disaster relief, in rebuilding safe, resilient schools on five Caribbean islands.

The relief program was launched in late September 2017 when Norwegian Cruise Line partnered with relief organization All Hands and Hearts to help provide immediate relief in Key West and reconstruct schools and critical infrastructure in affected islands in the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Tortola. NCL Holdings has a longstanding relationship with the Caribbean, where its ships have been visiting for more than 50 years and is focused on providing both immediate and long-term assistance to the region.

“We are extremely grateful to have met our goal of raising $2.5 million to help fund the Hope Starts Here hurricane relief program which we began after witnessing the devastation that Hurricane Irma and Maria inflicted on the Florida Keys and the Caribbean,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “We want to wholeheartedly thank everyone who contributed to our efforts to deliver early relief response and rebuild safe, resilient schools in these impacted communities.  We could not have met this goal without your generosity.”

“We are so thankful for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ incredibly generous donation and their commitment to helping those in need,” said Petra Nemcova, Co-Founder of All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response. “Through their support, our teams were immediately able to respond to the Florida Keys following Hurricane Irma, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands after the destruction of Hurricane Maria, and have now entered Puerto Rico to continue relief efforts to ensure that no community is forgotten. This partnership is bringing much-needed hope and tangible change to many families."

“We are proud to call Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings a partner in our efforts to bring support to communities that have been struck by natural disasters,” said David Campbell, Co-Founder of All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response. “As the single largest donation in our organization’s history, this support allows us to continue and expand upon our work to rebuild in the Caribbean after the devastating hurricanes of last year. All Hands and Hearts is committed to providing help and hope to communities impacted by natural disasters, and together with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, we are able to have an even greater impact.”