Carnival Teams Collect 5,000 Pounds of Coastal Waste

The Carnival Glory cruise ship in port
Cruise Industry Environment
by Sam Hamilton

Carnival Cruise Line marked International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19 by bringing together shipboard and shoreside employees, community organizations and other partners for cleanup activities at ports and destinations around the world.

“We have the privilege of operating on the world’s oceans and visiting some of its most beautiful coastal destinations, and with that privilege comes a responsibility to protect them,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

This effort demonstrates what is possible when our people and partners come together around a common goal, taking meaningful action to protect the oceans and destinations we proudly visit,” Duffy added.

Carnival said the initiative forms part of its continuing efforts to support healthier oceans and coastal communities.

Throughout September, 377 shipboard team members representing 29 Carnival ships joined 111 shoreside employees and local community partners to take part in 31 beach and waterway cleanup events. Together, the participants collected around 175 bags containing more than 5,000 pounds of trash, waste and other debris from coastal areas and waterways.

The Carnival Glory is scheduled to become the final vessel to participate when it carries out its cleanup on September 30. This will bring participation to 100 percent of Carnival’s fleet.

Cleanup activities took place across several major U.S. homeports, including Galveston, Texas, as well as Port Canaveral and Miami in Florida. Other events were organized in destinations throughout Alaska, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico, Greece, France and Australia.

According to Carnival, the September initiative builds on cleanup work undertaken throughout the year as part of the company’s wider commitment to cleaner coastal communities. During 2026, Carnival shipboard and shoreside team members have participated in cleanup events that collectively removed more than 7,200 pounds of debris.

The activities have been supported by local environmental organizations, port partners and community groups.

They also form part of Carnival’s broader sustainability strategy under its Our Sea Pledge program, which focuses on five key areas:

  • Circular Economy
  • Good Health, Inclusion and Belonging
  • Sustainable Tourism
  • Biodiversity and Conservation
  • Climate Action