Carnival Cruise Lines Grants Dolly Parton’s Wish on Behalf of Sick Kids

March 23, 2010 - PRLog -- DORAL, FL – Carnival Cruise Lines, the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, announced today that it would donate 25 Caribbean cruise trips to the families of children with life-threatening diseases under the auspices of the Make-A-Wish Program.

The donation came at the request of “Queen of Country” singer Dolly Parton, a seven-time Grammy winner.

“I was reading about these Make-A-Wish kids down here in our local newspapers and their families, and on the next page saw this advertisement featuring Carnival’s newest ship, the Carnival Magic,” said Parton. “And it just struck me to pick up the phone and see if I could create a little bit of magic myself.”

Parton’s call on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation got put through to CEO Gerry Cahill, who immediately agreed to donate 25 cabin cruises during the 2010 and 2011 seasons on a space-available basis.

“We often have last-minute cancellations, and it seemed right to me that these courageous kids and their families at the Make-A-Wish Foundations could be the ones to benefit,” said Cahill. “I’m grateful for Ms. Parton for calling me and putting the idea into my head.”

Parton told reporters later that if she’d known it was so easy, “I would have done it much sooner than this.”

“I hope she does, I really do,” said Cahill. “There’s a lot of other folks around the country – I can think of at least five right offhand -- who’d love to get a helpful phone call from Dolly Parton, just like I did.”

About Carnival Cruise Lines: Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 “Fun Ships” operating voyages ranging from three to 15 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England and Europe.

Carnival also has two new ships on order — the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, which is scheduled for delivery in 2011, and a sister ship set to debut in 2012.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation: The Make-A-Wish Foundation® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 69 chapters in the U.S. and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants more than 12,600 wishes a year and has granted more than 150,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.