The Carnival Horizon will carry 24 pallets (about five tons) of hurricane relief supplies to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in partnership with Direct Relief, the Miami HEAT and the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation. The delivery supplements a Dec. 13 Direct Relief airlift of 120 pallets, bringing the combined total to 144 pallets (around 68 tons). A World Bank report estimates Hurricane Melissa caused about $8.8 billion in damage to Jamaica—roughly 41% of its 2024 GDP. Separately, Kepner’s death on the ship was ruled a homicide on Nov. 24 and remains under FBI investigation.
Carnival Horizon—Where Anna Kepner Was Found—Will Deliver Hurricane Relief Supplies To Jamaica
Anna Kepner/Instagram; Carnival Cruise LineL: Anna Kepner; R: Carnival Cruise Line loads hurricane relief onto the 'Horizon' ship.
The Carnival Horizon, the cruise ship where 18-year-old Anna Kepner’s body was discovered in November, is taking on a humanitarian role this week by transporting urgently needed hurricane relief supplies to Jamaica.
Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Horizon captain Niccolo De Ranieri unites with Miami HEAT Legend Alonzo Mourning.
Relief Shipment And Partners
On Dec. 14, Carnival Cruise Line announced it would load 24 pallets—roughly five tons—of critical items onto the ship bound for Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The shipment includes hygiene kits, medical supplies and other essential goods. The effort is a partnership between Carnival, Direct Relief, the Miami HEAT and the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation.
Carnival Cruise LineCarnival, Direct Relief and Miami HEAT load hurricane relief supplies onto Carnival Horizon.
“This partnership demonstrates the strength of coming together to help those in need,” said Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy. Eric Woolworth of the Miami HEAT added that the supplies aim to “help start the road to recovery.”
Scale Of The Response
The Carnival Horizon delivery supplements a larger Direct Relief airlift that landed 120 pallets in Jamaica on Dec. 13. Together the two efforts bring the total to 144 pallets weighing about 68 tons.
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty; Anna Kepner/InstagramL: Carnival 'Horizon' cruis ship; R: Anna Kepner
A Nov. 19 World Bank report estimated damage from Hurricane Melissa at approximately $8.8 billion—about 41% of Jamaica’s projected 2024 GDP—making Melissa the costliest storm in the country’s recorded history.
Ship Schedule And Passengers
Cruise-tracking site CruiseMapper shows the Carnival Horizon scheduled to arrive in Ocho Rios on Thursday, Dec. 18. Carnival has said the vessel will continue to carry its normal complement of vacation passengers while transporting the relief cargo.
Background: The Investigation Into Anna Kepner’s Death
The ship has also been in the headlines since Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead in her stateroom on Nov. 7. Her death was officially ruled a homicide on Nov. 24, and the FBI confirmed it opened an investigation on Nov. 9. During a Dec. 5 custody hearing, a judge referred to Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother as “a suspect.” Authorities have not publicly named a suspect and the criminal investigation is ongoing.
The relief mission and the ongoing investigation are separate matters: Carnival and its partners say the humanitarian shipment is intended to provide immediate assistance to communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
