Carnival announces partnership with Operation Homefront, Carrie Underwood

A new initiative by Carnival Cruise Line will raise money for military families in partnership with national nonprofit Operation Homefront, the company announced Thursday.

In collaboration with country singer Carrie Underwood, the cruise line will debut its year-long program — dubbed Honor. Family. Fun. — this weekend with commemorative dog tag sales aboard its fleet of ships. All proceeds will go to Operation Homefront.

“The partnership will bring to life many of the heartwarming stories our troops have to share while in turn bringing them some fun along the way,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line in a statement.

As part of the initiative, current and retired military personnel will be recognized in ceremonies on Carnival’s ships beginning in the coming weeks, a spokeswoman said.

The cruise line will also be collecting donations for the nonprofit on its website, carnival.com/HonorFamilyFun.

The program will culminate with a concert for military families starring Underwood aboard Carnival’s newest ship, 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista, when it sets sail from the Port of New York on Nov. 4.

The Vista will be the largest ship in the company’s history, debuting in Italy on May 1 and then turning its course to New York. The ship will sail from its home port at PortMiami starting Nov. 27.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Carnival announces partnership with Operation Homefront, Carrie Underwood."