Carnival Cruise Line broke its annual fundraising record for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2022.

The cruise line raised over $3.5 million for the organization this past year, surpassing its highest-ever annual amount of $2.8 million in 2018 and bringing its grand total to $26.2 million raised since the partnership began in 2010.

Carnival also achieved its highest fourth quarter amount ever, with more than $1 million raised in the last three months of the year. A testament to the name of Carnival’s newest ship inaugurated in November, guests on that ship celebrated the launch of Carnival Celebration by opening their wallets to support St. Jude, giving 30% of cash collections during its maiden voyage month.

As the Official Celebration Partner of St. Jude, Carnival hosts events at the hospital and raises money through a variety of fundraising initiatives, both on board and ashore, including the Groove for St. Jude dance party, Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea where kids can create their own St. Jude-themed keepsake bear, and a cookie amenity package with proceeds going to St. Jude. An indication of the vast number of guests who supported St. Jude in 2022 through these opportunities, Carnival sold more than 100,000 St. Jude Groove shirts and more than 27,000 St. Jude bears.

Adding landside activations, last year Carnival took its fundraising work for St. Jude on the road with its Agentpalooza events in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk and Charlotte. At each stop, travel advisors were invited to donate to St. Jude and the effort raised an additional $60,000.