After counting, rolling and transporting a whole lot of kilos of pennies from six Holland America Line and 6 Princess Cruises ships crusing in Alaska, the 2 cruise strains donated $5,000 in cash and a money donation to Scouting America Troop 4 and Troop 2004 throughout a neighborhood occasion in Ketchikan, Alaska.
“What started as a sensible problem aboard our ships turned a novel alternative to create one thing optimistic for a neighborhood that has welcomed our friends for generations,” Robert Morgenstern, senior vice chairman of the Alaska operations of Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, mentioned in a press launch.
“We’re proud to companion with the Ketchikan Scouts and assist flip 1000’s of pennies into assets that may help management improvement, service and future alternatives for native youth,” Morgenstern mentioned.
The initiative provides new function to extra shipboard pennies, remodeling them into funding for native Scouts whereas celebrating each cruise strains’ longstanding relationship with Alaska port communities.
With the penny not minted however remaining authorized tender, the July 10 donation was the end result of a resourceful effort to gather the cash on board from totally different departments like Visitor Companies, the On line casino and the Finance Division.
The shipboard groups, shoreside staff and neighborhood companions in Ketchikan labored collectively to channel 1000’s of pennies into new assets for native youth in one in every of Alaska’s most-visited cruise locations.
Crew members aboard Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam, which have been crusing Alaska all summer time, labored collectively to gather, depend and put together practically 1,000 kilos of pennies for donation.
Within the days main as much as the occasion, the cash had been offloaded from the ships in Ketchikan with the assistance of native companions earlier than being introduced to the Scouts.
Holland America Line was joined within the effort by sister model Princess Cruises, which additionally contributed pennies collected from six of its ships crusing in Alaska: Discovery Princess, Star Princess, Ruby Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess and Coral Princess.
Pooling Their Pennies
Collectively, the 2 cruise strains pooled 1000’s of cash for the Ketchikan- primarily based Scouting America troops, turning spare grow to be funding for native youth packages.
Throughout the donation occasion, Scout leaders and troop members gathered in Ketchikan to obtain the cash. The funds will help native scouting actions and supply extra assets for future packages and neighborhood service initiatives.
“The Scouts taking part in our program at this time will turn into tomorrow’s neighborhood leaders, enterprise homeowners, first responders and volunteers,” Jim Meiresonne, scoutmaster of Troop 4, mentioned in a press launch.
“Help from companions like Holland America Line and Princess Cruises helps us present experiences that construct management, accountability and a dedication to service. This generosity will assist guarantee at this time’s Scouts have the instruments and experiences they should turn into tomorrow’s leaders,” Meiresonne mentioned.
Troops 4 and 2004 are an energetic a part of the Ketchikan neighborhood, creating alternatives for younger individuals to problem themselves by means of out of doors adventures, management experiences and neighborhood service.
The donation from Holland America Line and Princess Cruises will assist help upcoming troop actions, service initiatives and scouting experiences, offering assets that permit native youth to proceed constructing abilities, serving their neighborhood and creating lasting recollections.
Supporting Alaska Communities for 80 Years
The penny donation is the newest instance of Holland America Line’s funding in Alaska and the communities that assist make the area a number one journey vacation spot.
Because the cruise line approaches its eightieth 12 months exploring Alaska, it continues to help the state by means of investments in its Denali operations, together with a $70-million growth challenge scheduled for completion in 2027, and thru charitable partnerships that profit Alaska communities.
By means of its On Deck for a Trigger onboard fundraising walks, Holland America Line has raised funds for Alaska Geographic, the nonprofit training companion of Alaska’s parks, forests, refuges and conservation lands, and for American Legion Submit 3 in Ketchikan, which was based in 1919 and serves native veterans, their households and the broader neighborhood because it raises funds to rebuild after a devastating hearth in 2023.
Princess Cruises 2026 Alaska Season
Princess Cruises is crusing its largest Alaska season ever in 2026, highlighted by the debut of its latest ship within the fleet, Star Princess.
The expanded program options eight ships, 180 departures and visits to 19 locations, giving vacationers an unparalleled vary of Alaska adventures by sea or by means of mixed land-and-sea cruisetours.
The 2026 season options visits to iconic locations together with Ketchikan, the place friends can have alternatives to interact with native communities and study extra in regards to the area’s historical past and resilience.
About Holland America Line
Holland America Line has been exploring the world for greater than 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and real connections to the locations.
Providing a perfectly-sized ship expertise, its fleet of 11 vessels visits practically 400 ports in 114 international locations world wide and has shared the joys of Alaska for greater than 75 years — longer than every other cruise line.
Savour the Journey isn’t only a tagline, it’s a reinforcement that the cruise line gives experiences too good to rush by means of, connecting vacationers to the world and one another.
Award-winning enrichment programming, leisure and delicacies that brings every locale on board, together with a revolutionary World Contemporary Fish Program, put Holland America Line on the forefront of premium cruising. Holland America Line is a part of Carnival Company, the world’s largest cruise firm with a portfolio of cruise strains working in over 800 ports & locations worldwide.
About Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world’s most iconic cruise model that delivers dream holidays to thousands and thousands of friends yearly in probably the most sought-after locations on the biggest ships that provide elite service personalization and ease customary of small, yacht-class ships.
Nicely-appointed staterooms, world class eating, grand performances, award-winning casinos and leisure, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless actions mix with unique Princess Medallion Class service to create significant connections and unforgettable moments in probably the most unbelievable settings on the earth – the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises.
Star Princess, the model’s latest and most progressive ship, launched October 2025, and sister ship to Solar Princess, named Condé Nast Traveler Mega Ship of the 12 months for a second consecutive 12 months. The corporate is a part of Carnival Company, the world’s largest cruise firm with a portfolio of cruise strains working in over 800 ports & locations worldwide.
Pictures courtesy of Holland America Line
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