Disney Cruise Line Donates 1,300 Backpacks to Bahamian Students Through Wishes Set Sail Campaign
Disney Cruise Line delivered more than 1,300 school-supply-filled backpacks to students in Abaco and Eleuthera, Bahamas, as part of the Wishes Set Sail community initiative tied to the Disney Wish's inaugural season. Crew members from Florida and the Bahamas assembled and distributed the backpacks in partnership with local government and community organizations. The donation is part of a $400,000 total giving commitment across the Disney Wish's inaugural sailings.
Disney Cruise Line distributed more than 1,300 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in Abaco and Eleuthera, Bahamas, as part of the cruise line's ongoing Wishes Set Sail community initiative. The donation — coordinated by crew members from both Florida and the Bahamas — reached students just as the new school year began. The effort is part of a broader $400,000 commitment tied to the inaugural sailings of the Disney Wish.
Key Details
- Campaign: Wishes Set Sail
- Recipients: 1,300+ students in Abaco and Eleuthera, Bahamas
- Items Donated: Backpacks filled with pencils, notebooks, and school supplies
- Distribution Partners: South Abaco District Local Government Authority; The Starting Line (Eleuthera)
- Total Pledge: $400,000 across Disney Wish's inaugural sailings
- Previous Recipients: Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Brevard County Branches; Junior Achievement Bahamas
Backpacks for Abaco and Eleuthera
Disney Cruise Line crew members based in Florida and The Bahamas spent several days assembling the backpacks with pencils, notebooks, and other school essentials before distributing them to communities in both islands. In South Abaco — including the Sandy Point and Crossing Rock communities, home to many of the line's Castaway Cay crew — the distribution was handled in partnership with the South Abaco District Local Government Authority. In Eleuthera, members of the Lighthouse Point team participated in The Starting Line's inaugural Back to School Family Fun Day to hand out supplies.
A Long-Standing Commitment to Bahamian Education
The 2022 back-to-school drive builds on years of educational investment by Disney Cruise Line in the Bahamas. Previous efforts have included donations of tablets and textbooks, financial support for school rebuilding following Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and crew-led reading programs in Nassau designed to foster a love of storytelling among local students.
The Wishes Set Sail campaign, which launched alongside the Disney Wish's inaugural voyages, has set a target of $400,000 in total giving across participating communities. Earlier recipients included the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Brevard County Branches and Junior Achievement Bahamas, with additional contributions planned.
Why This Matters
The initiative reflects Disney Cruise Line's investment in the port communities that its ships visit most frequently, particularly those in the Bahamas where the line operates Castaway Cay and is developing Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera. As the line expands its presence in the region, community partnerships and philanthropic commitments have become a visible part of its operating philosophy. Learn more about Disney Cruise Line's community efforts at DisneyCruise.com.