• Why We Do It

     

    We are a California-based nonprofit founded by veteran cruise vacationers Bill and Cathleen Huckaby out of a desire to alleviate island poverty.

    We are not travel agents! We help connect cruise passengers with local charities.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Read our full story below

  • Our Story

     

    We're Bill and Cathy, an ordinary couple with an extraordinary vision: to bring hope and health to every needy port in the world!

    We are not travel agents. We help connect cruise passengers with local charities.

    It all started years ago when we were lucky enough to guest lecture on cruises all over the Caribbean. But our hearts broke over the tremendous need we saw in port; poverty, sanitation & environmental issues confronted us blocks from every pier. In St. Thomas, we had an epiphany: connect cruise passengers to existing charities for service opportunities! No one else was doing it so we jumped in.

     

    Hope Floats was officially born in 2008 after more red tape and headache than we ever imagined, but we forged ahead, adding islands, charities, and incredible testimonials from vacationers just like you who want to CRUISE with a CAUSE. And on this amazing journey, we've learned firsthand what Walt Disney meant when he said,

     

    "It's kinda fun to do the Impossible"

     

    Thanks for checking us out!

    -Bill + Cathleen

  • Hope Floats Timeline

    2019

    Opened trips to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Key West, Florida!

     

    2016

    Opened trips to Nassau and San Juan Puerto Rico !

     

    2015

    Cruisable.com features Cathy as "Cruiser of the Month", writes four page article about Hope Floats

     

    2014

    Belize, Aruba, & Cozumel ports and charities added. Hundreds of volunteers spread the word after stellar experiences!

     

    2013

    Partnership set up with ShoreTrips.com as their 'Shore Trips GIVES' program. Hope Floats featured in articles in Travel Pulse, Porthole Magazine, Travel Weekly, & the NEW YORK TIMES!

     

    2012

    Our first (brave) volunteers register & end up serving tea to an English Prince in Tortola! The 'Travel Detective' Peter Greenberg calls & writes about Hope Floats!

     

    2010- 2011

    Site rebuilt, 501(C)3 Non-Profit status granted (LOTS of red tape!), and dry run set up with friends to Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia, St Thomas, & Tortola with fifteen charities on board. All charity leaders are met and volunteers work at their locations

     

    2008

    Hope Floats, with Board of Directors, is born!

     

    March 2007

    While on a family cruise, Cathy and Bill take their fours sons, 9-20, to volunteer with developmentally challenged children in Antigua on advice from a crew member. They were amazed by the experience and frightfully unprepared for the severity of their issues; even their cab driver bolted. Idea for Hope Floats is born: why not connect passengers with existing charities to volunteer while in port and PREPARE them ahead of time with details, items to donate, etc.?

     

    2000-2004

    Cathy and Bill are offered an amazing opportunity to speak as Guest Lecturers on cruise ships on topics from scrapbooking to open heart surgery. Good work if you can get it!

  • Browse Trips

     

    Check out current Ports of Call!

     

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Terms & Conditions
"Donations of time and service are not tax deductible under IRS rules and regulations; please consult your tax advisor."

Release and Waiver of Liability

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! THIS IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT AFFECTS
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS!

This Release and Waiver of Liability (the “Release”) is executed on the day of purchase in favor of Hope Floats, a nonprofit corporation existing under the laws of the State of California, USA, the hosting Hope Float’s Charity(s), both foreign and domestic, and any other Hope Floats affiliated organizations, and their directors, officers, trustees, employees, volunteers and agents (collectively, “Hope Floats and Partners”).

I, the Volunteer, desire to work as a volunteer for Hope Floats and Partners and engage in the activities related to being a volunteer (“Activities”).
I understand that my Activities may include but are not limited to the following:
Walking, Lifting, General Manual Labor, Cooking, Use of light machinery or
tools, kitchen implements, Community cleanup, Painting, Light renovation work

I, the Volunteer, hereby freely, voluntarily and without duress execute this Release under the following terms:

RELEASE AND WAIVER.

I, the Volunteer, do hereby release and forever discharge and hold harmless Hope Floats and Partners and their successors and assigns from any and all liability, claims and demands of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from my Activities with Hope Floats and Partners. I understand and acknowledge that this Release discharges Hope Floats and Partners from any liability or claim that I may have against Hope Floats and Partners with respect to any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death or property damage that may result from my Activities with Hope Floats and Partners, whether caused by the negligence of Hope Floats and Partners or their officers, directors, employees, agents or otherwise. I also understand that Hope Floats and Partners do not assume any responsibility for or
obligation to provide financial assistance or other assistance, including but not limited to medical, health or disability insurance in the event of injury, illness, death or property damage.

It is the policy of Hope Floats that children under the age of 16 not be allowed on a Hope Floats service project while construction is in progress. It is further the policy of Hope Floats that, while children between the ages of 16 and 18 may be allowed to participate in construction work, ultra-hazardous activity such as using power tools, excavation, demolition or working on rooftops is not permitted by anyone under the age of 18.

I, the Volunteer hereby release and forever discharge Hope Floats from any claim which arises or may hereafter arise on account of any first aid, treatment or service rendered in connection with my activities with Hope Floats, or in the case of a minor child, with the decision by any representative or agent of Hope Floats to exercise the power of consent to medical or dental treatment as such power may be granted and authorized in the Parental Authorization for Treatment of a Minor Child.

MEDICAL TREATMENT.

I, the Volunteer, do hereby release and forever discharge Hope Floats and Partners from any claim or action whatsoever which arises or may hereafter arise on account of any first aid, treatment or service rendered in connection with my Activities with Hope Floats and Partners.

If the Volunteer is less than 18 years of age (a “minor”), the Volunteer and the parents having legal custody and/or the legal guardians of the Volunteer (the “Guardians”) also hereby release and forever discharge Hope Floats and Partners from any claim whatsoever which arises or may hereafter arise on account of the decision by any representative or agent of Hope Floats and Partners to exercise the power to consent to medical or dental treatment as such power may be granted and authorized in a Parental Authorization for Treatment of a Minor Child.

I, the Volunteer understand that, except as otherwise agreed to by Hope Floats in writing; Hope Floats does not carry or maintain health, medical or disability insurance coverage for any volunteer. Each Volunteer is expected and encouraged to obtain his or her own medical or health insurance coverage.

ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK.

I, the Volunteer, understand that my Activities may include work that may be hazardous, or potentially hazardous to me. I also understand there is some inherent risk in transportation to and from the service projects, and consuming local foods and water in the city(ies) or country(ies) visited. I further understand I may be traveling to and from locations where there is a risk of terrorism, war, insurrection, criminal activities, inclement weather or other circumstances that could threaten my health or safety. I also understand Hope Floats and Partners are under no obligation to pay ransom or make any other payments to secure the release of hostages. I hereby expressly and specifically assume the risk of injury or harm in the Activities and release Hope Floats and Partners
from all liability for any loss, cost, expense, injury, illness, death or property damage resulting directly or indirectly from the Activities.

INSURANCE.

I, the Volunteer, understand that, except as otherwise agreed to by Hope Floats and Partners in writing, Hope Floats and Partners are under no obligation to provide, carry, or maintain health, medical, travel, disability, or other insurance coverage for any Volunteer. Each Volunteer is expected and encouraged to obtain his or her own health, medical, travel, disability or other insurance coverage.

PHOTOGRAPHIC RELEASE.

I, the Volunteer, do hereby grant and convey unto Hope Floats and Partners all right, title and interest in any and all photographic images and video or audio recordings made by Hope Floats and Partners during my Activities with Hope Floats and Partners, including, but not limited to, any royalties, proceeds or other benefits derived from such photographs or recordings.

OTHER.

I, the Volunteer, expressly agree that this Release is intended to be as broad and
inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of California, USA, and that this Release shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, USA. I further agree that in the event any clause or provision of this Release shall be held to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such clause or provision shall not otherwise affect the remaining clauses or provisions of this Release, which shall continue to be enforceable.
Further, a waiver of a right under this Release does not prevent the exercise of any other right.

By completing my purchase of Hope Floats Shore Excursions, I express my understanding of this Release.

IMPORTANT: If the Volunteer is less than 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must also sign this Release and Waiver of Liability with a witness. The parent or guardian that executes this Release on behalf of a Volunteer who is under 18 years of age, hereby covenants, warrants, represents and agrees that he or she is executing this Release on behalf of, and as an agent for, any other individual who may be a parent or guardian of the Volunteer, and that by executing this Release, the undersigned is binding himself/ herself, the Volunteer and any other parent or guardian of the Volunteer, and all of their heirs, executors, personal representatives, assigns and estates to this Release.
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