• 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

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  • 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"

     

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    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!

  • Our Work in Pictures

    Photos from our previous travelers

  • Browse Trips

     

    Check out current Ports of Call!

     

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