Carnival Guests Can’t Donate Auction Items Anymore — Here’s Why
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that guests will no longer be able to donate items for auction during its popular Groove for St. Jude charity events.
The decision wasn’t made by the cruise line itself, but at the request of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — and Carnival says it will fully honor that request.
What’s Changing
The Groove for St. Jude event is a fun, high-energy dance party held on every Carnival ship, where guests donate to participate and receive T-shirts or small keepsakes as thanks.
On some cruises, extra fundraising came from spontaneous auctions featuring guest-donated items — often handmade crafts, bedazzled trinkets, or crocheted ducks inspired by the cruising-ducks trend.
That’s now coming to an end. Guests can still join the Groove event and donate as usual, but they can no longer contribute items for onboard auctions.
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald explained that the change was made at the direct request of St. Jude, and while it may disappoint some cruisers, the company fully respects the hospital’s decision.
Why the Change?
Neither Carnival nor St. Jude has offered a detailed reason for the new policy. However, organizations often place limits on what can be associated with their name or brand to ensure all fundraising aligns with their mission and quality standards.
Allowing guest-donated items could unintentionally give the appearance of official endorsement or create logistical and legal concerns about what is auctioned in the charity’s name.
Guests Caught Off Guard
Some cruisers were surprised by the sudden policy change. One guest recently shared that they had made two large crocheted ducks to donate for auction during back-to-back cruises on Carnival Firenze and Carnival Radiance, only to learn later that the auctions had been discontinued.
Heald personally responded, apologizing and explaining that the rule change was a recent one that had not yet been communicated across the fleet.
Carnival’s Continued Commitment to St. Jude
Although this tradition is ending, Carnival’s partnership with St. Jude remains as strong as ever. The cruise line first teamed up with the hospital in 2010 and has since raised millions of dollars through onboard events, auctions, and direct donations. In 2024, Carnival announced an ambitious new goal — to raise a total of $50 million by 2030 to support St. Jude’s mission of finding cures and saving children.
Groove for St. Jude will continue as a signature onboard event, and Carnival encourages guests to keep participating. The only difference is that all donations will now go directly through official channels instead of through informal guest auctions.
Other Fundraising Efforts Continue
Carnival employees and cruise directors are known for going above and beyond for charity. In recent years, the cruise line’s President Christine Duffy raised over $85,000 with a tandem skydive for a separate cause, while several cruise directors have hosted playful challenges to raise thousands for St. Jude — from shaving beards to waxing chests. Those creative efforts are expected to continue.
What Cruisers Should Know
If you’re sailing soon and want to support St. Jude, you can still join the onboard Groove party and make a donation — you just can’t donate physical items for auction. Carnival suggests checking with your cruise director for updated event details once onboard.
This new rule may mark the end of a lighthearted tradition, but the bigger picture remains unchanged. Carnival and its guests will keep “grooving for good,” continuing to support St. Jude’s lifesaving work — just without the handmade ducks and impromptu bidding wars.
