"Causes? Arison raises boatloads "

Jason · January 14, 2004

Causes? Arison raises boatloads

By Thom Smith, Palm Beach Post Staff Columnist

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

On Forbes' list of the world's richest, Micky Arison ranks 104 with a net worth of $3.2 billion. Arison, 54, is best known down here as the owner of the Miami Heat, but he also owns Carnival Corp., the world's largest cruise line company and parent of Carnival, Holland-America, Costa and Cunard, among others.

He's also a patron of the arts. His Carnival Foundation has pledged $10 million to help build Miami's new performing arts center, with its Carnival Symphony Hall. He's helped a flotilla of charities such as the United Way, American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Junior Achievement and the March of Dimes.

He puts his big boats to work for good causes.

In 1996, more than 1,300 supporters of Miami City Ballet and the United Way boarded Carnival's brand-new Inspiration for an overnight cruise to nowhere. The night earned $150,000 for each group. That same year, a group from Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony partied on the Veendam, one of his Holland-America ships, at Port Everglades. The ship never left the pier, but 450 guests put lots of money in the organizations' coffers.

Next in port: Cunard's Queen Mary 2. It's so different, they aren't calling it a cruise ship. No way. Harking back to Cunard's glory days, it's an ocean liner -- 150,000 tons, 21 stories tall, 1,132 feet long, 2,620 passengers, $800 million price tag. Its maiden two-week voyage from Southampton, England, to Fort Lauderdale began Monday. It goes into regular service on Jan. 31. But the night before, Micky has invited aboard his old friends from Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony and Fort Lauderdale's Winterfest boat parade for another cruise to nowhere. Tickets ranged from $500 for an oceanview stateroom, dinner and cocktails to $50,000 for a 20-person "King Package" with five suites and five balcony staterooms, special dinners and parties and treatment in the Canyon Ranch Spa.

"We're sold out," ballet publicist Nicolle Ugarriza said. "We've already taken in $1.4 million to split between the three groups, and that doesn't include what we'll make from the auction and casino."

The symphony, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, and the ballet, directed by Edward Villella, will perform. Daniel Boulud will supervise the menus. To all involved,bon voyage should take on a whole new meaning.