The Miami Herald is reporting that Steve Crisafulli, a republican in Florida’s House of Representative will be holding a fundraiser aboard the [Disney_Dream]. Crisafulli’s fundraiser cruise will set sail from Port Canaveral on August 1, 2013 on a 3-Night Bahamian itinerary calling on Nassau and Castaway Cay. This is just a group sailing, not a chartered cruise. Private groups sailing on the Disney ships are not at all uncommon. However, unlike other organized group sailings there are no group activities scheduled.
The fundraiser is being organized by Crisafulli, the soon to be Florida House Speaker, to raise money for upcoming House races, according to the Miami Herald article. Donors will receive a $200 on board credit, and sail in a deluxe oceanview stateroom with verandah which as of this morning are running about $850 per person with a $50,000 contribution to the Republican Party of Florida. Crisafulli states that Disney is not paying and that Disney’s government affairs lobbyist, Jacob DiPietre, is aware of the fundraiser but was not involved in planning the cruise.
Crisafulli issued the following statement regarding the upcoming fundaraiser on the Disney Dream to the Miami Herald.
Beginning Thursday, August 1st, and running through Sunday August 4th, the RPOF House Majority campaign will hold a fundraiser aboard the Disney Dream, with two ports of call in Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay.
Donors will receive a $200 onboard credit, a deluxe oceanview stateroom with a verandah, and all meals will be included in exchange for a $50,000 contribution to RPOF.
Outside of dinner those three nights, no other activities are scheduled, which allow attendees and their families to enjoy the time however they would like.
The event is paid for entirely by RPOF, there is no in-kind contribution from Disney.
RPOF depends entirely on the generosity of contributors from all walks of life, and people give to RPOF in two ways, their time and their money. Our responsibility is to make sure we show our appreciation to our contributors in an ethical and transparent manner, and the RPOF finance team is always seeking creative ways to reward donors and volunteers at every level.
Statement issued to the Miami Herald
According to Crisafulli’s bio, he resides on Merritt Island with his wife and two children. Crisafulli told the Miami Herald, “I’ve always been happy to show off the cruise industry” and since he grew up with Disney he figured, “this would be nice.”