As a cruise entity goes, Carnival's name regularly gets dragged through the mud, as it is once again because of the troublesome Triumph.
But it seldom happens in Miami. There, hometown of the cruise line's offices and the basketball team that belongs to the Carnival owner, this good corporate citizen is a great corporate citizen.
Gerry Arison for President?
While Carnival's ships tour the world, nowhere are they as popular as they are in south Florida. When the Carnival Breeze made a splash in North America last December, it 
was in Miami. Tracy Mourning, wife of ex-basketball star Alonzo, was introduced as the ship's Godmother and her Honeyshine Girls — the name of the charitable organization she founded 11 years ago — received $25,000 from Carnival.
Last week, Carnival was at it again.
This time, while Arison's Miami Heat were polishing off Charlotte, 16 local high schoolers were being presented with four-year scholarships from the cruise line. The successful candidates are participants in a mentoring program sponsored by the Heat and Big Brothers Big Sisters and administered by Carnival.
In four years, Carnival has purchased 150 such scholarships, at a cost of $1.8 million and for the benefit of 60 students who are free to use them at any Florida state university or college.
In Miami, Carnival is king.
Celebrity Summit
7 nights
May 5, 2013
Bayonne, NJ (return): King's Wharf
Inside: $549
Cost per day: $78
wwwcelebritycruises.com