Holland America Line has been sailing through Alaska for decades, and now, the cruise line is sharing its love of the destination by giving away ten free trips to The Last Frontier State. 

The company’s “Love Letters to Alaska” sweepstakes asks travelers to explain why they love the state for a chance to win a weeklong cruise in one of Holland America Line’s luxury suites. To enter the giveaway, travelers must explain why they want to travel to Alaska and what they love about the state. Each entry must be 250 words or fewer, and the contest ends at 11:50 p.m. PT on March 15. 

The quality of the writing will judge entries and the sincerity and originality of the submission. 

The grand prize will be a 7-day Alaskan cruise for two people living in the Neptune Suite. Worth about $3,200, the Neptune suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, a private verandah, a large sitting area, and upscale amenities. They will choose nine other winners to receive a weeklong cruise for two inside Holland America’s Vista or Signature suites, worth $2,600. 

Winners must sail in 2022 and have plenty of departure dates from which to choose. Holland America offers cruises in Alaska from April through early October. Most of this year’s dozen sailings travel round trip from Seattle or Vancouver. Passengers can also start or end their journey in Whittier, Alaska.  

Whether you win one of these ten trips or decide to book a cruise with Holland America, it’s important to note the company currently requires all guests to be fully vaccinated. And show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken within two days of sailing. They need face masks in all public indoor areas. 

For more information and enter the “Love Letters to Alaska” sweepstakes, click here. 

The CDC has officially updated its guidance regarding cruising and is no longer warning travelers against all cruises regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.  

The CDC initially took this hardline position in December as several outbreaks of the Omicron variant were traced back to cruise ships, including some with fully vaccinated passengers. Now, the agency has lowered its warning from a “Level 4” classification (recommending all travelers to “avoid” cruise travel) to a “Level 3.” But that doesn’t mean the cruise industry is off the hook.  

A “Level 3” warning still means that there’s a “high” level of COVID-19 transmission on board ships. The CDC recommends all travelers be “up to date” with their COVID-19 vaccines before setting sail on a cruise. The agency also stated that those with an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should avoid cruising altogether regardless of their vaccination status.  

“The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters onboard ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines,” the CDC wrote in its updated guidelines. 

The lowering of the CDC travel warning comes as the agency let its Conditional Sail Order expire last month. Now, cruises are not bound by strict CDC guidelines to operate in the U.S. and can instead opt into the agency’s COVID-19 program, which classifies ships under three categories: Not Highly Vaccinated (less than 95% of passengers and 95% of the crew are fully vaccinated), Highly Vaccinated (at least 95% of passengers and 95% of the workforce are fully vaccinated, but less than 95% of both passengers and crew are up to date with their vaccines), and Vaccination Standard of Excellence (at least 95% of passengers and 95% of the staff are up to date with their vaccines, including a booster shot). 

This news from the CDC has prompted some cruise lines to relax their guidelines regarding vaccines and mask policies, while others take the opposite approach. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, will now allow unvaccinated children under the age of five to sail abroad its ships. Meanwhile, Silversea and Azamara require passengers to be fully vaccinated and boosted before boarding their vessels.