Deborah
Thelwell from Phoenix,
Arizona, named the grand prize winner of an Alaska cruise, along with nine runners-up from
across the United States
SEATTLE, April 15,
2022 /CNW/ -- On Valentine's Day 2022 Holland America
Line launched a "Love Letters to
Alaska" contest in celebration of
its upcoming 75th anniversary season in the Great Land.
More than 40,000 hopefuls submitted a personal letter professing
their love for Alaska or why they
would like to visit.
More than 40,000 hopefuls submitted a
personal letter professing their love for Alaska or why they would like to
visit.
After narrowing down the entries to the top 10, Deborah Thelwell from Phoenix, Arizona, was named the grand prize
winner of a seven-day Holland America Line Alaska cruise for two in
a Neptune Suite.
"The number of entries we received was overwhelming in the most
incredible way, with thousands of people professing their love for
Alaska with creative, beautiful
and heartfelt notes," said Beth
Bodensteiner, senior vice president and chief commercial
officer, Holland America Line. "Choosing the 10 winners was
difficult because so many were worthy, but in the end, Deborah's
poem captured the essence of the contest with an entry that was
beautifully written as a tribute to both her late husband and
Alaska."
Selected as the best of the best by a panel of judges who have a
connection to Alaska, Washington state or the cruise line, Deborah's
entry was penned to honor her husband Alan who passed before they
were able to take their dream cruise to Alaska.
"My love letter is for my late husband. We had planned an
Alaska cruise for our retirement,
but alas, he died from complications of dementia at age 57," wrote
Deborah to introduce her heartfelt poem:
"Your love of the sea, your love of me/ My love of you, so
strong and true/ Our dreams once dreamed, but now, it seems, I must
sail on alone/ To see the glaciers caress the land/ The rivers,
entwined, like lovers' arms as they make their way to the sea/ The
mountains, bursting onto the horizon/ Joyfully stretching to the
sky, as we once reached for each other," reads an excerpt from
Deborah's entry.
In addition to Deborah, nine runners-up come from across
the United States, including
Arkansas, Georgia, Ohio, South
Dakota, Tennessee,
Utah and Washington state. Each submitted a poem,
sonnet, letter or tribute professing their love and admiration for
The Last Frontier. As a winner, they each will receive a seven-day
Alaska cruise for two in a Vista
or Signature Suite.
The judging panel who selected the grand prize winner included
Jim Dever, an Emmy Award–winning
host and reporter on Seattle's
"KING 5 Evening" show; Dr. Pepper
Schwartz, an acclaimed professor, author, researcher and television
personality furthering the field of intimacy; Tekla Butcher-Monson, daughter of acclaimed
Alaskan musher Susan Butcher and a
musher in her own right, as well as the owner of Trail Breaker
Kennel; Russell Dick, president and
CEO of Huna Totem Corp.; and Danny
Genung, chief executive officer of Harr Travel, a
California-based boutique
agency.
Experience Alaska with the
Experts
In 2022 six Holland America Line ships will explore
Alaska, either roundtrip from
Seattle, Washington; roundtrip
from Vancouver, Canada; or between
Whittier, Alaska, and Vancouver. The ships deliver a premium
experience designed for immersive cruising with wraparound decks
and an abundance of verandah staterooms that bring guests closer to
Alaska's natural wonders.
Every Alaska cruise includes a
visit to one or more of Alaska's
iconic glacier destinations: Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, Hubbard Glacier and Twin
Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm.
Alaska ports of call include
Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. Cruises that feature Glacier Bay take
on a National Park ranger and local Huna Tlingit guide.
For explorers who want to travel farther, 16 different
Cruisetours combine an Alaska
cruise with an inland exploration of Denali National Park or to the unspoiled
reaches of Canada's Yukon Territory. Holland America Line owns its motorcoaches, railcars and
hotels, so schedules are preferential. Each Cruisetour gets a
scenic ride on the luxury-domed McKinley Explorer, including select
itineraries that offer Direct-to-Denali service, taking guests from
their ship to their Denali hotel room on the same day.
Holland America Line Immerses Guests in Alaska with 'Alaska Up Close'
Through
authentic experiences on board and ashore that focus on culture,
cuisine and immersive adventures, "Alaska Up Close" enables guests
to discover, taste and experience the real Alaska in a way that only Holland America Line
can deliver. Alaska Up Close features local experts and
personalities leading workshops and lectures, Explorations
Central (EXC) Talks revealing the stories of real Alaskans,
tours highlighting the best of each destination, Port to Table
culinary immersion and local cuisine served at dining venues
throughout the ship.
Alaska cruise pricing starts at
a "Have it All" premium package rate of $749 per person, double occupancy for a seven-day
sailing, which includes one shore excursion, a Signature Beverage
Package, one night specialty dining and Wi-Fi. Cruise-only standard
fares start at $499 per person,
double occupancy. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional.
Many Alaska departures through
2022 also feature free or reduced fares for kids when sailing as a
third or fourth guest in the same stateroom.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a
travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit
hollandamerica.com.
Editors note: All 10 entries and photos are
available at https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/hqjmz0q3.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the
Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the
home page at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL) and (NYSE:
CUK)]
Holland America Line
has been exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise
line to offer adventures to Alaska
and the Yukon nearly 75 years ago.
Its fleet of premium ships visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries
around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A
third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, joined the fleet in
July 2021.
The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships
feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching
experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized
travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music
Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland
America Line's esteemed Culinary Council of world-famous chefs.
CONTACT:
|
Bill Zucker, Erik
Elvejord
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029,
206-626-9890
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
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SOURCE Holland America Line