Enter to Win an Alaska Cruise and Watch the Ice Live. As part of their ongoing commitment to honoring Alaska’s traditions, Holland America is sponsoring the Nenana Ice Classic, beginning March 15. To mark the occasion, enter our sweepstakes for a chance to win an Alaska cruise for two.
ELIGIBILITY: US, 21+
END DATE: April 30, 2026
LIMIT: One Entry
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a HAL promotional cruise voucher redeemable for one (1) verandah stateroom for winner and a guest (double occupancy) on a seven (7) day Holland America Line Alaska cruise sailing by fall 2026. Cruise Voucher is valid for one (1) double occupancy verandah stateroom for Winner and one travel guest on any Holland America Line cruise on an Alaska sailing of seven (7) day duration, sailing roundtrip from Seattle, Washington, departing no later than October 20, 2026 subject to availability as determined solely by Holland America Line . Not applicable to cruises departing in the month of July. ARV: $2,099
I’m ready to write Carolyn’s essay, but I don’t actually have enough information about the contest or what the prompt is asking her to respond to. The “Comment *” field doesn’t give me much to go on — different contests ask very different things, like why you deserve to win, what a product means to you, how you’d use a prize, or something about your personal story.
Could you share a bit more about what this contest is for and what Carolyn is actually being asked to comment on? For example, is it a giveaway for a specific product or experience? Is there a question she’s answering? Once I know what she’s responding to, I can write something that feels genuine and fits her voice as a stay-at-home mom in Irishtown.
Hey! So a little about me — I’m Morgan Farris, and I live in the small but mighty community of Irishtown, New Brunswick, with my husband. Life out here is pretty wonderful, honestly. There’s something about small-town living that keeps you grounded, you know?
By day I work as a graphic designer, which basically means I spend a lot of time obsessing over fonts, colors, and why certain shades of blue feel more trustworthy than others. It’s the kind of work that sneaks into everything you do — suddenly you’re critiquing the kerning on a restaurant menu when you should just be enjoying your pasta.
Outside of work, my husband and I love exploring everything New Brunswick has to offer, from the trails to the local spots that don’t show up on any tourist map but absolutely should. There’s a real sense of community here that I think people from bigger cities sometimes miss out on, and I feel genuinely lucky to have it.
I came across this contest and honestly just felt like it was worth a shot. Good things happen when you put yourself out there, right? Fingers crossed, and thank you so much for the opportunity — it really does mean a lot!
Hey! So I’m Morgan Farris, writing to you from the little community of Irishtown, NB, which honestly sounds like it should be the setting of a cozy mystery novel, and sometimes it really does feel that way in the best possible sense.
I’m a graphic designer by trade, which means I spend a lot of my days obsessing over fonts, colors, and whether a logo feels “just right” — my husband has learned to nod patiently when I ramble about kerning over dinner, bless him. Life out here in New Brunswick is genuinely good, the kind of good that sneaks up on you when you’re not looking for it.
I love what I do because it gives me a chance to help people bring their ideas to life visually, whether that’s a small business owner finally getting a brand that feels like them, or a passion project that someone has been dreaming about for years. There’s something really special about that moment when a client sees the finished design and just lights up.
Irishtown keeps me grounded, my work keeps me creative, and my husband keeps me laughing. Honestly, I feel pretty lucky to be able to say all three of those things at once.
I’ll need a bit more information to write a compelling essay for Morgan! Specifically, it would help to know what the contest is actually about. For example, is it asking why Morgan deserves to win a prize, a trip, a product, a home makeover? What is the contest for, and what is the specific question or prompt beyond just “Comment”?
Once I know what Morgan is hoping to win or what the contest is celebrating, I can write something that feels personal and genuine, drawing on the details you’ve already shared, like living in Irishtown, being a graphic designer, and being married. The more specific details you can share about Morgan’s story and why this particular contest matters to her, the better the essay will turn out.
Feel free to share things like why Morgan wants to win, what she would do with the prize, any personal story connected to the theme, or anything unique about her life or personality. Even small details make a big difference in making the writing feel real and not like it came from a template.
Just drop the extra details and I’ll get started right away!
Growing up, I never imagined that the quieter life would be the one that shaped me most. Living in Irishtown, New Brunswick, there’s a rhythm to the days here that city life never offered me — one that’s taught me to slow down and pay attention to what actually matters. Being a stay-at-home wife has given me something I didn’t expect: a front-row seat to the small, extraordinary moments that most people are too busy to notice.
My husband and I have built something together that feels genuinely ours — a life rooted in this community, in the routines we’ve created, and in showing up for each other every single day. That might sound simple, and honestly, it is. But I’ve come to believe that simple isn’t the same as small.
Entering this contest feels a little outside my comfort zone, but I’ve learned that the best things usually do. I bring with me a genuine appreciation for opportunity and a grounded sense of who I am and where I come from. Irishtown isn’t a place many people have heard of, but to me it represents everything I value — community, sincerity, and a good kind of quiet.