Holland America Launches Half Moon Cay Facebook Contest

Holland America Line has launched a fan-friendly Facebook contest called “Win the Key to Half Moon Cay.” Named for the line’s private Bahamian island, the contest runs through Jan. 3.

To enter, registered Facebook users must “like” Holland America Line’s Facebook page and then upload a favorite vacation photograph of themselves to the page at www.facebook.com/halcruises. The photo should depict what the entrant feels captures the essence of “living the good life on vacation” and does not have to be from a cruise.

Visitors to the Facebook site will vote on their favorite submissions from Dec. 6 through Dec. 26, and the entries will be narrowed down to the top 10 finalists. Fans will then vote again to select the winning photo that best reflects “living the good life on vacation.” The winner will be announced Jan. 4.

The prize includes a seven-night Holland America cruise in a suite for the winner and a guest, plus a verandah stateroom for two more friends on an itinerary calling at Half Moon Cay. Roundtrip airfare also is included for four. The winner can choose among select Eastern Caribbean cruises aboard Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam or Westerdam departing February through April 2011, subject to availability.

Once on Half Moon Cay, the winner will be presented a key to the island in a ceremony presided over by the captain of the ship or another senior officer. In addition, the winner’s party will have a butler to help with the transfer from the ship to the island and to serve them ashore, as well as use of a private cabana for the day, unlimited beverage service, a picnic lunch and a shore excursion for four.

Shipboard prize amenities for the winner include a $500 shipboard credit, $150 spa credit, Pinnacle Grill dinner for four, Tamarind dinner for four (on Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam only) and 250 minutes of Internet access. The total prize package is worth approximately $13,367.

Half Moon Cay offers a two-mile crescent of beach, an interior lagoon, private beachside cabanas with butler service, showers and misters, and all manner of water sports and activities, including a children’s aqua park, swim-with-the-stingrays lagoon and a buoyed personal watercraft course.