2025 FLORIDA-CARIBBEAN CRUISE ASSOCIATION (FCCA)
CHILDREN’S ESSAY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POSTER COMPETITION
RULES & GUIDELINES
CHILDREN’S ESSAY COMPETITION
1- All primary and secondary school students are invited to participate in the 2025 Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Children’s Essay Competition.
2- The ESSAY contest will be conducted in two age categories:
a. Junior Division Children ages 9 to 12 (Contestants may not have passed his/her thirteenth (13th) birthday by September 26, 2025).
b. Senior Division Children ages 13 to 16 years (Contestants may not have passed his/her seventeenth (17th) birthday by September 26, 2025).
3- Each student must submit one (1) essay written in English, five hundred (500) words in length, on the following topic:
“If I Were A Cruise Passenger, What Would I Like To See Or Do In My Country?”
4- Essays will be judged on the following criteria:
- Theme Relevance – Essays should clearly reflect the assigned topic.
- Creativity & Originality – Students are encouraged to think outside the box! Entries should showcase imaginative ideas, a unique voice, and fresh perspectives.
- Structure & Clarity – A well-organized essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion helps communicate ideas effectively.
- Grammar & Language – Appropriate use of grammar, spelling, and vocabulary for the student’s age group is essential.
- Word Count – Essays must adhere to the word limit specific to each age category.
- Presentation – Essays should be neatly typed or clearly handwritten, as specified in the guidelines.
- Deadline Compliance – All entries must be submitted on or before the designated deadline.
5- Each entry can be submitted in the entrants’ handwriting or typed double spaced in Times New Roman Font, Size 12.
6- Each entry must include the word count at the end of the essay.
7- DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION Each school must submit their entries to info-fcca@visitbarbados.org. no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL POSTER COMPETITION
1- All grade/primary/secondary school students are invited to participate in the FCCA Foundation for the Caribbean’s 2025 Children’s Environmental Poster Competition.
2- The contest will be conducted in two age categories:
a. Junior Division Children ages 9 to 12 (Contestants may not have passed his/her thirteenth (13th) birthday by September 26, 2025).
b. Senior Division Children ages 13 to 16 years (Contestants may not have passed his/her seventeenth (17th) birthday by September 26, 2025).
3- Each student must submit one poster and select a topic of their choice that promotes environmental awareness. Each poster must depict the theme “How to Protect the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities” and include at least three (3) ways in which destination Barbados can make a difference in preserving the environment.
4- Each poster MUST be accompanied by the title of the poster and a summary description in English.
5- Words can be used to highlight the ideas illustrated. (Must be in English)
6- Posters should be on standard sized (22” X 28”) poster/Bristol board
7- Posters may be in colour, black and white or a collage; in the medium of the entrant’s choice (i.e. paint, watercolours, etc.)
8- Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Theme Interpretation – The poster should clearly express the assigned theme in a meaningful way.
- Creativity & Originality – Students are encouraged to use imaginative concepts and unique designs.
- Visual Impact – Use of colour, layout, and overall presentation should capture attention and convey a strong message.
- Neatness & Effort – Posters should be well-crafted, clean, and show thoughtful effort appropriate to the student’s age group.
- Message Clarity – The key message should be easy to understand.
- Submission Deadline – All posters must be submitted on or before the designated due date.
9- DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION Each school must submit their original entries to the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI), 2nd Floor, One Barbados Place, Warrens, St. Michael, no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025. Participants can also email a photo of the poster in the first instance, but the original must be submitted to the BTMI.
GENERAL RULES
– The Judging Panel appointed by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) will determine the winning entries from each category based on the criteria for judging. The Judging Panel’s decision is final.
– The first-place entries in each competition will be submitted as Barbados’ entries to the regional leg of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Children’s Environmental Poster and Essay Competitions by the deadline date set by the FCCA.
-Each entry must be accompanied by the following information:
- Name of Student (in CAPITALS)
- Student’s Date of Birth
- Address of Student
- Student’s Home Telephone Number or Parents’ Mobile Number(s)
- Name of School
- Address of School
- Name of School Principal
- School’s Telephone Number
-The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) reserves the right to use the winning entrants’ names and photographs for promotional purposes. All entries become the property of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) including rights to publish or reproduce the essays and posters.
CRUISE PRIZE CONDITIONS
- The cruise prize vouchers are based on one (1) double occupancy Inside Cabin on Deck. 2 on Marella Cruises sailing a 7-night Caribbean cruise, round-trip Barbados itinerary.
- The cruise prizewinners must select a sailing date and confirm their booking no later than 31st December 2026.
- The Cruise Vouchers must be presented, with picture ID of the winner, at the time of booking.
- Once a sailing date has been selected, the prize winners will be required to inform the BTMI who will proceed to make the BDS $5000.00 payment to the travel agency to secure their booking.
- Should the winners wish any specific amenities like cabin upgrades and the like, this additional cost outside of the value of the voucher will be the responsibility of the prizewinner.
- The cruise prize cannot be substituted for a different cruise, itinerary, or sailing date outside of the sailing dates specified, is non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for cash.
- The cruise prize winners and guest must possess a passport valid at least 6 months after the return of the sailing date selected and must possess a valid US visa or a passport that falls under the Visa Waiver Program.
- All passengers must be over the age of 21 OR travelling with one passenger aged 25 years or older in the same cabin.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
LOCAL LEVEL – Essay Competition
JUNIOR DIVISION
| 1st Place | BDS $5000.00 Cruise Voucher for Two (2) |
| 2nd Place | A staycation for two (2) |
| 3rd Place | A Day pass for two (2) |
SENIOR DIVISION
| 1st Place | BDS $5000.00 Cruise Voucher for two (2) |
| 2nd Place | A staycation for two (2) |
| 3rd Place | A Day pass for two (2) |
LOCAL LEVEL – Poster Competition
JUNIOR DIVISION
| 1st Place | BDS $300 + Tablet |
| 2nd Place | BDS $250 + consolation prize |
| 3rd Place | BDS $200 + consolation prize |
SENIOR DIVISION
| 1st Place | BDS $500 + Tablet |
| 2nd Place | BDS $400 + consolation prize |
| 3rd Place | BDS $350 + consolation prize |
REGIONAL LEVEL – Essay and Poster Competitions
| Junior Division (Ages 12 & Under) | Student | School |
| 1st Place | Laptop | US $3,000 |
| 2ndPlace | Touchscreen device | US $1,500 |
| 3rd Place | Smartphone | US $1,000 |
| Senior Division (Ages 13 & 16) | Student | School |
| 1st Place | Laptop | US $3,000 |
| 2ndPlace | Touchscreen device | US $1,500 |
| 3rd Place | Smartphone | US $1,000 |
First place winners from each category along with his/her class will attend an exclusive luncheon event on board a cruise ship in their respective destinations. The FCCA will work together with the Ministry of Tourism from each destination to coordinate these functions.
To reward students at the regional level for their efforts, all finalists (except first, second and third place winners in each category) submitted by their countries will receive US $200.00 from the FCCA.
