Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)

Pembroke Pines, FL (August 27, 2010) - The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has announced
the winners of the 2010 FCCA Children’s Essay Competition. Students for this year’s competition were
invited to write an essay on the prompt: “What can my destination do to become more competitive in the
global tourism market?”

Understandably, it was difficult to choose the overall winner in each age category, as each essay showed
the students’ excellence in education and displayed their overall knowledge and awareness in the tourism
industry, along with their creativity in problem solving.

First-, second- and third-place winners were chosen from the Junior Division, consisting of students
between nine and twelve years old, and Senior Division (between thirteen and sixteen). The 2010 winners
are:

First Place: In the Junior Division was Taya Russell from the Bahamas, and in the Senior Division,
Michael D. Vante from St. Thomas. The first-place winners will receive academic scholarships of
$3,000 (U.S.) each, in addition to a separate monetary award given to their schools.

The winners will also be invited with their chaperons to the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference
& Trade Show in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 to read
their essays and accept their prizes.

Second Place: In the Junior Division was Taz Shanye Raveneau from St. Lucia and in the Senior
Division, Terrikia Andia Benjamin from Antigua. Second place winners will receive monetary awards
of $1,500.

Third Place: In the Junior Division was Sharina Shermane Staine from Belize and in the Senior
Division, Renell Agard from St. Kitts. Third place winners will receive monetary awards of $1,000.

This year’s essay contest attracted entries from 19 nations. The aim of the contest is to assist students
in furthering their education while letting them think about their own destinations, its involvement in the
cruise industry, and providing an opportunity to problem solve for the real world. To reward all the
students for their great efforts, all other finalists will receive a monetary award of $200.

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issues and builds bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.