Popular contest offering 8th graders a chance to win a European river cruise is back

Jack DeMarco
·3 min read

A popular contest offering the chance for 8th graders to win a week-long educational river cruise in Europe is coming back.

AAA is bringing back the “Discovery Crew” contest.

According to a news release, there is no cost to enter the contest and the prize includes the cruise, airfare, travel insurance and money for passports – for the student and a parent or guardian.

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The contest begins Aug. 23 and runs through Sept. 23.

Up to 60 student winners will be chosen from the contest, which is open to students in The Auto Club Group’s select 14 states, including Florida.

This is the second Discovery Crew contest hosted by The Auto Club Group and its partners. The inaugural contest was held in 2018.

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“AAA is excited to offer this contest for the second time in collaboration with our long-time partners AmaWaterways and Allianz,” said Deborah Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The Discovery Crew contest and trip are inspired by our belief in the transformative power of travel and desire to expand children’s view of the world.”

“For many young students, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Haas continued. “So, we urge them to enter the contest. The winners will join us on a week-long cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium. While there, students will experience the diverse people and cultures of the area and make new friends. In the end, our hope is to instill a love of travel in generations to come.”

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“The Discovery Crew trip was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. The tours were engaging and I learned so many new things about European history and architecture. My favorite aspect of the trip was getting to travel with other kids my age,” said previous winner Natalie Stewart. “I made lifelong friends and had a great time, even just eating dinner on the ship. The trip broadened my horizons and allowed me to see a part of the world I never thought I would. I am so grateful I had this opportunity.”

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To be eligible, students must:

  • Be at least 13 years old at the start of the contest.

  • Be entering the 8th grade and in good standing.

  • Reside in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, or select areas of Illinois, Indiana, or Minnesota.

  • Be willing to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at the time of the cruise.

Winners will be selected based on:

  • A creative selfie that showcases their passion for travel.

  • Their answers to three essay questions about travel.

The prize includes:

  • A week-long educational river cruise from March 12 to 19, 2023, through the Netherlands and Belgium.

  • Round-trip flights to Amsterdam, travel insurance and money for passports.

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Winning students will bring one parent or legal guardian to serve as a chaperone. Each pair will share a cabin while sailing on the AmaWaterways “AmaLucia” ship.

Visit AAA.com/DiscoveryCrew for more information.

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