Beyond the Uniform: A Recognition of Service – Terms and Conditions

Last updated: June 30, 2026

Eligibility

Beyond the Uniform: A Recognition of Service, the “Initiative,” is open to currently serving U.S. military service members and U.S. military veterans who currently reside in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or Maryland. Eligible nominees may have served in any branch or era of U.S. military service, including active-duty, Reserve, or National Guard service.

The selected honoree must be at least 21 years old, legally eligible to travel, and able to satisfy all identification, documentation, health, entry, and cruise-line requirements applicable to the selected sailing.

Nominations submitted on behalf of another person and self-nominations are permitted. No purchase is necessary.

Verification of Eligibility

All eligibility claims are subject to verification. The selected honoree and any alternate may be required to provide documentation reasonably sufficient to verify current or prior military service, such as a DD-214, military identification, retirement documentation, proof of current service, or another official record accepted by the Administrator. Proof of residency may also be required.

Failure to provide requested documentation within the required timeframe may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate honoree.

Verification materials will be used only for eligibility confirmation, administration, recordkeeping, and legal compliance. They will not be publicly shared or retained longer than reasonably necessary.

Nomination Period and Requirements

Nominations must be received no later than October 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Nominations should describe how the nominee continues to serve, support, mentor, lead, advocate for, or otherwise make a meaningful difference for others beyond the nominee’s military duties.

Information submitted must be accurate to the best of the nominator’s knowledge. The Administrator may request clarification or supporting information. Nominations containing materially false, misleading, unlawful, abusive, or fraudulent information may be disqualified.

Receiving multiple nominations does not increase a nominee’s likelihood of selection.

Selection and Notification

Eligible nominations will be reviewed by Beyond the Castle Travel LLC, the “Administrator,” or a review panel designated by the Administrator.

Nominations will be evaluated based on the nature and extent of the nominee’s continued service, the effect of that service on others, the nominee’s demonstrated commitment, and the credibility and specificity of the examples provided.

One honoree will be selected. The Administrator may designate one or more alternates if the selected honoree cannot be contacted, does not respond, cannot verify eligibility, declines the recognition, does not complete required documentation, or otherwise becomes ineligible.

Selection decisions are subjective, final, and not subject to appeal.

The selected honoree must respond and provide requested verification documentation within seven calendar days of notification unless a different deadline is provided in writing.

Veterans Day Announcement

The Administrator anticipates publicly announcing the selected honoree on Veterans Day, November 11, 2026.

The announcement is subject to successful eligibility verification, acceptance of the awarded experience, completion of required documentation, and receipt of a written publicity authorization. If these requirements cannot be completed before November 11, the Administrator may delay the announcement or select an alternate honoree.

Awarded Experience

The awarded experience consists of a cruise vacation for the selected honoree and one guest aboard Celebrity Cruises.

Eligible sailings, travel dates, itinerary, ship, stateroom category, included components, and booking requirements will be identified in the written award information provided to the selected honoree. All arrangements are subject to availability and are not guaranteed until confirmed by the applicable supplier.

Unless specifically included in writing, the awarded experience does not include post-cruise lodging, ground transportation, passports, visas, travel insurance, gratuities, taxes, port expenses, government charges, supplier fees, shore excursions, onboard purchases, medical expenses, or personal and incidental expenses.

Additional travel benefits may be provided by community sponsors or other supporters. These benefits are not guaranteed unless included in the honoree’s written award information.

The awarded experience is non-transferable, may not be sold or assigned, and has no cash-redemption value.

Cruise Selection and Travel Deadline

The selected honoree must choose an eligible sailing and provide the information required to begin the booking process no later than June 30, 2027.

Failure to complete the required selection and booking steps by that date may result in forfeiture of the awarded experience and selection of an alternate honoree.

The awarded cruise must be completed no later than December 31, 2027, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Administrator.

If the selected sailing becomes unavailable, canceled, or materially changed, the Administrator may offer another eligible sailing, provide a reasonably comparable experience, extend or postpone fulfillment, or conclude the Initiative if fulfillment becomes commercially or operationally impracticable.

Guest, Travel Documents, and Supplier Terms

The selected honoree may designate one guest. The honoree and guest must satisfy all age, identification, documentation, health, entry, conduct, and travel requirements applicable to the selected sailing.

The honoree and guest are responsible for obtaining valid passports, identification, visas, entry authorizations, health documentation, and any other required travel documents.

The honoree and guest must comply with the cruise line’s ticket contract, booking conditions, health and safety requirements, codes of conduct, government requirements, and all other applicable supplier terms.

Failure to satisfy a supplier or government requirement may result in denied boarding, cancellation, additional expenses, or forfeiture of the awarded experience.

Publicity and Privacy

The selected honoree may be recognized through the Beyond the Castle Travel website, social media, email communications, press materials, interviews, community events, and related media coverage.

Before any public announcement, the selected honoree will be asked to sign a written authorization permitting approved use of the honoree’s name, likeness, photograph, biographical information, military-service information, and nomination story.

Nomination materials may be edited for length, clarity, grammar, privacy, and accuracy without materially changing the substance of the story.

Administration and Supporting Roles

Beyond the Uniform is administered solely by Beyond the Castle Travel LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company.

The awarded cruise experience is expected to be arranged aboard Celebrity Cruises, subject to availability and applicable cruise-line terms. Celebrity Cruises does not administer nominations, review submissions, select the honoree, or operate the Initiative.

Community sponsors may provide financial, promotional, service, or other support but do not administer nominations, select the honoree, or assume responsibility for fulfillment of the cruise experience unless expressly stated otherwise in writing.

Taxes, Travel Risk, and Liability

The honoree is responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with the awarded experience. The Administrator may require completion of Form W-9 or other tax documentation and will issue any reporting forms required by law.

Travel involves risks including illness, injury, severe weather, transportation disruption, supplier failure, itinerary changes, medical emergencies, and other foreseeable or unforeseeable events. The honoree and guest participate voluntarily and assume the ordinary and inherent risks associated with travel and cruise participation.

The honoree and guest are encouraged to obtain appropriate travel insurance.

By submitting a nomination, the nominator agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to release and hold harmless Beyond the Castle Travel LLC and its officers, employees, representatives, and agents from claims arising directly from the nominator’s submission or participation in the nomination process.

Merely being nominated does not constitute acceptance of these Terms by the nominee. The selected honoree and guest may be required to sign separate acceptance, publicity, travel-risk, and liability-release documents before booking.

Beyond the Castle Travel LLC is not responsible for the acts, errors, omissions, cancellations, schedule changes, service failures, financial failures, negligence, or other actions of cruise lines, airlines, hotels, transportation companies, tour operators, excursion providers, or other independent travel suppliers.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive or limit liability that cannot lawfully be waived or limited.

Governing Law and General Conditions

These Terms and the Initiative are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Any dispute arising from the Initiative must be brought individually in a state or federal court having jurisdiction in Pennsylvania.

The Administrator may modify, suspend, postpone, or cancel the Initiative if fraud, misconduct, technical issues, supplier restrictions, loss of anticipated support, cruise unavailability, legal concerns, natural disasters, government action, or other circumstances compromise its fairness, integrity, safety, or feasibility.

The Initiative is void where prohibited by law. If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect.

Contact Information

Questions regarding the Initiative or these Terms and Conditions should be directed to:

Beyond the Castle Travel LLC

community@beyondthecastletravel.com