Cruisers Can Win A Chance To Perform On Stage In Holland America Line's 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' Dance Competition

Champions Theme Cruise to host 15 winners to compete for mirror ball trophy

SEATTLE, April 3, 2013 /CNW/ - With Holland America Line's recently launched "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" shipboard program, guests don't have to be a celebrity or professional dancer to earn an opportunity to compete with some of the best dancers afloat. "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" features a dance competition that culminates with 15 talented guests — one representing each ship in the Holland America Line fleet — receiving a free cruise and a chance to compete for a Mirror Ball Trophy on the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champions Cruise on ms Nieuw Amsterdam Jan. 12, 2014.

Beginning with cruises that departed on or after Feb. 23 (specific ship launch schedule varies slightly and is available at www.hollandamerica.com) and continuing with those departing through Nov. 25, 2013, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet will feature an exclusive "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" program that includes complimentary dance lessons with the ship's dance professionals and a dance-off competition.

"Dance classes are the highlight of our shipboard activities for many of our guests, and 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' has brought a new level of excitement to these events," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. "Skilled dancers have the chance to compete with their fellow cruisers during their sailing and if they make it to the finals, not only will they win a free cruise on the Champions Cruise, but will also have a chance to win our special version of the show's famous Mirror Ball Trophy."

Guests from all skill levels of dance who choose to take their lessons to the next step can enter a dance-off competition to win a chance to sail on the Jan. 12, 2014, "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champions Cruise, which also will feature professional dancers and celebrities from the ABC hit show. Following preliminary rounds on each cruise, finalists will be paired with a Holland America Line dance professional to perform one of the show's routines and compete against their fellow guests center stage in the ship's main show lounge.

A judging panel — senior ship officers, shipboard professional dancers and other cruise staff — will score participants' performances and combine those scores with audience appreciation scores for a total tally to determine the winning guest Cruise Champion for each cruise. In December 2013, the guest Cruise Champions with the highest scores from each of Holland America Line's 15 participating ships will win a free ocean view stateroom on the Jan. 12, 2014, Champions Cruise to compete for Grand Champion.

On the Champions Cruise, the 15 winning guests and their professional shipboard dance partners will perform in the main show lounge for shipboard guests and other celebrities and professional dancers from the show who will be onboard. The winning couple will walk away with the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy and title of Holland America Line's "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Grand Champion.

The Jan. 12, 2014, Caribbean sailing is also an exclusive "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" theme cruise with famed dance professionals and celebrities from the ABC hit show onboard. Events include dance lessons with the shipboard dance professionals; a chance to meet the dance pros and celebrities from the show, ask questions and take photos; a special fashion show with the glamorous show costumes, and a dazzling production starring the celebrities and dance pros, complete with routines from the TV series.

Five "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" theme cruises are planned for the remainder of 2013 and early 2014. Currently scheduled themes include:

• June 22, 2013, ms Veendam, 7-Day Canada & New England Professional Dancers: Chelsie Hightower and Mark Ballas. Stars: Shawn Johnson. Additional stars to be announced.
• June 30, 2013, ms Oosterdam, 7-Day Alaska Professional Dancers: Kym Johnson and Tristan MacManus. Stars: Carson Kressley, Shawn Johnson and Sabrina Bryan.
• July 7, 2013, ms Oosterdam, 7-Day Alaska Professional Dancers: Kym Johnson and Tristan MacManus. Stars: Carson Kressley, Shawn Johnson and Sabrina Bryan.
• Jan. 5, 2014, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Eastern Caribbean Professional Dancers: To be announced. Stars: Sabrina Bryan. Additional stars to be announced.
• Jan. 12, 2014, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Western Caribbean Professional Dancers: To be announced. Stars: Sabrina Bryan. Additional stars to be announced.

Professionals and celebrities are subject to change.

For more information and cruise fares, contact a professional travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425). Visit www.hollandamerica.com for complete rules on the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competition.

The Competition is open to any guest on an eligible Holland America Line cruise that departs its home port on or after Feb. 23, 2013, and no later than Nov. 25, 2013, who is 21 years of age or older as of the date on which the cruise departs its home port. Residents of Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota and Vermont are not eligible. Employees of Holland America Line, BBC Worldwide Limited and American Broadcasting Companies Inc., and members of the immediate family (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent, or grandparent) or household of any such employee, are not eligible. Each winner will receive one (1) 7-day "Champions Cruise" cruise for two (2) people (the winner and one companion) in an ocean-view stateroom on the Nieuw Amsterdam, which is currently expected to depart on Jan. 12, 2014, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A. During the Champions Cruise, each winner will participate in an additional onboard dance competition. For further information regarding eligible cruises and for complete Terms and Conditions, entry requirements and prize details and restrictions, please visit www.hollandamerica.com/DWTSrules. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by Holland America Line N.V., Schottegatweg Oost 44, Curacao.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc. (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 15 ships offers more than 500 cruises to 415 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies. One- to 110-day itineraries visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. The line currently has a new ship on order from Fincantieri shipyard for delivery in fall 2015.

Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $500 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.

World's Leading Cruise Lines
Holland America Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

SOURCE: Holland America Line

http://www.hollandamerica.com