Holland America Line Announces Guest Competitors On The 'Dancing With The Stars: At Sea' Champions Cruise Jan. 12, 2014

One lucky winning guest from each ship in the fleet has been invited to sail to compete in championship

SEATTLE, Jan. 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Holland America Line has announced the 15 winning guest finalists who will compete on the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champions Cruise Jan. 12, 2014, aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam. Each winner will represent one of the 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet and was selected as the winning guest with the highest overall score from the onboard "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competitions that were held onboard throughout the past year.

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

"These guests wowed our guests and judges to win the dance competitions on their respective cruises this year, and we're excited to see the best of the best compete to become Holland America Line's first 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' champion," said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line's executive vice president, sales, marketing and guest programs. "Our 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' programming has been wildly popular and a highlight of our cruises, and the Champions Cruise is an exciting way to celebrate our first year of the program."

The winning guest competitors from throughout the year who will compete on the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champions Cruise on Jan. 12, 2014 are:

• Todd Greenquist of Scarborough, Maine, representing ms Amsterdam.
• Austin Tran of San Jose, Calif., representing ms Eurodam.
• Dorothy Hobart of East Amherst, N.Y., representing ms Maasdam.
• Randy Estoesta of San Luis Obispo, Calif., representing ms Nieuw Amsterdam.
• Kristin Capaldo of Cumberland, R.I., representing ms Noordam.
• Jose Javier Omar Angeles of Frisco, Texas, representing ms Oosterdam.
• Julie Hurt of Chicago, Ill., representing ms Prinsendam.
• Charles Simonds of San Rafael, Calif., representing ms Rotterdam.
• Jennifer Scott of Boca Raton, Fla., representing ms Ryndam.
• Daniel Honig of Philadelphia, Penn., representing ms Statendam.
• Trudy Morris of New Orleans, La., representing ms Veendam.
• Joyce Dolan of Indian Shores, Fla., representing ms Volendam.
• Allyse Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif., representing ms Westerdam.
• Agnes Roux of Las Vegas, Nev., representing ms Zaandam.
• Mimi Chan of Orlando, Fla., representing ms Zuiderdam.

Joining the Champions Cruise to perform in a special production show are Emmy Award–winner and five-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion Derek Hough, two-time winner Kym Johnson, Sharna Burgess, Emma Slater and Tristan MacManus. Celebrities set to perform include actress Sabrina Bryan, singer Joey Fatone and television personality Carson Kressley.

The "Dancing with the Stars" talent will dazzle the audience with dance numbers from the television series performed in the main show lounge. Additional events on the cruise include a special fashion show featuring the glamorous show costumes and a chance to meet the dance pros and celebrities, ask questions and take photos with them.

The Jan. 12 Champions Cruise visits the western Caribbean with calls at Half Moon Cay, the line's award-winning private island; George Town, Grand Cayman, and Key West, Fla.

Holland America Line has extended its partnership with "Dancing with the Stars," and will feature the shipboard program through the 2014 sailing season, culminating with a Champions Cruise guest dance-off competition on the Dec. 6, 2014, Caribbean sailing of ms Westerdam.

The 2014 schedule will also continue to feature "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" programming on every cruise throughout the year, in addition to six special "Dancing with the Stars" theme cruises featuring the show's professional dancers and celebrities. Currently scheduled to sail on all six theme cruises in 2014 are professional dancers Tristan MacManus and Kym Johnson and television personality Carson Kressley and actress Sabrina Bryan.

For more information about the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" theme cruises, consult a professional travel seller, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com or the Plan a Cruise tab at www.Facebook.com/HALcruises.

Editor's note: Photos from previous theme cruises that featured professionals Johnson, MacManus, Bryan, professional dancer and two-time Mirror Ball trophy winner Mark Ballas, Olympian Shawn Johnson and Kressley are available here: https://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WNdb-fFX-cwW.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online Communities quick link on the home page at www.hollandamerica.com.

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; four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. The line currently has a new ship on order from Fincantieri shipyard for delivery in February 2016.

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.

About Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the U.S. version of the BBC's international smash hit series, Strictly Come Dancing, where celebrities are paired with professional ballroom dance instructors and compete for a coveted Mirrorball trophy. Dancing with the Stars is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for ABC. The fan-favorite has garnered 64 Emmy® nominations and 10 wins since its inception, breaking the Emmy® record in 2009, 2012 and 2013 for the most nominations for a non-fiction program in a single award year. DWTS has also been honored with various main program awards including the GLAAD Media Award, NAACP Award, Realscreen Award, Imagen Award, and two People's Choice Awards. Veteran host, Tom Bergeron has also been honored with two Critics Choice Awards in addition to taking home the 64th Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Host.

About BBC Worldwide Productions
BBC Worldwide Productions is a key business under BBC Worldwide North America, the U.S. division of the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), BBC Worldwide. Led by Jane Tranter, BBC Worldwide Productions is based in Los Angeles and develops and produces scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is responsible for various titles including the upcoming Getting On (HBO), Criminal Justice (HBO), Intruders (BBC AMERICA) as well as Americans in Bed (HBO), Top Gear (HISTORY), What Not to Wear (TLC), Richard Hammond's Crash Course (BBC AMERICA) and the cultural phenomenon, Dancing with the Stars (ABC).

About BBC Worldwide Ltd.
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide exists to support the BBC public service mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. It does this through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also builds the reach and reputation of the BBC brand overseas and champions British creativity.

In 2012/13, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £156m and headline sales of £1,116m and returned £156m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview.

SOURCE: Holland America Line

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