Holland America Line Crowns Allyse Ishino Inaugural 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' Guest Champion

Champions Cruise with 15 guest finalists held aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam Jan. 12

SEATTLE, Jan. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - During the Jan. 12 Champions Cruise aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line crowned guest Allyse Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif. the line's first "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champion. Ishino, who represented ms Westerdam, triumphed over 14 other guest competitors to claim the title and take home the coveted Holland America Line's "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Mirror Ball Trophy.

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Ishino danced in the ship's main show lounge in three elimination performances before making it to the finals where she executed a passionate Tango in front of a judging panel that included "Dancing with the Stars" professional dancers Tristan MacManus, Kym Johnson and Sharna Burgess, dance troupe member Jaymz Tuaileva and Nieuw Amsterdam cruise director Eric Dowis.

"Congratulations to Allyse! We've been building up to the 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' Champions Cruise all year and the 15 champions gave stunning performances that excited everyone onboard and impressed our judging panels of professional dancers," said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line's executive vice president, sales, marketing and guest programs. "All of the guest competitors put their heart and soul into each performance and they all deserve to be congratulated."

Before Ishino was named champion in the final round, three elimination rounds were held to whittle the 15 competitors to three finalists. Todd Greenquist of Scarborough, Maine, representing ms Amsterdam, and Kristin Capaldo of Cumberland, R.I., from ms Noordam, also advanced from the early rounds to dance in the final evening's competition.

The 15 Champions Cruise competitors represented each of the ships in the Holland America Line fleet. They were selected as the winning guests with the highest overall score from their ship's "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competitions that were held onboard every cruise throughout the past year.

Joining the Champions Cruise to perform in a special production show were "Dancing with the Stars" professional dancers: 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 who performed included actress Sabrina Bryan, singer Joey Fatone and television personality Carson Kressley.

Additional events on the cruise included a special fashion show featuring the glamorous show costumes, a chance to meet the dance pros and celebrities, and a question-and-answer session.

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 another Champions Cruise guest dance-off competition on the Dec. 6, 2014, Caribbean sailing of ms Westerdam.

The 2014 schedule also will include 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, 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. Complete rules on the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competition are posted on www.hollandamerica.com.

Editor's note: Photos from the Champions Cruise featuring Ishino and the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" professionals and celebrities are available here: https://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/W1k5M-QB0-ntW.

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 Café 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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