Holland America Line Extends 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' Throughout 2014 Sailing Season

Six theme cruises with dance pros and celebrities from the hit ABC show, plus special "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" programming and guest dance competition on every sailing

SEATTLE, Nov. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - Holland America Line has extended its highly successful "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" program for another year. The hugely popular onboard experience brings the excitement of ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars" to all 15 premium ships of Holland America Line throughout 2014. Once again the program will culminate with a Champions Cruise guest dance-off competition on the Dec. 6, 2014, Caribbean sailing of ms Westerdam.

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Like 2013, the 2014 schedule will continue to feature "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" programming on all sailings 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.

"Our collaboration with 'Dancing with the Stars' has been one of our most successful partnerships ever and we're excited to be able to continue the experience through 2014," said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line's executive vice president, sales, marketing and guest programs. "Dancing in all forms is among our most popular shipboard activities so it's no wonder that the 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' experience is getting rave reviews from guests."

Six Theme Cruises Present the Chance to Sail with Dance Pros and Celebrities from the Hit ABC Show

The "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" 2014 theme cruises are: June 14 and June 21 aboard ms Zuiderdam, 7-day Alaska roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia; July 26 and Aug. 2 aboard Westerdam, 7-day Alaska roundtrip from Seattle, Wash.; and Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 aboard Westerdam, 7-day eastern Caribbean roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Each theme cruise features guest performances from the dance pros and celebrities who will dazzle the audience with routines from the television series. Additional events on theme cruises include dance lessons with the ship's professional dancers, a special fashion show featuring glamorous show costumes and a chance to meet the dance pros and celebrities, ask questions and take photos with them.

"Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Dance Competition for Guests

Beginning with cruises that depart on or after Nov. 26, 2013, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet including the theme cruises will feature an exclusive "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" program. Included are complimentary dance lessons with the ship's dance professionals and a dance-off competition for participating guests to compete for a chance to represent their ship on the 2014 Champions Cruise on Dec. 6, 2014. There will be a total of 15 winners on the Champions Cruise. Competitions held on sailings departing on or after Nov. 26, 2013 and ending no later than Oct. 22, 2014 are eligible.

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. Judges onboard the six theme cruises may also include some of the "Dancing with the Stars" dance pros or celebrities onboard.

Beginning Sept. 21, 2014, winners of the guest competitions with the highest scores from each of Holland America Line's 15 ships will be notified they have won a free ocean view stateroom on the Dec. 6, 2014, Champions Cruise to compete for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy and title of Holland America Line's "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champion.

The season 17 final of "Dancing with the Stars" airs tonight at 8 p.m. (ET) and the season finale airs tomorrow night at 9 p.m. (ET) on the ABC Television Network.

For more information about the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" program and Holland America Line, contact a travel professional or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com. Complete rules on the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competition are posted on www.hollandamerica.com.

Editor's note: Photos from previous theme cruises that featured Kym Johnson, Tristan MacManus, Sabrina Bryan, professional dancer and two-time Mirror Ball trophy winner Mark Ballas, Olympian Shawn Johnson and television personality Carson Kressley are available at: 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; a Grand World Voyage; 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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