Holland America Line has extended its “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” program for another year. The 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.
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.
