ABC's smash hit 'Dancing with the Stars' sizzles on board Holland America Line ships

SEATTLE -- Holland America Line has announced that an exciting new "Dancing with the Stars" experience will be featured on board the premium cruise ships of Holland America Line.

Whether you like to Tango, Quickstep, Paso Doble , or sit back and enjoy watching the sizzling performances, the new program offers guests an entirely unique experience on the seas.

Six theme cruises in 2013 and early 2014 will feature "Dancing with the Stars" events including dance lessons; a chance to meet the dancers, ask questions and take photos; and a dazzling production starring celebrities and the famed dance pros, complete with glamorous costumes and routines from the TV show. 

Currently scheduled to appear on select sailings are two-time champion pro dancers Mark Ballas and Kym Johnson ; pros Tristan MacManus and Lacey Schwimmer ; and some of your favorite celebrity competitors.* More dance pros and celebrities to be announced. 

In addition to the theme cruises, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet will feature an exclusive "Dancing with the Stars" program including dance lessons and an opportunity for some lucky guests to dance center stage in an exciting dance-off performance. These activities will feature the ships' professional dancers and will be developed in collaboration with the show's dancers and choreographers.

"'Dancing with the Stars' is an international phenomenon and we know this exciting new addition to our entertainment line-up will be very popular with our global guests," said Richard Meadows , executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. "The theme cruises offer a unique opportunity to interact with dance pros and stars from the show, learn the moves and even take center stage."

The "Dancing with the Stars" theme cruises are: Feb. 16, 2013 ms Eurodam 7-day Eastern Caribbean; Jun. 22, 2013 ms Veendam 7-day Canada & New England; Jun. 30 and Jul. 7, 2013 ms Oosterdam 7-day Alaska; Jan. 5, 2014 Nieuw Amsterdam 7-day Eastern Caribbean; and Jan. 12, 2014 ms Nieuw Amsterdam 7-day Western Caribbean.

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

Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars currently airs Mondays, 8:00 p.m. (ET) and Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. (ET) on ABC. *Performers are subject to change.

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, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.

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 LinesHolland 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 StarsThe Dancing with the Stars format launched as Strictly Come Dancing in the UK in 2004. Dancing with the Stars, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, premiered on ABC in 2005 as the U.S. version of the smash hit series. Both Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars continue to attract mass audiences on both sides of the pond. Additionally, the DWTS format has been licensed to more than 40 countries across six continents and has been broadcast in over 75 countries around the world. The Guinness Book of World Records named Dancing with the Stars/Strictly Come Dancing officially the world's most successful reality TV format in 2010 based on format sales, viewing figures and spin-off shows. The format was also named the most-watched entertainment show in the world by trade publication TBI in 2008. The show has been lauded by viewers and critics alike and has won countless awards. In 2009, DWTS made Emmy® history, garnering 10 nominations, the most for any non-fiction programming in a single award year.  Since 2006, the show has won 10 Emmys® and has been nominated 55 times. DWTS has also been the recipient of two People's Choice Awards (2008 and 2009), the first ever Game Show Award (2009) and in 2012, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Reality Series, the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program and the Critic's Choice Award for Tom Bergeron as Best Reality Show Host.

About BBC Worldwide ProductionsBBC Worldwide Productions is one of five core businesses under BBC Worldwide 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 currently on air and in production including Da Vinci's Demon (Starz), Criminal Justice (HBO), Getting On (HBO), Top Gear (HISTORY), Torchwood: Miracle Day (Starz) Breaking Pointe (CW), Richard Hammond 's Crash Course (BBC AMERICA), What Not to Wear (TLC), The Week the Women Went (Lifetime) 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). The company exists to exploit the value of the BBC's assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Global Brands. In 2011/12, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £155 million on headline sales of £1085 million and returned £216 million to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview