Champions Cruise with 15 guest competitors held on ms Nieuw
Amsterdam
SEATTLE, Feb. 2, 2016 /CNW/ -- During the Jan. 10 Champions Cruise aboard ms Nieuw
Amsterdam, Holland America Line crowned guest Katrina Pedersen of Sunnyvale, California, the line's final
"Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champion. Pedersen, who
represented ms Maasdam, triumphed over 14 other guest
competitors to claim the title and take home Holland America Line's
coveted "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Mirrorball Trophy.
A Brigham Young University student
who dances almost daily, Pedersen performed in the ship's main show
lounge in three elimination routines before making it to the
finals, where she executed a tango and waltz with shipboard dancing
partner Ben Henley in front of a
judging panel that included "Dancing with the Stars" professional
dancer Kym Johnson, television
personality Carson Kressley and
actress Florence Hendersen.
"Dancing with the Stars" professional dancer Tony Dovolani co-hosted the finale with Holland
America Line Dancing with the Stars host Jason Venner.
"The Champions Cruise is the culmination of a year of fun and
exciting guest competitions across the fleet, and we congratulate
all the dancers who worked so hard to compete and entertain their
fellow cruisers," said Orlando
Ashford, president of Holland America Line. "Special
congratulations to Katrina for earning the Mirrorball Trophy and
impressing everyone on board with her winning performances."
Before Pedersen was named champion in the final round, three
elimination rounds were held during the cruise to reduce the 15
competitors down to three finalists. Elise
Jensen of Mangerton, New South
Wales, Australia, representing ms Volendam,
and Stephan Reynolds of Atlanta,
Georgia, representing ms Noordam, also advanced from
the early rounds to dance in the finals.
The 15 Champions Cruise competitors represented each of the
ships in the Holland America Line fleet (including the former ms
Ryndam and ms Statendam) and are from their respective
ship's "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competitions that
were held on board every cruise throughout the past
year.
Joining the Champions Cruise to perform in a special production
show were ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" professional dancers and
show champions Kym Johnson and
Tony Dovolani. Celebrities who
joined the pros to perform were America's favorite TV mom,
Florence Hendersen, 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.
The Jan. 10 Champions Cruise
visited the eastern Caribbean,
sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale,
Fla., with calls at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos;
San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Half Moon Cay, the line's
award-winning private island in the Bahamas.
Holland America Line's
partnership with "Dancing with the Stars" culminates with this
Champions Cruise following a successful three-year
collaboration.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a
travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit
hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Photos are available at
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/qbqhrdwb.
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 hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of
13 ships offers more than 500 cruises to more than 400 ports in 98
countries, territories or dependencies around the world. From
shorter getaways to 115-day itineraries, the company's cruises
visit all seven continents with highlights including Antarctica explorations, South America circumnavigations and exotic
Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and
popular sailings to the Caribbean,
Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal. The line
currently has a new 2,650-guest ship, ms Koningsdam, on
order for delivery in April 2016, as
well as a second Pinnacle Class ship due for delivery in
November 2018.
The company recently announced $300
million in brand enhancements to secure its position at the
leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature innovative
initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on
destination immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand
their knowledge on board at the Culinary Arts Center, presented by
Food & Wine magazine; Explorations Café, powered by The
New York Times; and Digital Workshop
powered by Windows. Outstanding entertainment fills each evening at
venues including Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and
B.B. King's Blues Club. The dining
experience can be savored at a variety of restaurants with menus
that feature selections from Holland America Line's esteemed
Culinary Council that comprises world-famous chefs who design
dishes exclusively for our guests.
CONTACT: Sally
Andrews
PHONE: 800-637-5029
EMAIL: pr@hollandamerica.com
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SOURCE Holland America Line