NORWALK, Conn. (Travelers Advantage)- The dance craze has boogied from the TV airwaves to the waves of the sea.
As the popularity of TV reality dance shows surge - with hits such as ABC-TV's "Dancing With The Stars," now in its second season, and a new dance-focused show called "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox-TV - cruise lines are offering a variety of entertainment options for vacationers with dance fever.
"Music and dancing are cornerstones in our pop culture, and today's cruises are setting the stage for travelers to strut their stuff," said Julia Ryan, vice president of Travelers Advantage and TravelersAdvantage.com. "From pre-and post-dinner dancing in main show lounges, to late-night shindigs in nightclubs and discos, you can enjoy many forms of expressive dance."
Cruisers can jump into romantic dancing under the stars, and check out dance lessons and classes on a variety of styles including ballroom, country, cha cha, foxtrot, salsa, rhumba, tango, swing and tap.
The experts at Travelers Advantage have swung onto the scene with a sampling of these hot dance numbers aboard leading cruise lines:
* CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES ... Guests can two-step to country dance, shake it up with salsa and even check out the latest Latin moves. Complimentary ballroom dance classes are also offered on longer voyages. Dance the night away in the main show lounges or greet the dawn in the ships' discos.
* CELEBRITY CRUISES ... Launch into some lively Latin dance classes in a variety of venues, complete with dance hosts, a dream of dancers everywhere. Live music and big dance floors are a staple of the line's Rendez-Vous Lounges, while the disco/observation lounges feature a variety of music and themed nights that appeals to dancers of every stripe.
* CRYSTAL CRUISES ...If you're big into Big Band, then this is the cruise for you. These sounds echo down the deck of every cruise. The line also offers a variety of theme cruises, including a Tommy Dorsey Orchestra cruise on Crystal Serenity's November transatlantic itinerary, and a Big Band sailing aboard Crystal Symphony, which sets sail April 29. Dance classes and gentleman hosts are available.
* CUNARD LINE ... Enthusiasts have a plethora of choices to dance the night away, or boogie by day in the Queen Mary 2's ballroom. Big Band music greets the serious sashayers. Jump into such classes as cha cha, foxtrot, rhumba, tap and waltz. Private classes are available for an additional charge, and gentleman hosts are available on al voyages.
* MSC CRUISES ... Big Band theme cruises are available for the Jan. 13 and March 20, 2006 11-night Caribbean sailings. In addition, there are special dance sessions available to guests. Dancing takes place in the various lounges and showrooms aboard ships in the MSC Cruises' fleet - as well, of course, in the ships' discos.
* NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE (NCL) ... Everything from Frank Sinatra to the Beatles is spotlighted aboard many NCL ships that offer show bands, quartets, trios and deejays. Themed dance sets spotlight Big Band tributes to these stars. Select Norwegian Crown and Norwegian Dream cruises feature tango, ballroom and cha cha lessons, to name a few. Dance hosts are available on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Jewel during the winter.
* RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES ... Offers a variety of "Spotlight on Big Band" theme cruises as well as myriad dance lessons and big band parties aboard select voyages. Seven Seas Voyager's November transatlantic will also feature a "Spotlight on Sinatra," and most sailings also have gentlemen hosts available for dance tips.
* ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL ...Guests aboard Royal Caribbean's Explorer Academy can learn to dance with the line's top performers. Fleetwide classes include swing, salsa and hip hop. Additional classes from ballroom to belly dancing are offered on select ships. All Royal Caribbean ships offer adult nightclubs for dancing, and most also feature dedicated teen nightclubs.
* SILVERSEA CRUISES ... Ballroom classes and Big Band dancing - as well as occasional flamenco classes - are available onboard. Cruises of 10 days or more include gentlemen hosts - who also sail on shorter cruises when large numbers of single guests are onboard. Dancing venues include The Panorama Lounge and The Bar. Silversea offers evening dancing on pool decks for "Fiesta Latina" nights.
