Holland America’s Eurodam • February 16–23, 2013
About This Experience
This seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise combined tropical island visits with themed entertainment featuring professional dancers from Dancing with the Stars. The itinerary included stops in Grand Turk, San Juan, and St. Maarten, along with sea-day performances, Q&A sessions, and ballroom showcases. Activities required minimal walking, depending on selected excursions.
🌟 1. Stages, Stars, and Sea Breezes
In February 2013, we traded the cold, overcast skies of Cincinnati, Ohio, for the warm, breezy shores of South Florida to embark on a unique cruise experience with Holland America Line. It was a special Dancing with the Stars-themed cruise through the Eastern Caribbean aboard the Eurodam, blending tropical destinations with live performances and spontaneous interactions from celebrity dancers.
🚢 Ship Note: The Eurodam was Holland America Line’s first Signature-class ship and debuted with enhanced entertainment venues and dedicated dance spaces, making it a natural fit for the DWTS partnership.
We flew into Fort Lauderdale a day early and checked into the Embassy Suites, conveniently close to the port. After a relaxing night, we woke refreshed and ready to begin what would turn out to be a week filled with surprises, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
🚢 2. Embarkation
Boarding at Port Everglades was smooth and well-organized. Once onboard, we settled into stateroom 8153 on the Observation Deck—a compact but smartly laid-out space with clever storage and just the right amount of comfort.
That evening, we attended the cruise’s welcome entertainment preview in the main theater and grabbed seats in the second row of the balcony. We were the only ones in our section—until Joey Fatone, of NSYNC fame, arrived with his wife, Kelly Baldwin. At first, they sat in front of us, but a few minutes later, they slid back into our row, and Joey took the seat right next to me. He struck up a casual conversation like we were old cruise friends. Later, when he was introduced on stage, he turned to me and joked, “Do we even know that guy?” It was the perfect start to a star-soaked week.
🗓️ 3. Cruise Itinerary: Daily Logs
Saturday, February 16
📍 Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
🕒 Departure: 4:18 PM
⏳ Time Spent: Embarkation Day
After the mandatory lifeboat drill, we watched from the deck as Fort Lauderdale faded behind us. The air was warm, the sky clear, and the promise of the week ahead filled us with anticipation.
Sunday, February 17 – At Sea
📍 Location: At Sea (Atlantic Ocean)
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
Our first full day at sea was ideal—smooth waters and a comfortable breeze. We explored the ship, relaxed, and took in the elegant interiors and lively public spaces.
That afternoon, we attended a Q&A session in the theater featuring Joey Fatone, Mark Ballas, Sabrina Bryan, and Lacey Schwimmer. They shared stories about their time on Dancing with the Stars, dance partners, backstage bloopers, and the thrill of live performance. It was personal, funny, and the perfect warm-up to the week’s events.
Monday, February 18 – At Sea
📍 Location: At Sea
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
The weather turned gray, with a steady drizzle and strong winds by midday, but inside Eurodam, life continued as normal. We joined a few onboard activities, browsed the shops, and spent time relaxing in lounges.
Tuesday, February 19 – San Juan, Puerto Rico
📍 Port: San Juan, Puerto Rico
🕒 Arrival: 9:55 AM | Departure: 10:48 PM
📌 Event: A Stroll through Old San Juan
We arrived to light rain showers, which lent a soft, moody feel to the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan. Our guided walking tour took us to the 99 Steps, the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, and through colorful alleyways rich in colonial architecture and history.
After the tour, we wandered on our own and made our way to Barrachina, the bar and restaurant that claims to be the birthplace of the piña colada. We ordered a couple of drinks and settled into the open-air bar area to relax. The refreshments were smooth, strong, and exactly what we needed.
Just outside, we bumped into Mark Ballas and a few of the dancers from the DWTS troupe. We pointed them toward the bar and shared a quick laugh—another unscripted moment that made the day.
Wednesday, February 20 – St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
📍 Port: St. Thomas, USVI
🕒 Arrival: 7:44 AM | Departure: 4:44 PM
📌 Event: Skyride to Paradise Point
We took the Skyride to Paradise Point, a tramway that climbed 700 feet above Charlotte Amalie. The views from the top were incredible—three cruise ships gleaming below: the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Sun, and Enchantment of the Seas. It was a clear, blue-sky day, and we snapped some incredible photos.
That night, we attended a dazzling Dancing with the Stars production show. The choreography, energy, and chemistry among the performers made for a standout evening onboard.
🕺 Entertainment Insight: Holland America’s Dancing with the Stars at Sea series ran from 2012 to 2014 and featured rotating celebrity casts from the show’s history.
Thursday, February 21 – At Sea
📍 Location: Atlantic Ocean
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
We spent our final sea day soaking in the quiet joy of cruising. That afternoon, we attended a special acoustic performance featuring BC Jean, accompanied by Mark Ballas and Dylan Chambers. She sang “If I Were a Boy,” the song she originally wrote, and which later became a hit for Beyoncé. The stripped-down delivery was powerful and intimate. When she finished, Mark looked at the audience and said, “What was that?” before calling the performance epic.
🎭 Performance Detail: BC Jean’s “If I Were a Boy” was originally written in 2006. Beyoncé’s version was released two years later, bringing it worldwide acclaim.
That night, the Ocean Bar became the scene of another impromptu gathering. The DWTS cast showed up again, dancing freely and mingling without fanfare. At one point, Mark Ballas pulled Leslee out onto the dance floor, and the moment was both surreal and joyful. Seth Michaels, the ship’s DJ—who we later know went on to found Michaels Entertainment in Troy, Michigan—kept the music flowing all night.
Friday, February 22 – Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
📍 Port: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
🕒 Arrival: 7:48 AM | Departure: 3:52 PM
📌 Event: Eco-Bike & Hike
Half Moon Cay was the picture of tropical perfection—white sand, swaying palms, and clear skies at a comfortable 80°F. We didn’t swim or snorkel. Instead, we took it slow—lounging, walking the paths, and soaking in our last bit of island atmosphere before returning to the ship.
Saturday, February 23 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
📍 Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
🕒 Arrival: 7:00 AM
📌 Event: Disembarkation
Disembarkation began as usual—bags packed, customs forms filled out, and bittersweet goodbyes. But things took a turn when we were flagged for a secondary inspection due to a declared jewelry purchase. Customs didn’t seem prepared for the paperwork, and after some confusion, we were asked to pay a tax in cash. The entire ordeal delayed us for about an hour.
Thankfully, our post-cruise Land & Sea Excursion with airport transfer waited for us. Once we were cleared, we joined the group for a final boat tour through the Fort Lauderdale canals, drifting past Millionaire’s Row, mega-yachts, and the Miami Vice house. It was a relaxing, sunlit send-off—a quiet float back to reality after an extraordinary week.
🍽️ 4. Dining Experiences
Each evening, we dined in the main dining room with traditional seating. The rotating menus were full of dependable comfort foods like steak, pasta, and dishes like chicken cordon bleu—a favorite we always enjoy.
Later in the cruise, we enjoyed a meal at Canaletto, the ship’s Italian specialty restaurant, where we stuck to our usual favorites: spaghetti and lasagna. The setting was cozy, the food comforting, and it was a welcome change of pace.
When we needed something quick, the Lido Market buffet offered easy grab-and-go choices that usually matched our preferences.
💃 5. Dancing with the Stars at Sea
The Dancing with the Stars theme added energy and spontaneity throughout the voyage.
Highlights included:
- A lively Q&A session with the cast
- A high-energy theater performance
- BC Jean’s intimate acoustic set, backed by Mark Ballas and Dylan Chambers, featured several original songs—including a powerful rendition of “If I Were a Boy,”
- Unscripted Ocean Bar nights with cast members dancing, joking, and mingling freely
What made it special was the accessibility of the cast. It wasn’t just about performances—but instead personality, presence, and connection.
💫 6. Favorite Moment
Looking back, this cruise stood out for all the right reasons: incredible entertainment, scenic island days, and the unexpected joy of casual moments with people we’d only seen on TV. From Leslee dancing with Mark Ballas to laughing with Joey Fatone, the cruise offered a little bit of magic in every direction.
📋 7. Cruise Details
📍 Embarkation Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
🗺 Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean – Dancing with the Stars Theme Cruise
🚢 Cruise Line & Ship: Holland America Line – Eurodam
📆 Sailing Date: February 16–23, 2013
⏳ Duration: 7 Days
Cruise Itinerary Disclaimer:
Cruise itineraries shared on OceansAfoot are independently written and based on personal sailings. OceansAfoot is not affiliated with any cruise line and does not receive compensation or direction from operators referenced in these narratives.
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