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The sun breaks through the clouds just for a moment and lights the hall via the round windows. The beats of the popular “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” bounce off the walls while white, silver and black sport shoes dance across the plush purple-blue carpet. The sports shoes are led by one pair of extra distinctive shoes – aqua blue with white laces. The shoes belong to Zumba instructor Cher Soraya of Typical Tropical.

It could be a Zumba lesson anywhere but what puts this one above others is its location. This lesson is located onboard the moored cruise ship, the ss Rotterdam in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The former Holland America Line vessel — now turned hotel, restaurant and conference/event center — started offering Zumba classes last year, primarily for its hotel guests. But now the free lessons, held over the summer months on Saturdays, are open to anyone who wants to come along.

And Soraya couldn’t be happier. In fact, Soraya’s attraction to the cruise liner wasn’t just driven by her love of teaching Zumba classes; her grandfather used to work on the ship back before it was a hotel. While there aren’t any real challenges due to the location, she did admit that there can be an extra element of pressure to keep participants from being disappointed when the group has to work inside rather than outside on the sports deck because of bad weather. “I have to make sure the class is extra fun,” she laughs.

The free Zumba classes are available every Saturday from now until August 18th on the ss Rotterdam, starting at 11am. Classes are held outside on the Sports Deck Tourist Class, unless the weather requires a move inside.