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Gender equality hits the high seas as Crystal Cruises will add women to the until-now all male host pool, dancers hired to cha-cha, waltz and jitterbug with solo or partnerless cruisers on three coming trans-Atlantic itineraries.

Beginning with a Lisbon-to-Miami “Ballroom at Sea” cruise departing Oct. 5 aboard the 922-passenger Crystal Symphony, two female dancers will join eight male dancers during evening dance sets, live orchestra performances and dance classes. The ballroom itineraries will be repeated twice in 2015, with departures June 12 and Dec. 11.

The line routinely carries four hosts per cruise who cater to the 5 to 20 percent of passengers traveling solo on Crystal. Company officials say typically more women than men seek dance partners, but when they tested hostesses on a recent cruise, enthusiasm increased.

“Similar to tennis players who play better when they play with a pro, dance enthusiasts are inspired by partnering with experts who really know the steps and the more advanced nuances,” Bret Bullock, vice president of entertainment for Crystal, said in a press release.

Fares start at $2,595 per person.