Astronauts, explorers and Eddie the Eagle - the best guest speakers on cruise ships
Who doesn’t enjoy a personal success story, or some “for your ears only” insight into life as an astronaut, an oceanographer or a world-famous cake-baker?
In these days of box-set indulgence it’s easy to forget the simple satisfaction of being regaled by a raconteur. Cruise lines however, have not forgotten.
Alongside the luxury spas, swimming pools, the planetarium and the teppanyaki bar and French fine-dining restaurant there are photography workshops, surf lessons, art auctions and talks on topics as diverse as forensics and film.
Often, guest speakers are there to add interest or enhance knowledge relevant to the places you are visiting, but personal appearances by actors, celebrity chefs and musicians are quite common on larger ships. These guest speakers offer an insight into an often unknown subject – not to mention the life of the person actually telling their story.
Over the years I have learnt more about astronomy, the Great Barrier Reef and the intricacies of maritime law. Over the coming months you’ll have the opportunity to hear from, amongst others, Jean-Michel Cousteau, ski-jump daredevil Eddie the Eagle, queen of cakes Mary Berry and renowned photographer Steve McCurry. Questions at the ready!
Life under the ocean with Jean-Michel Cousteau
There can’t be many people with enough clout to convince a US president to turn a large chunk of ocean into a protected marine park, but that’s what oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau did when he showed his stunning documentary about Papahanaumokuakea (it’s also known as the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument) to George W Bush. Among Cousteau’s other achievements are helping to return Keiko, the orca of Free Willy fame, to the sea from captivity, and, in his capacity as founding chairman and president of the Ocean Futures Society, representing the environment at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in 2002.
Cousteau will tell of his lifetime spent exploring the oceans and discuss wildlife, conservation and the legacy of his father, Jacques, on two sailings with Crystal Cruises later this year, one of them an Amazon Discovery cruise.
A 23-night cruise on Crystal Symphony, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, departs Nov 8 2018. From £5,610 per person excluding flights (0207 399 7601; crystalcruises.co.uk).
Afternoon tea with Mary Berry
As presenter of the BBC series Country House Secrets, Mary Berry may be as interested in the architecture along the Danube as the food. Fans of the cook, writer and broadcaster will be pleased to learn that the exclusive Telegraph river cruise she will join later this year visits the Christmas markets of Europe, with plenty of rich cakes and gingerbread treats on the tasting menu.
Passengers on Emerald Destiny will join Berry for afternoon tea, a talk and Q&A session, after which the doyenne of cakes will sign complimentary copies of her latest book.
The highlight is a gala Christmas dinner with a menu chosen by Berry, so you’re guaranteed that everything will be suitably fluffy or crispy.
The seven-night Festive Highlights of the Danube cruise departs Dec 1 2018 and costs from £1,795 per person (0333 414 2332; telegraph.co.uk/tt-maryberry).
Eddie the Eagle
Missed the recent film about Eddie the Eagle? Hear about the Olympic ski jumper’s plucky antics from the man himself when he boards Princess Cruises’ ship, Sapphire, for a late-summer sailing to Scandinavia this year.
Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards captured the hearts of the British public when he finished in last place at two events at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary – a story told in the recent biographical film that gave inspiration to underdogs everywhere. “I can remember it now, like it was yesterday, even though it has been nearly 30 years,” he told The Daily Telegraph. Edwards has confessed to being a cruise, as well as a snow addict, and will give a talk about his remarkable life story on this sailing from Southampton.
The seven-night Scandinavia cruise departs round-trip from Southampton on Sept 1 2018, and calls at Copenhagen. From £899 per person (0344 338 8663; princess.com).
Celebrate Shakespeare
From leaving school with no knowledge of the arts, through playing in rock bands, Dr David Crilly’s journey to becoming artistic director of a major festival celebrating Shakespeare has been nothing short of remarkable.
“I knew nothing of theatre when I was invited to become the musical director of a Shakespeare production in Oxford,” he says. “But I fell in love with the musicality and the rich imagery of the language.”
Dr Crilly’s Cambridge Shakespeare Festival has run for more than three decades, and he is sure to provide an illuminating perspective on characters such as Mark Antony and Cleopatra on a Voyages to Antiquity cruise from Athens to India.
Given that he also still plays in rock bands, it’s not too much a stretch to predict that he will provide plenty of engaging conversation outside of his lectures, too.
A 37-day Passage to Ancient Egypt and India cruise on Aegean Odyssey departs Dec 6 2018. From £6,295 per person (01865 566823; voyagestoantiquity.com).
Watch this space with Scott Kelly
“Three-hundred-and-forty days, 143 million miles, 5,440 orbits around Earth, 10,880 sunrises and sunsets. Two years ago today, I came home after the best ride of my life!”
Astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted that message earlier this year on his retirement from Nasa, reflecting on his time spent at the International Space Station. Incredibly, after he lived for almost a year in space, it was revealed on his return that his DNA no longer matched that of his identical twin brother, fellow astronaut Mark.
Kelly spent 16 years “commuting” to and from space – piloting the Space Shuttle, accomplishing several spacewalks and making necessary upgrades to the Hubble Space Telescope. He will no doubt bring more than a little space dust to an exciting voyage from Bali to Sydney.
The 18-day Orchid Islands and the Coral Coast cruise, departing Dec 3 2018, costs from £5,499 per person excluding flights (0344 338 8615; seabourn.com).
Solve a crime with DCI Banks
One of television’s favourite investigators, DCI Banks (aka actor Stephen Tompkinson), took his first cruise a few years ago, in the Middle East. “We had an absolute ball,” he said. Tompkinson played Banks in the eponymous ITV series for five years and will be keeping his wily eye on passengers during a crime-themed cruise to the Canaries with Saga. He will talk about his role as the tenacious DCI, as well as his parts in Ballykissangel, Wild at Heart and his new comedy touring play, Art. Would-be crime solvers on board can also look forward to genre-related book and film clubs, plus a talk by a crime writer.
A 14-night cruise on Saga Sapphire, departing round-trip from Southampton on Nov 13 2018, costs from £2,436 per person (0800 505030; saga.co.uk/ocean-cruises).
Photography with Steve McCurry
An enigmatic picture of an Afghan girl adorning the cover of National Geographic in 1985 put Steve McCurry on the map. In the 33 years since his image captured the world’s imagination, the award-winning photographer has been documenting the world’s people and places with richly coloured and detailed pictures – most recently teaming up with luxury cruise line Silversea. McCurry told The Daily Telegraph: “Silversea asked if I would be interested in photographing some of the locations its ships visit. I thought it was a great idea.”
He will take pictures and talk to guests on the Tokyo to Singapore segment of Silver Whisper’s world cruise.
A 132-day San Francisco to London voyage, departing Jan 6 2019, costs from £47,000 per person excluding flight (0844 251 0837; silversea.com).
Inside Russia with a former ambassador
With the UK’s diplomatic relations with Russia strained, who better to give real insight into what is happening than a former British ambassador to Moscow? Sir Tony Brenton, who filled the post from 2004 to 2008, is a regular commentator on Russian affairs and is currently writing a book on Russian history. After more than 30 years working with the Foreign Office in the Middle East and the US as well as Russia, Sir Tony will tell passengers about his fascinating career and talk about his recent engagement with climate-change issues. Find him on a Far East voyage with Regent Seven Seas early next year.
59 amazing facts about Russia
Sir Tony will be speaking on board Mariner during a 16-night Bangkok to Hong Kong cruise departing Feb 25 2019. From £8,399 per person (02380 682280; rssc.com).
Strictly showtime with Arlene Phillips
Perhaps best known for her role as a ruthless judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Arlene Phillips is also a hugely successful choreographer. Phillips, who founded the dance troupe Hot Gossip, will be joined as a speaker by fellow West End musical darling Marti Webb when Floating Festivals charters Royal Caribbean’s Navigator this autumn. The Queen of Dance will be taking audience questions on the themed cruise, which will also see Michael Ball and Beverley Knight performing during a round-trip sailing from Southampton to Amsterdam.
The four-night Stages Musical Theatre cruise departs Oct 15 2018, from £699 per person (0844 417 0320; floatingfestivals.co.uk).
