It’s one thing to read a book on a cruise but it’s quite another to hear a lecture from a famous author! If you’re thinking of taking a cruise, then I hope you’ll enjoy this guest post about Cunard’s lineup of impressive speakers.
Luxury cruises are synonymous with relaxing in style; and seeing the world with a pool and a luxury spa to hand at all times. This is all true of Cunard, but there’s also a lot more to their cruises than this standard fare. If you’re the type of person that likes a mixture of relaxation, wining and dining and plenty of cultural attractions then Cunard’s cruises are probably just right for you. As well as the usual activities you’d expect on a cruise, Cunard’s ships have cinemas, a planetarium and regular guest speakers – experts in their fields who offer a unique opportunity to spend an evening learning about any number of topics including literature, astronomy, science, world exploration and politics. You can read more about their guest speaker programme here.
In 2013 Cunard have a typically impressive list of speakers visiting their various ships. So we’ve put together a preview of some of the speakers you could be seeing aboard a Cunard cruise liner this year.
Margaret Atwood – author
Margaret Atwood is a celebrated literary figure and author of books such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind Assassin and Payback. At the end of August this year Atwood’s new book “MaddAddam: A novel” will be released; completing her MaddAddam trilogy which also included “Oryx and Crake” and “The Year of the Flood”.
Margaret Atwood was born in Canada in 1939 and has written fiction and non-fiction books, several poetry anthologies and been an important figure in the literature world of Canada where she founded the Writers’ Trust of Canada, to foster the work and careers of Canadian writers.
Margaret Atwood will be aboard the Queen Mary 2 in August 2013.
Sir David Frost
David Frost is a British television broadcaster and interviewer, most famous for the Nixon Interviews – a series of interviews he conducted with former US President Richard Nixon in 1977 which lead to the revelation that Nixon had likely obstructed the course of justice during the Watergate scandal in the early 70s. The interviews and surrounding circumstances were later made into a play called Frost/Nixon, which was then adapted into a film of the same name in 2008.
Frost is described as “no stranger to Cunard”. Among other things he once interviewed Nelson Mandela aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 in Cape Town in 1998.
Sir David Frost will be aboard the Queen Elizabeth in August 2013.
Jeffrey Hoffman – Astronaut/scientist
Jeffrey Hoffman is a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at the prestigious Michigan Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. He was also the first astronaut to log 1,000 hours of space flight time, and has made five space flights in his life including the first ever trip to fix the Hubble Telescope.
Hoffmans’ expertise lies in astrophysics, especially x-ray and gamma-ray research. Having worked for NASA, MIT and studied at Harvard, he’s a man with incredible knowledge and many tales to tell.
Jeffrey Hoffman is aboard the Queen Mary 2 in December 2013.
Bill Bryson – author
Bill Bryson is one of the world’s most favourite travel writers, with a wit and style that has charmed audiences – particularly in the UK where Bryson has lived for most of his adult life. Bryson is perhaps best known for his book “Notes from a Small Island”, in which he recounts travelling around the UK and the many interesting and amusing happenings that took place on this journey.
Bryson is now the Chancellor of the University of Durham in the UK, and is releasing a new book “One Summer” in the autumn of this year.
Bill Bryson will be aboard the Queen Mary 2 in October 2013.
Martin Bell
Martin Bell was a BBC war correspondent for many years, reporting on some of the most volatile places of conflict on the planet. He is also a British Ambassador for UNICEF – a United Nations Programme which looks after children and mothers in developing and countries, providing humanitarian aid and support.
Bell has also served as an independent politician in the UK, being elected as a member of parliament in 1997. Bell now writes non-fiction books covering politics both at home and abroad, and makes speaking engagements such as the one he is performing for Cunard.
Martin Bell will be aboard the Queen Victoria in September 2013.
