Guest Speakers on Iona

[SHADOW F1RE]

Going on the Iona, 14 night Canary cruise Mar 19th 2022 and cannot seem to find any information on Guest speakers, had some really good guest speakers on the 2019 Britannia Trans Atlantic cruise.  First cruise since then so getting exciting now!

[Harry Peterson]

Can’t speak for Iona, but on other ships, such as Azura and Ventura, I’ve never had details of speakers until embarking. May have changed since then, but with ships the size of Iona I’d hope for a good range.

[wowzz]

Strange that Princess can do it, but not P&O. 

https://www.cruise-international.com/princess-cruises-celebrity-speakers-sky-princess/

Having said that, does anyone book a cruise just because of a guest speaker ?

[Eddie99]

No - but it’s one more thing to look forward to, isn’t it, particularly if it’s a person or subject you are really interested in?

I think they’re missing a trick.

Cunard pre-announce too, so P&O are out of step with the rest of the group

 

 

Edit

Oh - I very very nearly booked a QM TA which had James Taylor coming over to do a European tour and also performing on board (working his passage? - I don’t know)

It would have been a huge indulgence, an extra cruise squeezed in, and really not necessary as we had tickets for a gig locally - but I was sorely tempted

Edited March 4, 2022 by Eddie99

[Ardennais]

24 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Strange that Princess can do it, but not P&O. 

https://www.cruise-international.com/princess-cruises-celebrity-speakers-sky-princess/

Having said that, does anyone book a cruise just because of a guest speaker ?

I got the Princess e-mail a few days ago and wondered the same thing!

 

I certainly don’t book because of guest speakers, but it’s just one enjoyable part of a cruise. The sum is greater than the parts, and all that. Trouble is, the parts are being eroded. 

[Harry Peterson]

27 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Strange that Princess can do it, but not P&O. 

https://www.cruise-international.com/princess-cruises-celebrity-speakers-sky-princess/

Having said that, does anyone book a cruise just because of a guest speaker ?

Strangely, perhaps, it's one of the major criticisms I have of today's P&O.  Not the inability to know in advance, of course, but the generally poor range and selection of speakers.  It was very much one of the pleasures, but much less so now.

[Fionboard]

At least they are not talking about Concorde and WW2 weapons like they used to!!

[Britboys]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Strange that Princess can do it, but not P&O. 

https://www.cruise-international.com/princess-cruises-celebrity-speakers-sky-princess/

Having said that, does anyone book a cruise just because of a guest speaker ?

I suspect that Princess have only done this because a number of the speakers are well-known personalities and hence a bit of a draw or at the least positive publicity.

With P&O nowadays the speakers are not generally people you've heard of unless maybe you are very much a regular with P&O.

[wowzz]

11 minutes ago, Britboys said:

I suspect that Princess have only done this because a number of the speakers are well-known personalities and hence a bit of a draw or at the least positive publicity.

With P&O nowadays the speakers are not generally people you've heard of unless maybe you are very much a regular with P&O.

I think you are correct. It certainly places Princess in a much more favourable light than P&O. 

[Enjoyacruise]

On the 12 February Cruise (the one impacted by bad weather) we had a TV producer who ended up doing 4 very interesting talks in the mornings -instead of the 2 he was booked for. 

 

In the afternoons we had 2 presentations/demonstrations by a company who were doing entertainment for the children's clubs. Ball juggling, break dancing and something called beat box music. 

[Josy1953]

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

Strange that Princess can do it, but not P&O. 

https://www.cruise-international.com/princess-cruises-celebrity-speakers-sky-princess/

Having said that, does anyone book a cruise just because of a guest speaker ?

It has never occurred to me to look to see who the speakers are, I didn't  even know that the list was available.  I just looked for our Sky Princess cruise at the end of this month and there is nothing listed.  I  can only assume that it will be someone hilarious, possibly  Kalos ? 🤣

[Fionboard]

Best one I ever saw was a psychologist about psychopath serial killers - gruesome but very interesting!!

[Josy1953]

We have actually had some good speakers on P&O. I particularly remember a man who had been a prison governor. We went to his first talk because there was nothing else that interested us and it was raining but we went to his other 2 talks because the he had us gripped.  The worst speaker we have ever seen was Judy Murray.

[wowzz]

6 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

The worst speaker we have ever seen was Judy Murray.

At least she didn't dance! 

[pete14]

15 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

It has never occurred to me to look to see who the speakers are, I didn't  even know that the list was available.  I just looked for our Sky Princess cruise at the end of this month and there is nothing listed.  I  can only assume that it will be someone hilarious, possibly  Kalos ? 🤣

I’ll volunteer to do it if they’re short. 😁 I’m sure that with Google’s help I will be able to rustle up something. Anything for a free cruise (well almost anything!) 😇

[Les_ldh]

On 3/4/2022 at 5:20 PM, Josy1953 said:

We have actually had some good speakers on P&O. I particularly remember a man who had been a prison governor. We went to his first talk because there was nothing else that interested us and it was raining but we went to his other 2 talks because the he had us gripped.  The worst speaker we have ever seen was Judy Murray.

That’s Geoff Hughes. We’ve had him on this current cruise on Aurora, and I have to say he is excellent. 👍

Les

[wowzz]

I have written to P&O,  offering to give my well received talk entitled "Premier Inns of the UK" in exchange for a 14 night cruise in a suite,  and have been somewhat surprised to  have had no response.

The reviews I have received for my talk are exceptional: a few comments-

"You will never hear anything  like it"

"Unbelievable "

"I could not believe it"

"Never again"

It seems to me that P&O are missing a trick by not looking to book  guest speakers such as myself.

 

[Josy1953]

  Deleted

Edited March 6, 2022 by Josy1953
Deleted

[Fionboard]

We had a man once, ex police, who was hilarious. Have heard him on Radio 4 too. Very good.

[Eglesbrech]

On 3/4/2022 at 5:20 PM, Josy1953 said:

We have actually had some good speakers on P&O. I particularly remember a man who had been a prison governor. We went to his first talk because there was nothing else that interested us and it was raining but we went to his other 2 talks because the he had us gripped.  The worst speaker we have ever seen was Judy Murray.

What was wrong with Judy?

[Eglesbrech]

On 3/5/2022 at 11:11 PM, wowzz said:

I have written to P&O,  offering to give my well received talk entitled "Premier Inns of the UK" in exchange for a 14 night cruise in a suite,  and have been somewhat surprised to  have had no response.

The reviews I have received for my talk are exceptional: a few comments-

"You will never hear anything  like it"

"Unbelievable "

"I could not believe it"

"Never again"

It seems to me that P&O are missing a trick by not looking to book  guest speakers such as myself.

 

I should perhaps try that as well. I have done a lot of public speaking and I’m sure my specialist subject would be of interest to many. Must write to P&O 😉

[wowzz]

Just now, Eglesbrech said:

I should perhaps try that as well. I have done a lot of public speaking and I’m sure my specialist subject would be of interest to many. Must write to P&O 😉

Is your specialist subject "Travel Lodges of the UK" ?

We don't want to saturate the market !

[Eglesbrech]

3 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Is your specialist subject "Travel Lodges of the UK" ?

We don't want to saturate the market !

No you are quite safe, my knowledge of travel lodges is limited at best so I’m not poaching on your specialism

[yorkshirephil]

On 3/5/2022 at 11:11 PM, wowzz said:

I have written to P&O,  offering to give my well received talk entitled "Premier Inns of the UK" in exchange for a 14 night cruise in a suite,  and have been somewhat surprised to  have had no response.

The reviews I have received for my talk are exceptional: a few comments-

"You will never hear anything  like it"

"Unbelievable "

"I could not believe it"

"Never again"

It seems to me that P&O are missing a trick by not looking to book  guest speakers such as myself.

 

Seems reasonable, as long as you don't expect a particular suite.

[Harry Peterson]

23 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

No you are quite safe, my knowledge of travel lodges is limited at best so I’m not poaching on your specialism

 

It's not 'The award-winning charities of Forest Gate' is it?  I'm really looking forward to that one.