Lecturers on Celebrity

I don't remember reading much about what lectures, etc. that Celebrity may have available. Just curious...would appreciate any info that you may have.

I don't remember reading much about what lectures, etc. that Celebrity may have available. Just curious...would appreciate any info that you may have.

Celebrity no longer announces topics and speakers prior to the cruise. Sometimes a speaker posts on these boards, but that's about the best you can hope for. I've heard a wide range of speakers: Shirley Jones, Frank Shorter, John Maxton Graham. Many speakers on topics such as Space Program and Astronomy. Quite a few geologists and film experts. There are some posters on these boards who like to discuss their interests and have lectures not sponsored by Celebrity. I am fortunate to have a speaker on Astronomy and another on Titanic on my future cruises.

Celebrity no longer announces topics and speakers prior to the cruise. Sometimes a speaker posts on these boards, but that's about the best you can hope for. I've heard a wide range of speakers: Shirley Jones, Frank Shorter, John Maxton Graham. Many speakers on topics such as Space Program and Astronomy. Quite a few geologists and film experts. There are some posters on these boards who like to discuss their interests and have lectures not sponsored by Celebrity. I am fortunate to have a speaker on Astronomy and another on Titanic on my future cruises.

How did you find out that you will have this speaker......

We were disappointed on our Bermuda cruise in May on Summit to find they have discontinued guest lecturers on those sailings. We had 3 sea days. They could have had 1 guest speaker.

Another cut back.

Sent from my Nexus 7

They're hit or miss. The naturalist on Millennium in Alaska was fantastic. We still quote him four years later. OTOH, we were disappointed in the Caribbean, when the astronomy lecturer was either unfamiliar with the topic or was simply disenchanted.

How did you find out that you will have this speaker......

These particular speakers posted on the Roll Call. However, I don't believe that they are sponsored by Celebrity. They appear to be just fellow passengers who have a passion they wish to share with others. They are frequent posters on Cruise Critic and they may respond if they see this thread.

Glen and Bonnie Dolberg cruised with us on the Equinox. Glen gives very interesting lectures on Mediterranean ports supported by numerous photos and maps. His lectures cover other itineraries on Celebrity, Azamara, RCL and Disney.

It's a treat to be aboard with the Dolbergs.

-Marisa

Sad news for the cruising world:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/books/john-maxtone-graham-an-authority-on-ocean-liners-dies-at-85.html?_r=0

We sailed with John Maxtone - Graham in 2005 on our first TA, Rome to Galveston on Galaxy.

He ended up giving 9 lectures instead of 6, due to extra Sea Days as a consequence of Hurricane Wilma ( we weren't allowed into Key West as it was hit by a tidal Wave)

We also bought a couple of his books, including 'Titanic Tragedy' and 'The only way to Cross.'

There were no guest lecturers on our Reflection cruise in the Caribbean. We were disappointed in that. We have enjoyed a former White House news correspondent, a historian of the islands traveled, etc.

Mike Siegel was a speaker on our Constellation Med cruise: three talks on Mediterranean history, myths and ports. He was very interesting and well informed. Too bad more passengers didn't take advantage of his talks. Plus he's very nice as is his wife.

These particular speakers posted on the Roll Call. However, I don't believe that they are sponsored by Celebrity. They appear to be just fellow passengers who have a passion they wish to share with others. They are frequent posters on Cruise Critic and they may respond if they see this thread.

We got to know one of the lecturers on RCCL. I can't say for sure it works the same on X but that person told me the cruise line hired him through an agency (star-something, can't recall exactly). He said if one is an expert on something, you can sign on with the agency and lines hire you in that manner. I'd add MickeyLive to the list of interesting lecturers. He was on recent Far East TP on the Millie and also does South America. There were three different ones on that cruise.

I don't remember reading much about what lectures, etc. that Celebrity may have available. Just curious...would appreciate any info that you may have.

If you want to do a search on this topic, I believe Celebrity still calls their lectiurs "Beyond the Podium"

The speakers on our Transatlantic cruise were particularly interesting.

Jane

Sad news for the cruising world:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/books/john-maxtone-graham-an-authority-on-ocean-liners-dies-at-85.html?_r=0

 

We sailed with John Maxtone - Graham in 2005 on our first TA, Rome to Galveston on Galaxy.

He ended up giving 9 lectures instead of 6, due to extra Sea Days as a consequence of Hurricane Wilma ( we weren't allowed into Key West as it was hit by a tidal Wave)

 

We also bought a couple of his books, including 'Titanic Tragedy' and 'The only way to Cross.'

Very sad to hear. We thoroughly enjoyed many of his lectures. Hopefully Celebrity continues their speakers program. It is of such interest to learn details & customs where one travels. We've enjoyed speakers in Alaska, Antarctica, trans Atlantic crossings & most recently trans Pacific from Vancouver to Hawaii. All a wealth of information.

I suspect that it depends on the number of sea days,whether they have ' beyond the Podium ' lecturers. We als listened to Jim Kennedy ( ex Kennedy Space centre) on our last TA.

Sad news for the cruising world:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/books/john-maxtone-graham-an-authority-on-ocean-liners-dies-at-85.html?_r=0

 

We sailed with John Maxtone - Graham in 2005 on our first TA, Rome to Galveston on Galaxy.

He ended up giving 9 lectures instead of 6, due to extra Sea Days as a consequence of Hurricane Wilma ( we weren't allowed into Key West as it was hit by a tidal Wave)

 

We also bought a couple of his books, including 'Titanic Tragedy' and 'The only way to Cross.'

Thanks for posting that link. That's a really nice obituary. We were fortunate enough to be on two cruises where he was a lecturer, and had a few chances to chat with him and Mary. He was a very interesting man.

Jim Kennedy, Mickey Live, Brent Nixon and Milos. All fantastic beyond the podium guys

As others have said some others not good some downright terrible

Those brought into do Celebrity Life activities also very variable, Jim who taught art on Infinity two years ago excellent, the Chinese Canadian "art teacher" on Infinity last month talented artist but awful teacher, worst "teaching" I've ever had on X. I wonder if their vetting is now seriously dumbed down and they are doing it in the cheap

Brent Nixon - in my opinion the best Alaska naturalist there is. If you're fortunate to have him on a sailing, go to every lecture and listen to him over the PA when you're in the fjord, etc.

We've had lovely lectures that run the gamut from the photographer at the PGA tour, an expert on weird phenomena, a CIA agent, a WWII specialist, an Everest climber, etc.

Jim Kennedy, Mickey Live, Brent Nixon and Milos. All fantastic beyond the podium guys

 

We've been fortunate to be on two sailings with Jim Kennedy, retired from NASA and former Director of the Kennedy Space Center (no relation to the Kennedy family). I agree that he's fantastic. Don't miss a chance to hear him if you have one.

On our Silhouette TA last fall, he was a rock star he was so good. We had fantastic weather the entire crossing, but 1,000-plus people still went indoors to hear Jim on the afternoons he spoke.

Brent Nixon - in my opinion the best Alaska naturalist there is. If you're fortunate to have him on a sailing, go to every lecture and listen to him over the PA when you're in the fjord, etc.

 

We've had lovely lectures that run the gamut from the photographer at the PGA tour, an expert on weird phenomena, a CIA agent, a WWII specialist, an Everest climber, etc.

Agree about Brent, he is excellent and his talks everyday are very interesting. He now has his wife on board who also gives a couple of lectures.

Brent Nixon - in my opinion the best Alaska naturalist there is. If you're fortunate to have him on a sailing, go to every lecture and listen to him over the PA when you're in the fjord, etc.

 

We've had lovely lectures that run the gamut from the photographer at the PGA tour, an expert on weird phenomena, a CIA agent, a WWII specialist, an Everest climber, etc.

Agree about Brent, he is excellent and his talks everyday are very interesting. He now has his wife on board who also gives a couple of lectures.

We loved Brent Nixon! His first lecture I missed because I wanted to take the galley tour, but I caught it on tv in my room later. He was so entertaining and I learned so much! I definitely made a point to go see him. His wife was on ship too as "Miss Amanda" but I never went to those. Just too much to do!

Our first two cruises on Celeb were 14-day (the Valparaiso-Buenos Aries - add it to the bucket list - and a Southern Caribbean cruise). Our third was a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise.

Based on this I would assume you get speakers on the longer cruises. For the life of me, I can't remember any of their names, but there was a naturalist on the South American cruise who was fascinating (and I am not, by nature, fascinated by nature!) There was also a former space engineer who talked about behind the scenes life at NASA. He was, as they say, a real rocket scientist and his enthusiasm for his topic was infectious. On the Caribbean cruise there was a husband-wife pair of professors who spoke about pirates. Little known fact: other than Hollywood movies, there is no indications pirates said AAARRRRR!!!

Your NASA guy sounds like Jim Kennedy

I agree on Brent Nixon he was excellent, great information and funny. We had him on the Infinity in Alaska in 2012.

There was also a former space engineer who talked about behind the scenes life at NASA. He was, as they say, a real rocket scientist and his enthusiasm for his topic was infectious.

Your NASA guy sounds like Jim Kennedy

Indeed. Artmc: see earlier posts; Jim Kennedy is Celebrity's fabulous "NASA guy." :)