Resident Historian experience

This is a program that Viking recently started but I haven't heard much about on any thread. Upon investigation, it seems interesting but I'm looking for some first hand experience, rather than promotional material, So?

Sorry, I failed you on this one. We never attended any of his presentations.

This is a program that Viking recently started but I haven't heard much about on any thread. Upon investigation, it seems interesting but I'm looking for some first hand experience, rather than promotional material, So?

We were on Empires of the Mediterranean in April of this year, and enjoyed this program very much. We attended many of the presentations. The resident historian on our trip was Fenella Bazin, PhD, who is a music lecturer and historan, affiliated with the University of Liverpool. She presented talks on Greek Civilization, the Bayeux Tapestry, the Venetian Republic, and the Ospedale of Venice.

Guest lecturers on our cruise included Philip Sanders, CBE, and James Stourton.

Mr. Sanders is a retired brigadier of the British Army, and a specialist in military history.

He spoke on the Empires of the Mediterranean, the Doughboys of WWI, and the Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia.

James Stourton, our personal favorite, is an art historian who retired as the UK chairman of Sotheby's. He did presentations on his career at Sotheby's and the Great Houses of London. He was amusing as well as informative, opening up with the story of how he accidentally stole a truck to go pick up an acquisition on his first day on the job at Sotheby's.

All three members of the group were out and about with the passengers during the cruise. Mr. Stourton was on two of our excursions, as a member of the tour group!

The presentations were well attended.

Any specific questions I may be able to answer for you?

Love getting this information and positive critique from you.Thank you for posting.

Sorry, I failed you on this one. We never attended any of his presentations.

I never went to the lectures (they all seem to be at 6:30 pm) but we dined with one of the lecturers and her husband a couple of times and the art historian was on one of the tours we did. Besides these two resident experts, there were two different historians also on our trip.

I never went to the lectures (they all seem to be at 6:30 pm) but we dined with one of the lecturers and her husband a couple of times and the art historian was on one of the tours we did. Besides these two resident experts, there were two different historians also on our trip.

Definitely interesting dinner conversations!

Sorry, I failed you on this one. We never attended any of his presentations.

Not a fail here, just an incomplete. I'm sure you will do better on your next cruise. I did hear you passed the Viking cruise 'experience' with flying colors.

Not a fail here, just an incomplete. I'm sure you will do better on your next cruise. I did hear you passed the Viking cruise 'experience' with flying colors.

Yes, incomplete and shouldn't stay that way. I am looking at either Mid Atlantic Crossing or Into the Midnight Sun. I'm sure one of them will be calling your name after your upcoming cruise.

I vote Midnight Sun! Magnificent!

I vote Midnight Sun! Magnificent!

Thanks for that! :)

We attended a couple of the lectures on our recent Homelands cruise and enjoyed them. We also watched the "reruns" at more convenient times on our cabin tv.

We really liked these and took full advantage. Some were better than others, but overall were an enlightening aspect of the cruise!

My husband went to many of the lectures during the day and spoke to the lecturers regularly on the Viking star cruise into the midnight sun. He lived it, the guests were well versed in their individual studies and the studies were very diverse, historians, art specialists, lawyers, are just a few examples.

As a retired historian and college lecturer (PhD in Classical History) I can tell you that the lecturers on all cruise ships are a mixed bag. I have known about 4 or 5 socially, and their knowledge ranges from outstanding (true, well-regarded experts in the field) to a gym teacher from Australia who was literally faking it. What I find amusing is the large number of speakers with 'British' accents which Americans are convinced add authenticity and veracity to their presentations.

I must admit, however, that the lecturers on Viking have all seemed excellent with presentations and interpretations that are about 95% accurate. Historians never totally agree with each other. By all means attend these presentations they are very well put together and are excellent presentations.

My husband went to many of the lectures during the day and spoke to the lecturers regularly on the Viking star cruise into the midnight sun. He lived it, the guests were well versed in their individual studies and the studies were very diverse, historians, art specialists, lawyers, are just a few examples.

So, what I am trying to find out is, are there guest lecturers and resident historians? We had guest lecturers on our cruise and since then, Viking has promoted this resident historian program. Are they one in the same? Is this just a change in title? If we read CC, we know about the 'supervisor' title.

Erm maybe those people had 'british' accents because they were British!?

So, what I am trying to find out is, are there guest lecturers and resident historians? We had guest lecturers on our cruise and since then, Viking has promoted this resident historian program. Are they one in the same? Is this just a change in title? If we read CC, we know about the 'supervisor' title.

It appears that the guest lecturers may be a one time cruise offering whereas the resident historian, travel back and forth on multiple cruises. We had both on our cruise. One historian told my husband that he just travels on multiple cruises where the attorney seemed to be a guest speaker on just ours.

Erm maybe those people had 'british' accents because they were British!?

And they are British because????

It appears that the guest lecturers may be a one time cruise offering whereas the resident historian, travel back and forth on multiple cruises. We had both on our cruise. One historian told my husband that he just travels on multiple cruises where the attorney seemed to be a guest speaker on just ours.

Now that was my understanding. Does he give presentations too?

Our cruise had one resident historian and two guest lecturers. All three gave more than one presentation. It was a very enjoyable part of the trip.