Amidst the sun-kissed relaxation, off-shore excursions and show-stopping entertainment of a cruise holiday, those looking for something a little quieter are well catered towards too. If you fancy dialling it down a little, you’d do well to check out the enrichment lectures that many cruise lines offer. 0
But what exactly are enrichment lectures? Put simply, they’re lectures or speeches conducted by a guest speaker on a topic they’re passionate or knowledgeable about. They can be informative and entertaining, usually delivered to between 5 to 500 people, lasting roughly 45 minutes, and tend to take place during days at sea.
They’re a great little detox from the more hectic cruise activities, too. Far from a dry classroom-style lesson, they’re informative and engaging, with plenty of opportunity to learn about something you might be unfamiliar with.
Here, we’ll deliver a lecture of our own, informing you of the many lines’ various enrichment programs, what they entail, and how you can plan a little self-betterment during your time on the seas.
Azamara Cruises
With a broad range of topics, from politics and the environment to tribal customs and ancient history, Azamara’s enrichment programme has something new to discover whichever speech you attend.
Intimate and intriguing, there are plenty of guest speakers conducting the speeches, chief among them Dr. Michael Share, a New York native who’s lectured as a professor in Hong Kong for 25 years. With extensive travel experience throughout Europe and Southeast Asia, expect delightful lectures on military and international history from him.
Celebrity Cruises
Part of their Celebrity Life program, and falling under the Learn category, Celebrity’s enrichment program partners with a wide range of educational institutions for some fantastic learning opportunities. From history, culture, architecture and nature, they’ve also joined up with Rosetta Stone to let passengers learn one of 13 languages over the course of their journey.
Cunard Line
Cunard’s Insight program has seen many a famous face impart words and wisdom during its time. From Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Jennie Bond to Clare Balding and the legendary Michael Parkinson, passengers have been enthralled and engrossed by many leading names through the program.
In addition to celebrity speakers, Cunard have also featured lectures and speeches on everything from computers to distant constellations, enriching guests’ cruises with all manner of fantastic topics.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offer Discovery At Sea and the Encounters program as part of their enrichment, and both are fantastic ways of bringing the unknown to life. Less about guest speakers and more about actively engaging its guests in new, exciting ways, Discovery At Sea features stargazing for example, giving passengers a chance to identify major constellations against the night sky.
Collaborations with popular Discovery Channel shows such as MythBusters, Deadliest Catch and Finding Bigfoot put you at the centre of it all, allowing you to uncover the truth behind popular myths, try your hand at collecting crabs and attempt to locate the legendary Bigfoot aboard the ship!
Meanwhile, their Encounters program gives passengers a chance to learn more about where they’re travelling. Teaming up with regional specialists and experts, they’ll impart historical legend, where to find the best food and the top tourist sites to visit.
Also available are a range of talks on a number of themes and topics, including “Jupiter – King of the Planets”, “The 50s – the Decade of Elvis, Hula Hoops and 3-D Movies” and much, much more. Whatever your interests, you’re sure to find something to pique your curiosity here.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea’s many-splendored enrichment program features an exceptionally diverse array of lectures and topics. Everyone from military historians and NASA astronauts, to talk show hosts and the best-selling travel author Bill Bryson have thrilled audiences with their words. There’s plenty of variety, so you’re sure to see something that takes your fancy even if you’re unfamiliar with the topics – you’ll be a dab hand afterwards.
That’s not all – on select voyages, an onboard vintner will be available to lecture you on the finer aspects of winemaking, along with tastings and superb red and white wine pairings to enjoy with both lunch and dinner.
Plus, you’ll also have a chance to improve your culinary skills with demonstrations and classes curated exclusively for Silversea by Relais & Chateaux.
Seabourn Cruises
A celebration of discovery and adventure, Seabourn’s enrichment program Seabourn Conversations brings you a veritable feast of interesting speakers, all with an enthusiasm that’s infectious and highly engaging and designed to spark conversation amongst guests.
Intriguing and insightful, you’ll hear lectures and talks from intrepid explorers, chefs and performers, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge on a diverse array of topics. That’s not all, they’ll join you in the daily social scene, dining with you, exploring the surroundings ashore and chatting with you throughout your time onboard.
Fancy broadening your knowledge as well your horizons? Sounds like an enrichment lecture is for you. To view our full range of cruises, head over to our homepage, or give our friendly team a call on 1300 857 345.
