Cunard Line Outlines Upcoming Guest Speakers

Cunard Line announced the latest roster of speakers who will join Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria over the coming months. The Cunard Insights on board enrichment programme will include motoring legend Murray Walker, former South African President F.W. de Klerk, legendary actor Robert Powell and other U.K. politicians, broadcasters and journalists.

RELATED: Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria to Enter Drydock in January 2015 for Refit

Motoring legend Murray Walker 

Queen Victoria, Canary Islands Explorer (V419)
Nov. 9, 2014
14 days, roundtrip Southampton

As the son of a professional racing motorcyclist, Murray Walker was born into the world of Motor Sport and has been involved ever since. After serving as an officer in the Royal Scots Greys tank regiment in World War II, he followed in his father’s wheel tracks by racing motor bikes but, not being good enough to satisfy himself, auditioned with the BBC as a commentator. His first commentary was on the 1949 British Grand Prix and since then he has travelled the world commentating on virtually every form of Motor Sport for the BBC, ITV, Sky TV and other worldwide television organisations.

The Nov. 9 voyage is 14 days, roundtrip Southampton and includes ports of call to Lisbon, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and La Coruna. Fares start from $1,699 per person.

Former South Africa President F. W. De Klerk 
Queen Mary 2 World Voyage (M503)
Port Elizabeth to Cape Town 
April 15-17, 2015

Frederik Willem de Klerk served as South Africa’s State President from September 1989 to May 1994.  He was the seventh and last head of state of South Africa under the apartheid era.  De Klerk brokered the end of apartheid and supported the transformation of South Africa into a multi-racial democracy.  He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, with Nelson Mandela, for his role in the ending of apartheid.  Mr. De Klerk will present “Walking with Nelson Mandela on the Long Road to a New South Africa” as well as participate in a Q&A session while on board from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.

Guests can enjoy a full 24 days from March 25 to April 18, 2015. The itinerary includes:  Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Mauritius, Durban, Port Elizabeth and overnight in Cape Town. Fares start from $3,299 per person.

Journalist Kate Adie OBE DL 
Queen Elizabeth, Transatlantic Crossing (Q503)
Jan. 10 2015
Eight days, Southampton to New York

Kate Adie is an English journalist.  Her most high-profile role was that of chief news correspondent for BBC News, during which time she became known for reporting from war zones around the world.  She currently presents “From Our Own Correspondent” on BBC Radio 4.

This eight-day Crossing is westbound from Southampton to New York. fares start from $1,299  per person.

Westminster Legend Ann Widdecombe DSG 
Queen Victoria, Canary Islands Explorer (V419)
Nov. 9, 2014
14 days, roundtrip Southampton

Ann Widdecombe is a former British Conservative Party politician and has been a novelist since 2000.  She is a Privy Councillor and was the Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 1997, and for Maidstone and The Weald from 1997 to 2010. She was a social conservative and a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.  She retired from politics at the 2010 general election.  Since 2002 she has also made numerous television and radio appearances, including as a television presenter.

The voyage will visit Lisbon, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and La Coruna.  Fares start from $1,699 per person.

Broadcaster, Royal Expert Caroline
Queen Mary 2, World Cruise (M503)
Jan. 10-17, 2015
Southampton to Rome (Civitavecchia)

Caroline Aston spoke the length and breadth of the UK and appeared in Hamburg, Antwerp and Luxembourg as well as speaking in the U.S. Caroline acts as royalty expert for several BBC radio stations, has written for the premier British royalty “Majesty” and “The Daily Telegraph,” and filmed a BBC mini-series on stately homes.

Guests may enjoy a full 20 days from Southampton to Dubai from Jan. 10-17, 2015. The itinerary includes: Malaga, Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Suez Canal, Sokhna (overnight), Safaga, Dubai (overnight).  Fares start from $2,774 per person.

Actor Robert Powell
Queen Mary 2, World Cruise (M503)
Civitavecchia to Dubai
Jan. 17-30 2015

Robert Powell’s 45-year career has included a bit of everything, from “Doomwatch” via “Jesus of Nazareth” and “The Detectives,” to “Holby City” on television; from “Mahler” via “Tommy” to “The 39 Steps” in films; and from “Hamlet” via Tom Stoppard’s “Travesties” with the RSC, to Alan Bennett’s “Single Spies” and Keith Waterhouse’s “Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell” and “Singin’ in the Rain” on stage.

Guests may access the full 20-day itinerary from Jan. 10-30, 2015. The itinerary inclues: Southampton, Malaga, Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Suez Canal, Sokhna (overnight), Safaga, Dubai (overnight).  Fares start from $2,774 per person.

Politician Lord Michael Howard
Queen Mary 2, World Cruise (M503)
Cape Town to Southampton 
April 18 – May 3, 2015

Michael Howard was leader of the Conservative Party between 2003 and 2005.  He stood down from the House of Commons at the 2010 election, was appointed a Life Peer in June 2010 and has since developed an international business career.  He is also Chairman of Help the Hospices, the umbrella organization for all hospices in the UK.  Michael will be joined by his wife, Sandra Howard (nee Paul), who was a famous fashion model in the 1960s and is now a successful novelist.

The 15-day itinerary: Cape Town, Walvis Bay (Namibia), Gran Canaria, Southampton.  Fares start from $2,024 per person.

Business guru Lord Digby Jones
Queen Elizabeth (Q516)
Aug. 30, 2015
16 days, roundtrip Southampton

Lord Digby Jones was born in Birmingham and introduced to the world of business through his family’s corner shop.  With a degree in law, he enjoyed a successful career in corporate law, becoming Vice President of KPMG.  He was head-hunted as Director General for the CBI from 2000 to 2006, during which time was knighted for his services to business, having traveled to over 70 different countries “banging the drum for Britain.”  Digby was appointed Minister of State for Trade & Investment (2007-2008) and was made a Life Peer in the House of Lords but famously did not join the party of Government.  He sits on numerous Boards and holds several advisory positions, also giving much time to his nominated charities.

The ports of call include Vigo, Lisbon, , Cadiz, Barcelona, Monte Carlo (overnight), Livorno, Rome, (Civitavecchia), Cartagena and Gibraltar.  Fares start from $3,198 per person.

Falklands veteran Simon Weston OBE
Queen Victoria, Transatlantic Crossing (V504N)
Southampton to Fort Lauderdale 
Jan. 20, 2015

Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston travelled to the Falklands on QE2 after the Cunard flagship was requisitioned by the Government in 1982.  He was on board the troopship Sir Galahad when it was destroyed in Bluff Cove, and his name and face became well known for his struggle to overcome his injuries and redefine his role in life. Today Simon takes the opportunity to convey his story in order to motivate and encourage those who, like him, want to move on to the next goal, whatever it may be.

The 13-day westbound Crossing from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale includes visits to Ponta Delgada, Antigua, Tortola and Nassau.  Fares start from $1,799 per person.

All fares quoted are per person based on double occupancy, are subject to availability and expire Aug. 31, 2014.  

For more information, visit www.cunard.com.