john brinkley cruise ship speaker

• Cruise Entertainment
• Corporate & Private Entertainment
• Hotel & Leisure Entertainment
• Touring Theatre Productions
• Broadcast Services
• Talent Agency Directory
• Guest Speakers & Presenters
• Register Your Act
• Audition Process
• Current Auditions & Vacancies
• Case Studies
• MLC Compliance

Latest Jobs / Auditions

Female Dancer Auditions – 5th February 2024 – Milan, Italy Danza e Movimento, Milan, Italy 5th February 2024

Singer Auditions – 3rd February – Milan, Italy Danza e Movimento, Milan, Italy 3rd February 2024

Male Dancer Auditions – 3rd February 2024 – Milan, Italy Danza e Movimento, Milan, Italy 3rd February 2024

Email me at

[email protected]

+44 (0) 1756 796 176

Get in touch

Would you make a good cruise ship speaker?

If you are a natural presenter, with entertaining and enriching talks that have relevance to cruise ship itineraries – perhaps this is an opportunity for you to enjoy a cruise sharing your knowledge with passengers on some of the many cruise lines we work with.

Peel Talent provide lecturers and workshop tutors to cruise lines including Fred Olsen, Saga, Marella, Cunard, Crystal and Viking. Our speakers and tutors who are experts in their field relate to the cruise ship itinerary or theme. We are always interested to hear from speakers with relevant and interesting knowledge to share.

Discover the perfect speaker

Are you looking for speakers for an event, conference or corporate occasion?

As an established and respected Talent Agency, we represent exceptional speakers and presenters from the worlds of Sport, Entertainment, Business and Television. We have unsurpassed access to high profile celebrities and personalities and can provide name attractions for every type of event from After Dinner through to arenas!

Peel Talent speaker training events

Peel talent provide training for those who are interested in becoming a cruise ship speaker – including presenting with confidence and creating powerful PowerPoint presentations that are essential to every speaker on a cruise ship.

We provide training courses for those wishing to become destination speakers who are very much in demand with all the cruise lines. These lecturers provide a mixture of history, art and culture relevance to cruise itineraries enriching the passenger experience of their chosen cruise.

Port lecturing training courses are offered twice a year by Peel Talent – this is specifically for speakers who wish to become Port Lecturers working with the Cruise Shore Excursion Team providing up to date information on what is on offer in the Ports, how to get about and supplying further information on the cruise lines tours as well as practical information for independent travellers who wish to explore on their own whilst in Port.

For further information please visit our dedicated speaker website where you will find examples of our guest speakers.

If you are interested in joining the peel talent speaker agency please email speaker coordinator sara at [email protected]..

Case studies

Inspiring audiences

Speaker Talent – An Important Part of the Mix

Peel AV – The Technical Experts Behind Our Award-Winning Entertainment

Masters Of The House: Musicals, Movies & More

Step Inside The Peel Talent Studio

Big Girls Don’t Cry

FIVE New Shows for a Jam Packed Summer Season at sea…

Peel’s Family Fun for Everyone!

Fairy Woodland

Entertainment with a touch of spice

With up to four show teams ‘live’ and performing to thousands onboard Marella Cruises cruise ships sailing to fabulous destinations worldwide, and with a further three teams in rehearsal at any one time.

Peel Talent Agency has recruited two acts with a rich Indian heritage for Marella Cruises

Our Guest Speaker Clients

Act registration

• Type of act * Type of act Singer Band Magician Comedian Acrobatic Dancer/Dance Act Hypnotist Mind Control Cruise Ship Speaker Other, Please specify
• Brief description of act *
• Contact number *
• Nationality Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati North Korea South Korea Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Martin Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
• Email address *
• Website (if applicable)
• Corporate Shows
• Touring theatre shows
• Arena shows
• Showreel Link
• Showreel file Accepted file types: mp4, avi, mkv.
• Agent details

Site Navigation

Established in 1997, Compass Speakers and Entertainment Inc . has earned a globally recognized reputation for being the industry leader in providing the world’s most exclusive cruise lines with an acclaimed selection of qualified experts for their onboard programs. Compass devotes itself to seeking innovative destination, world affairs and special interest speakers, celebrities, Gentlemen Dance Hosts®, religious service leaders, art, bridge, dance, golf, yoga and Pilates instructors . In partnership, we work with our clients to develop enrichment specific to the distinction of their oceanic itineraries, and place dedicated, prominent individuals who match the intellectual affluence of the onboard guests. Regarded as pioneers of quality enrichment within the luxury cruise market, Compass serves the most affluent cruise lines in the world, including American Cruise Lines, Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and Windstar Cruises . For a complete list of our clients, please see our client list . EXECUTIVE TEAM Click on individuals name to email them Niklas Sardana III President & CEO Born in Ottawa, Canada, Niklas first embarked on a life of epic exploration at birth, having been around the world with his family by the time he was five years-old. An inherent step came in 1986, at the age of 16, when he began his career as a travel consultant. While studying hospitality and tourism management at Ryerson University in Toronto, he held the position of Coordinator for the British Airways Concorde for Blyth & Company. It was during this time in his burgeoning vocation that Niklas had the pleasure of working for the prestigious Young Presidents’ Organization as Tour Director for their private academies. Subsequent schooling in similar studies commenced at University of Hawaii – TIM in Honolulu and Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale. His introduction to the cruise industry began when he joined Celebrity Cruises in 1990 as Deputy Cruise Director, a position he thoroughly enjoyed for four years. His desire to discover more of life’s rich culture led him to accept the position of Entertainment Coordinator aboard Cunard Line’s Royal Viking Sun during its 1996 World Cruise. Spellbound by the alluring mystique of the unbound sea, this experience set Niklas’ course for life as a trailblazer in the vast world of uncharted discoveries. During his tenure onboard the Royal Viking Sun , it became apparent to Niklas that there was a distinct need for a speakers’ agency that catered exclusively to the luxury cruise industry. Circumnavigating the globe became one of the most enchanting experiences of his lifetime, and this revelation triggered his return to dry land in 1997 and the conception of Compass Speakers and Entertainment Inc. , based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His unbridled passion for sharing knowledge with fellow travelers inspired Niklas’ innovative idea of creating an impressive roster of luminaries who could evolve in a flourishing, avant-garde climate. From 1997 to 2003, Niklas served as District Sales Manager for the Southeast United States, the Caribbean and Bermuda for the award-winning, five-star Malaysia Airlines . In 2003, Niklas was called upon to assist the entertainment department with the Crystal Symphony World Cruise . This led him to the French shipyard in St. Nazaire to assist with the inaugural launch of Crystal Serenity and her first World Cruise in 2004. Compass has since become the leading placement agency in the world, supplying the ocean’s most prestigious cruise lines with renowned enrichment for the purpose of deepening the cultural experiences of the distinguished guests. Growing steadily each year, the company sets itself apart in the way it is governed, as Niklas’ dedicated team comprises passionate professionals with a similar love for culture, travel and diversity. With continuous panoply of new vessels being built aiding in its success, Compass shows no sign of slowing down. Niklas’ odyssey has taken him to over 140 countries, on more than 35 different cruise ships and a multitude of airlines, as experiencing new products related to travel also inspires him. His life’s mission is to visit every country on the planet in hopes to satisfy his relentless wanderlust. Niklas is a travel connoisseur who voyages several times a year to destinations he has not yet explored, leaving in his wake a legacy of sophisticated travel. His interests reach beyond traversing the globe’s seven continents. Niklas is also a contributor of photographs, editorials and articles to a variety of cruise and travel magazines, as he receives immense gratification from sharing with others tales of a world he has grown to know so well. “Let the ocean be your atlas, and Compass your guide.” - Niklas Sardana III Go to top of page Anthony Ciena Director, Onboard Programs Art, Bridge & Clergy Division Born and raised in the heart of the Big Apple, Anthony was educated at Queensborough and Queens College in business administration before chasing his love for cruise ship travel, eventually landing him in South Florida. In 2002, he began his journey with Compass as Director, Onboard Programs – Clergy Division. Prior to this venture, Anthony was based at the corporate headquarters as Director of Retail Operations for one of the largest optical retail chains in the nation before opening his own storefront in Boca Raton in 1999, which he ran for a few years. With more than 20 years of extensive sales and marketing experience in the optical industry, coupled with his business savvy and personality, Anthony’s invaluable affiliation with the Compass team has been a remarkable asset. Since joining Compass, Anthony has developed a strong roster of candidates and oversees all clergy (priest, rabbi and protestant ministers), art instructor and bridge instructor placements on the luxury ships that we represent. Go to top of page Jennifer Korn Director, Onboard Programs Enrichment Division Jennifer united with Compass in 2009 and assumed the role of Director, Onboard Programs – Enrichment Division. Prior to joining Compass, she worked for a renowned hotel and resort corporation to assist in the grand opening of one of their beachside convention properties. She later managed their recreation department where she was entrusted with the direction of the fitness center, children’s program, upscale retail boutique, and coordinating special events. Seeking a new challenge, Jennifer joined the public sector in administrative capacities for one of South Florida’s fastest growing cities, assisting their recreation department with marketing and human resources. Jennifer then transitioned into the cruise industry to source enrichment talent for several cruise lines and coordinating their travel details. Now, as a valued component of the Compass team, she focuses on the placement of destination, world affairs and special interest speakers for its clients. Jennifer also regularly sources new visionary speakers and celebrities to engage the onboard guests. Go to top of page Andrew Poulton Director, Onboard Programs Enrichment Division Andrew was raised in rural Kenya. Throughout childhood, he dreamed of traveling the world and was fascinated by all modes of transportation. As fate would have it, his first job after college was with the marketing department of Cunard Line in London, and he has since spent his entire career in the cruise industry. After 16 years with Cunard (the last 12 of these in Manhattan), he moved to Florida to join Regent Seven Seas Cruises, where he spent 13 years in the areas of marketing, advertising and public relations. Here, he was part of the team that transformed the fledgling line from a niche operator with small vessels into a state of the art collection of all-suite, all-balcony ships. He then spent eight years with Silversea Cruises managing the enrichment and entertainment department, implementing new production shows and introducing many new guest speakers to the enrichment program. Andrew was thrilled to join Compass as it embarked on their 20th year of operation in 2018. Go to top of page Dorine Nielsen Director, The Gentlemen Host® Program Dorine joined Compass as the Director, Gentlemen Host Programin 2019. Prior to this capacity, Dorine worked as Enrichment Administrator for Viking Ocean Cruises. Having studied classical dance while in school, she began a professional dance career at the age of 17, touring Europe and the Middle East. Dorine spent the next three years as a dancer and singer for Princess Cruises. Her dream subsequently came true when she won the role of “Connie Wong” in A Chorus Line. In addition to dancing, Dorine was a social hostess for Princess Cruises and Royal Viking Line. Before moving to South Florida, she held the title of HR Manager for KCET Public Broadcasting in Los Angeles. Besides her love for travel, Dorine holds a 2nd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 1st degree black belt in Haedong Kumdo. Go to top of page Roger Wiebe Outreach Executive Travelling the world and living abroad have been Roger’s passions from a young age. Growing up in Vancouver, he was exposed to diversity and internationalism. After completing university, he worked in Japan for five years. This opportunity provided him the ability to travel to many Asian and South Pacific countries. He has also enjoyed cruises that have taken him to Europe, Alaska, and the Caribbean. In doing so he learned to appreciate all of the special presenters that both entertained and educated the guests. Roger’s career has been dedicated to administration, honing his skills in communication, human resources, and ensuing that the best and most qualified candidates are selected for the position to which they are applying. He also works at one of Canada’s top wineries as Wine Tasting Ambassador, and therefore fully appreciates what is required to ensure that the guest’s experience is of the highest quality. Roger is responsible for sourcing and qualifying new and innovative candidates for both our Destination and Special Interest enrichment divisions. Go to top of page Sena Schmidt Executive Copy Editor A native of Los Angeles, California, Sena joined Compass in 2009 as Onboard Programs Coordinator while living in Fort Lauderdale during a brief period after college. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Northridge, her career background in the writing realm includes writing and copy editing for a variety of local and international fitness and lifestyle magazines, an Inc. 500 SEO company, and an online dating blog, to name a few. Now residing in the Omaha, Nebraska area, Sena continues to remain a valuable element to Compass while working remotely as their in-house staff writer and copy editor. She oversees the overall accuracy of the different divisions’ bios and has written cruise-related articles. With a knack for people and a passion for creativity and organization, Sena brings to Compass her intuitive nature in regards to the English language, and her devout appreciation towards the realm of travel and writing. Go to top of page

COMPANY PROFILE | SPEAKER CATEGORIES & INFORMATION | GUIDELINES OUR LIST OF CLIENTS RELATED LINKS --> | CONTACT INFORMATION EMAIL COMPASS | HOME Copyright © COMPASS SPEAKERS AND ENTERTAINMENT INC. All rights reserved.

Cruise Ship Speaker Portal

Welcome to our speakers portal where you can login and browse our database of over a thousand registered and approved Guest Speakers categorised into 86 disciplines. We pride ourselves on being able to offer the right speaker, or create a complete enrichment programme, for any given cruise in any part of the world. With over two decades of experience we provide an attentive, personal service and believe that we have achieved an enviable track record in the industry.

Didn't receive confirmation message?

Call 01756 703601 or email [email protected] for Questions on Booking or Becoming a Speaker

Featured candidates, become a guest speaker.

If you are interested in becoming a speaker register your details by clicking on the link below.

Become A Speaker

Browse Peel's list of speakers

Register today.

Request Access

Have a Question? Take a look at our frequently asked questions page.

Our clients.

The P&R Agency is now owned by PEEL Talent Ltd, part of The PEEL Entertainment Group and providers of world class entertainment to the cruise industry for over 20 years. PEEL is a natural new home for the P&R Agency and we’re delighted to continue this specialist and unique service in the proud tradition so carefully nurtured by Peter and Rosemary Rushton for so many years.

Seabourn Announces Powerhouse Lineup of Speakers for Onboard Enrichment Program

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: June 7, 2023  - Last updated: June 8, 2023

The luxe cruise line will host an Apple co-founder, a royal butler, and the former head of MI5 as part of its Seabourn Conversations program.

Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn has announced a stellar lineup of speakers for its summer and fall Seabourn Conversations program.

The comprehensive onboard enrichment program, designed to enlighten, inform, and entertain, allows guests to interact with the best brains in science, history, culture, and dining.

Scheduled speakers include Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak, Royal Butler Grant Harrold, former head of MI5 Dame Stella Rimington, and Michelin Star Chef Robert Thompson, among others.

The discussions will take place on Seabourn sailings between June and November 2023, and will cover a variety of topics ranging from royalty and wine interests to expedition and culture. Throughout the cruise, each speaker will provide unique insights, expert opinions, and insightful dialogues while presenting lectures, sharing meals, adventuring ashore, and socializing with guests.

“Seabourn is known to provide extraordinary experiences for extraordinary people. We are proud to offer a phenomenal lineup of accomplished speakers for our Seabourn Conversations program, creating truly enriching ‘Seabourn Moments’ for guests while they experience Seabourn’s uncompromising luxury and intuitive, genuine service,” said Seabourn president Natalya Leahy in a press release.

“Seabourn attracts like-minded, accomplished, and outstanding people. This program lives up to this promise, and we are so delighted to bring onboard these distinguished speakers who are leaders in their respective fields,” Leahy continued.

Related: Which Cruise Lines Have All-Inclusive Cruises

Notable speakers and topics for Seabourn Conversations’ Summer/Autumn 2023 season

Upcoming speakers in the Seabourn Conversations program include the following:

Steve Wozniak, Apple Co-founder

When and where: June 11 – 25, 2023, Seabourn Ovation roundtrip from Copenhagen

Steve Wozniak , a Silicon Valley icon, technology entrepreneur, and philanthropist for over 40 years, helped influence the computing industry with his design of Apple’s original line of products, the Apple I and II. He also influenced the popular Macintosh computer. With Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer, Wozniak and Steve Jobs established Apple Computer Inc. in 1976.

Explorers and adventurers

When and where: July 2 – 16, 2023, Seabourn Venture roundtrip from Reykjavik

Alison Levine , Seabourn Venture ‘s godmother, is a world-renowned polar adventurer and mountaineer. She led the first American Women’s Everest Expedition and is one of just 20 people to have climbed the highest peak on each continent as well as skied to both the North and South Poles. When she isn’t pushing herself physically, Levine works on developing people to become effective leaders. She is the author of On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and Other Extreme Environments .

Related: What Is a Cruise Ship Godmother (or Godfather)?

Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper is a former astronaut and United States Navy Captain who served in the United States Navy for 30 years. She was selected as an astronaut by NASA and completed two space flights in 2006 and 2008—totaling over 28 days in space—and five spacewalks.

Dr. Beth Healey has worked in extreme and remote environments including Svalbard, Siberia, Greenland, and the North Pole. Healey overwintered in Antarctica at spaceflight analog Concordia (aka “White Mars”) where she researched the effects of isolation and extreme environment as a research M.D. for the European Space Agency.

Chef Robert Thompson, youngest chef to receive a Michelin Star

When and where: Aug 1 – 25, 2023, Seabourn Quest London to Québec | June 29 – July 13, 2024, Seabourn Sojourn Lisbon to Dover | Sept. 7 – 21, 2024 Seabourn Sojourn roundtrip from Dover

Chef Robert Thompson was born in Bedfordshire, England, and began cooking at the age of ten. Robert was the youngest chef to earn a Michelin Star (awarded to Winteringham Fields in England) in 2007. Thompson’s work also earned a Michelin Star for The Hambrough on the Isle of Wight. Guests will be able to see a live culinary demonstration, sample Robert’s Guest Chef evening meal in the Colonnade, and book a bespoke tasting menu with premium wines.

Dame Stella Rimington, Former Director General of MI5

When and where: Oct 29 – Nov 5, 2023, Seabourn Ovation from Barcelona to Rome

Dame Stella Rimington is perhaps most known as the inspiration for Dame Judi Dench’s character “M” in the James Bond 007 movies. She was the first woman to be appointed Director General of MI5 in 1992, and the first to be officially named in the Government’s new culture of openness. Rimington retired in April 1996. She is a best-selling thriller author who chaired the Judging Panel for 2012’s Booker Prize for Fiction.

Royal Interest Voyage

When and where: Nov 5-11, 2023, Seabourn Encore from Athens, Greece to Tenedos, Türkiye

Former royal butler Grant Harrold is a leading UK etiquette expert, royal commentator, entertainer, and broadcaster. Harrold also works with and advises Royals and their households across the globe. A popular Seabourn speaker, Grant will talk about his life as the Royal Butler and will host a royal etiquette class.

Brian Aris has been a royal photographer for many years, photographing Princess Margaret’s son David Linley’s wedding, the Queen Mother at Clarence House, Princess Margaret at Kensington Palace, producing official portraits of Queen Elizabeth’s 70th birthday, photographing Kate Middleton, and more. Aris has also photographed celebrities including Sting, Trudy Styler, David Bowie, Liza Minelli, David Beckham, and others.

Justin Van Breda, Renowned Interior Designer

When and where: Nov 5-12, 2023, Seabourn Ovation from Rome to Barcelona

Justin Van Breda was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and studied English and Politics at Stellenbosch University before moving to the creative field of design. He attended Design Time School of Interior Design in Cape Town before heading to London. Van Breda began working with Nicky Haslam at NH Design in 1999 and was soon promoted to Creative Director.

He returned to South Africa in late 2001 to curate his first furniture collection, elements from which still form the foundation of his designs. Van Breda coordinates community outreach and workshop initiatives, and has great respect for the artisans and designers he brings together for creative collaborations.

Wine Interest Voyage

This sailing departs from Istanbul and offers special specialty wine and cuisine experiences ashore. World-renowned wine experts will entertain guests onboard with talks, tastings, matching suggestions, and premium ‘wine and dine’ possibilities.

When and where: Nov 12-19, 2023, Seabourn Encore from Istanbul, Türkiye to Athens, Greece

Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen—better known as World WIne Guys —are wine, spirits, cuisine, and travel writers, educators, television presenters, emcees, and hosts, as well as award-winning journalists and best-selling authors. DeSimone and Jenssen are the wine editors at Robb Report , and Jenssen is also Wine Enthusiast ‘s official taster for Spanish wines.

Will Lyons , Wine Critic for the Sunday Times , is a journalist, newspaper columnist, award-winning wine writer, and presenter best known for his work in The Wall Street Journal and The Sunday Times . Lyons also serves as Vice President of the Sunday Times Wine Club. He has written a weekly drinks column for over a decade for The Wall Street Journal and now The Sunday Times . Lyons’ witty, intelligent, and down-to-earth writing has earned him recognition from both the Glenfiddich and Roederer wine writing awards.

You may also like: Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2023 Meet the Winemaker Series

Latest news about Seabourn

Who would you most like to sail with as part of the Seabourn Conversations program? Have you listened to any remarkable speakers on a prior Seabourn cruise? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

• Recent Posts

• Azamara Room Service – Everything You Need to Know - March 19, 2024
• Carnival Corporation Unveils New Solar Park at Amber Cove - March 8, 2024
• Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas Cruise Compass – 7 Days Bahamas + Perfect Day 2024 - March 7, 2024

Related posts:

• All Stories

John Binkley retires from cruise line association

John Binkley announced he is retiring from his role as president of the Cruise Line International Association of Alaska.

Binkley, who ran for governor the the primary in 2006 but lost in the Republican Primary to Sarah Palin, will step down effective Oct. 11, 2019 from the role he has had since he started the association in 2007.

During his time as president he grew the the advocacy group from nine to 17 member companies that bring cruise ships to Alaska, and he was active in rolling back the punitive cruise ship passenger tax that caused cruise companies to take their business elsewhere. The tax was $46, but with legislation signed by Gov. Sean Parnell, it was rolled back to $34.

The association had filed a lawsuit against the state that claimed the head tax violated two sections of the U.S. Constitution, and federal law. CLIA dropped the suit after the tax was rolled back.

The CLIA also sued the City and Borough of Juneau in 2016 because it was improperly using the head tax to erect a bronze whale on a manmade island built for the whale sculpture, and a boardwalk to and from the art project that was a long distance from the cruise ship docks. It was a $10 million project with its own fair amount of local controversy. That suit was settled when Juneau agreed to not use the taxes for non cruise ship purposes in the future.

Binkley considered running for governor in 2018 but ultimately decided to stay out of the race. His family business had purchased the Anchorage Daily News property from Alice Rogoff.

“Our goal has always been to help Alaskans gain more economic benefit from the cruise industry,” he said in a statement. “Seeing the positive impacts cruise ships have had in Alaska’s economy has been very fulfilling. New, small businesses starting up, more jobs and opportunities for Alaskans, more revenue to communities, all are very satisfying to see develop and progress.”

The Alaska Cruise Association merged into the Cruise Lines International Association in 2016. The chairman of the organization, Charlie Ball, said Binkley leaves the organization in good shape and the organization doesn’t plan to fill the position at this time.  Lalanya (Lanie) Downs and Mike Tibbles will continue as CLIA’s representatives in Alaska.

“Though his achievements are many, certainly at the center of his leadership legacy over the past year has been his ability to successfully help the industry and local communities adapt to the largest single growth season for Alaska cruising ever,” Ball said. “John and the CLIA team worked throughout the winter and spring to resolve a long-running lawsuit with Juneau, which helped establish a great foundation for future collaboration within Southeast Alaska port communities.”

In his role back in the family business, Binkley will report to his son, Ryan Binkley, CEO of their various statewide family businesses and publisher of the Anchorage Daily News. He is focusing on projects in Southeast Alaska, working closely with partners Ward Cove Group on the new two-berth cruise dock in Ward Cove.

Binkley, a former member of the Alaska House of Representatives and Alaska Senate, was born and raised in Fairbanks and is a third-generation Alaskan whose grandfather arrived in the territory during the 1898 Gold Rush as a riverboat pilot.

In 1950, his parents started a small tour business in Interior Alaska, hosting visitors aboard the Riverboat Discovery. Binkley was born into the business and grew up in the visitor industry, seeing firsthand the growth of the industry from the 1950s to the 1980s, when cruise ships started coming to Alaska on a regular schedule.

In 1977, John and his wife, Judy, moved to Bethel, where they started Northwest Navigation, which hauled freight on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. He started his public service career as a member of the Bethel City Council from 1982 to 1985 and then successfully ran for House and then Senate, representing the large rural district with 74 villages.

John served as chairman and CEO of the Riverboat Discovery for 14 years and as president of the El Dorado Gold Mine for 12 years.

He was chairman of the Alaska Railroad Corporation for 13 years, and he continues to serve on the AKRR Board of Directors. He also serves on many other corporate and nonprofit boards around the state.

Nice story about John Binkley. Let’s not forget that virtually every passenger that rides a cruise ship to Alaska and heads north to Fairbanks gets to pay Binkley $65 for a ride on his riverboat and another $65 to tour his pretend goldmine. Same can be send for every passenger that takes the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Being CEO of the Alaska Railroad and President of the Cruise Line Association pays better than being governor or senator. Ching-ka-ching. Got that?

Picture of him looks like Moses calming the waters. No wait…..is he walking on the waters?…..lol..

John Binkley has done a terrific job making Alaska a better place to call home. Countless residents from crafts people to cooks, roadhouse operators to river raft runners have made a living off the millions of tourists he has helped bring to Alaska. My hat is off to him. Thank you John Binkley.

Why couldn’t he beat Sarah Palin for governor in 2006?

He would have been far better as US Senator, if that rat Lisa Murkowski hadn’t been selected by her daddy.

Is there an evidentiary basis for stating the cruise ship head tax was “punitieve” and caused a reduction of cruise passengers? Might not the recession in 2008 caused a drop in cruise passengers?

Comments are closed.

Ryan Sheldon: Alaska belongs to the unified

Rep. thomas massie joins as co-sponsor of motion to vacate speakership of mike johnson, iran reaction: sullivan slams biden over appeasing terrorists, murkowski tweets from utqiagvik, peltola hawks campaign fish shirts.

© Must Read Alaska

Cruise Smarter with the Oceans' Best Speakers and Lectures

By Heidi Sarna

Bill Toone is the kind of guy you want to be friends with. He's got a warm, welcoming face, an easy smile and the lanky physique of a teenager. His repertoire of self-deprecating anecdotes is amusing, and he seems to instinctively know how to make you feel good. This guy's definitely a people person; and one with a passion and message to share with the world.

Seems he was born to be a cruise ship lecturer. Not a full-time gig -- they rarely are -- Toone is coveted by Crystal Cruises because of what he does when he's not lecturing on board.

As a conservation biologist based at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, part of Toone's job is educating the public about conservation. When he's not in the "office," he's out in the field working on research projects in places like Cameroon, Kenya and the Bahamas. Either that or he's slogging away for the non-profit conservation organization he started called The ECO-LIFE Foundation ( www.ecolifefoundation.org ), which focuses on sustainable living solutions. The weeks at sea are yet another hat he wears. I met Toone on the Crystal Symphony's Hong Kong to Singapore cruise last April.

His talks were personal and humorous, laced with anecdotes and tales of adventure, from a guest appearance on the Johnny Carson show years back to the story of how he courted his wife Sunni by working to save endangered Monarch butterflies. His style of delivery charmed the audience, captured their attention and hopefully gently got across his conservation message.

"Crystal guests are hungry for information, but they are on a holiday," he says, adding that he tries to offer interesting information without sounding preachy. "Goal #1 is to make the guests happy. That is why Crystal brings us on."

The whole point of Crystal's impressive lecture series is for passengers to not only learn something, but to meet and mingle with the experts. Lecturers routinely do two to four lectures per cruise, but otherwise they're real passengers, eager to explore the ports and meet new friends. Whether chatting after a talk or making plans for drinks or dinner, the speakers are accessible.

"The Crystal crowd is not generally as conservation aware as the natural history oriented ships out there, but I am not interested in preaching to the choir. I want to talk to people eager to learn something new. We often retire to the bar for some pretty animated discussions -- the education goes both ways there," says Toone.

There are two types of cruise ship speakers, special interest lecturers like Toone, whose spiel may not have any direct connection to the itinerary (there would be more of these, for example, on cruises with many sea days), and destination lecturers who are speaking specifically about the ports. For example, author Dr. Catherine Lim spoke about the paradoxes of Singapore's cultural identity and discussed Chinese traditions and the role of superstition. A gifted and enthusiastic speaker who talks without the aid of slides or other props, Lim has a thespian's flair for engaging her audience. The outspoken author of many books, including The Bondmaid and Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore , Lim is an iconic figure in Singapore's cultural fabric.

"I call myself a cultural freak; I straddle the east and the west," says Lim. She grew up in a predominantly Chinese town in Malaysia, was educated in an English school by Catholic nuns, and then settled in Singapore after marriage. "It was only as an adult that I reclaimed my cultural identity," she says.

The April Symphony cruise, which called on Chan May and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as well as Laem Chabang, Thailand, also featured Dr. Jay Wolff. An author, historian and commentator for The History Channel, he eloquently spoke about the Indochina War between the French and Vietnamese in the 1950s. Art historian Joan Root spoke about the temples, tombs and emperors of Hoi An and Hue, two important Vietnamese cities, while international relations expert and author Dr. Andrew Pierre presented a talk on revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh.

For anyone who wants to learn more about where they're going, literally or figuratively, some cruise lines are definitely more education focused than others. The luxury lines, including Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn, Regent and Cunard, as well as the small ships of adventure companies like Sven Lindblad ( www.expeditions.com ) and Travel Dynamics ( www.traveldynamicsinternational.com ), offer the greatest number, and generally best caliber, of guest speakers on most or all of their itineraries. In addition to their lineup of speakers, the luxury lines, especially Crystal and Cunard, also offer themes on many cruises, revolving around special musical acts, chefs, wine experts and other subjects. Some mass-market lines, from Disney to Holland America and Celebrity, have a destination lecturer or two on more exotic itineraries in the Mediterranean, Asia, South Pacific and other far flung locales; some also have speakers on special interest topics like financial planning or hand-writing analysis. On a recent Disney Magic cruise, historian Kenneth Bartlett was excellent, speaking with authority on topics from Sicilian mosaics to the Roman Empire. Alaska itineraries on ships off all kinds usually feature at least one onboard naturalist presenting talks and answering questions. Guest lecturers are not to be confused with the cruise lines' shore excursion staff who presents talks about ports, typically offering logistical information and shopping highlights, and sometimes basics on the history and culture.

Speakers by Line

Crystal Cruises (tel. 866/446-6625 ; www.crystalcruises.com )

• Dick Morris, newspaper columnist and commentator who previously worked as a pollster, political campaign consultant, and personal advisor to President Bill Clinton; March 27, Singapore to Mumbai aboard Crystal Serenity.
• Harm de Blij , author, professor, and television personality who was the popular geography editor on ABC's "Good Morning America" for seven years and who continues his "The Power of Place" series on PBS; March 27, Singapore to Mumbai aboard Crystal Serenity.
• Dr. Jay Wolff , historian and Fellow of the British Royal Society who has written for professional journals as well as American Heritage, Forbes, American Legacy, The Washington Post and The L.A. Times, and who has been a commentator on The History Channel; March 27, Singapore to Mumbai aboard Crystal Serenity.
• Robert Adams, thespian and author who has been giving on-stage book reviews of modern fiction to sold-out audiences in Montreal and Toronto for more than a decade; March 27, Singapore to Mumbai aboard Crystal Serenity.
• Lisa Airey , wine expert who co-authored a study guide for an exam given to wine industry professionals; March 27, Singapore to Mumbai aboard Crystal Serenity.
• Michael Boll, historian and professor who served on the Policy-Planning Staff of the Pentagon, was a Foreign Service Officer with the US Information Agency and an analyst for the CIA in Europe; March 27, Singapore to Mumbai aboard Crystal Serenity.
• Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco and current FOX News contributor; April 10 Mumbai to Civitavecchia/Rome aboard the Crystal Serenity.
• Brig. General Nick Halley , an internationally recognized expert on leadership and terrorism who commanded combat troops in Vietnam, Grenada and Desert Storm in Iraq; April 10 Mumbai to Civitavecchia/Rome aboard the Crystal Serenity.
• Stanley Teitelbaum , a psychologist who discusses a variety of issues from drug and alcohol abuse to domestic violence, gambling and steroid use by sports figures; April 10 Mumbai to Civitavecchia/Rome aboard the Crystal Serenity .
• Dr. Bridget Buxton, an archaeologist and classical historian specializing in ancient Mediterranean civilizations; April 10 Mumbai to Civitavecchia/Rome aboard the Crystal Serenity.
• Victoria Tennant
• David Hempleman-Adams , Polar explorer, mountaineer and author; Aug. 23 and Sept. 4 Transatlantic crossings aboard QM2.
• Jeffrey Hoffman , former NASA astronaut and currently co-director of the Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium at MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Sept 22 westbound Transatlantic crossing aboard QM2.
• Frank DeFord , Emmy Award winning sports commentator; Oct. 7 eastbound Transatlantic crossing aboard QM2.
• Richard Underwood, space photographer who created first topographical maps for the moon and is a longtime technical director at NASA; Oct 19 and 25 Transatlantic crossings aboard QM2.
• Lynn Truss , bestselling author ( Eats, Shoots and Leaves ); Oct. 25 Transatlantic westbound crossing aboard QM2.
• Dr. Susan Humphris , senior scientist and chair in the geology and geophysics department at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Oct. 25 Transatlantic westbound crossing aboard QM2.
• Dr. Jerry Labriola, who practiced medicine for 35 years and was an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut Medical School, is the author of seven mystery novels and co-author with renowned forensic scientist, Dr Henry Lee, of three books; Oct. 31 round-trip from New York aboard QM2.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (tel. 866/213-4800 ; www.rssc.com )

• Marta S. Wendlinger , a fashion editor, runs a fashion consulting and personal shopping business in Barcelona; Sept. 12 Dover to Nice aboard Seven Seas Voyager.
• Ken Haas is an award-winning photographer; Oct. 28, 2008, Piraeus to Dubai aboard Seven Seas Navigator.
• Commodore Jamie Miller has had a storied military career is now the Naval Attaché in Wales and Western England; Jan. 16 Callao to Buenos Aires aboard Seven Seas Mariner.
• Elyse Weiner is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and network news producer who spent many years with ABC News, as Tom Brokaw's foreign producer at NBC Nightly News and was a news executive at CNBC; June 14 Monte Carlo to Civitavecchia aboard Seven Seas Navigator.

Seabourn Cruise Line (tel. 800/929-9391 .; www.seabourn.com )

• Robert C. MacFarlane , former national security advisor to President Reagan and in key White House posts in the Ford and Nixon administrations; Nov. 20 Dubai to Singapore aboard Seabourn Spirit.
• Hugh Downs , Emmy Award-winning television anchor; Dec. 6 Singapore to Hong Kong aboard Seabourn Spirit.
• Bernard Kalb was a correspondent covering world affairs for CBS News, NBC News and The New York Times ; Jan. 31 and Feb. 14 between Singapore and Hong Kong aboard Seabourn Spirit.

Silversea Cruises (tel. 800/722-9955 ; www.silversea.com )

• Hallam Murray, lecturer, photographer and writer who spent three years riding thousands of miles by bicycle from California to Tierra Del Fuego; Jan. 6 from Buenos Aires to Santiago aboard Silver Wind.
• John Cork, a writer, producer and director, is co-author of three books about James Bond; Oct. 26, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale aboard Silver Shadow.
• Scott Pearson , and economist and expert in economic development and international trade, co-authored a dozen books, wrote numerous journal articles, and advised governments on food and agricultural policy; Feb. 15, Rio de Janeiro to Bridgetown, Barbados aboard Silver Wind.
• Lawrence Rudner , former professor and retired aerospace engineer is a recognized authority on celestial navigation; Dec. 21, Santiago to Buenos Aires aboard Silver Wind.
• Roderick A. McDonald , a professor of history at Rider University, author of The Economy and Material Culture of Slaves: Goods and Chattels on the Sugar Plantations of Jamaica and Louisiana and Between Slavery and Freedom ; March 18, round-trip from San Juan aboard Silver Wind.
• Stefan Buczacki , one of Britain's most distinguished gardening experts, has studied and photographed the gardens of the Seychelles, Reunion Island and Mayotte Island; Dec. 2 from Mahe to Port Louis, aboard Silver Cloud.
• Mark Johnson , a 30-year career foreign service officer who served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Cairo, Egypt; March 16, round-trip from Dubai aboard Silver Cloud .
• Richard N. Gardner , Columbia professor and former US Ambassador to Italy and Spain, is the author of four books on international affairs; May 29, Barcelona to Civitavecchia/Rome aboard Silver Whisper.

Talk with fellow Frommer's cruisers on our Cruise Message Boards .

• All Regions
• Australia & South Pacific
• Caribbean & Atlantic
• Central & South America
• Middle East & Africa
• North America
• Washington, D.C.
• San Francisco
• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Arts & Culture
• Beach & Water Sports
• Local Experiences
• Food & Drink
• Outdoor & Adventure
• National Parks
• Winter Sports
• Travelers with Disabilities
• Family & Kids
• All Slideshows
• Hotel Deals
• Car Rentals
• Flight Alerts
• Credit Cards & Loyalty Points
• Cruise News
• Entry Requirements & Customs
• Car, Bus, Rail News
• Money & Fees
• Health, Insurance, Security
• Packing & Luggage
• -Arthur Frommer Online
• -Passportable
• Road Trip Guides
• Alaska Made Easy
• Great Vacation Ideas in the U.S.A.
• Best of the Caribbean
• Best of Mexico
• Cruise Inspiration
• Best Places to Go 2024

• Opportunities
• Sponsorship Coaching
• PR-Marketing-Sponsorship Management
• Meeting Event Planners

Speaking on Cruise Ships

Speaking on cruise ships sounds exotic and adventurous. And for many speakers it is. Cruise ships need to keep their guests happy with lots of entertainment, and lectures are a part of that. The cruise industry is a $37 billion dollar a year business and still going strong.

I looked up the statistics and found that the average age of a cruise ship passenger is 50+ with average earnings of $107,000, and 86% have a college degree. That’s probably something to keep in mind when you prepare your pitch, depending on which cruise you’ll be on.

Even though some speakers do get paid on a cruise ship, most don’t. But they do get a free cruise, and sometimes get travel paid to the port, but not always. Some speakers do quite well selling books and DVDs. Plus, like on regular free gigs, they are able to build up an email list.

There are two ways to get work as a speaker on a cruise ship. One is through an agency. There are several agencies that are known and trusted in the industry. Sixth Star, Compass Speakers, Tim Castle, and Posh Talks. Paying a standard $50-$100 a day administrative fee to them is the industry norm. Like a speakers bureau, you can work for more than one agency.

Another way to go is to book directly with the cruise ships. It’s much harder to book this way since your competition is higher. They rely on the quality of your DVD, so make sure it’s as good as it can be.

Here are some tips and experiences from speakers who have been booked for speaking on cruise ships:

“I have spoken several times over the years, i.e the last twenty years on cruise ships. I once was booked through a speakers bureau, but the other times through an agency that did only that….book speakers for cruise ships. I don’t think it exists but it was the Working Vacation…and it was! I have not found as easy to do so even though I had rave reviews. Some ships like Carnival do not have speakers. Royal Caribbean such as the Millennium had much to offer. Since I am the author of several books and dozens of CD programs, even though I was not paid, I did develop a huge following and ended up in the large auditorium by the end of the cruise. I did very well selling products so to say the least, my experience was fantastic. Ready to sail again.”

Edie Raether, MS, CSP – “The Bully Buster” Change Strategist: Speaker Author Coach

“I got booked through the travel agents who were booking my cruise. It was rather last minute, so I was happy with getting a significant upgrade in my cabin and several other perks like a welcome basket with champagne, ship coupons, etc. I would definitely recommend cruise speaking. It is so much fun to mingle with the other passengers before and after who chat with you about your speaking topics. I suggest trying to arrange beforehand to have your books sold in the ship’s shop, as I did, as well as at the end of your talk.”

Carole Lieberman M.D. America’s Psychiatrist Media Psychiatrist and Bestselling Author www.drcarole.com

“I have had the opportunity to speak three times on cruise ships, I ended up doing one of the opportunities. Here was my experience.

The first one, which ended up falling through only had 4 speakers booked for the conference and none of us is a big name. So, we were not able to get enough people booked to allow the cruise to go forward. The other challenge was the travel agent really dropped the ball and was relying on us to do the bulk of the marketing. It ended up being a nightmare experience and costly as we gave her a retainer. Very disappointing.

The second cruise, which I did speak on and loved it. A friend of mine emailed me the info about the cruise and said, “You should call them to see if you can speak on there.” And I did…and it worked. Their deal was if you sold a certain amount of cabins you got your cabin free and at the very least you got $100 for everyone you referred. I was allowed to buy my cabin and still speak on the cruise. I sold a bunch of books and had a fabulous experience.

The 3rd opportunity which came out of the second was set up a bit differently. If you did not sell a certain number of cabins, you were not even allowed to speak. So, I could still come on the cruise, just not be a speaker. That seemed odd to me, because if I did sell some to people that wanted to hear me and then I end up not on the cruise…I didn’t like the arrangement at all and ended up turning down the opportunity.

I would definitely recommend speaking on cruises, but read the fine print carefully. My understanding is unless you are booked directly through the cruise as a whole ship activity you will be responsible for either paying your own way or having to do some big sales. It was a great way to reach more people and have a wonderful vacation along the way.

One of the other things that arose during the cruise I spoke on was about sales. Because I was doing mine as a CEU opportunity, the rule was no selling in the room. And the ship had a rule about not selling anything OUT of the room, so it got complicated. In the end it worked out, but just something else to be aware of.

Dr. Kathy Gruver, PhD, LMT, RM Natural Health Speaker, Author, Educator and Practitioner http://www.thealternativemedicinecabinet.com

“I was not hired by the cruise ship. I was hired by the Northern California Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers to teach CEU classes on a cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver.

The seas were so rough the ship didn’t make it to San Francisco until late Wednesday night from Los Angeles due to storms. Everyone was put up in a hotel close to the pier in San Francisco. We boarded on Thursday morning. As soon as we got past the Golden Gate Bridge the seas were so rough everyone was either sick or on Dramamine, including myself. I was about 30 minutes into the presentation (with all these sick ladies) when we had the mandatory life boat drill.

Two hours later we reconvened. The ladies were either asleep from the Dramamine, sick or turned away from me looking out the window to view the horizon (which was a mistake in my opinion), so it was extremely challenging to speak to them, much less “educate” them.

Then, because the ship was behind schedule and needed to be in Vancouver to start the Alaska cruises on Saturday, we didn’t stop in Seattle where we were to sightsee for a few hours of education, but more important, we were to stock up on food. They ran out of food for dinner Friday night.

I got to sleep in an inside cabin, which I will never do again. I’m not sure I will ever take a cruise again, it was so bad. I call it the “Cruise from Hell” and I’m not one to make bad statements like that. Looking back, it was comical and certainly wasn’t as bad as many other people have had, but it is one of those “speaking” experiences I’ll never forget.”

Linda Lenore Feng Shui Master Founder, Green Chi Designs “I spoke on two cruises a while back. They were business cruises for executives, not recreational cruises. The executives met with vendors and attended lectures during the day and attended parties at night. My goal was to network and promote a book that I was touring for at the time. I wasn’t paid except for a free cruise and airfare to get to the departure point.

The experience was not good and I only recommend it if someone was clear about their personal goals and was sure that the opportunity would meet it. In my case it didn’t. The organizers deliberately kept the speakers isolated from the executives, going so far as to assign us meal seating at speaker-only tables. We were afterthought edutainment. They were only concerned with the paying vendors and the attending executives.”

Paul Glen Co-Author of “The Geek Leader’s Handbook”

http://leadinggeeks.com

4 Responses to “Speaking on Cruise Ships”

Martin Lindeskog says: May 2, 2014 at 5:55 am |

Julie: I have a goal to have more speaking engagements in the future and would like to travel more too, so that could be an interesting combination. I will bookmark your post for future reference.

I wonder if my forthcoming book on tea could be a topic that could work with a cruise ship?

Ross McWilliam says: April 3, 2015 at 9:36 am |

I have an expertise in mindset, working mainly, but not exclusively, with children and young people. I work on improving potential, even in older people! My work covers belief systems, talent development, confidence ring fencing, resilience, etc I would like to speak on cruise ships, especially those that travel around North America – can yo give me any specific advice?

Charles Gentile says: November 3, 2015 at 1:47 am |

I will be retiring soon. Master in History. I want to speak on cruises about the countries we sail.

tim smithe says: August 31, 2016 at 2:43 pm |

I am a excellent motivational speaker. I live in chicago and roatan island, western caribbean. About a dozen ships or more come to our island each week. I would love to walk on board and give a 1 hour motivational speech. Any suggestions? I enjoyed your website. Thank you for that.

Leave a Reply cancel

Requirements for Cruise Ship Lecturers

All lecturers should be engaging speakers who are prepared with a series of at least four 45-minute talks. Lectures must have an interactive, computer-based component, such as a Powerpoint presentation. The best lecturers will engage, educate and contribute to the ship's cultural environment. On some lines, lecturers will also need to be able to socialize with passengers and offer impromptu talks in less formal environments. All lecturers need to travel with their own notebook computers. Being flexible and prepared for whatever circumstances may come up is also very important.

Destination Lectures

Destination lectures should focus on the history, geography, geology, florae & faunae, literature and culture of the ports and surrounding areas visited by the ship.

Enrichment Lectures

Some lines have opportunities for lecturers on a greater diversity of topics. Some of the programs that have proven to be successful recently include film and Hollywood history, sports (former professional athletes and referees), physics, and astronomy.

General Program Information

Lecturers fall within a category of supplemental staff, with modified passenger status on board ship. It is important to understand that as a lecturer, full paying passengers always come first.

Send all materials to: Bramson Entertainment Bureau, Inc., 630 Ninth Ave., Suite 203, New York, NY 10036 or apply online

• P&O Cruises ( UK )

Are there still any interesting speakers/lecturers on P&O?

By Harry Peterson , June 15, 2016 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

Recommended Posts

Harry Peterson

Not that long ago on Azura (15 nights) there were two interesting speakers. Kenneth Vard on the history of cruise liners, and somebody from a London university on the history of British cinema.

The next time, there was just one rather dull speaker talking essentially about his rather loose and vague connections with members of 'the royal family' via the RAF. We gave up after one dull session.

I realise it's all down to personal choice, but what are P&O providing on the bigger ships like Azura and Ventura these days? Have they really cut it back to just one speaker? And are there some good ones still?

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Not that long ago on Azura (15 nights) there were two interesting speakers. Kenneth Vard on the history of cruise liners, and somebody from a London university on the history of British cinema.   The next time, there was just one rather dull speaker talking essentially about his rather loose and vague connections with members of 'the royal family' via the RAF. We gave up after one dull session.   I realise it's all down to personal choice, but what are P&O providing on the bigger ships like Azura and Ventura these days? Have they really cut it back to just one speaker? And are there some good ones still?

There was ab excellent speaker on Ventura on April, I can't recall his name but he gave a series of 6 talks about drugs both legal and illegal. He had worked for the UN doing various roles to do with drug control. We also had a speaker on Azura who had been in the Red Arrows and he was also very interesting. On Adonia on 2014 the speaker talked about canals again a very good speaker. We have however been on cruises where the speakers have been so boring that we have slipped out before the end of the talk so I guess it is hit and miss as to who you get and how interesting they are.

Mysticalmother

We have just had Ken Vard on Oriana - and although he is very interesting I have already heard him twice so didnt bother going a third time.

Like Josy1953, we had the Red arrows guy a couple of years ago, and last year on Azura we had a guy called Chris Woodward, talking anout the history of the London Palladium, and the London Theatre in general. He was very interesting too. There is also someone called Ian Smith who talks about Concorde rumoured to be very interesting

I think it is a bit hit and miss to be honest.

joeholiday2

Yes, Kenneth Vard is very good, one of the best we have seen. Such a relevant subject for cruising, I notice he always saves the Titanic one until the end ;)

We have seen him before so didn't go again last week, I caught bits of him on the TV whilst getting changed in the cabin and he is his usual wonderful self.

Kathleen ??? who does the ones on Ian Fleming and James Bond is also good. Engaging and funny at times.

If you get John Martin, then P&O get 2 for the price of one, he is an excellent comedian and gives a good talk about operation anthropoid from WWII.

That reminds me....we also had an excellent speaker on Bletchly Park on one of our cruises last year..

So pleased to read this thread as I've been thinking about this. I haven't been on a cruise with any speakers for years (or I just completely missed them). We've got a lot of sea days coming up so I'm really hoping they add someone decent :)

I think that's Kathleen ?? again.

I am sure she did one about codes and ciphers, (staying with the spying/James Bond theme) and some was about Bletchley Park towards the end of the talk.

I think that's Kathleen ?? again. I am sure she did one about codes and ciphers, (staying with the spying/James Bond theme) and some was about Bletchley Park towards the end of the talk.

Im pretty sure our talk was by a man.....:confused:

Just remembered...

We had Ricky Tomlinson on his first ever cruise about 5 years ago, not sure if he has ever done another.....

I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but he was good. He did a talk and a Q&A session. Very enlightening about certain "showbiz" (so called) stars :eek:

It's all in his book.

Must have been your Azura one, we were on Arcadia with you and Kenneth last year.

Did you know Perry Grant is doing a concert in Lytham 1st Oct?

Thanks. So are they putting on more than one speaker still, or have they cut it back to just the one (high-risk if people aren't interested in the subject matter)?

And is the answer to that per week or per cruise? Thank you.

Speakers are fine with me as long as they have something of interest. It's the readers that I can't do with.

On our Arcadia cruise a few weeks ago we only had one speaker for the whole 2 weeks. This was disappointing for a cruise with 7 sea days. On Cunard we have been used to having 2 or 3 speakers for that number of sea days with a different speaker in the morning and the afternoon.

However we had Kathy McNally who gave good talks on various subjects on spies and espionage. She was funny and engaging but she was usually on at 10am, so did not get a huge audience. She referred to it as the "graveyard slot". It was a bit of a shame really.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

cruisefan2012

First cruise I went on was way back in 2009 on Arcardia, we had Tom O`Connor do a couple of shows, I didnt go to them but heard from table companions how hilarious he was, so went to the Q&A with him that the cruise director was holding in the Palladium theatre... He was hilarious, and he never came up for air for whole hour - had the whole audience in hysterics - even met him in a lift whilst going to our cabins. Genuinely nice man, very funny :)

Also whilst on board Azura I think there was a man who flew concorde (fabulous airplane) who gave a very interesting speech about his time on the Concorde

Also there was a man speaking about his time as ( I think ) private pilot for Princess Diana who went on to say how normal was she and how lovely she was.

Also had a Spanish? French? officer give a speech about how the Bridge on the ship works and who does what to make the ship move and how they dock in ports etc around the world. quite interesting if you like the science behind ships

First cruise I went on on Adonia had Edwina Currie. Again not everyone's cup of tea but she was a good engaging speaker, quite funny and went down well.

I would love to be on a cruise with someone talking about code breaking, Bletchley etc - never been that lucky. Have had endless Concord and WW2 stuff and oceanography - none of which really appeal

I wish they advertised the speakers as it might push me towards a particular cruise if I have been comparing a few

First cruise I went on on Adonia had Edwina Currie. Again not everyone's cup of tea but she was a good engaging speaker, quite funny and went down well.   I would love to be on a cruise with someone talking about code breaking, Bletchley etc - never been that lucky. Have had endless Concord and WW2 stuff and oceanography - none of which really appeal   I wish they advertised the speakers as it might push me towards a particular cruise if I have been comparing a few

I was talking to my husband about this last night and he reminded me about some others that we had seen. I agree about Edwina Curry, she was on one of our cruises and we really enjoyed her talks but it was a good few years ago. Another funny one that I had forgotten about was Sherrie Hewson, she talked about her experiences on stage and television. On Queen Mary 4 years ago we had Liz Dawn, she was very interesting but only did 1 short talk because of her health problems. On a "Strictly" cruise on Azura Craig Revel-Horwood did a talk about his life and that was fascinating, so much so that I actually downloaded his biography onto my Kindle.

I also wish that would advertise their speakers, I am sure that there are other people who might be tempted to book a cruise if there was an interesting speaker.

groovechick

2012 on Aurora we had Dame Mary Peters, who was lovely, interesting and funny too.

Azura 2013 it was a man who talked about coinage, banknotes, fraud and counterfeiting. Hubby went to one and said the subject was quite interesting but his delivery a bit dull. His talk overran and DH was nearly late for something we had planned. DH didn't go to any others because we were doing other things.

If there was a speaker on Britannia at Christmas I don't remember who or what, presumably the topic wasn't of interest to us.

I think you get more speakers and changes of speaker with the longer cruises. We've done a couple recently involving TAs when we've had a variety of speakers. Ann Widdecombe was on for a few days and did two talks.

She was a revelation: very interesting, self-deprecating, great sense of humour and no beating around the bush! She was a huge hit - a skilled and entertaining speaker.

I'm sorry to say we found the Bletchley Park speaker a big flop. Such promising material but such poor presentation; rambling, poorly structured and just uninteresting. I was quite excited by the subject matter but it failed to deliver for us.

And therein is the rub. We find that often the subject matter sounds good but the speaker fails to deliver either reading a load of notes which could well have been pulled off Wikipedia or such poorly organised material that it just doesn't hold the audience.

It's often surpising which lectures 'work' and which don't even allowing for people's different preferences. One topic which didn't grab us initially - a history based series of lectures on the Tudors from a lady who worked for the organisation responsible for the Royal Palaces - Hampton Court, Tower of London etc - was superb! My DH who is no history buff really enjoyed them too. She inspired us to revisit the Palaces her lectures were so interesting.

We had an Oceanographer who was excellent too - an American professor used to delivering structured and informative material.

So I think it's all about the lecturer rather than the topic. Seemingly uninteresting subjects can often be brought to life by a skilled communicator, good subjects can fall flat with a poor lecturer.

Recently on Azura I had Diane Janes who is a crime writer and talks about the history of policing, murders, poisoning etc. Sounds gruesome and she was quickly referred to as "The Murder Woman" but she's an interesting and engaging speaker. I went to all 7 of her talks and enjoyed them immensely.

On our 28 night Caribbean cruise we had 4 speakers 2 for the sea days going out and 2 coming back. 1 morning 1 afternoon.

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

I do remember a speaker on Ventura, I caught him stealing the horizon newsletter from outside my cabin door. :rolleyes:

Was he a criminologist ?:D:D:D

P&O SUE

Last year we had Gervase Phinn on Azura. He used to be a school inspector and had lots of funny stories about the (mostly) Yorkshire children and teachers he met. He did a talk each sea day (there were 5) at 10am in the theatre - we went to each one and every day more and more people came as news spread how good he was. I bought one of his books for my Dad and he really enjoyed it.

We've had Sue Holderness twice and Tom O'Conner twice, and last year we had a guy talking about famous murders / murderers and how modern technology could have helped with the cases. Some good, some less so!

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
• ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 12 hours ago

LauraS · Started 16 hours ago

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 07:58 AM

LauraS · Started Monday at 09:36 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Personal Loan
• Home Mortgage
• Student Loan
• Self-Guided Planning
• Planning with a Financial Professional
• 403(b) Plans
• Traditional & Roth IRAs
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
• Accident and Injury Insurance
• Disability Income Protection
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Pet Health Insurance
• Medicare Supplement Insurance
• Auto & Home Insurance
• Renters Insurance
• Discount Marketplace
• Discount Tickets
• Auto Buying
• Wireless Program
• Complimentary Life Insurance
• Student Debt Navigator Tool
• Mental Health App
• Travel Rewards
• Job Layoff Assistance
• Disaster Relief Assistance
• Family & Wellness
• Life Insurance Protection
• Living in Retirement
• Paying for College
• Personal Finance
• Retirement Learning Center
• Shopping Discounts
• Student Loan Debt

Travel & Vacations

Get Started

Create an account to get started, or if you already have an account, sign in below

Sign Up to Be a Cruise Ship Speaker and Cruise for Less

Cruise lines such as royal caribbean, celebrity and cunard offer inexpensive vacations to educators who agree to share their knowledge while onboard..

by NEA Member Benefits

Do you want to join the ranks of the 22 million people that will go on a cruise this year? Sign up now to be an onboard lecturer or instructor and you could experience breathtaking views in exotic ports of call before you know it—and you’ll sail for next to nothing. Whether you teach preK or postgraduate, if you have knowledge about a desirable topic you could be well on your way.

Topics in demand

Photo courtesy of Cunard

Destination speakers—who may talk about a port’s history, politics, shopping, geography or food and wine—are in high demand. Others speak about or give lessons in belly dancing, astronomy, bridge, balloon twisting, face painting or other arts and crafts. 

Paul DiFilippi, Director of Cruise Ship Enrichment Programs for Sixth Star, a cruise booking agency, says there’s even a demand for grill masters during the summer. Allan Jordan, a noted historian and author who specializes in the history of 20th-century cruise ships and ocean liners, is a sought-after onboard speaker. Naturalists who can talk about the flora and fauna of Alaska, Hawaii or the Panama Canal region and members of the clergy, particularly rabbis and priests, are in high demand. Men who are proficient in ballroom dancing and who are interested in cutting a rug with women passengers are, too. Berlitz language instructors teach basic Spanish while cruising the Americas.

World affairs are always good subjects, just not the bad news. Laurie Wickwire, GIA-certified diamond grader, for example, lectures about the Crown Jewels and other shiny objects. But she doesn’t talk about conflict diamonds. “Too gruesome,” she says.

 “Anyone who knows about Cuba is in hot demand,” says DiFilippi. Cruise lines he’s talked to are looking for lecturers for 100 Cuba cruise itineraries. If you know about the history, culture, art or music of Cuba, you may be an ideal cruise ship presenter. Another in-demand topic is forensics, spurred by the popularity of such TV shows as “Law and Order,” “CSI” and “Bones,” so anyone involved in the field or in a famous court case will be of interest as a speaker.

What’s the catch?

Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Only a few A-list people are paid for these speaking gigs. The rest generally pay a fee of $50 to $65 a night for the length of the cruise. The fee and perks are negotiable due to subject demand, length of cruise (e.g., a naturalist on the ship for a full Alaska summer season) and other factors. Each speaker usually can bring a spouse or friend to share the cabin. Depending on the ship, the speaker is in a passenger cabin, although on some ships it may be on a deck where crew quarters are located. Meals, most beverages, all guest-related activities and onboard entertainment are included. Sometimes gratuities are included. Although transportation between home and the ship is not usually covered, when it is, it’s generally just for the speaker. 

Lecturers usually talk during sea days (days when the ship doesn’t call on a port and passengers are relegated to onboard activities). This leaves you free to tour the ports of call, sunbathe, read or do whatever you want to on port days. For a relatively small fee, you can travel the world, meet interesting people and enjoy fine food and great service.

What do I have to do?

Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Generally, speakers and instructors are booked through an agency. Tim Castle, who books speakers, says, “The audience is different from a school audience. Primarily, the average passenger is in their 50s and 60s. They need to be entertained and educated. They have choices for their activities, so a speaker needs to be dynamic, with great visuals and few words on slides. The presentation should appear to be extemporaneous, without reading notes.”

If you’re interested in becoming a speaker or instructor, you should contact the agency and be ready to provide a DVD of a presentation you’ve made, with visuals, or a link to one or more YouTube clips. Also, provide a resume of your expertise. Once accepted, the booking company distributes a list of open ships, dates, topics and itineraries to its speakers. You indicate what you want. After your first gig, if you like the teaching and cruising life and the cruise line likes you, then you can request back-to-back cruises.

Bookings are done nine to 18 months out, or as little as a week. Agencies represent opportunities onboard Crystal, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Disney, MSC, Norwegian, Viking Ocean Cruises and Cunard.

If you’re interested in speaking or teaching aboard a cruise ship, register with Compass Speakers and Entertainment, Inc. ([email protected]; 954-568-3801), Sixth Star Entertainment and Marketing ([email protected]; 954-462-6760) and Tim Castle ([email protected]; 212-832-9617).

5 things you should know about being a cruise line speaker

• You must have a passport valid for at least six months from your original date of departure, even if you don’t plan to get off the ship. It’s up to you to determine if you need a visa or any vaccinations for any port on your itinerary.
• Most likely you will be asked to avoid table games in the casino and you might not be able to sit at the bar or carry a drink when walking in public.
• You may or may not have a badge identifying you as a speaker (technically a crew member) and you’ll be expected to mingle with the other guests.
• Be prepared to accept a cruise that may not be your first choice in dates (within reason, considering the school year), cruise line or itinerary. Saying no the first time could mean not being called again, unless you have expertise in a really desirable topic.
•  You may sell items related to your lecture, including books or CDs. The ship may take a percentage of your sales.

Save on your next getaway

Nea travel: cruises.

You’ll find the best cruise deals, exclusive offers and amenities from the top cruise lines such as Disney, Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

NEA Travel: Hotels

Save up to 60% when you book through NEA Travel. And with guaranteed price matching you can rest assured that you’re getting the best hotel price.

NEA Travel: Flights

Find low fares and book a flight to your favorite locales or far-off destinations. Compare rates from multiple carriers to find the best trip for you.

You might also like

Let’s start planning your next great adventure!

Theme Park Vacations—For Less

“Wave Season” Promises Cruise Bargains and Bonuses

10 Ways to Maximize the Magic of Your Next Disney Vacation

How to Plan a Hassle-Free Holiday Vacation

Plan Now for Your Best Summer Vacation Ever

Money-Saving Destinations for Great Fall Getaways

20 Practical Tips for Traveling Safely

Make the Most of Your Disney Vacation With These Savings Tips

6 Bargain Secrets for Bucket-List Travel

7 Things You Must Do Before Your Next International Trip

Pack the Perfect Road Trip Survival Kit

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Disney Cruise Line Floating Ship Wireless Speaker Available to Pre-Order

Disney Cruise Line added the floating wireless bluetooth speaker to their offerings of onboard gifts and amenities available to purchase before departure. Not only is the 25th Anniversary version available, so is a traditional looking Disney cruise ship version!

The Disney Cruise Line Floating Ship Wireless Speaker is available for pre-order via Disney Cruise Line’s Onboard  Gifts and Amenities website .

Disney Cruise Line Floating Ship Wireless Speaker – ITEM 1267 $ 120.00

Set sail on the ultimate Disney Cruise Line listening experience with the Disney Cruise Line Floating Ship Speaker! With easy Bluetooth connectivity, you can effortlessly connect your device and start playing your favorite tunes. When powered on, the windows of the ship come to life with color-changing LED lights. And the best part? This beautiful ship is designed to float in water—perfect for lounging in the pool. But if you want to keep it dry, the speaker comes with a stand—complete with Mouse ears—for magical “dry docking.”

Please note that  Guests will receive only ONE speaker, depending on their sailing and product availability. 

• Guests sailing on a Silver Anniversary at Sea sailing, will receive the Limited Edition 25th Anniversary ship speaker while supplies last. If the inventory is out of stock, Guests will receive the standard Disney Cruise Line wireless ship speaker. 
• Guests sailing on cruises that are NOT Silver Anniversary at Sea sailings will receive the standard Disney Cruise Line wireless ship speaker. 

Limited Edition 25th Anniversary Floating Ship Wireless Speaker 

• Silver limited-edition Bluetooth speaker
• Waterproof and dustproof
• Includes a turquoise carrying bag
• Lights up with blue and red LED lights
• Speaker: 11″ W x 7.5″ H
• Bag: 10.2″ W x 13.5″ H

Standard Disney Cruise Line Floating Ship Wireless Speaker

• Dark blue Bluetooth speaker
• Includes a dark blue carrying bag

To learn more about this wireless speaker, check out our unboxing article here .

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

11 Replies to “Disney Cruise Line Floating Ship Wireless Speaker Available to Pre-Order”

Arrr, how about pervious 25th anniversary cruise people.

I just off the Fantasy and they were sold out. I think precious 25th anniversary guests should be included.

From what I’ve been able to gather, there were limited number brought onboard for each departure. One person said it was 10/cruise.

We did a cruise beginning of June, how do we get one?

They were available from guest service in limited quantities per sailing. The only option now is to overpay on an auction website or find someone cruising soon to pick one up for you.

Unfortunately the ones on EBay are ranging from $350 to $750.. ridiculous!!

Might be sold out again as I’m getting the following — Error: We’re sorry, but we are unable to add the item to your bag.

Thanks Scott… just ordered mine for our cruise NEXT WEEK!!!!! Excited is an understatement.

Currently onboard the Dream, and was able to purchase one today from Guest Services, despite them being “sold out” when I inquired on embarkation day. Must’ve been restocked In Reykjavik

Get them will you can. Just call Members Service to pre-order for my sailing in December and was told that they are only available until sailings through October.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

How to become a Cruise Ship Speaker

by heather | Jul 8, 2015 | Blog

Can you  speak with  knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm?  Can you put together at least  six different talks about your chosen subject?  Are you friendly and like people.  Why not consider working as a Speaker on a Cruise ship.

I applied to the P & R Agency Ltd who supply Speakers to most of the Cruise Lines. (  www.cruiseshipspeakers.net).    My  Power Point interview/talk lasted 45 minutes which is the length of each talk given on the Ships and I was then offered a place on their books. I gave a very condensed talk of  how I became an artist, prestigious commissions, exhibitions, latest work and lots of anecdotes,  All of which could be expanded into six different talks. I  was informed I would not receive a fee, however, I could take along a guest,  which is a huge bonus in itself.

I was also told that it is important to be friendly to the other passengers and not be aloof and unapproachable. They are on holiday and want to enjoy all that the Cruise ship living offers. I enjoyed meeting the passengers, sharing tables and chatting.  The atmosphere  on the ships is relaxed and friendly and passengers embrace all that it has to offer, so it was easy to be part of it.  In fact it was great fun.

My last role  as a Speaker  was on the Balmoral one of the Fred Olsen Cruise Ships.  It was as 14 day  Baltic Cruise, visiting, Denmark,Sweden,Russia, Tallin in Estonia and Gdansk in Poland.

On board and after seeing our really nice cabin, I  met  the Cruise Director and other entertainers, later that evening we all went on stage and  introduced ourselves to the passengers.

From the moment I arrived on the ship  I was looked after.  The Fred Olsen Staff are as nice behind the scenes as they are in front.  They care for their passengers and staff and nothing is ever too much trouble. That made for a great atmosphere.

I then had to meet with the technical staff at the auditorium, to make sure  my memory stick and  laptop were OK. ( you must  take your own).  My 6 talks were all planned out, only for me to find they could only fit in five, so I had to make necessary adjustments, very quickly.

The Entertainment staff are informed  if  we would like to act as escorts on trips, then we do not pay for the trip, which is a bonus, although it can be nerve wracking.  I once lost a passenger who had got on the wrong bus back to the ship.

The last Cruise was wonderful and probably one of the best holidays I have ever had. I will probably say that about the next one.

Latest News

• The Story Teller Artist
• What is the best? KDP publishing or Traditional publishing.
• The South Downs, the inspiration to paint a picture and then write a novel.
• What are Artist Books?
• What is an Artist or Writers Residency

• Eye on the Tropics
• Trending Now (Opens in new window)
• Central Florida Spotlight
• Entertainment
• Politics and Elections
• Space and Technology
• Central Florida Gets Real
• 9 in Your Neighborhood
• Hour by Hour
• Watch Live: WFTV Now
• WFTV 24/7 News
• Weather 24/7
• The $pend $mart Stream
• Law & Crime
• Curiosity NOW
• 9 Investigates
• Back to School (Opens in new window)
• Steals and Deals (Opens in new window)
• TV 27 Community Connection
• Forever Family
• Uplifting News (Opens in new window)
• Health & Wellness
• Care Connect
• WFTV's Law Talk
• Home Experts
• Central Florida Guide (Opens in new window)
• The Daily Two
• Health Wellness (Parrish Healthcare)
• Advertise With Us
• Meet Our Team
• Submit a Tip (Opens in new window)
• WFTV Mobile Apps (Opens in new window)
• Newsletter Sign-up (Opens in new window)
• WFTV Listings
• TV 27 TV Listings
• Jobs at WFTV/WRDQ (Opens in new window)
• WFTV Member Help
• Visitor Agreement
• Privacy Policy
• Share Your Pics!

Facing a Republican revolt, House Speaker Johnson's plan for US aid to Ukraine, allies uncertain

Congress Israel Ukraine Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and the House Republican leadership meet with reporters following a closed-door Republican strategy session as Johnson pushes towards separate votes on aid for Israel and Ukraine, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

WASHINGTON — (AP) — Defiant and determined, House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back Tuesday against mounting Republican anger over his proposed U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies, and rejected a call to step aside or risk a vote to oust him from office.

“I am not resigning,” Johnson said after a testy morning meeting of fellow House Republicans at the Capitol.

Johnson referred to himself as a "wartime speaker" of the House and indicated in his strongest self-defense yet he would press forward with a U.S. national security aid package , a situation that would force him to rely on Democrats to help pass it, over objections from his weakened majority.

“We are simply here trying to do our jobs,” Johnson said, calling the motion to oust him “absurd ... not helpful.”

But as night fell, the speaker's resolve collided with Republican opposition to his plan.

For hours, Johnson holed up at the Capitol with lawmakers sorting through their alternative strategies, particularly ways to attach U.S.-Mexico border security measures to the package. No bill text was released, putting passage of any aid this week in serious doubt.

“We'll see,” Johnson said about the legislation, ducking into a meeting that dragged toward midnight.

Tuesday had initially brought a definitive shift in tone from both the House Republicans and the speaker himself at a pivotal moment as the embattled leader tries, against the wishes of his majority, to marshal the votes needed to send the stalled national security aid for Israel , Ukraine and other overseas allies to passage.

Johnson appeared emboldened by his meeting late last week at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when the Republican former president threw him a political lifeline with a nod of support . At his own press conference Tuesday, Johnson spoke of the importance of ensuring Trump, who is now at his criminal trial in New York, is reelected to the White House.

Johnson also spoke over the weekend with President Joe Biden as well as other congressional leaders about the emerging U.S. aid package , which the speaker plans to move in separate votes for each section — with bills for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific region. He spoke to Biden about it again late Monday.

After Johnson briefed the president, White House officials said they were taking a wait-and-see approach until the text of the speaker’s plan is released and the procedural pathway becomes more clear.

“It does appear at first blush, that the speaker’s proposal will, in fact, help us get aid to Ukraine, aid to Israel and needed resources to the Indo-Pacific for a wide range of contingencies there,” John Kirby, the White House’s national security spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday.

The speaker is considering a complicated approach that would break apart the Senate's $95 billion aid package for separate votes, and then either stitch it back together or send the components to the Senate for final passage, and potentially onto the White House for the president's signature.

All told, it would require the speaker to cobble together bipartisan majorities with different factions of House Republicans and Democrats on each measure.

Additionally, Johnson is preparing a fourth measure that would include various Republican-preferred national security priorities, such as a plan to seize some Russian assets in U.S. banks to help fund Ukraine and another to turn the economic aid for Ukraine into loans. It could also include provisions to sanction Iran over its weekend attack on Israel, among others.

The speaker's emerging plan is not an automatic deal-breaker for Democrats in the House and Senate, but the more Republicans try to pile on their priorities the further they push Democrats away from any compromise.

During their own closed-door meeting, Leader Hakeem Jeffries said House Democrats would not accept a “penny less” than the $9 billion in humanitarian aid that senators had included in their package with money for Gaza, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss it.

Johnson will need Democratic votes to pass aspects of his package, but Democratic support for Israel is slipping in both the House and Senate amid the Netanyahu government's retaliatory bombardment of Gaza that has left 30,000 people dead. A previous House GOP bill for Israel gutted the assistance for Gaza.

House Republicans, meanwhile, were livid that Johnson would be leaving their top priority — efforts to impose more security at the U.S.-Mexico border — on the sidelines. Some predicted Johnson will not be able to push ahead with voting on the package this week, as planned.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., called the morning meeting an “argument fest.”

When the speaker said the House GOP's priority border security bill H.R. 2 would not be considered germane to the package, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a chief sponsor, said it's for the House to determine which provisions and amendments are relevant.

“Things are very unresolved,” Roy said.

The speaker faces a threat of ouster from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., the top Trump ally who has filed a motion to vacate the speaker from office in a snap vote — much the way Republicans ousted their former speaker, Kevin McCarthy, last fall..

While Greene has not said if or when she will force the issue, and has not found much support for her plan after last year's turmoil over McCarthy's exit, she drew at least one key backer Tuesday.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., rose in the meeting and suggested Johnson should step aside, pointing to the example of John Boehner, an even earlier House speaker who announced an early resignation in 2015 rather than risk a vote to oust him, according to Republicans in the room.

“Speaker Johnson must announce a resignation date and allow Republicans to elect a new Speaker to put America First and pass a Republican agenda,” Greene wrote on social media, thanking Massie for his support for her motion to vacate.

Johnson did not respond, but told the lawmakers they have a "binary choice" before them.

The speaker explained they either try to pass the package as he is proposing or risk facing a discharge petition from Democrats that would force a vote on their preferred package — the Senate approved measure. But that would leave behind the extra Republican priorities.

Later Johnson drew prominent support from six Republican committee chairmen in a unified show of force.

“There is nothing our adversaries would love more than if Congress were to fail to pass critical national security aid,” said Reps. Tom Cole of Appropriations, Ken Calvert of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, Mario Diaz-Balart of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee, Mike Rogers of the Armed Services Committee, Michael McCaul of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Mike Turner of the Intelligence committee in a joint statement.

“We don’t have time to spare," the chairmen said. “We need to pass this aid package this week.”

As the House debates, Ukraine faces increasing difficulty fighting Russia's invasion.

Lawmakers have stepped up their efforts to explain to Americans that the overseas aid to Ukraine largely flows to U.S. defense manufacturers to bolster production of missiles, munitions and other military provisions then sent abroad.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week on social media the U.S. and others' response to Iran’s attack on Israel shows the potential of what can be done with “allied action.”

Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Farnoush Amiri and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Company that towed kidnapping Acura was known for strict paperwork policies, industry insiders say

WATCH: Coast Guard helicopter crew pulls pregnant woman from Disney cruise ship in Atlantic

Bob Graham, ex-US senator and Florida governor, dies at 87

Deputy arrested, sheriff says murdered tow truck driver may be linked to carjacking victim’s death

‘Justice served’: Orlando man who fled country to avoid trial for DUI crash found guilty years later