I work on a cruise ship as a lecturer - AMA!

[cruiseshiplecturer]

Just that, if you've ever been on a cruise I'm one of the people who does your enrichment lectures/talks. Happy to answert any questions I can.

Are your lectures well attended? Do you ever get a cringe if nobody comes or do you not mind?

I've never had nobody come! I usually speak on days when we are at sea so it's a captive audience. Most ships have lots going on though so I might be competing for attention with a ballroom dancing class, art class, gin tasting, cookery demo - so if numbers are low I completely understand. Also depends on the topic and demographics of passengers. Americans love a bit of royalty and traditions/customs as it's all new to them. Brits wouldn't be as interested as they know it already.

The ship I spoke on last had a capacity of 500 ish in the theatre, my best attended was probably 350, the least about 100.

What do you do about insurance? You are not working as in getting paid, but you are not on holiday either.

What topics do you lecture on? I went to some fantastic lectures on a cruise once, right up my alley about criminals abd when we got back my husband surprised me with the book by the lecturer.

How on earth do you talk about history without including politics or religion, most significant events in history have been driven by one or the other.

I think OP means current politics and religion. It's probably fine to mention that Henry VIII killed loads of Catholics, but discussing Israel and Gaza, not so much.

I’m surprised you don’t get paid. Is that just the lecturers rather than entertainers?

What’s your cabin like? Does it have a decent window.

It is classed as a holiday and as long as your standard insurance covers cruises, no issue.

Exactly that.

Talking about the rise of fascism in the 1930s, or the Chinese cultural revolution would be fine.

Current stuff - or living memory stuff like the N Irish Troubles, the first Gulf War, the Falklands - not fine.

Thank you - a really interesting post. I'm joining the list to do this too 😂Not sure I have much to speak about though!
What sort of topics are usually popular?

Totally different contract. The entertainers on board are usually contracted for several months at a time and are paid. They are part of the "crew", accommodated in crew areas, have additional responsibilities on embarkation/disembarkation day, have to wear staff name badges, participate in formal nights, have set days off... I have none of that. I go on for one cruise of 5, 7 10 nights, do my stuff, leave. I can use the pool, gym, any passenger areas. Some lines do pay in the form of on board credit for drinks, laundry, shop purchases above and beyond your meals.

Generally the cabins which are harder to sell to guests. So slightly smaller, awkwardly located, or obscured view. Once I had two portholes rather than a proper window. Last time there was a staircase outside the window. Other times it's an internal cabin. I really don't mind, the standard of finish/bathroom is exactly the same and I only use the cabin for sleeping in.

What was your first cruise like? Were you nervous?
How many speeches did you have to prepare in advance?

How many months or years have you been doing this?
Do the cruises recruit for this all year round or is it seasonal?

This is something I can definitely imagine thinking would be a great post retirement job. Is it the sort of thing where you need to know someone who knows someone really?

There are also often craft lessons - are those run in the same way, as I'd be totally able to teach various different crafts, whereas lecturing I'm not if the topics I'm interested in would be cruise ship suitable!

Not nervous no, I have spoken to groups for many years and it doesn't faze me. I usually prepare one more talk than I think I am going to need. Sometimes there are unexpected changes to routes which means they ask for an additional talk. The cruise lines recruit year round, I have just had an email about a last minute possibility for next week (someone must have dropped out or become ill). Most UK/European cruises are March - end September. Winter is the Caribbean or Canaries.

What a fascinating AMA. Thanks

Amazing! How many agencies are you with?

Love this thread. Did you study history in University?

Two. I don't do this full time and have no desire to! So I pick and choose the cruises which suit me.

Undergraduate was modern languages. Then I went back to Uni in my late 40s and did a history related Masters. It's something I have always been interested in though.

Wet sailed with p&o last year had the most interesting female psychologist give us a series of talks about crime and female offenders. She told us about rose west and how she loves the prison bake off competition but nobody really wants to eat her cakes. Apparently she’s incredibly manipulative too. She had so many anecdotes and stories and despite there being a packed auditorium she made it feel more like there was just a bunch of us sitting around a table at the bar. Very relaxed and informal but fascinating in every way. Would highly recommend. Then the following day there was a very high up female from the RAF and she talked about active duty in war zones . Absolutely brilliant and I had no idea that these were even a thing before my first cruise but now we’re actively looking for cruise lines with more in depth speakers.

Which agencies are you with?

I enjoy a cruise lecture. We had a female psychologist, might be the same person, very interesting. I’m not so keen on the ones who aren’t actual experts in their field. We had a retired airline captain who lectured about Concorde but hadn’t actually flown on one let alone piloted one, and there were obviously members of the audience, DH included, who knew more than what he had gleaned from research.

I have an acquaintance who delivers the craft sessions and it’s quite a lot of work. She’s envious of the lecturers who skip aboard with a laptop while she is lugging extra cases full of supplies.

What’s the most glamorous cruise you’ve been on? And which is the best cruise line for a paying passenger IYO!

Your experiences sound fascinating and a good way to get a free holiday if you enjoy cruising and socialising. I have a friend who used to do house sitting which is a similar deal. She also didn't get paid a salary but all her expenses including food were covered. She got to stay in some beautiful homes and explore different parts of the country,