Seabourn has announced a new series of Seabourn Conversations for its 2017 cruise season. The onboard enrichment and special guest program will host speakers and personalities from the fields of journalism, government, preservation, and the culinary arts.
With a lineup populated with first-time and returning speakers, Seabourn Conversations will be hosted onboard all of Seabourn's ships over the year ahead, including Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, Seabourn Quest, and the line's newest, Seabourn Encore, whose maiden voyage will depart Singapore bound for Indonesia on January 7, 2017.
Featured speakers of the 2017 Seabourn Conversations program include:
Tim Rice (Seabourn Encore, January 7) - Award winning lyricist Tim Rice headlines Seabourn Encore's Maiden Voyage through southeast Asia. The creator of hit musicals such as Joseph and Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and the Lion King will personally narrate Seabourn Encore's newest musical production, "An Evening with Tim Rice," which will feature his best known works, performed by the Seabourn Singers. Guests will also have an opportunity to learn all about his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andresson of ABBA and others in an up close conversation.
Lord Digby Jones (Seabourn Encore, January 17) - Lord Digby, who was knighted in 2005, serves as Business Ambassador at UK Trade & Investment, Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles and Corporate Ambassador for Jaguar Cars.
Dr. Clive & Dr. Geraldine Finlayson (Seabourn Quest, April 15) - Dr. Clive is Director of the Gibraltar Museum and veteran of numerous missions for the UNESCO World Heritage Center in Paris, while Dr. Geraldine is Deputy Head of Heritage and Director of the Institute of Gibraltarian Studies, and Chief Laboratory Scientist of the Museum. The Finlayson's recently played an instrumental role in Gorham's Cave Complex's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first in Gibraltar.
Chef Daniel Sherlock & World Wine Guys (Seabourn Quest, April 15) - On the Epicurean Quest Food and Wine Cruise the chef of the award-winning charcuterie bar Salt Yard in London takes the stage with World Wine Guys Mike Desimone & Jeff Jenssen, who have made multiple TV appearances and regular contributions to Wine Enthusiast, Saveur, and the Huffington Post.
Chef Darren McGrady (Seabourn Sojourn, April 23) - Chef McGrady has been personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Diana Princess of Wales, and the Princes William and Harry. He has also cooked for Presidents Ford, Reagan, Clinton and both Bushes, and authored Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen.
Hon. Frank Murkowski (Seabourn Sojourn, June 1) - As Seabourn sails back to Alaska, the former Governor and U.S. Senator from Alaska will discuss the remarkable history of America's "Last Frontier," including native people of the state and his own experiences holding public office.
Michael Moss (Seabourn Sojourn, July 21) - The Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller SALT, SUGAR, FAT: How the Food Giants Hooked Us is currently working on HOOKED: Food and Free Will.
Chef Hartmut Handke (Seabourn Odyssey, October 4) - With 38 gold medals from over 50 culinary competitions, Chef Handke is a highly accomplished chef with over 40 years of experience, and he has received all three of the American Culinary Federation's most prestigious awards.
Alexander Heffner (Seabourn Odyssey, October 4) - The host of The Open Mind on PBS, Heffner has appeared on a number of news networks, and his coverage of American politics has been published in Variety, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and more.
Walter Robinson (Seabourn Odyssey, October 30) - Editor at large and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for The Boston Globe, Robinson's reporting as part of the Spotlight Team formed the basis for the Academy Award winning film Spotlight. Robinson has also served as Distinguished Professor of Journalism at Northeastern University.
Julia Gillard (Seabourn Encore, November 10) - Gillard is Australia's first, and to-date, only woman to hold the positions of deputy prime minister, prime minister and leader of a major political party. She served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. Today, Gillard is an honorary visiting professor at the University of Adelaide, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's center for Universal Education, and the chairwoman of the Global Partnership for Education.
Visit www.seabourn.com