How far would you go to get Bill Bryson’s autograph?

from J. Chris Vaughan

How about heading to Asia and joining Bill Bryson during a segment of the 2012 Silversea Cruises World Cruise?

For those of you that can’t get enough from this humorous author of many travel books,  reserve your cabin on Voyage 4206, setting sail on March 3 – 14 from Singapore to Shanghai. Better yet, just book the entire World Cruise, which departs Fort Lauderdale on Janurary 6, 2012.

Bill Bryson is one of  many guest presenters already lined up for the Silver Whisper’s 115-day  World Cruise.  In addition to Bryson, other distinguished speakers include:

• Hugh Downs: American television personality known for his 21 years as co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20 news program, will host Voyage 4203, January 23 – February 5, Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town.
• Nigel West: Military historian specializing in intelligence, counterintelligence and security issues, his many books include At Her Majesty’s Secret Service, will host Voyage 4205, February 16 – March 3, Mauritius – Singapore.
• Daniel Silke: A politician and international affairs expert, who served four years as a Member of Parliament in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in Cape Town, is slated to host Voyage 4203, January 23 – February 5, Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town.
• Robin Hanbury-Tenison, O.B.E.: Founder and president of Survival International, the world’s leading organization supporting tribal peoples, and named by The Sunday Times as “the greatest explorer of the past 20 years,” will host Voyage 4202, January 7 – 23, Fort Lauderdale to Rio de Janeiro.
• James Bradley: World War II scholar and bestselling author of Flags of Our Fathers (his father raised the U.S. flag over Iwo Jima in 1945), will host Voyage 4207, March 14 – 26, Shanghai – Bangkok.
• Philip Hurst: Historian and world affairs expert, this former deputy director of The Australian Institute of International Affairs, will host Voyage 4208, March 26 – April 13, Bangkok – Dubai.
• Tim Hughes, Ph.D.: Former lecturer in political studies at the University of Cape Town and consultant to the BBC since 1994, working as an adviser on national elections, Zimbabwe and Nelson Mandela, will host Voyage 4204, February 5 – 16, Cape Town – Mauritius.
• Dr. Mark H. Elovitz: The internationally acclaimed world affairs commentator and lecturer, who served as a professor of law, a litigator, government advisor, historian and U.S. Air Force officer, will host Voyages 4206 – 4207, March 3 – 26, Singapore – Bangkok.
• Dr. Herb Keyser: Author of numerous books and featured on several U.S. television programs, including Nightline, the physician, world traveler and music expert will host Voyage 4209, April 13 – May 1, Dubai – Monte Carlo.

If you were in charge of programming for a Silverssea Cruises around-the-world voyage, who would you make sure to book as a guest lecturer?

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced its line-up of luminaries to be featured on the line’s 2011 World Cruise aboard the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager.  The featured luminaries will present lectures, classes and workshops to offer guests fresh perspective and insights.

Regent Seven Seas

Pack your bags and enjoy the 162-night World Cruise, which departs Fort Lauderdale on December 27, 2010. Cruisers that take the entire voyage will arrive in London on June 7, 2011.

Among the world-renowned experts and award-winning luminaries are:

Jack Hanna

Jack Hanna – May 14-24: Recognized around the country as America’s favorite zookeeper and author of 10 books. He will be available to share his “hands on” approach to wildlife conservation and his lifetime of travel experiences.

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno – February 23-March 12: One of only 10 performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award; she will entertain with a special musical performance and speak about her amazing life and career.

Morton Dean – March 29-April 13: Emmy Award-winning correspondent; one of the best known, most highly regarded and widely traveled newsmen in his profession. During his 14 years with ABC News and 20 years with CBS News, he covered many historic, headline-making stories around the world including presidential campaigns, Papal visits and the civil rights struggle.

Jim Nantz – February 23 – 29: Emmy award-winning sports personality and five-time National Sportscaster of the Year. He will be available to discuss some of his favorite play-by-plays throughout his career of over 25 years in sportscasting.

Alan Thicke – April 28-May 4: Known best as psychiatrist and father, Jason Seaver, from ABC’s “Growing Pains.” Thicke has earned a “Best Actor” Golden Globe nomination and seven Emmy Award nominations (five for writing and two for acting). On stage, he received rave reviews acting in the Neil Simon/Burt Bacharach musical “Promises, Promises,” as well as for his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in “Chicago.”

Charles Cook – May 4-24: Widely regarded as one of the United States’ leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends, Charlie has appeared on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening news programs, as well as on “Good Morning America,” the “Today Show,” “Nightline,” “Meet the Press with Tim Russert,” and “This Week….” He has also appeared many times on CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN and National Public Radio.

Jeff Greenberg – May 4-24: Emmy-Award winning casting director for the hit comedy Modern Family after having guided the casting chores for such other iconic shows such as Frasier and Cheers. Other television credits include Ugly Betty, Wings, My So-Called Life, NewsRadio and dozens of others. His feature credits include A Night at the Roxbury, Father of the Bride 2, Look Who’s Talking and Die Mommie Die!

Dr. Michael Leeden – May 4-24: the Freedom Scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Leeden is also a contributing editor at National Review Online. Previously, he served as a consultant to the National Security Council, the State Department, and the Defense Department and has taught at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Rome.

Jacki Lyden – May 4-24: Acclaimed journalist, author and radio host, Jacki Lyden can currently be heard on the weekend broadcasts of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Formerly NPR’s London correspondent, Lyden has covered the Gulf War from Baghdad, Iraq and has reported from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, and other countries.

Ari Shapiro – May 4-24: NPR’s award-winning White House correspondent, Shapiro reports for all of NPR’ s newsmagazines, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Based in Washington, D.C. He has received the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize and a “laurel” for excellent reporting from the Columbia Journalism Review.

A highlight takes place when Seven Seas Voyager visits San Francisco on January 13, 2011. Full World Cruise guests will be entertained by legendary performers:

Norm Crosby – Crosby has been making audiences laugh and a crowd favorite since his days from “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Joel Grey – Best known for his role as the Master of Ceremonies in the Broadway musical “Cabaret,” in which he earned an Academy Award for the film version.

In addition to the above headliners, the World Cruise will feature a variety of enrichment lecturers, arts & crafts workshops, ACBL-certified Bridge Masters, gentlemen social hosts and dance instructors.

Dinner and a Show – During the course of the voyage, guests will receive several opportunities to enjoy a special evening of fine dining followed by entertainment from some of the world’s most renowned performers such as David Campbell, Rhonda Burchmore, Gloria Loring and even the acclaimed Frank and Dean Show. Following a cocktail party, guests will dine on a specially created, music-inspired menu in Signatures restaurant before being entertained by legends of the entertainment world during an intimate, cabaret-style performance in the Horizon Lounge.

Sounds like of fun to me.

Now is a great time to deposit your 2011 World Cruise. 

Full World Cruise Savings & Amenities include:

• 2-for-1 Full World Cruise fares (must book by April 30, 2010)
• “Save Now. Save Later.” - Book 2011 Full World Cruise or its segments (must book by April 30, 2010) and save 20% off a future 2011 or 2012 voyage when booked by May 27, 2011
• World Cruise Gala and overnight luxury hotel accommodations on eve of departure in Los Angeles
• Free First Class or Business Class Air
• Chauffeured private car/minivan transfers between the guest’s home and airport, airport to ship and back within 100 miles of the port city
• Two exclusive shoreside events
• Special onboard events exclusive to Full World Cruise guests
• Specially selected gifts
• Pre-paid shipboard gratuities
• “All-Inclusive. As You Wish.” CruiseBank spending credits of $10,000 per couple ($5,000 per person)
• Crystal Society Members receive additional savings of up to $20,000 per couple (up to $10,000 per person)
• New-to-Crystal Full World Cruise guests receive up to $8,000 per couple savings (up to $4,000 per person)

If you’re looking for a new cruise experience, consider an itinerary that includes port calls on the subcontinent of India. Ornate temples, bustling bazaars, Victorian-era museums, the smell of spices in the air – India’s ports offer all this and more.

India’s main cruise ship ports, Mumbai and Kochi, are both on the country’s Arabian Sea coast. Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is a massive and populous city. One of its signature sights is the Gateway of India, an ornate arch built to celebrate a visit from King George V when India was still a British colony. Across the street is the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, a prestigious and historic building where the most important visitors to India stay.

Mumbai is a center of business and is home to India’s television and movie industry, commonly known as “Bollywood.” There are museums, art galleries, an incredible mix of colonial European architecture and some great shopping. There is often a festival going on as well, celebrating an Indian tradition or a Western holiday.

A few of Mumbai’s many noteworthy temples are the Jain Temple, which has an ornate domed ceiling; the Mahalakshmi Temple, dedicated to the goddess of wealth and beauty; and the Shri Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god.

Just off the east coast of Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The caves form a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Sculptures of Hindu deities, including a 20-foot high, three-headed image of Shiva, are carved into the rock.

Near the southern tip of India, Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) has been a trading port for at least 2,000 years. It’s also the gateway to the Kerala Backwaters, a beautiful area of peaceful canals, lagoons, lakes and rivers that twist and turn around low barrier islands.

Kochi is famous for spices, and little shops along Bazaar Road on the north side of the city offer fragrant ginger, red chilies, cinnamon, turmeric and many other spices for sale.

Like Mumbai, Kochi has plenty of colonial architecture to view, as well as Vasco House, a 16th-Century structure believed to be the home of the explorer Vasco de Gama, the first European to reach India by sailing around Africa. The Santa Cruz Basilica, the Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue are all uniquely, ornately decorated and well worth a visit. You can also explore Fort Kochi, the first European colonial settlement in India. Be sure to watch the crews catching fish right off shore using huge Chinese fishing nets.

Other emerging ports in India include Goa, on the Arabian Sea, and Chennai (formerly known as Madras), on the Bay of Bengal.Some cruise lines include port calls in India as part of a world cruise or a longer Asian itinerary. To find out more about how you can explore India via cruise ship, talk with your personal cruise expert.

A cruise is an ideal way to get acquainted with the vast and diverse continent of Africa. As the ship moves you effortlessly between ports, you’ll learn about some of Africa’s cultures while enjoying all of the comforts found on board.

Africa has long coasts along the Mediterranean Sea in the north, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It would take a very long cruise to travel all of those coastlines, but even a brief cruise can give you a taste of the sights, sounds and flavors of Africa. The continent’s exotic ports include Tunis, Tunisia; Alexandria, Egypt; Cape Town, South Africa; and Walvis Bay, Namibia.

In Tunis, old and new mix freely, as do Arab and Western influences. You can see a souk (an outdoor market) and a modern shopping mall; men in traditional red skull caps and men in European suits; and street signs in both Arabic and English. The city’s architecture is also a fascinating mix, reflecting the country’s past occupations by the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Turks, Spanish and French.

Alexandria, known as the “Pearl of the Mediterranean,” is an ancient city, though few ancient structures have survived to the present day. There is Pompey’s Pillar, a red granite column that dates from 293 A.D., as well as Roman-era ruins now being excavated. Excursions from Alexandria include El Alamein, site of one of the most decisive battles of World War II, and the Great Pyramids of Giza, about three hours away.

Table Mountain presides over the city of Cape Town, nestled in a gorgeous natural setting on the shore of Table Bay. A drive or hike up Signal Hill provides beautiful views. Be sure to see the charming Bo-Kaap neighborhood, the historical center of Cape Malay culture. Then, browse the shops at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, built on top of the docks at the Port of Cape Town. The nearby Cape Winelands offer opportunities to combine wine tasting and sightseeing.

Walvis Bay, Namibia, is a former whaling station; the nutrient-rich waters around the bay attract whales, as well as flamingos and other exotic birds. Walvis Bay is a home base for travelers who want to see the imposing dunes of the Namib Desert or the welwitschia, a strange plant that can live more than a thousand years in the moist ocean air of Namib Naukluft National Park. The town itself offers a museum, library and government chambers decorated with massive teak carvings.

  Much more awaits those who cruise Africa – to learn more, talk with your personal cruise expert.

Find out more about Afirca here.