Ports. Ships. People

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.

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 – 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 – 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.