Guest Speakers

Travel with Expert Cruise Speakers

Selected cruises welcome specially chosen expert guest speakers. They bring Scotland’s history and culture to life with passion and in-depth knowledge.

Experience the rich history, culture and taste of Scotland with expert cruise speakers who can bring this beautiful country to life. On selected cruises, Hebridean Princess welcomes expert guest speakers, hand-picked for their in-depth knowledge, who love nothing more than sharing their passion for Scotland. The enrichment of discovery and thrill of knowledge put these cruises in a category of their own.

Our Guest Speakers:

Guest Speaker Dr Sandy Primrose MBE

Scotland’s Spring Colours
Oban to Oban
Tuesday 30th April to Tuesday 7th May 2024
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

Sandy Primrose is a biologist who has worked in academia and industry, and as an advisor to various government departments on subjects such as food fraud and the safety of GM foods. He is a keen gardener and opens his garden in aid of various charities. He lectures widely on a diversity of plant-related topics and has written a number of plant books for lay audiences.

Speaker Darren Rees

Natural World of the Northern Isles
Oban to Inverness
Tuesday 28th May to Thursday 6th June 202
9 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

Darren Rees has been painting and showing people wildlife for over 30 years and is one of the UK’s most respected nature artists, as well as an experienced naturalist guide. His work has attracted
many awards including BirdWatch Artist of the Year, Natural World Fine Art Award, RSPB Fine Art Award and a winner in the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year. His first solo book Bird Impressions was also short-listed in the Natural History Book of
the Year Award.

Guest Speaker Jeremy Burton

Home from Orcadia
Inverness to Oban
Monday 24th June to Tuesday 2nd July 2024
8 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

Jeremy worked as a mining geologist in Zambia before joining the Army. After Sandhurst he joined the Irish Guards and was seconded to Clarence House as the Queen Mother’s equerry. Jeremy accompanied the Queen Mother to the Castle of Mey each August, and on numerous occasions thereafter as one of her guests. After she passed away in 2002, he was asked to help open the castle to the public. Jeremy had a particular interest in the Queen Mother’s jewellery collection. This inspired him to study gemmology and he spent many years as a precious stone dealer in London’s Hatton Garden, worked as an exploration geologist in South Africa and a gold miner in California.

Guest Speaker David Harper

Voyage to the Emerald Isle
Oban to Dublin
Tuesday 23rd to Wednesday 31st July 2024
8 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

David Harper is a BBC TV Antiques & History presenter on programmes like ‘Antiques Road Trip’ ‘Flog It’ and ‘Bargain Hunt’. The programmes are shown in over 50 countries worldwide. He’s also a published author, artist, speaker and event auctioneer (he holds the world record for selling Alex Ferguson for £170,000!). David fell in love with antiques and history at the age of 5 and he’s been collecting, studying, buying, selling, talking and writing about wonderful objects from the past ever since! His passions also include travel, new adventures and classic cars…and often, all three at the same time!

Guest Speaker Michael Buerk

Treasure of the Celtic Coasts
Dublin to Oban
Friday 16th to Monday 26th August 2024
10 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

Michael Buerk is one of Britain’s leading broadcast journalists and has won many of the industry’s major awards. He has worked as a BBC foreign correspondent and presenter for more than thirty years. He anchored the BBC’s main evening television news programme from 1989 to 2004. He continues to present documentary and other programmes for both BBC Television and Radio as well as ITV and other networks. He currently chairs the BBC’s leading ethical debate programme, “The Moral Maze” on Radio 4. He lectures regularly on current affairs issues and chairs conferences on political, economic and ethical questions.

Guest Speaker Will Harrow

From Oban to the Heart of Argyll
Oban to Greenock
Tuesday 22nd to Tuesday 29th October 2024
7 nights including 2 Gala Dinners

As a child in the Scottish Lighthouse Service, Will has lived in some of the most remote and beautiful coastlines of Scotland. After an unexpected interview with Sir Paul McCartney at the age of 19, Will spent the next 8 years touring the world. He joined the Band Aid Trust and become one of the organisers of Live Aid and Sport Aid. He was also appointed Charity Director of The Comedy Store, London, and elected Deputy Chair of the BBC Advisory Council. Will has returned to the world of contemporary music and is involved in supporting the production of tours, major sporting events and music festivals in the UK. His talks are full of personal anecdotes, photographs and of course, music.

Expert guest speakers accompany selected cruises to help you get the most out of your voyage

Our guest speaker and themed cruises always prove extremely popular. To avoid disappointment, book an enriching cruise on Hebridean Princess today.