All about Port and Destination Lectures

I’m Genevieve Dawid a professional speaker and Port and Destination Lecturer.

Cruising is my speciality and I’m never happier than when I'm at sea or talking about cruising.

In fact, I would rather be working on a ship than holidaying on it as I thoroughly enjoy the interaction with the passengers – my husband says that’s my maternal side !

When passengers say things like “You’ve made my holiday” it’s a feeling that I can’t describe. I also love being part of team with fellow Guest Presenters, Cruise Directors, Entertainment staff and crew.

I have been asked to respond to the most frequently asked questions from passengers whilst I’m presenting Port and Destination lectures aboard cruise ships.

Question: What are the advantages of Port/Destination lectures aboard cruise ships?

Answer: I will present a lecture for each destination prior to arrival to inform passengers of the geography, history, culture, cuisine, transport, safety, what to wear as there are strict customs in some countries, landmarks, what not to miss etc, of each destination.
I also add lots more information for added value to enhance their enjoyment of the forthcoming destination with ‘hot tips’ of hidden sights and/or experiences.

Question: How can these lectures enhance the enjoyment of the cruise?

Answer: A lot of passengers have never been to the destinations before and even if they had then I can still find things that they may have missed.

The lectures help the passengers to plan and get the most from their time ashore. Having visited many ports I have my own hidden treasures and wealth of knowledge that I love to share with the passengers.

Question: Why Create Bespoke Lectures?

Answer: I choose to create bespoke presentations/lectures for each cruise that I gain commissions from via my agent. Each cruise line has differing emphasis as well as differing tour itineraries to their competitors, even where there is a common port of call.
Bespoke lectures are essential, for example, a presentation/lecture for a cruise ship with family passengers will differ to that where the cruise line specialises in the senior members of the population. However, some issues such as accessibility due to limited mobility of passengers are common to both sectors.

Question: What are the Special Features and Added Value?

Answer: I also design features within my lectures for added interest. By way of example, prior to the cruise ship calling at Barcelona, the lecture could include a short feature on Gaudi the architect behind many of the distinguished buildings there.

Question: Where do you like to visit?

Answer: Some destination lecturers specialise in the Adriatic or Caribbean, but I prefer the “Worlds”, where the globe is covered, especially the more out of the way locations.
That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the other very popular destinations, I’m always looking for the hidden secrets to share with my passengers within the regularly visited ports.

Question: What effort does a cruise line make prior to a passenger boarding the ship?

Answer: An awful lot!

If going on a cruise holiday then be aware that the cruise line (office) and ship will be extensively planning the cruise many months in advance to ensure that it provides a most enjoyable and most wonderful holiday experiences for the passengers. One of the areas that cruise lines like to enhance the enjoyment for passengers in by commissioning a designated professional Port/Destination Lecturer for the duration of the cruise.

Every cruise ship has a selection of shore excursions for each destination from which to choose. They also have permanent shore excursion staff to assist with bookings and information on the ports of call. I am not involved in the planning of these and obviously don’t receive any commission.

My port and destination lectures are scheduled for around 45 minutes, allowing some time for passengers, as is usual, to ask questions afterwards.

Additionally as I’m on the ship for the duration, this allows passengers to chat to me and ask questions when they see me around the ship.

Question: What is the difference between Port and Destination Lectures?

Answer: A destination lecture is informing the passengers in detail about the destinations to be visited during their particular cruise. Generally a destination lecture would be supported by presentations by the shore excursion team on the different tours available.

A port lecture is a slightly less detailed destination lecture with shore excursions offered by the cruise line included within the presentation.

Question: What’s it like to be a Port Destination lecturer?

Answer: Hard work! Yet I adore it! It’s a fabulous life style.

The major work for me is putting the bespoke destinations material together which will normally include many tens of hours of research on the generality of a particular destination and further in depth research on the finer points of a destination, which could involve a religious or festive date. Unbelievably, it is a few days work per 45 minute lecture and I am constantly updating and improving the presentations.

Over the years I have built up a digital photo library of some 33,500 images and it grows with every trip ! I have to have all the professional equipment, to take the digital images to prepare, sort and file them.

I now have a production team but I also have to house all the production equipment and hundreds of reference books etc. I also have an office on land and sea.

I have a very large portable office that travels with me everywhere. It includes such things as laptops, printers, stationery, chargers etc. We have to have walkie talkies and two GPRS mobile phones.

Clothing is also a major part of my work, imagine I have to have clothes for the tropics as well as the Arctic circle.

I also require pre-prepared outfits for each lecture, documentary footage and photographic shots.

Additionally, evening dresses are required for the formal nights, cocktail wear, casual evenings, themed evenings, casual wear, gym wear and swimwear let alone all the shoes etc.

There is also the need to arrange visas, vaccinations, car parking at ports, liaison with my agent and the ship/shore side.

We need to work closely with the ship's entertainment staff, captain and crew.
There are three rehearsals per lecture to ensure the production functions correctly
I always do the final rehearsal the night before a lecture and liaise with the ship's tours desk on any last minute alterations to the original itinerary due to weather conditions etc.

As well as having to work closely with the technicians of each ship I also provide 15 minutes of relevant music that has to be researched, purchased, compiled without any breaks and then ‘burned’ onto CD ready for the technician use prior to the presentation. This isn’t my strong point so Charlie in our team produces my choices.

Also, every presentation needs to be cross referenced on the geography and history at least three times per fact. It’s the historical ones that are the most difficult.

There are also times when I need to be in contact with the embassies and consulates prior to the cruise.

I can also be asked to go to the bridge by the captain to provide a talk to the whole ship via the ship's speaker systems on an approach to the destination.

Then there are the interviews where I am either the interviewer or interviewee.

Question: What do you do shore side during a cruise?

Answer: When on land I divide my time between being a “tour escort” to the cruise ship's shore excursion department where most of trips are of half a day’s duration and on some land days I gather additional documentary footage, take photos and also research for the independent passengers to enhance future presentations on that particular destination.

Many a time I have been asked by the captain to head tour parties out into difficult destinations with the ‘request’ to ensure that they are back at a particular time frame as ship timings are imperative.

Question: Why do you think cruising is so popular and the fastest growth holiday choice?

Answer: It's fantastic value for money and a wonderful way to see the world whilst living in 5 star luxury. Waking up every day in a different destination is so exciting.

I started cruising when I was the youngest onboard by far and most of the passengers were retired.

Things have now changed so much and the cruising experience is a holiday in itself for all to enjoy with the added excitement of visiting previously unknown destinations and experiences one could only dream of.

Remember, do choose your cruise ship and itinerary carefully to ensure that everything suits your needs and requirements. Each ship offers a different experience!

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