Cruises are booming in popularity. In 2018 there were around 27 million cruise ship passengers worldwide.
Most cruises have guest speakers on board. I have been a such a speaker with different cruise lines. It is not as easy as it might appear. Here are some things I have learned.
1. The Audience. The people who go on cruises are mostly prosperous, educated and retired. They are not particularly interested in self-improvement, motivation or business topics. So your conference keynote talks on leadership, inspiration and empowerment are not appropriate. Nostalgia, crime, celebrity and the entertainment world are examples of popular topics.
2. Your Talks. You will need to prepare at least eight separate talks of around 40 minutes each. They should be entertaining, easy to follow and informative. Do not give the audience difficult challenges or workshop elements – they are here to enjoy themselves. You need to invest time in developing and rehearsing your talks. They should be supported with high quality images and maybe some short video clips. You should be an expert in all your topics because someone in your audience will be! Include some humour if you can – you are there to entertain as well to educate.
3. Audition. Most cruise lines will not automatically accept your claim to be a brilliant speaker. They will want you to give a short audition before taking you on. You need to choose your most interesting subject and present it clearly and professionally.
4. The Entertainment Director. When you first board the ship meet the Entertainment Director. He or she is your boss. They will probably introduce you on stage and may sit in on a talk. Their opinion determines whether the cruise line asks you back again. Listen to their input and be flexible in meeting their needs.
5. The Title of your Talk is Crucial. The ship has a daily newsletter which relates all the entertainments and activities of the day. Your talk will get a headline and sub-title with location and time. Passengers on the cruise have plenty of choice. They can sunbathe, go for a walk, play quoits, play bridge, dance a waltz, watch the football, have a relaxing drink – or they can come to your talk. If the title sounds fascinating they might show up. If it sounds dull they will not.
6. Start with your Best Talk. Don’t build up to a climax in a series of talks. If people miss the first they will not come later. Start with your most interesting and entertaining material. That way people will talk about you and your attendances may build.
7. Books. You can sell your books on board with prior approval by the cruise line. If people like your talk then some will want to buy your book.
8. Rewards. Most cruise lines provide a free cruise for you and your partner. Some pay a small stipend. Some charge you for your partner’s flights. You do not get to choose your cabin. You may be put into crew quarters and an inside cabin. By the time you have paid for all your drinks and extras the cruise will have cost you. If you enjoy cruising then it is a really pleasant experience but it does not pay the rent.
9. Internet. Internet connection on the ship is often lousy, expensive or both. Best to wait till you get to port and then collect all your emails at a local cafe with free wifi.
10. Logistics. Check all the logistics, equipment and props on stage before your first talk. Make sure all your videos work. Have three copies of all your presentations – on your laptop, on a memory stick and in the cloud.
We have been on some super cruises, met interesting people and visited fascinating places. I am still improving my talks.
More great tips in this ebook:
Great Blog Paul. I was an Entertainment Director for 14 years and this is great advice for speakers who want to make the most out of their cruise and get rebooked. There are a lot of speakers out there who would love to speak on cruise ships and these tips will help you be memorable and in demand. I would add perhaps a couple more:
– Be easy to work with. Things change and your flexibility will be appreciated by the production staff and the Entertainment Director
– Have a look at the other lecturers – see what they are talking about and what’s working (and what’s not)
– In terms of topics, Paul has summed this up really well. I would add “Behind the Scenes” talks. People love hearing about real stories in industry / travel and media where they get new insight.
– Being around for passengers to talk to will help build your profile and make you more memorable and you’ll learn what appeals to them as well as making their opinions on future talk ideas.
If you’re thinking of becoming a cruise ship speaker – I’d thoroughly recommend it.