Cunard Reveals Star-Studded Speaker Line-Up Across Its Four Queens

Clare Balding, Celia Imrie, Ruby Wax and more famous names are bringing fascinating talks and extraordinary stories to sea.

If you thought a Cunard cruise was all about elegant ships, afternoon tea and deciding whether you really need another trip to the buffet, think again! Cunard is bringing some seriously impressive names on board its four Queens, giving guests the chance to hear fascinating stories from the worlds of television, sport, science, space exploration and entertainment.

And with a line-up featuring Olympic champions, famous actors, bestselling authors and even a NASA astronaut, there should be plenty to talk about over dinner!

Cunard’s acclaimed Insights programme features more than 800 speakers throughout 2026, including 200 high-profile names, with the programme running up until December 2026.

From artificial intelligence and space exploration to literature, history, sport and current affairs, there’s a huge range of subjects to discover. So, whether you’re a curious mind who loves learning something new or simply fancy hearing a famous face share a few stories, there’s plenty to look forward to.

Famous Faces, Fascinating Stories and a Sea View

Cunard has lined up some familiar names for its Insights programme, including broadcaster and author Clare Balding CBE, actress Celia Imrie CBE, AI pioneer Dame Wendy Hall, comedian and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax OBE, and bestselling crime writer Peter James.

The programme gives guests the opportunity to hear directly from experts, cultural figures and people who have achieved remarkable things in their chosen fields, through talks, interviews and question-and-answer sessions.

And the beauty of it all? You can enjoy a fascinating talk while sailing across the ocean, without having to worry about finding a parking space, battling through a busy city or dashing for a train afterwards.

Cunard first introduced guest speakers on board in 1974 and has spent more than five decades developing its Insights programme. It's a rather impressive history, and one that gives guests something extra to enjoy between exploring destinations, enjoying the ship and deciding which cocktail deserves a second appearance.

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, says the programme is all about bringing extraordinary stories to life at sea, with speakers who inform, inspire and entertain.

So, let's take a look at what's coming up across the fleet!

Queen Mary 2: Big Names on the Big Atlantic

The world's only ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, is celebrating a landmark year for entertainment, with every Transatlantic Crossing featuring an enhanced programme of performances, events and guest speakers.

Guests sailing between Southampton and New York can look forward to a varied line-up, including acclaimed actress Celia Imrie CBE, who will appear on Queen Mary 2's 450th Transatlantic Crossing in November.

Other speakers appearing on board up until December include children's television favourite Dame Floella Benjamin, US pilot Jeff Skiles, who helped land Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, actress Patricia Hodge, and broadcaster and former England cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE.

There's something rather special about combining a classic Atlantic crossing with the chance to hear from people with such extraordinary experiences. One minute you're gazing out across the ocean, and the next you're listening to stories that could easily keep the dinner-table conversation going for the rest of the cruise!

Rebecca Adlington OBE amongst the Star-studded speakers across the iconic Cunard fleet

Queen Anne: Olympic Champions and Brilliant Minds

Cunard's newest ship, Queen Anne, is welcoming an impressive mix of sporting greats, broadcasters, authors and innovators as she sails from Southampton to destinations including Norway, Hamburg, Rotterdam, the Canary Islands, the Azores and the Mediterranean.

Among the featured speakers are Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington OBE, AI pioneer Dame Wendy Hall, broadcaster and mathematician Rachel Riley MBE, record-breaking explorer Adrian Hayes, rugby legend Will Carling, bestselling author Adele Parks MBE, and Olympic bronze medallist and presenter Katharine Merry.

It's quite the collection of talent!

Whether you enjoy hearing about sporting triumphs, exploring how artificial intelligence is developing or discovering the stories behind remarkable adventures, Queen Anne's programme offers plenty to get those little grey cells working.

Of course, there's no test at the end, so you can relax and enjoy learning something new without worrying about homework!

Queen Victoria: Crime, Comedy and Curious Minds

If you enjoy a gripping story, Queen Victoria has a line-up that should keep you entertained as she explores the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and Western Europe.

Comedian, author and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax OBE is among the featured speakers, alongside internationally bestselling crime writer Peter James.

Peter's novels have sold more than 21 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 38 languages. That's a lot of readers, and a lot of people who enjoy a good mystery!

The programme also features award-winning journalist and documentary maker Jane Corbin, who has spent more than three decades reporting from conflict zones around the world, and behavioural scientist and bestselling author Paul McKenna.

From real-world reporting to crime fiction and human behaviour, there's a wonderfully varied selection of subjects on offer.

And if you're a fan of a good whodunnit, you might find yourself looking at everyone on board a little differently. We're sure the crew are perfectly innocent, of course!

Queen Elizabeth: From Alaskan Wilderness to Caribbean Sunshine

Over on Queen Elizabeth, guests exploring Alaska's spectacular glaciers, fjords and wilderness landscapes can look forward to hearing from broadcaster and author Clare Balding CBE, explorer Alison Teal and Alaskan actress and producer Ariel Tweto.

Alison, who has been described as the ‘Female Indiana Jones’ for her adventures around the world, sounds like someone who certainly won't be short of stories to tell!

Following her Alaska season, Queen Elizabeth will return to Miami for a series of Caribbean cruises, bringing another fascinating selection of speakers on board.

Guests sailing to destinations including Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and St Maarten can look forward to appearances from NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain, the youngest person to pilot a Space Shuttle, former White House official Jeffrey Weinberg, entertainment journalist Nelson Aspen, and television favourite Patrick Duffy, best known for playing Bobby Ewing in Dallas.

Also joining the programme is Grant Harrold, former butler to King Charles III.

From travelling beyond our planet to life in the royal household, this line-up covers some very different worlds. And all without needing to book separate holidays to experience them!

A Little Extra to Enjoy Between Ports

Cunard's Insights programme brings together an impressive range of speakers across its four ships, with subjects spanning exploration, science, culture, entertainment and sport.

Whether you're crossing the Atlantic aboard Queen Mary 2, discovering European destinations on Queen Anne or Queen Victoria, or enjoying Alaska and the Caribbean on Queen Elizabeth, the programme adds another dimension to the time spent on board.

For cruise lovers who enjoy discovering something new alongside exploring the world, it's a lovely reminder that a cruise can offer far more than beautiful ports and sea views.

And let's be honest, there's something rather appealing about being able to enjoy an interesting talk, wander off for a delicious lunch and then spend the afternoon gazing out to sea. Learning something new is all well and good, but we're still on holiday, after all!

Want to find out who's speaking on your next Cunard cruise?

You can explore the official Cunard Insights and guest speakers programme to discover the speakers scheduled for individual sailings.

Speaker appearances vary by ship and cruise, so check the programme for your chosen sailing before travelling.

Now, if you'll excuse us, all this talk of cruising has us thinking about sea views, a comfy chair and possibly a cocktail. Purely for research purposes, naturally!

Until next time, keep dreaming of your next cruise.