Cunard has announced an inspiring line-up of high-profile speakers joining voyages across its iconic fleet from August to December 2026 as part of its acclaimed Insights programme.
The 2026 programme features more than 800 Insights speakers including 200 high-profile names across Cunard’s fleet of four iconic Queens, bringing together some of the world’s most accomplished figures, spanning subjects from artificial intelligence and space exploration to literature, sport, history and current affairs.
Highlights include exclusive insights from broadcaster and author Clare Balding CBE, acclaimed actress Celia Imrie CBE, known for roles in the Bridget Jones films, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, AI pioneer Dame Wendy Hall, comedian, author and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax OBE, and internationally bestselling crime author Peter James.
As the first cruise line to introduce guest speakers on board in 1974, Cunard has spent more than five decades setting the standard for enrichment at sea through its acclaimed Insights programme. Guests can hear directly from renowned experts, cultural figures and pioneers through thought-provoking talks, interviews and Q&A sessions, offering remarkable insights that enrich every voyage.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “One of the things that makes a Cunard voyage so special is the opportunity to discover something. Our Insights programme has always been about bringing extraordinary stories to life at sea, and this latest line-up reflects the breadth, quality and curiosity our guests value so highly. From world-class broadcasters and Olympic champions to acclaimed actors, authors, explorers and scientists, these are voices that inform, inspire and entertain, creating moments on board that stay with guests long after their voyage has ended.”
Queen Mary 2
Cunard is celebrating a landmark year for entertainment, with every Transatlantic Crossing on board the world’s only ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, featuring an elevated programme of world-class performances, events and guest speakers.
Guests sailing between Southampton and New York can enjoy a varied programme of guest speakers throughout the season, including acclaimed actress Celia Imrie CBE on Queen Mary 2’s 450th Transatlantic Crossing in November. Additional speakers appearing on Queen Mary 2 between August and December include children’s television icon Dame Floella Benjamin, US pilot Jeff Skiles, who helped land Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, acclaimed actress Patricia Hodge, and broadcaster and former England cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE.
Queen Anne
Sailing from Southampton to destinations including Norway, Hamburg, Rotterdam, the Canary Islands, the Azores, France, Spain, Italy and the Mediterranean’s idyllic Greek Islands, Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, welcomes an impressive mix of innovators, broadcasters, sporting greats and cultural commentators.
Guests can enjoy talks from 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.
Queen Victoria
Exploring the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Western Europe, Queen Victoria will host a diverse line-up including comedian, author and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax OBE, internationally bestselling crime author Peter James, whose novels have sold more than 21 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages, 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.
Queen Elizabeth
Guests exploring Alaska’s spectacular glaciers, fjords and wilderness landscapes can hear from broadcaster and author Clare Balding CBE, explorer Alison Teal, described as the ‘Female Indiana Jones’ for her adventures around the world and Alaskan actress and producer, Ariel Tweto.
Following her Alaska season, Queen Elizabeth will return to Miami for a series of Caribbean voyages, delivering one of Cunard’s most compelling programmes of speakers inspired by exploration, science, entertainment and public life.
Guests sailing to destinations including Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and St Maarten will enjoy exclusive appearances from NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain, the youngest person to pilot a Space Shuttle, former White House official Jeffrey Weinberg, entertainment journalist Nelson Aspen, television favourite Patrick Duffy, best known for his role as Bobby Ewing in Dallas, and former butler to King Charles III, Grant Harrold.
From Alaska and the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the iconic Atlantic Crossing, Cunard’s Insights programme reflects the belief that travel broadens the mind, bringing guests closer to some of the world’s most respected voices in exploration, science, culture, entertainment and sport.
For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, visit www.cunard.com
