Princess Cruises Announces Special Speakers to Appear During World Cruise

Globetrotting Princess Cruises passengers will be joined by a variety of intriguing special guests aboard Pacific Princess during its 107-day World Cruise departing January 13, 2012. Whether they want to hear about the golden age of Hollywood, get the scoop on modern-day filmmaking, or find out what it’s really like in outer space, world cruise travelers can get first-hand stories throughout the sailing.

Among the celebrated speakers scheduled to appear onboard are screen idol Tab Hunter; “Leave it to Beaver” star Jerry Mathers; “The Love Boat’s” Gavin MacLeod; legendary Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump; Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of silent film star Harold Lloyd; Oscar-nominated Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks and Space Shuttle Astronaut Robert C. Springer. In addition, a variety of expert lecturers will join the cruise to inform passengers on topics such as World War II history and computer forensics.

The special guest appearances are part of an enrichment program designed especially for the Ft. Lauderdale to Venice cruise, which will visit 38 destinations in 28 countries, with calls on six continents as it sails through Latin America, the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East and Egypt, finally ending in the Mediterranean.

Special guests scheduled to appear aboard Pacific Princess include:

Rolly Crump – Disney Imagineer (January 13-28: Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego)

One of the original Disney Imagineers, Crump joined Disney in 1952, first in animation, contributing to legendary films such as “Lady and the Tramp,” but soon moved to the new group of designers who were creating Disneyland’s groundbreaking latest attractions. Crump worked alongside Walt Disney himself to create the Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room and other attractions, and later designed projects for Disney’s EPCOT Center. Crump will talk about Walt Disney the man and the early days of designing iconic Disneyland rides.

Gavin MacLeod – TV and Film Actor (January 28-February 10: San Diego to Pago Pago)

Perhaps best known as “Captain Merrill Stubing” from the long-running television show The Love Boat, MacLeod also earned acclaim for his role in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, as well as numerous film roles. A long-time fan of cruising, MacLeod has served as an ambassador for Princess Cruises since 1986. He will present a selection of his favorite episodes from these classic series for passengers, and will reminisce about his career and famous co-stars.

Colonel Robert C. Springer – Space Shuttle Astronaut (February 10-18: Pago Pago to Auckland)

A two-time space shuttle astronaut, Springer has spent more than 237 hours in space. After joining NASA in 1981, Springer served as a mission specialist on shuttle flights in 1989 and 1990. Now retired from NASA and the U.S. Marine Corps, Springer currently works for The Boeing Company as director of quality systems, Integrated Defense Systems. Springer will talk about the shuttle program, his adventures in space, and the future of NASA.

Jerry Mathers – Former Child Star (February 18-26: Auckland to Sydney)

Although best known for his role as “Beaver” Cleaver in the television sitcom series Leave It to Beaver, Mathers also had roles in films such as Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry” and “The Seven Little Foys” with Bob Hope. More recently, he made his Broadway debut with a starring role in the Tony Award winning play “Hairspray.” Mathers will screen favorite episodes from his TV series, plus several of his films, and will talk about working with legends such as Alfred Hitchcock, Bob Hope and Shirley MacLaine.

Suzanne Lloyd – Granddaughter of Harold Lloyd (March 12-20: Tokyo to Hong Kong)

The granddaughter of one of Hollywood's founding fathers and silent film legend Harold Lloyd, Suzanne Lloyd will screen a mini film festival of her grandfather's silent comedy classics and talk about growing up on her grandfather's legendary Bel Air estate: Green Acres.

Leslie Iwerks – Oscar Nominated Filmmaker (March 29-April 12: Singapore to Dubai)

A noted documentary filmmaker, Iwerks is also the daughter and granddaughter of Disney legends. Her first feature documentary, “The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story,” chronicled the life of her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, the animator who designed Mickey Mouse. Her 2006 Academy Award-nominated film, “Recycled Life,” documents the lives of Guatemalans who live and work on a landfill. In addition, her 2007 film, “The Pixar Story,” was nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Onboard, Iwerks will introduce a showing of “Recycled Life,” and discuss her work with George Lucas' special effects company, and the computer animation work of Pixar Entertainment.

Tab Hunter – Actor, Screen Idol (April 12-30: Dubai to Venice)

A screen idol from Hollywood’s golden age, Tab Hunter starred in more than 50 major films, including the Academy Award-nominated “Damn Yankees.” Hunter also reached the top of the music charts with the hit song Young Love, and starred in his own television series. In the 1980s and ‘90s, Hunter starred in several John Waters films as well as the comedy Western “Lust in the Dust.” The ship will screen several of Hunter’s films, and he will talk about his career, his famous co-stars, and his autobiography.

In addition, World Cruise passengers will also have the benefit of a variety of expert lecturers who will share their knowledge on diverse topics, including:

Concorde Pilot – A former British Airways Concorde pilot will speak about the glamour and technology of the Concorde. (January 13-28: Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego)

World War II Historian – Bruce Petty, the author of several books about World War II in the Pacific, will talk about topics such as Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and aircraft carriers in the Pacific. (January 28-February 18: San Diego to Auckland)

South Pacific Naturalist – Ann Burgess, an expert on the natural history of the South Pacific region, will talk about a variety of related topics including Polynesian explorers and indigenous wildlife in the area. She will also host animal spotting sessions on the top deck to help passengers catch a glimpse of sea life such as dolphins and whales. (February 18-March 12: Auckland to Tokyo)

Ambassador/Diplomat – Douglas Hartwick, a former ambassador to Laos and State Department diplomat, will talk about the life of a diplomat living abroad. (March 12-29: Tokyo to Singapore)

Computer Forensics Expert – Mark Harrington, computer forensic company executive, will lecture on how computer footprints can find terrorists and criminals. (March 20-29: Hong Kong to Singapore)

Astronomer – An astronomer will join the ship to teach passengers about the night sky, the solar system and the latest space exploration from NASA, plus will host stargazing sessions on deck. (March 29-April12: Singapore to Dubai)

United Nations Official – John Renninger, a UN official and adjunct professor at NYU, will talk about the UN’s peacekeeping role and Middle East topics. (April 12-30: Dubai to Venice)

“World cruise passengers will not only get to experience amazingly diverse parts of the globe, they’ll also have access to a wide range of knowledgeable special lecturers,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Our goal is to enrich and entertain passengers throughout their entire time onboard with us.”

All special guests and expert lecturers are currently scheduled to appear, but modifications may be made subject to changes in speaker availability.