Embarking on its maiden voyage May 30 – June 8 from Montréal, Quebec to Portland, Maine, the all-new MS Saint Laurent will feature an ongoing rotating roster of onboard experts who will share their extensive knowledge related to the ship’s four different 9- and 12-night itineraries throughout its Summer 2015 sailings in North America.
Beginning with award-winning journalist Dan Rather as the special guest expert on the inaugural sailing, these experts will each join select cruises that visit America’s Five Great Lakes, New England colonies and French-Canadian Maritime provinces. They will engage in casual chats as well as present informative scheduled talks in the ship’s Compass Lounge that bring to life everything from the diverse history of Victorian towns rich with seafaring history and archaeological investigations of shipwrecks to fascinating insights into local cultures and remote islands with spectacular wildlife viewing.
During this inaugural MS Saint Laurent sailing that includes explorations of Quebec City, Gaspe Peninsula, Prince Edward Island, the reversing rapids of Saint John and Acadia National Park, Mr. Rather will present sessions that include Fact vs. Fiction in Journalism: Misinformation & the Internet; and An Evening with Dan Rather.
Dr. Bill Cogar, a published author and former U.S. Naval Academy professor, is an engaging speaker on the subjects of naval and maritime history and a recipient of the 1988 U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Departures: Montréal to Portland, May 30 – June 8, 2015; Chicago to Montréal, August 28 – September 6, 2015.
Dr. John Odin Jensen is an historian, archaeologist and policy professor who has participated in more than 50 underwater archaeological investigations of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, He is also a Research Associate Professor of Coastal/Maritime Heritage at the University of Rhode Island. Departures: Chicago to Toronto, August 1-10, 2015; Toronto to Chicago, August 10 – 19, 2015.
Dr. James Robertson is the recipient of every major award given in the Civil War field, and a lecturer of national acclaim. He is currently an Alumni Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech. A native of Danville, Virginia, Robertson has authored numerous books, including Tenting Tonight: The Soldier’s Life, Civil War! America Becomes One Nation, Soldiers Blue & Gray, as well as an impressive biography of General “Stonewall” Jackson. Departures: Portland, Maine to Nassau, The Bahamas, October 30 – November 11, 2015.
Frederick Stonehouse is the author of more than 30 books on maritime history and an “on-air” expert for National Geographic and the History Channel, Fred is a teacher of maritime history at Northern Michigan University and a recipient of the 2014 Northern Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Award. Departures: Chicago to Montréal, July 14 –23, 2015; Montréal to Chicago, August 1- 10, 2015
Bob Tagatz, resident Historian & Concierge for the Grand Hotel on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, has more than 29 years of experience in historical preservation. He was responsible for assembling the Grand Hotel’s first archives, and published a book and DVD on the hotel’s history. Departures: Montréal to Chicago, July 5 – July 14, 2015; Montréal to Chicago, August 1 -10, 2015; Chicago to Montréal, July 14 – 23, 2015
Jay White is a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based historian and a former teacher of military history for the Royal Military College of Canada, who has also taught courses in Canadian, U.S. and global history at universities in Canada and the United States. Departures: Portland to Montréal, June 8 – June 17, 2015; Montréal to Portland, Oct 21 – Oct 30, 2015.
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