Cunard partners with Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Luxury cruise line Cunard has announced a new partnership with the nonprofit Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS).

Experts from the RCGS will now be featured on select 2023 voyages as part of Cunard’s Insights onboard enrichment program. From June to August, the RCGS headliners will be on every Cunard voyage in the 2023 Alaska season on Queen Elizabeth and on the flagship liner Queen Mary 2 in September for the Canada/New England voyage, from New York to Quebec.

Making the announcement at the RCGS’ College of Fellows Dinner last week (16 November) at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Matthew Gleaves, VP of commercial development for Cunard in North America said: “Both Cunard and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society have a deep history and share a dedication to travel and exploration, with a great desire for cultural understanding. This partnership is the perfect marriage of knowledge and discovery.

“Cunard is committed to not only exploring the beauty and rich culture of the region, but also to educating guests during the time they spend with us. There is no better organisation to help us succeed in this than the RCGS; we intend to make this a long-lasting partnership.”

RCGS speakers include explorers, naturalists, geographical experts, and indigenous advocates who will custom-curate exclusive programming for Cunard guests. The RCGS experts include: 

• John Geiger, CEO, RCGS: best-selling author, speaker and adventurer who will speak about the history, heritage and expeditions which took place on the surrounding lands
• Joseph Frey: scuba diver and former officer with the Royal Canadian Navy who specialises in anthropology and the migration of people on the land
• Jill Heinerth, RCGS explorer in residence: Underwater diver, explorer, author and educator with a focus on coastal environments
• George Kourounis, RCGS explorer in residence: worldwide explorer and adventurer who contributes his expertise to the Discovery Channel and the Weather Network
• Lynn Moorman, RCGS fellow: geographer and educator who speaks about the glaciers, fjords and geographic technologies that guests will encounter along the British Columbia Coast and Alaska
• Perry Bellegarde, honorary vice president RCGS: former national chief of the assembly of First Nations, indigenous advocate, and educator on indigenous people and their lands

“Our mandate to make Canada better known to Canadians and to the world will be furthered by this exciting partnership with Cunard,” says John Geiger, CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

“Through collaborative enrichment programming and providing Canadian geographic content onboard, we hope each Cunard guest will come to appreciate and love the dynamic and diverse landscape and people of our country.”