| Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows, Jill Heinerth, George Kourounis and Lynn Moorman, speak about their experiences and insights® as speakers onboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth® in Alaska 2023. |
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| What topic did you discuss while onboard? |
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Jill: My first talk was about the journey of ice, sharing images from above and below the ice and giving people a sense of the waters we were sailing through in addition to a primer on why ice is important in our world. My second talk was about my life as an explorer, sharing the science of cave exploration, risks, rewards, and the beauty of swimming through the veins of Mother Earth.
George: During the two talks I gave on board, I went into detail about my career as an explorer, travelling the world and documenting nature's extremes such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and volcanoes, with an emphasis on some of the fascinating natural phenomena that we could encounter on our Alaskan voyage.
Lynn: My talks focused on glacial processes and how to recognize the impact of glaciers on the landscape, in addition to climate change impacts and new types of data from satellites. |
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Jill Heinerth is an underwater explorer, writer, photographer, speaker, and filmmaker. A pioneer of technical rebreather diving, she has led expeditions into icebergs in Antarctica, volcanic lava tubes, and submerged caves worldwide. Jill is the first Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Her memoir, Into the Planet, has been lauded by the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times. Her children’s book, The Aquanaut, is a Blue Ribbon Selection for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Jill is a Fellow of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, Women Divers Hall of Fame and the Explorers Club, which awarded her with the William Beebe Award for ocean exploration.
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What was the most memorable experience from your trip?
Jill: For me, the wildlife is special, and travelling by sea gives us an opportunity to view coastlines that cannot be experienced in any other way. I also love sitting down at dinner with new friends and sharing the incredible experiences we've each had. One of my favourite moments was in Sitka when I was struggling to choose between watching a bald eagle feeding her young in the nest or the sea lions frolicking in the water below.
George: Cruising around in Glacier Bay National Park was glorious. The best way to see this place is from the water, and it was stunning to see all these glaciers that have been snaking their way down the mountainsides to the sea for thousands of years. We had a perfectly clear day too!
Lynn: There were so many incredible and varied experiences every single day. I was mesmerized by the bald eagles I saw during my excursion in Ketchikan, brown bears in Haines, and spectacular glacier calving at Hubbard Glacier. |
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George Kourounis has a passion for the world’s extremes. As an explorer, storm chaser, TV presenter, and Explorer-In-Residence with the RCGS, he’s travelled to over 75 countries on all seven continents to document extreme forces of nature so that others can appreciate the power of Mother Nature. For 25 years he has chased tornadoes on the Great Plains, driven into the eye of hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, rappelled deep in the crater of active volcanoes in the Congo & South Pacific, climbed mountains in North Korea, and earned a Guinness World Record for becoming the first person to set foot at the bottom of the Darvaza flaming gas crater in Turkmenistan while leading an expedition for National Geographic.
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What was one unexpected experience from your voyage?
Jill: It was unique to witness glaciers that are growing rather than retreating. I spent an entire day on deck in Glacier Bay. I couldn't take my eyes off the horizon. It was truly special.
George: I really enjoyed visiting some of the small communities along the way. I had been to Skagway before while filming for a TV show, so I knew what to expect there, but getting to visit some of these other communities like Sitka & Ketchikan was a real treat.
Lynn: The most unexpected experience from the voyage was the joyous dancing with my 80-year-old mom and new friends that I made onboard Queen Elizabeth in the ship’s Yacht Club. |
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Lynn Moorman is a lifelong geographer who has always loved exploring remote landscapes and environments. Today she shares that passion as an avid educator and volunteer. Lynn is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Mount Royal University, in Calgary, Canada. Her teaching and research interests lie at the intersection of geography, learning sciences, and applied visualization technologies, including virtual and augmented reality.
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What was your favourite Cunard® moment?
Jill: Afternoon tea is not to be missed, but I loved the daily trivia challenges where I made new friends while enjoying their special Gin and Tonic!
George: I really enjoyed the formal evenings. It felt like we had stepped back in time to the early 20th century. It felt so glamorous to be dressed up in black tie attire, sailing along these fjords with towering mountains surrounding us.
Lynn: My favourite Cunard moment was the incredibly personal service we experienced, starting with the warm welcome we had from the ship’s crew when we walked on board. I knew from that moment on we would be well cared for!
Is there anything else you would like readers to know?
Jill: The service, luxury, and attention to detail is extraordinary. Cunard cruises are about people. From the crew to the guests, it is a special bunch of joyful people who enjoy the benefits of travel and appreciate the opportunity to have adventurous experiences onshore.
Geoge: I enjoyed my time aboard so much that I’m coming back! I’ll be teaming up with Cunard again and will head back to Alaska on Aug. 1, 2024. So, if you’ve ever wanted to visit Alaska, come join me next summer! It’ll be a harmonious mixture of adventure and luxury.
Lynn: Sailing with Cunard gave me new insights into the landscapes, wildlife, and history of Alaska and provided so many memorable experiences into the destination. There may be misconceptions that cruises don’t offer a lot of time to explore a port but we found we had full experiences in every place, with room to explore and enjoy. |
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| For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Advisor, call Cunard at 1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com. |
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