Cunard Announces Speakers for its August QE2 Sails

Well known for having interesting guest speakers aboard the Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line announced it will host iconic singer Midge Ure and former Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King on its August sails.

“The inclusion of leading lights such as Midge Ure and Lord King really showcases the breadth and variety of our award-winning Insights Programme,” said David Dingle, CEO of Cunard Line.

Grammy Award-winning singer Midge Ure, best known as the frontman for 1980s band Ultravox as well as the co-writer of the 1985 Band Aid single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, will be aboard the QE2’s “Arctic Circle Discovery” sail for its first 10 days. The voyage, which departs roundtrip from Southampton, England, on August 5, 2014, includes calls in Hamburg, Bergen, Andalsnes, Trondheim, Tromso, Alesund, and Stavanger (where Midge disembarks). Ure will give two talks while on board: “Building Emotions: A Life in Music” and “Band Aid: Making a Difference and Implementing Change.” Fares for double occupancy start from $3,898 per person.

On its seven-day westbound Transatlantic Crossing, from Southhampton to New York on August 20, 2014, the QE2 will welcome the former Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King. Lord King of Lothbury in the City of London GBE, FBA, served as Governor of the Bank of England and Chairman of the Monetary Policy Committee and Financial Policy Committee from 2003 to 2013.

Before that, King served as Deputy Governor from 1998 to 2003, Chief Economist and Executive Director from 1991, and non-executive Director of the Bank from 1990 to 1991. King studied at King’s College, Cambridge, as well as Harvard University (as a Kennedy Scholar) and taught at Cambridge and Birmingham universities. Double occupancy fares start from $1,499 per person.