Acclaimed news correspondents Bernard Kalb and Morton Dean, famed hostage negotiator Terry Waite, culinary icon Maggie Beer, renowned broadcaster and monarchy expert Brian Hoey, award-winning television producer/director Terry Hughes, and Sky News and BBC commentator Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE, are among an impressive array of guest speakers participating in Silversea’s Silver PerspectivesSMenrichment programme this year.

Steve Tucker, Silversea’s vice president of field sales for North America, said: “Once again, we’ve assembled an eclectic mix of renowned speakers from around the globe to enrich our guests’ holiday experience with insights covering a broad spectrum of topics.”

Following is a small sampling of guest speakers with abbreviated biographies and their respective voyages in 2012:

Silver Shadow - 4 February - Voyage 3203 (Auckland to Freemantle)
MAGGIE BEER : On Australia’s ABC television network, this self-taught cook and champion of traditional cooking methods co-hosted the popular cooking programme The Cook and the Chef with Simon Bryant, head chef for the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide. She has written several books about food and in 2001 was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through cooking and writing.

Silver Shadow - 4 February - Voyage 3203 (Auckland to Freemantle) & 23 February - Voyage 3204 (Freemantle to Singapore)
TERRY WAITE: As envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Terry Waite successfully negotiated the release of hostages in Iran and Libya during the 1980s.  In 1987, negotiating the release of hostages in Beirut, Waite was himself taken hostage and held in captivity for 1,763 days.

Silver Spirit - 12 April - Voyage 5210 (Barbados to Lisbon)

MORTON DEAN : As a correspondent for CBS News and ABC News, this Emmy-Award nominated reporter covered many historic, headline-making stories around the world. He covered the Vietnam War with distinction, and when a deadly terror bomb blasted the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, he was dispatched there as ABC’s lead reporter.

Silver Shadow - 25 April - Voyage 3211 (Tokyo to Shanghai) & 6 May - Voyage 3212 (Shanghai to Tokyo)
BERNARD KALB: A veteran journalist, media critic and author, he was the founding presenter and a panelist on the weekly CNN programme Reliable Sources for a decade. He travelled the globe for more than three decades as a correspondent covering world affairs for CBS News, NBC News and The New York Times.

Silver Spirit - 16 November - Voyage 5236 (Las Palmas to Fort Lauderdale)

ALASTAIR BRUCE OF CRIONAICH, OBE : A descendant of Robert the Bruce, he is the author of numerous books on British royalty and a commentator for Britain’s Sky News and the BBC. He is also a documentary filmmaker and was historical advisor to recent award-winning films such as The Young Victoria and The King’s Speech, as well as the new Masterpiece Classic television series Downton Abbey.

Silver Spirit - 20 December - Voyage 5239 (Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale)
TERRY HUGHES:  He was head of BBC TV Variety during the “golden years” of Morecame & Wise and The Two Ronnies.  He also co-produced and co-directed the acclaimed Ripping Yarns, written by and starring Michael Palin.  Moving to Los Angeles, he soon became one of the premiere producers and directors of television’s The Golden Girls, 3rd Rock from the Sun and episodes of 8 Simple Rules, Friends, Blossom and That ‘70s Show.

And as previously announced, bestselling authors Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything) and James Bradley (Flags of our Fathers) will be hosting two segments of Silver Whisper’s World Cruise 2012. Bryson is slated to host Voyage 4206, 3 - 14 March, Singapore to Shanghai, and Bradley will host Voyage 4207, 14 - 26 March, Shanghai to Bangkok.