Dr. Sheila K. Hoffman is an art and cultural historian, iconologist and museologist who holds PhDs from the Sorbonne and from the University of Québec. She is Senior Lecturer in Art History at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Her expertise includes global art, ancient symbols and ancient cultures. She regularly appears on the Science, History, Discovery, and Travel Channels.

African Art & European Modernism- Discover the surprising connections between African Art and the dawn of Modern art in the West.

The Alhambra & Moorish Influence on Medieval Spain & Europe- Spain’s most intriguing palaces demonstrates the extent of Islamic influence in Medieval Europe

The Amber Road- Discover the golden ties between Europe’s great civilizations of the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas since prehistoric times.

Arabian Nights / One Thousand and One Nights- Adventure through the worlds and tales of one of history's most magical story books.

Art from the Time of Odysseus- Explore the birthplace of the legend of Atlantis and the earliest art of western civilization.

Art of the Mughal Empire- Discover the artistic innovations of India’s Islamic period that carry over to the West.

The Art of the Stone Age in Western Europe- Cave art, Stonehenge…if we look closely enough, the art of “cave men” is shockingly sophisticated

Beyond the Mayan and The Aztec: Artistic Traditions of Mesoamerica - Discover the treasures of the lesser-known kingdoms of Pre-Columbian Central America

Depicting the Divine: Early Christian Symbols in the Mediterranean World- Uncover the ties between Jewish, Roman and Egyptian mysticism and Christian images still used today.

Depicting Enlightenment: Buddha and the Western Influences- Delve into iconic depictions of Buddha and the surprising connections to the West.

The Enduring Wonder of Greek Sculpture/ Greek Sculpture of the Hellenic World - Explore what makes Greek sculpture a source of constant inspiration across the span of the ancient (Hellenic Empire.)/ Explore what makes Greek sculpture a source of constant inspiration across the millennia.

Frida Khalo & the Mexican Modernists- Encounter the famous femme and the revolutionary artwork of the period.

Heaven on Earth: The Splendor of Southeast Asian Temples - Explore the surprising architectural connections and splendor of South Asian temples.

The Hidden History of the Hermitage- Discover the history of competitive art collecting and the creation of the 2nd largest art museum.

Highlights of Medieval Flemish Architecture- Bruges is a time capsule filled with medieval architecture

Jamaica Before Columbus: The Art & Culture of the Taino

The Legacy of Hatshepsut- Enter the world of Egypt's famous Queen and the efforts to both secure and eradicate her legacy in art and architecture.

The Legend of El Dorado - Explore the sumptuous golden art of South and Central America that spawned the tale of the “Gilded One”

The Legendary Land of Punt- Venture to Africa’s eastern shores to a land once thought to be make-believe.

The Lost Kingdom of Kush- Discover Ancient Egypt’s greatest rival and a powerhouse of African civilization.

The Nordic Bronze Age: Cradle of the Vikings- Delight in discovering the art and culture of Scandinavia 1000 years before the “Viking Age”

The Painted Word: Icons of the Orthodox Church / Icons of the Byzantine World - Delight in sumptuous Eastern orthodox icons and the
fascinating history behind these gorgeous devotionals.

The Palace of Nestor- Encounter 'Sandy Pylos' of Homeric myth.

The Parthenon Marbles & the Great European Museum Debate- Immerse yourself in the dilemma of ownership surrounding the Parthenon and its famous façade.

Pilgrimage Routes of Western Europe & the Evolution of the Medieval Cathedral- An economic boon, medieval pilgrimages also contributed to the evolution of cathedral architecture

The Pyramid Puzzle- Encounter the pyramids of Central America and how they compare to ancient structures worldwide/ Encounter the ancient pyramids of Egypt and their connections to prehistoric burial traditions worldwide.

The Silk Road & Wine Dark Seas: Luxury Trade in the Ancient World/Mediterranean World - Discover the luxury goods traded from the Far East to Athens since ancient times.

The Soul of Norway: Edvard Munch & the Advent of Expressionism- Explore the haunting, soul-baring, Norwegian masterpieces that inaugurated a new era of art.

South Africa & the Global Origins of Art- Delve into prehistory to find the oldest works of art ever created.

The Viking/ Greek Connection- Discover the cultural and artistic crossover between the Viking North and the Mediterranean World.

Viking Metal- Delve into the intricate history and fierce designs of Viking weapons and jewelry.

Vikings in America- Come face to face with indisputable evidence of Norse presence in America and discover how new research proved this once-contested theory of pre-Columbian European contact.

And more...

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.