Bob Collins (B.SC, MBA) is a graduate metallurgist and businessman with over thirty years professional experience working in the UK and internationally. Bob initially worked as a metallurgist in the energy sector, including working on the James Fisher Fleet of ships based in Barrow and supporting the nuclear industry. Subsequently Bob transitioned into commercial roles including sales and marketing before focusing on strategy and business planning as a Vice President in the Westinghouse Electric global nuclear business. During this time Bob worked with the Devonport Dockyard in the UK. Bob finally set up his own business providing consultancy on strategy, business planning, acquisitions and corporate alliances. Bob has extensive experience speaking to audiences large and small on cruises, at universities or local groups and at business events such as conferences and exhibitions. Bob has trained in Port and Destination talks and has completed cruises as a Port/Destination speaker, focusing on the UK, the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Portugal and Spain.

Bob has developed his portfolio of talks to delivers a blend of entertainment and education. Bob's portfolio of over 40 talks covers the oceans of the world and the popular cruise destinations of the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic and Scandinavia and Iceland and Greenland.

Bob is available for Back-to-Back cruises.

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A Set for UK Cruises

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Talk 1 - Great British Navigators and Explorers
From the early voyages to the new world and through circumnavigations Britain has made many contributions to the way that we understand the maritime world today. This talk looks at the voyages of Britain’s well-known navigators such as Cabot, Drake and Cook.

Talk 2 - How did Britain get to rule the waves?
Although it is an island Great Britain did not have a strong maritime heritage until recently. This talk looks at the major steps that changed that.

Talk 3 – The Masterpieces of Brunel
As the age of great transatlantic steamers began Isombard Kingdom Brunel moved from Bridges and Railways to creating era defining ships. The stories of the Great Western, Great Britain and Great Eastern define the 19th century growth of steam ships.

Talk 4 - The Vikings in the British Isles
Why did the Vikings raid the British Isles and what was their impact on our history? The Vikings left a legacy that is still alive and well in our countries today.

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A Set for the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic Islands

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Talk 5 – The Atlantic Challenge
Focus on the geography and climate of the Atlantic, considering wind patterns, sea currents, hurricanes and icebergs, including a discussion of the Sargasso Sea and the Bermuda Triangle. Through this focus we can see why the ‘Western Ocean’, as early sailors knew it, was such a challenge to early explorers and why it continues to demand respect from travellers today.

Talk 6 – Who was first? – Exploring the Atlantic
There continues to be debate about who was the first to cross the Atlantic and discover ‘The Americas’. This talk looks at the early explorers who may or may not have been the first to reach the Americas and what we mean by ‘the first’, ranging from Thor Heyerdahl and his reeds boat theory through to the origin of European influence in the Americas.

Talk 7 – The Blue Riband
From the early days of regular crossings, the speed at which a ship could cross the Atlantic was the focus for the marketing of scheduled transatlantic passenger services and it soon developed into a race to win the ‘Blue Riband’ for the fastest crossing.

Talk 8 – Travelling in Style
Today the ‘Atlantic Crossing’ is synonymous with fine dining and the highest of luxury travel, but it wasn’t always this way. This talk looks at the conditions of the journeys of the early colonists, the first wave of emigrants and concludes with what known as the golden age of the transatlantic liner, including the wave of emigration from Europe to the USA from the late nineteenth century through a large part of the twentieth century.

Talk 9 - Mail, Trade and The Wireless
By the 18th Century travel across the Atlantic had increased substantially but it was still quite an adventure and transatlantic communication was slow at best. This talk looks at the development of mail services across the ocean, how this succeeded by scheduled cargo transport and the development of the telegraph and radio across the Atlantic.

Talk 10 – The Atlantic at War
The major powers have used the Atlantic as a battle ground almost from the time that the first explorers and colonists arrived on the ‘other side of the pond.’ This talk discusses the role of transatlantic shipping and warships in the World Wars I and II but drawing lessons from the naval warfare that preceded it.

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A Set on the Caribbean Sea

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Talk 11 - The Caribbean Sea – BC to AD/Origins
This talk looks at the formation of the Caribbean Islands, how they were first populated and the first European arrivals.

Talk 12- Empires and Pirates
This talk explores how England, France, Spain and Portugal sought to exploit their newly discovered territories in the Caribbean as both new places of empire and finance for their ongoing wars in Europe and looks at the development of piracy throughout the Caribbean and across to West Africa.

Talk 13 - The Development of Caribbean Cruising
This talk explores how the Caribbean Sea became the birthplace of the modern cruise industry after the transatlantic trade began to reduce.

Talk 14 - From the Atlantic to the Pacific – the Panama Canal
Addressing the history of crossing the Panama Isthmus from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans from the early days of the Spanish Main, through the story of first building the Panama Canal to how it is today.

Talk 15 – Cartagena - From Hannibal to the Spanish Main
Named after a Carthaginian port in Spain Cartagena has a strong maritime trading tradition.

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A Set on the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii

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Talk 16 - A Calmer Ocean - How did the Pacific Ocean get its’ name and is it right?
How has the geography and climate of the Pacific Ocean influenced the development of sailing around and across the Pacific Ocean. This talk will consider influences such as the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, how it differs from the Atlantic Ocean and how unique aspects of the regional geography influence the climate for sailing.

Talk 17 - The Europeans Arrive
Maritime history in the Pacific Ocean changed with the arrival of European explorers and traders such as Magellan and Sir Francis Drake through to the journeys of Captain Cook and the scientific explorations of Charles Darwin.

Talk 18 - The Development of International Trade
This talk looks at how international trade on the Pacific Ocean changed after the arrival of the Europeans, leading on to the emergence of the Pacific as the new hub of international trade in the last century as the economies of Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, China and other Asian countries have grown.

Talk 19 – The US Pacific Fleet
Once the USA was established across whole American continent it needed a navy in the pacific. The Gold Rush and World Wars have driven the development of a global power.

Talk 20 - Acapulco – Much more than Diving and Dancing
With the best harbour on the pacific coast of Mexico you would expect that Acapulco has a maritime tradition that goes back nearly half a millennium – and you would be right!

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A Set on the Mediterranean Sea

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Talk 21 – Through the Pillars of Hercules
This talk looks at the legends and geology of the mountains that guard the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and how they have been involved in the history of this region.

Talk 22 - Naval History of Northern Spain
From the Spanish Armada to a key role in exploration and trade Northern Spain was the home of many important developments in Spanish Naval history.

Talk 23 – From Sea to Shining Sea - The Corinth Canal
Although not originally written about the Corinth Canal this truly applies to a waterway that changed lives and empires

Talk 24 - Changing the shape of the world - a history of the Suez Canal
The idea of a canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea took a very long time to reach fruition but when it did the shape of trade around the world was changed forever.

Talk 25 - Challenges of Sailing the Mediterranean Sea
This talk looks at the oceanography of the Mediterranean Sea with a focus on winds, tides and currents as they have influenced the history of sailing and exploration of this ‘inland sea’.

Talk 26 - The Age of Exploration – How Portugal and Spain led an age of ocean exploration
The period of the 15th to the 18th Centuries covers a time when European countries explored the oceans of the world. This was led by Portugal and Spain who explored the Atlantic Ocean and discovered routes to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Talk 27 - The Roman Empire at Sea
Although Rome was not initially a sea going power it became the dominant naval power of the Mediterranean Sea. This talk looks at the history of how this happened and the types of ship that they used to achieve this.

Talk 28 - Pirates of the Mediterranean
Piracy, as seen in the Pirates of the Caribbean, has become romanticised over the last two hundred years but it was prevalent throughout much of the nautical history of the Mediterranean Sea. This talk looks at key developments in the history of piracy in this region.

Talk 29 – Knights of St John
How did the Knights start and what were their aims? Includes a look at the lesser-known maritime activities of the Knights of St. John and their role in developing the island of Malta.

Talk 30 – A Maritime History of the Black Sea
For many the Black Sea is a less well-known place than the Mediterranean. This talk looks to open this place as important for how the world as we know it has developed.

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A Set for Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea, Iceland and Greenland

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Talk 31 – Viking Explorers
Understand the history of exploration and discovery by Viking seafarers through the North Atlantic with a focus on the discovery of Iceland, Greenland and being the first Europeans to reach North America. The talk will follow the family of Erik the Red and will also include discussion of the type of ships used in this exploration and how the destination ports were involved.

Talk 32 – The Vikings go east
This talk explores the history of how the Vikings of Denmark and Sweden traded with and influenced the history of large parts of Northern Europe and Russia

Talk 33 – The Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was a major maritime commercial influence throughout the Baltic Sea in the period from This talk discusses the development and growth of the League from its’ origins in northern Germany to becoming an international force that fought sea battles and wars.

Talk 34 - Challenges of Sailing in The Baltic Sea
Learn how the oceanography and climate of the Baltic Sea has influenced maritime history of a sea that has more than its share of shipwrecks.

Talk 35 - The Kiel Canal
The idea of a short cut from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea has been around for more than a millennium but it was military needs that made it a reality and caused it to be the size it is today.

Talk 36 - Ships and People - the Great Norwegian Explorers
From Eric thbe Red to Roald Amundsen Norway has produced some of the worlds' most famous explorers.

Talk 37 - The Amber Road
The second great trading route of the ancient world used rivers and roads to transport Amber form the Baltic to the mediterranean and beyond, transforming the eastern Baltic.

Talk 38 - From the Vasa to the Bismarck
Take a walk through the famous centres of ship building in the Baltic Sea looking at Stockholm, Turku and Northern Germany.

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A Set on the Indian Ocean

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Talk 39 – The Indian Ocean – A Short History
This talk looks at the origin of the Indian Ocean and the challenges for travellers when they are sailing through it, whether they are natural geographic hazards or those caused by the climate. Includes a look at how the Indian Ocean could develop with Climate Change.

Talk 40 - The British East India Company
Take a walk through the history of the British East India Company, from its’ foundation, through empire building to a difficult end. It is a story that changed the world.

Talk 41 – The Portuguese Age of Exploration
Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to sail round the southern tip of Africa, into the Indian Ocean and onward to India and the far east. This led to a golden age for Portugal, opened the ocean to European trade and changed world history.

Talk 42 – The Voyages of Zheng He
Follow the seven voyages of the Chinese explorer and trader Zheng He during the 15th Century. His voyages opened trade routes from the South China Seas to many parts of the Indian Ocean, from East Africa to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and India. The talk also looks at the fleet and type of ships he sailed in.

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About Cruising

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Talk 43 - A Short History of cruising – From Education to Destination
This talk discusses the history of cruising as a vacation from the early days of adapted steam ships of the 19th Century focused on antiquity to todays’ cruise liners that are destinations themselves.

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A Set on Materials Science and Ship Building

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Talk 44 - A brief history of Iron & Steel in Shipbuilding
How we have progressed from all wooden boats to huge ships where steel is all around us, with examples from Britain and Scandinavia.

Talk 45 – From Ore to ‘Fore!’
Follow the process of how Titanium gets from an ore in the ground to driving a golf ball hundreds of yards down the course.

Talk 46 - From the Stone Age to Superconductors – How Metals Changed the World
The production and use of metals has been a driving force in the development of the world as we know it today. The beginnings of the Bronze Age are explored, as are each of the next major steps in civilization from the Iron Age through the Industrial Revolution and on to the third industrial revolution that we are in today.

Talk 47 – Magical Materials - From Ancient Greece to Avatar
Beginning with the study of Alchemy, with Aristotle in Ancient Greece, and progressing through the development of the modern Periodic Table this talk presents a story of how materials from the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, such as Unobtanium in Avatar, are not so strange as they might at first appear.

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A Set on the Nuclear Industry

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Talk 48 – How a Nuclear Power Station Works
Discover how many parts of a nuclear power station are the same as a gas fired power station, but others are quite different.

Talk 49 – From Ore to Core
Follow the journey of how Uranium gets from an ore in the ground to generating electricity in a nuclear power station.

Talk 50 – A Short History of Nuclear Power
From the first atomic pile to the potential for small, distributed, reactors follow how the industry has developed.

Talk 51 – Nuclear Accidents – What is the common aspect?
From Windscale to Fukushima the causes of the accidents have been many but there is a common thread.

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A Set on Maritime History – but not the ships!

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Talk 52 - The Tides - What causes them and their impact on British History
Tides are an every-day part of the maritime world, but few people understand why they happen and the effects that they can have on our world. This talk looks at the science behind tides and considers historical events that have been influenced by tides.

Talk 53 - Common words and phrases with a maritime origin
There are many phrases in common use in the English language today where we all understand the modern meaning, but the origin has been lost in time. Some of these have a maritime origin and they have a connection to our naval history – but it can be hard to know when that connection is true!

Talk 54 - Perseverance and Technology – A Tale about Lighthouses
Using examples from the UK, the Canary Islands and around the Mediterranean this talk follows the technology and history of lighthouses.

Talk 55 - What we needed before we could explore the Oceans
Ship building and navigation skills that enabled the age of discovery to happen - up to and including the time of Henry the Navigator.

Talk 56 – From Rockets to Lifeboats – saving lives at sea
Sailors have been getting into difficulty on our shores for thousands of years but the story of ways to save those lives is much shorter.

Port Talks – Qualified for Port/Destination Talks – focused on the UK, Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, Alaska and New England.

Bob has been delivering talks on cruise ships since 2019, working with several cruise lines such as Celebrity, Princess, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, MSC, SAGA and Fred.Olsen. Later this year Cunard will be added and Bob is qualified to speak on P&O. During 2023 Bob has worked on seven cruises with three more booked to be completed. All reports received show very good performance.

Bob's talks combine information and entertainment. Presentations are delivered with Microsoft Powerpoint and are given while standing and without reference to notes.

The portfolio of available talks are suitable for most cruise destinations and can be adapted to specific itineraries. I also have a deep knowledge of maritime history for many regions and can prepare talks for a specific itinerary if required. Fully trained in Port and Destination talks.

Available for Back-to-back cruises.

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