Over the past sixteen years David has become a well-respected and experienced destination speaker who delivers his presentations in an entertaining, enjoyable, humorous and unique style. David’s presentations draw on his many years of foreign travel as well as his college lecturing skills mixed in with more than a dash of his naive Liverpool humour that make his series of on board lectures a 'must see' .

Prior to training as a college lecturer David worked as a presenter and producer on UK local radio in Liverpool.

David is now semi retired from his role as a college lecturer as this allows him more time to devote to his cruise ship talks. David has just recently had his first novel ‘The Samsara Project’ published. David is currently working on the next novel in the series after reaching number four in the Amazon download chart.

David is experienced delivering destination lectures for:

The Caribbean including Cuba
US Coastal ports (East and West coasts)
Canada
The Panama Canal
Central and South America
Mexico
Hawaii
All main European ports
Canary Islands and Madeira
Balearic Islands
Scandinavia and Russia
Baltic states
Kiel Canal
Norway
Greek Islands
Turkey
Malta
Cyprus
Suez Canal
Middle East (Israel, Egypt, UAE)
Far East (all areas)
Japan
Australasia
South Pacific region

Enrichment Talks:

1. It’s not all Abba and Volvo.
Join David and discover why thriller writers could not have dreamed up the fascinating history, culture, legends and stories surrounding the Scandinavian capital city of Stockholm.

2. The Consequences of Czardom.
Join David as he takes you back in time to the main reasons and characters behind the 1917 Russian revolution, the First World War and its disastrous implications.

3. There’s more to Copenhagen than Hans Christian Anderson, the Little Mermaid or Vikings.
Join David as he takes you through a journey of discovery about this fascinating Danish City.

4. An enchanting and not easily forgotten city.
The most Northern city in the world is also known as the city of 101 islands. Join David as he guides you through the trouble, turmoil and the many name changes of the city of St. Petersburg.

5. A Modern Nation’s Capital.
Join Dave to discover how a city, founded in the 13th Century, became a royal capital, an imperial capital, a cosmopolitan, walled city governed by three countries as well as a major European financial power broker.

6. The Country of a Thousand Islands.
One of the most visited Countries in Europe but also one of the least well known. Join David as he brings alive the magic, myths and legends and great stories of the Greek Islands.

7. Fate has put Istanbul as the gateway of two continents.
Join David and discover how the West and the East have each contributed to the character that is the modern Istanbul.

8. Athens, a truly modern city filled with ancient wonders.
Join David as he takes you on an enticing journey through this most ancient of modern cities. It’s the birthplace of civilization, the city where democracy was born and where the ancient gods competed for the city’s name.

9. Join David in this Sunny, lively, sassy and simply unforgettable City.
Naples is music, theatre, Vesuvius, coffee, pizza and the sea… all those colours, sounds and aromas will capture your attention, win you over and seduce you.

10. “When in Rome” ... Be prepared to step into the world’s biggest open air museum.
Join David as he takes you on a fascinating look at one of the world’s greatest cities. From its early mythological beginnings to becoming the centre of one the greatest empires the world has ever known.

11. The History Legends of Madeira: There are many theories about the history of Madeira, but most are based purely on myths and legends.
Join David and discover this island’s fascinating past, and then decide for yourself - truth or myth.

12. Atlantis Found: It was (is) believed that the Canary Islands were the uppermost peaks of the lost continent of Atlantis. The history of these islands is as diverse as it is fascinating.
Join David as he takes you on a tour through the unique history of the Canary Islands.

13. Casablanca, more than just a film title.
Join David Burgess as he takes you through the history and culture of this North African city and its wider significance as Morocco gained independence from France in March 1956.

14. Mallorca is one of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous division of Spain that is located between Spain and the North African coast. The Balearic Islands are also one the most popular tourist destination in the whole of Europe.
Join David Burgess to find out about the attraction and hold that this island has over so many people.

15. Welcome to the rock, home of the ‘Rock Apes’. Its strategic location and history have made it an international symbol of solidity and strength, and its name frequently features in the world press and media.
Join David Burgess and learn all about this little piece of Great Britain in the Mediterranean.

16. What happened to Nelson’s Arm and what’s it got to do with Tenerife? What do Tenerife and Scotland have in common? For the answers to these questions and one or two other amazing facts join David as he talks about the legends and myths of Tenerife.

17. Join David and discover how, with the help of British forces, Vigo was the first cities to expel Bonaparte’s forces. This was an event that made history as it eventually ended in Napoleon’s final defeat.

18. Join David as he explores Lisbon, one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals who’s history dates back over 300,000. Founded and named by Ulysses in its history the city has been a major battlefield, a centre for two major religions, and completely destroyed by an earthquake and a tsunami.

19. The attack on Pearl Harbour was called a "day of infamy" by President FD Roosevelt and brought the United States of America into World War Two. Join David as he takes you through the time line of events leading up to that fateful day.

20. Join David and discover how to Surf without the Internet. In 1779, Lt. King of the British Navy devoted two full pages of his ships log to a description of surfboard riding. This was the first record of the phenomenon that would forever be linked with Hawaii – Surfing.

21. Before Captain Cook discovered the islands in 1778 very little is known about the history of Hawaii. Join David as he takes you through the modern history of Hawaii, its flag the grass skirt and of course the people.

22. Lights, Camera, Action
Join David as he takes you through the famous and sometimes not so famous films, and their stories, that were stamped ‘Made in Hawaii’

23. It’s not only Hollywood that tells a good story. Hawaiian folklore is full of myths and legends.
Join David and discover that it’s not only Hans Christian Anderson that told a good tale.

24. Join David as he takes you back to the not so swash buckling 1600s. The time of Caribbean pirates such as Blackbeard and Calico Jack. Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack they definitely were not.

25. Join David and discover there is more to Caribbean geography than palm trees and golden sandy beaches. Find out why the geography of the Caribbean makes it one of the most fascinating areas on the planet.

26. First suggested by Charles 5th in 1524 the Panama Canal was finally completed just less than 400 years later by the Americans.
Join David as he takes you through the building of one of the world’s most famous waterways – The Panama Canal.

27. San Francisco has survived fires, earthquakes and economic meltdowns but has always managed to come back bigger and brighter than before.
Join David and discover the fascinating history of this Californian seaport of dreams and disasters.

28. Before Alcatraz gained notoriety for its infamous prison it was believed to be haunted by evil spirits.
Join David and discover the fascinating history of the island between San Francisco and Oakland known simply as - Alcatraz.

29. Think of Acapulco and you think of sun, beaches, parties, celebrities, Hollywood and cliff divers. Join David and discover the amazing history of this “other city by the bay”.

30. My home town – Join David Burgess as talks about the town he loves the most – Liverpool. Discover what it was really like in the Beatles led musical boom times of the swinging 60’s through the traumatic riot torn 80’s to become the Capital of Culture 2008.

31. The real ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’
Join David Burgess and learn about the real pirates of the Caribbean. Captain Jack it wouldn’t have lasted five minutes.

32. Barbados.
Join David Burgess as he takes you through the history and geography of this essentially beautiful British Caribbean island.

33. Volcanoes and Hurricanes, geography of the Caribbean. Beautiful islands, scenery and weather all come at a price.
Join David Burgess and learn about how nature balances the books.

34. Atlantis and the Canary Islands. Plato first wrote about the lost continent of Atlantis and since then people have been trying to find this mythical land.
Join David Burgess and learn about how the Canary Islands and the Azores could actually be the remains of the lost kingdom.

35. Titanic.
Join David Burgess as talks about the mystery, rumours and conspiracy theories that surround the ill-fated ship. For example was the ship that sank the Titanic or was it really its sister ship, the Olympic?

36. Liverpool and its secret American connections. Liverpool’s connection with America has always been strong.
Join David Burgess and discover just how strong, you’ll be amazed. Also, what has a modern day British Prime Minister got to do with the death of President Lincoln?

37. Music of the Caribbean.
Join David Burgess as he takes you through the history, sounds and artists that have given the Caribbean such a distinctive musical sound that it is instently recognisable the world over.

38. Films of the Caribbean. Hollywood has had a love affair with the Caribbean for decades.
Join David Burgess as he takes a nostalgic look at the films, famous and otherwise, that are stamped – Made in the Caribbean.

39. Myths and Legends of the Caribbean. For centuries the Caribbean has been surrounded by Myths, legends, magic and mystery.
Join David Burgess for a magical mystery tour of Caribbean folklore.

40. Great sporting heroes of the Caribbean.
Join David Burgess as he recalls some of the Caribbean’s most famous sporting heroes. Be it football, cricket or athletics Caribbean sportsmen and women have excelled at them all. Oh yes, and lest not forget a certain bobsleigh team.

41. Ecology of the Caribbean. The Caribbean has the world’s most colourful fish, birds and an abundance of wildlife and fauna.
Join David Burgess and discover the islands wilder side.

42. The Azores.
Join David Burgess and discover the fascinating history, myths, legends and peoples that have all helped make this Portuguese archipelago the place it is today.

43. Christopher Columbus.
Join David Burgess as he takes you through the life, adventures and the odd misadventure of one of the world’s greatest ever navigators and explorers.

44. The Beatles and Merseybeat. Liverpool has given the world many things but nothing has made its mark more than the sound of Merseybeat. Where did it come from? And why did it change the music a generation listened to.
Join David Burgess as he takes you on a nostalgic musical tour of his home city.

Special additional presentations for the Baltic states:

45. The Russian Revolution.
Join David Burgess as he talks you through the build up to one of the worlds major revolutions and cultural changes, the Russian Revolution. This was a revolution that could and should never had happened, so why did it?

46. Faberge: Carl Faberge, jeweller to the Tsars of Russia who became of the worlds most renowned craftsmen.
Join David Burgess and discover the fascinating history of a family that were forced to flee France eventually making a new life for themselves in St Petersburg. The rest, as they say is history. Or is it?

Others:

47. The history of the Monaco GP:
Join David Burgess as he talks about his passion for F1 racing, especially the Monaco GP. A race that today would never be allowed but one that all of F1 love. It's history is as fascinating as the race itself.


Each presentation lasts for 40 minutes leaving five minutes for a Q&A session at the end. Sometimes this is continued outside the lecture area as it may be required for another activity. My wife and I are also happy to meet and chat to guests at any time throughout the cruise. In fact saying what I do on board has proven to be a great ice breaker when meeting new people for the first time as everyone wants to talk to you.

Each presentation has at least 250 images, each related to the part of the presentation being talked about, if relevant I also include music, sometimes as background to talk over and sometimes for atmospheric effect to enhance the presentation.

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