The Cruise Ship Lecturer Needs a System

by Bill Belew

I don’t consider myself a creature of habit. In fact, when I find that people have a routine that works for them I am quite likely to do something different just to be different. I am funny that way.

Have a Routine

You know, “Two paths in the woods …” I ALWAYS ALWAYS take the one less traveled. It’s a curse.

But when you have been tapped to be a speaker on a cruise line, it might be a better call to find a routine that works for you.

You want to be sure you arrive on time and ready.

Related: Diary of a Cruise Ship Speaker

Imagine remembering you have to go on in 10 minutes while you are sitting at the buffet table or on the exercise bike having been to the buffet table before that.

My Step by Steps

I check the schedule the night before to know what time I will be speaking. The times change and the activity director does NOT always let you know.

I eat around 2 hours before I go on. I don’t want to be digesting food right before it’s time to speak. Nor do I want my listeners to hear my stomach growl.

I am a regular gym goer. I love to do the gym thing in between eating and going on stage. Somehow I feel stronger, sharper, slimmer, and have more color in me if I have exercised and showered before going on.

I will get to my venue a good 15-20 minutes early to make sure the AV staff is there. I have had to chase them down in the past.

I also run through my head – what if the AV guy doesn’t show up, what if the crowd is really small, really big, what if the projector doesn’t work, what if I can’t find my slides … and so on.

There is no one way to be ready, but I find that if you have a routine of sorts, you are most likely to not face any panic of sorts.