2025

A Year in Review

Me in Ísafjörður, Iceland

This year has flown by. I expected it to be a little busier than the last, but after some late changes to my calendar I ended up taking on far more than planned. New locations meant a lot of new talks, more preparation than expected, and less downtime, but overall it has been a very good year.

I repeated several familiar routes, including the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and the transatlantic crossings. If there was a theme to the year though, it was Vikings. I spent time in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland, all new places for me, as well as seeing the British Isles from a new angle aboard a cruise ship.

I enjoy choosing a new topic to dive into properly each year, and it was a pleasure to return to the Viking world. So much new research has emerged since I was at university just four years ago that it felt like revisiting the subject with fresh eyes.

The cruises where I was able to repeat talks were, in some ways, the most enjoyable. With less time spent worrying about new presentations, I could relax more and enjoy the ports themselves. My favourite was the Panama Canal cruise, partly because I particularly enjoy Central America and Mexico, but also because the itinerary allows for a nice balance between work and exploration.

The real highlight of the job, though, remains the people. I am constantly struck by how differently talks are interpreted and what they connect with for different passengers. I also learn a great deal from conversations with guests, which is one of the more unexpected pleasures of the work.

The question I am asked most often is when I am going to write a book. The honest answer is not just yet. I still need to settle on the right topic and, just as importantly, find the uninterrupted time to write it. That said, I have started putting something else into motion. I am currently working with a couple of people here in Argentina on the early stages of a documentary project. It is still early days, but it is something I have wanted to do for a long time, and I am very excited to see where it leads.

Looking ahead, 2026 should, thankfully, be a little less hectic. There are no scheduling issues this time, and I have been accepted onto all the cruises I selected, so with any luck there will be no last-minute changes.

Most of the year will be spent on South America itineraries around Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, alongside a couple of Scandinavia cruises, another British Isles itinerary, and of course another Panama Canal transit.

In terms of new locations and material, I will be travelling from Buenos Aires across to the Mediterranean. My Spain and Portugal talks are ready to go, but Greece and Turkey will require some proper writing time, so I will be brushing up on my ancient history before then.

Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who reads this, especially my paid subscribers. I am also very grateful to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback with the cruise lines. That feedback has given me the freedom to be more selective with itineraries, and hopefully to shape a more balanced year ahead.

I hope you all have a great festive season and a happy new year.

All the best,
Jacob