Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delivering a Western Caribbean cruise enrichment lecture, 2024.

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delivering a Mediterranean cruise enrichment lecture, 2025.

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delivering a Mediterranean/Adriatic cruise enrichment lecture, 2024.

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delivering a Mediterranean cruise enrichment lecture, 2025.

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delivering an Eastern Caribbean cruise enrichment lecture, 2025.

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delivering a Mediterranean cruise enrichment lecture, 2025.

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delivering a Mediterranean cruise enrichment lecture, 2025.

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks at the bow during a cruise to the Caribbean, 2023.

An avid cruiser and world traveler, Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks delights audiences with her dynamic destination and enrichment lectures that explore local history, culture, and heritage while at sea. She is proud to be represented by Blackburn International, Cruise Speakers Association, Sixth Star Entertainment, and Starboard Speakers.

Testimonials:

“On behalf of Oceania Cruises, I would like to thank you for serving as a guest speaker on board Nautica. Your professional presentations generated wonderful comments from our guests who really enjoyed all of your titles.” – Dottie K, Cruise Director, Oceania Nautica

“We learned so much from your lecture on the Dalmatian Coast! We actually amazed our guide today when we knew the answer to a local history trivia question about the Republic of Ragusa that not even our guide’s students get right. When he asked how we knew about Ragusa, we told him about your lecture. He was so impressed by us, so thank you!” – Sarah H, Cruise Enrichment Lecture Participant, 2025

“My husband and I recently sailed on an Oceania Nautica cruise with Dr. Parks and attended all of her lectures pertaining to the history, culture, and special highlights of the ports of call. Her lectures were brimming with attendees, and her presentations were historically significant, academically excellent in content, and presented in a polished, dynamic, captivating, warm, and engaging manner that gave us each an enthusiastic preparation for our excursions. We gave her lectures top rating on the customer service survey from Oceania and said “Hold on to her! She is a gem!” We hope to see her again on another Oceania cruise.” Mimi and Sam S., Cruise Enrichment Lecture Participants, 2025

“I wanted to write to thank you for your lectures on the recent cruise of the Western Caribbean. As someone whose idea of a great vacation is marching through museums from dawn til dusk, it was so wonderful to discover your lectures. I attended all three (and couldn’t help but ask questions after each one). I ended up planning my days around them. I also wanted to thank you for how kind you were to my four-year-old daughter, who attended the latter two talks with me and took her own opportunity to ask questions as well.” – Michael C., Cruise Enrichment Lecture Participant, 2024

“Amanda is an excellent presenter and speaker. She is engaging, definitely knows her subject matter, and always connects with her audience…as I write this I am sailing on a Silversea cruise, and while the guest presenters on this cruise were excellent, Dr. Parks is more than equal to their caliber. I would heartily endorse her as a guest lecturer for any cruise line.” – Jean C., 2024 Lecture Program Coordinator.

“Dr. Goodheart Parks is an excellent speaker. She engages with her audience in a very natural, relaxed way, but her greatest gift is that she is a natural storyteller. She is eloquent without being pedantic, smart but not condescending, and engages so sincerely with her audiences.” Augusta G., 2024 Lecture Program Coordinator

“The attending patrons were fascinated by the topic, and your presentation skills were flawless. Hope to work with you again in the future!” Elizabeth R., 2024 Lecture Program Coordinator

“The best speaker I have ever seen. Just the right amount of stories, facts, and analysis.” – Erin W., 2019 Lecture Site Coordinator

Cruise Enrichment Lectures:

Andalusia: Phoenicians, Moors, and the New World: Explore the history, culture, and heritage of the Andalusian region of Spain.

Come Aboard: A History of Modern Cruising: Celebrate your favorite way to travel through an exploration of cruising’s past, present, and future.

Caribbean Commodities: From mahogany and sugarcane, to logwood and bananas, explore the complex history of agriculture in the Caribbean. 

Columbus in the Caribbean: Discover the history and complex legacy of Christopher Columbus and his four exploratory voyages through the Caribbean Sea between 1492 and 1504.

Cultural Crossroads: A History of the Dalmatian Coast: Discover the dynamic history of the Dalmatian region from ancient times to the present day.

Fore! A Cultural History of Golf: Explore the history of this popular pastime in the British Isles and beyond.

From Bergen to Britain: A History of the North Sea: Explore Europe’s most tempestuous sea and its impacts on the history, culture, and economies of the people and places that surround it.

From Carthage to Corsairs: A History of Piracy in the Mediterranean: Discover the history of piracy in the Mediterranean region from its rise in the ancient world to its fall in the early nineteenth century.

Hispania: Spain in the Age of Rome: From amphitheaters and aqueducts to emperors and philosophers, explore the history of the ancient Roman province of Hispania.

Madonna Mia: Women of the Italian Renaissance: From artists and aristocrats to scholars and nuns, uncover the fascinating history of women in Renaissance Italy.

Mangia! A Culinary History of Italy: Explore Italian history and culture through some of Italy’s greatest culinary contributions to the world.

Mardi Gras: A Cultural History: From king cakes and krewes to parades and pageantry, explore the history of Mardi Gras in the Big Easy.

Maritime Myth and Legends: A Cultural History of the Sea: Uncover the origins behind maritime history’s greatest myths, legends, traditions, and superstitions.

Newport in the Gilded Age: Uncover the secrets, scandals, and fascinating characters of the famed City by the Sea.

Queens of the Sea: The Great Ocean Liners: Explore the history and enduring legacy of British transatlantic passenger ships of the early 20th century.

She-Farers: Famous Women in Maritime History: From pirate queens to selfless seafarers, celebrate famous women of maritime history.

Shiver Me Timbers: The Real Pirates of the Caribbean: Discover the scandalous history and enduring legacy of piracy in the Caribbean.

Thar She Blows: A History of the Whaling: Explore the complex history and enduring legacy of whaling around the world.

The Grand Tour: Traveling Through Europe: Discover the origins of leisure travel in Europe and the legacies of the Grand Tour in modern tourism.

The Mighty Deep: A History of the Pacific: Explore the historical, geographic, and scientific significance of the world’s largest ocean.

The Royal Palaces of London: Explore the history of London’s palaces, their royal residents, and the role these architectural gems played in British history.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived…discover the history of England’s King Henry VII and his six queens.

The Voyage of Voyages: Liverpool and the History of Transatlantic Travel: Discover Liverpool’s role in the history of transatlantic passenger travel from the 19th century to the present day.

The Water of Life: A Cultural History of Scottish Whisky: Discover the social, cultural, and political history of whisky in the Scottish Highlands and beyond.

The Way of the Ship: A Cultural History of Seafaring: From ancient seafarers to the global maritime industry of the present day, explore the history and enduring legacy of seafaring around the world.