James Ferguson, Guest Reader

Below, learn more about our Guest Reader, James Ferguson and the may ways in which waters has had a significant impact in James’ life.

Born of ship-fitter (Queen Mary) father, Andrew, and tour operator (Cooks Tours) mother, Ann, in Glasgow, Scotland, who together with their 6-year-old wee son, immigrated to Toronto, Canada, via New York (on the Queen Mary) hence James’ first memorable experience with water...the Atlantic.

James grew up skating on frozen ponds and ice rinks of Toronto, introducing him to another memorable experience with water...albeit, frozen - ice hockey - (for which he won a bronze medal in the Junior Olympics representing California (1967), and remain a die-hard fan of the NHL team, the Los Angeles Kings)

James served in the US Navy as a Military Journalist aboard USS Sanctuary Hospital Ship, off the coast of Vietnam (1968-70), a 18-month voluntarily extended experience on...water… In the Pacific.

Following his Honorable Discharge from the US Navy in 1970, James worked for his local newspaper in circulation sales while part-time reporting on entertainment assignments, including Elvis Presley's in-residence Hilton International, Las Vegas concerts.

He was introduced to the world of travel by organizing a student tour group to the 1976 Montreal Olympics for his alma mater; Cal State University, Northridge, CA.

Industry highlights include, airline senior management sales and marketing positions with Korean Air and China Southern Airlines, and Director, North America. Roles with Tahiti Tourisme and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), with which he led a tourism recovery mission of US travel agents to Thailand following the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, an element of which was organizing airlifts of plastic water bottles (from an Arizona desert facility to the ravaged Southeast Asia region).

Currently, James is orchestrating client's travel dreams, with Travel Edge, La Jolla, a Virtuoso affiliated agency, while specializing in travel to the UK, and putting travelers on the water... via cruises.