This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

History Professor's Summer Job Takes Him On The High Seas

With a passion for the past and flair for adventure, Naperville resident helps travelers get the most out of their summer vacation.

Not all summer jobs are for college students looking to keep busy and earn a few dollars for school.

For Dennis Cremin, assistant professor of history and director of the history center at Lewis University, having a summer job means traveling thousands of miles from home and spending very little time on dry land.

Every summer for the past five years, Cremin, a 13-year Naperville resident, trades in his books and classroom for a microphone and a cruise ship, hitting the open sea working as a Port Enhancement Lecturer as part of Princess Cruise Line’s “Scholars at Sea” program.

Find out what's happening in Napervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s just delightful,” Cremin said before departing on his most recent journey. “I have a relatively open summer schedule which allows me to do this for a month.”

As a “Scholar at Sea,” Cremin provides information on ports of call to Princess Cruise Lines vacationers through a 45-minute program he refers to as an “illustrated talk.” His discussions and accompanying power point presentations include information about the geography as well as the history of ports along the cruise route.

Find out what's happening in Napervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“What I have found is that this has truly been an amazing experience,” Cremin said. “I get to share my passion for history with people who are interested in what I like to call place, date learning.”

Cremin defines place, date learning as a powerful tool that “creates memorable experiences for people” while at the same time informs and teaches them about the history of what they are seeing or what they are about to see.

He said history is interesting when you read about it in a book but when you experience it firsthand through place, date learning it really takes on a whole new meaning.

“I really believe in the power of place,” Cremin said. “Everybody gets that one moment where everything falls into place. I talk about the things I’m interested in and then I to get to see them, usually the next day — that’s pretty great.”

After participating in Cremin’s illustrated talk, vacationers are free to explore the ports either on their own or with a group organized by the cruise line. Either way, vacationers are armed with more knowledge about the places they are visiting than the average tourist.

“I end each of my talks with ‘adventure awaits you’ and I think that’s true,” Cremin said. “Not just when you’re on vacation but every day. Every day there is a great adventure to be had for all of us.”

Not only does Cremin encourage adventure, he goes looking for it.

“I often joke that once in a while we should try to get lost in search of a great adventure,” he said. “It’s good to step off the beaten path.

"For example, every so often I play bus roulette. I’ll get on a bus generally knowing what direction I want to go but not knowing what direction the bus wants to go. Then the bus starts moving and turning and all of a sudden, the adventure is on.”

This season he will be working three cruises, two in Great Britain with stops in France and Ireland and one cruise along the western fjords of Norway. He is particularly excited for this season because for the first time, his wife Rebecca and daughters Emma, 17, and Julia, 12, will be able to join him on one of the cruises.

Although he still will be working, Cremin and his family will be able to spend some time together vacationing.

“There is nothing like cruising,” Cremin said. “From a ship we get to see things how people in the past had seen them, not from a train or a plane but coming in on a ship. These are the same experiences people had hundreds of years ago and this way of travel, cruising, provides a link to the past.”

Perhaps, unlike the thousands of college students who come home to a dreary summer job, Cremin said he absolutely loves his summer job.

“I plan on doing this as long as they’ll have me,” he said. “Adventures await!”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?