Who is this guy?
I’m Rob Wheatley: traveller, storyteller, former Radio 702 afternoon drive presenter, M-Net Hot Hits VJ, Cruise Director and Viking Program Director. I’ve spent much of my life discovering that the most interesting part of a journey is often the bit that wasn’t in the brochure. My job, in the end, is helping people get from “I’d love to” to “I’m going.”
A free spirit with a passport
Welcome to my corner of the internet. Around the World with Rob is an invitation to explore the people, cultures, places and glorious unpredictability of travel. South Africa is home, but Africa’s wilderness and Greece’s history, people and beaches keep calling me back. I like people, love animals and believe in a life without too many regrets. A little cynicism? Occasionally. But always with kindness.
How I got here (the short version)
One day I’ll get a real job. Not! I studied hotel management in Torquay, England, then discovered life had other plans. Radio and TV gave me a microphone; the sea gave me a horizon. I trained as a Coastal Skipper, worked as a Cruise Director on a few of the larger cruise lines before joining Viking in 2014. COVID parked the ships for a while, but in the 11 years I’ve actually been sailing, I’ve looked after around 28,000+ Viking guests. These days my office often floats along Europe’s rivers, from the Rhine and Moselle to the Danube, and I still learn as much from the people I meet as from the places I visit.
Why I created this website
Most people don’t stay home because they don’t want to see the world. They stay home because something gets in the way: fear, money, time, not knowing where to start, or a quiet feeling that travel is for other people. I know the feeling. I was the VJ and host of M-Net’s Hot Hits and did afternoon drive on Radio 702, and walking away from that to build a life around travel was terrifying. Leaving a lane you’re known for is harder than it looks from the outside. I created this site to help you get past all that. The stories show you what’s out there. The practical know-how, and the World Travel Course, help you work out how to actually go. Whether it’s a first trip, a gap year, a life on the move or simply a cruise, the world gets a lot more possible once someone shows you the way through.
Rob Wheatley: The Facts
A few chapters from a life that has never followed a particularly sensible itinerary.
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The Entertainer
From M-Net’s Hot Hits to afternoon drive on Radio 702. Give me a microphone and I’ll usually find something to say.
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The Captain(ish)
A trained Coastal Skipper with a lifelong weakness for boats, horizons and the idea of sailing away.
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The Viking Pro
A Viking Program Director since 2014, sharing Europe’s rivers, remarkable places and memorable people with guests.
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The Dreamer
Premier League footballer? That dream escaped. Heidi Klum? Blissfully unaware. Curiosity? Still going strong.
The bit that wasn’t in the brochure
I’ve sailed rivers, skippered boats and flown planes, but the closest I’ve come to the end was a taxi in Athens. The airport run, a driver who clearly believed he was in Formula 1, and Greek music at full blast, as if the soundtrack to my final moments needed to be authentic. Somewhere around the third lane change that didn’t involve indicating, I made my peace with everything. I did make the flight. My blood pressure took a later one.
My philosophy
Nirvana for me is a new place, new people and new cultures. I love fun people who don’t take themselves too seriously. I still believe the best travel memories aren’t necessarily the polished ones.
Ready to take the first step?
Read Rob's Blog → Explore Viking Cruises → Discover the World Travel Course →A few questions I get asked
Where’s home? South Africa, although I divide much of my time between home and European river assignments. What if I’ve never travelled before? Then you’re exactly who I’m writing for. Start with the World Travel Course and take it one small step at a time. Is the World Travel Course free? Yes, free. Think of it as a practical starting point. Are these your stories? Absolutely. The experiences and opinions are mine; I also use editorial and research assistance to make the website clearer, more useful and more accurate.
Say hello
Have a question, a travel story or a suggestion? I'd love to hear it.