Jim Clement has lectured on more than 150 cruises all over the world.

Jim had four unique careers as a US Naval Officer, International Business Executive, Diplomat, and University Professor. He has lived in 16 countries around the world. He was raised in the family of a US Navy Submarine Captain and lived in Paris and Heidelberg. He graduated from the US Naval Academy and served in Submarines in the Mediterranean and in Asia

Jim joined the US Foreign Service (Diplomatic Service) and served in US Embassies Overseas as Commercial Attaché assisting US Businessmen to sell their products in the local markets. He organized trade shows and exhibitions for US products. He conducted market research and did financial reporting on foreign companies and markets. He facilitated the visits of state and federal officials to these countries and organized/and hosted seminars and conferences. He speaks Spanish.

After retiring from the diplomatic life, he was a University Professor and taught Undergraduate and Master’s candidates. Included subjects were: History, Geography, Logistics, International Marketing, and Cultural Differences.

. After earning an MBA from the University of Chicago, he lived and worked overseas as an International Executive.  For Chevron Oil, he lived in Singapore and Saigon where he built oil storage facilities and pipelines. Mack Trucks assigned him as Regional Manager for Eastern Europe based in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia in the days of Marshal Tito. Selling giant mining trucks in the Communist Bloc countries required creative financing and governmental controls unlike any other market.  He lived in Rouen, France and Tokyo, Japan as Sales Manager for Carrier Refrigeration specializing in refrigeration units for trains, trucks, containers, and ships. His territory for British Oxygen Company was selling medical oxygen concentrators to the socialized medical systems of Western Europe.

Jim lives in the St. Petersburg, Florida area and loves to dance and travel.

145 Destination Lectures

15 Maritime History Lectures

10 Nature Lectures

On the Eastern Mediterranean I presented:

Athens is the capital of Greece and the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewelry and more from Ancient Greece.

Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.

Rhodes is the principal city on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese, Greece. Known as the “Knights’ island”, Rhodes has a rich historical past, which you can tell by its historical buildings and monuments. The atmosphere in Rhodes Old Town is simply unique! Strong walls, stone-paved alleys, elegant mansions, and a medieval castle create the illusion that you have time-traveled back to the age of the knights.

Israel, The biblical Holy Land. Its most sacred sites are in Jerusalem. Within its Old City, the Temple Mount complex includes the Dome of the Rock shrine, the historic Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israel’s financial hub, Tel Aviv, is known for its modern architecture and beaches.

-Ashdod is Israel’s largest port and the closest port to Jerusalem distance 30 miles.

-Haifa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Israel 3^rd largest city.

On a PANAMA CANAL transit I presented:

1. The Panama Canal, the Greatest Engineering Feat of the 20th century.
The USA experience building the lock system and the water route over the top of the Isthmus of Panama.

2. President Teddy Roosevelt
The guiding force behind the Panama Canal and the formation of Panama as a nation.

3. Costa Rica, Nature’s Garden of Eden
A fascinating land of volcanoes, jungle, splendid beaches, handicrafts and a wondrous array of animals and birds.

4. Lima and Machu Picchu
Visit the great colonial Peruvian Capital of Lima with a side trip to Machu Picchu ancient ruins.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean
Relive the Golden Age of Piracy along the Spanish Main. Galleons full of Aztec and Inca treasures lured the Pirates.

6. Magellan’s circumnavigation of the World
The first man to circumnavigate the world. He discovered the Magellan Strait at the bottom of the world in South America, the Philippines, and a new route to the fabulous spice islands of the Orient.

7. Captain Cook and his three voyages of discovery to the South Seas
The discoverer of Hawaii was the first to chart the vast Pacific Ocean.

As a NATURALIST I presented the following during 22 Alaska cruises:

1. Glaciers of Alaska. Massive “Rivers of Ice” that can be seen from Space are carving valleys and fjords. The Hubbard Glacier is 300 ft. high, 6 miles wide and 76 miles long… This is an awe inspiring trip along the face of this glacier where it meets the sea and crashes “Calves” great chucks into the ocean in front of our eyes.

2. The Inside Passage is a 500 mile protected waterway starting in Ketchikan-Fishing Capital and cruising through Tracy Arm then on to Juneau, the State Capital. Lined with towering evergreen trees and snow covered mountains, this great waterway is the heart of our cruise adventure.

3. Alaska Wildlife. The rich diversity of animals includes the Polar Bear of the Icy North, great herds of migrating Caribou, giant Moose, animals and birds that change color to blend into the snow or tundra.

4. Whales, Dolphins, & Porpoises. There are 81 species in the world. Many feed in the rich Arctic waters throughout the summer. Photos, behavior, and descriptions of the most often viewed whales.

As DESTINATION Speaker on a New England/Canada cruise I presented:

1. The Story of French Canada-New France & the English Conquest – Join Historian, Jim Clement as he tells the story of how two great nations fought 7 years for control of all land east of the Mississippi River and North of New England.

2. Halifax, Nova Scotia has Lobsters, Mining, Lumber, Tourism & Canada’s largest Navy Base – In this presentation, History & Culture Guest Speaker, Jim Clement will discuss the museum dedicated to the history of the great number of immigrants who entered through Halifax Pier 21. He will also provide an interesting look at the imposing Citadel that protected this great harbor in both World Wars.

3. Down East coastal cities of Bar Harbor, Maine & St. John, New Brunswick – Join History & Culture Guest Speaker, Jim Clement for a fascinating look at the gorgeous light houses and spectacular coasts and high tides that provide breathtaking photo opportunities.

4. Boston, cradle of the Revolutionary War, the Boston Tea Party, & Paul Revere’s ride to warn of British Invasion – Join Historian, Jim Clement for an interesting look at Boston’s rich history and a walk down the famous “Freedom Trail” to see colonial architecture mixed with ultramodern office buildings.

5. Secrets of the Titanic – Historian, Jim Clement discusses her construction, opulent public rooms, and her fateful collision with an iceberg.

VIKING and Scandinavia Subjects:

1. The Story of Norway.
This Gateway to the Arctic has a colorful history dating from the days of the Vikings to its current prominence as Scandinavia’s Oil King.

2. Norway’s Magnificent Fjord Country
Magnificent fjords cut into the mountains from the sea and are ringed by picturesque waterfalls, quaint farms, snow-capped peaks, and majestic glaciers.

3. Viking Sea Raiders
Vikings in their famous long ships were mighty warriors who raided Northern Europe, colonized Russia, and traded as far away as Constantinople and Greenland.

4. Glaciers-Rivers of Ice
Norway has 1,600 glaciers and ice fields left over from previous ice ages-time capsules of our environment that date back 900,000 years. We’ll see how they advance and retreat over time.

5. Norwegian Voyages of Exploration
How the Vikings beat Columbus to North America. In their magnificent seafaring tradition, Norwegians were the first to explore the New World-and the North and South Poles.

6. Viking Navigation: Sailing by the Sun and the Stars
How did the Vikings sail on voyages of discovery and trade without the magnetic compass? Learn how they navigated the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

For Transatlantic cruises there are the following MARITIME HISTORY Lectures:

1. RMS Titanic
Her construction and disastrous collision with an iceberg in the North Atlantic.

2. Captain Cook
Captain Cook and his three voyages of Discovery to the Pacific Ocean

3. Magellan’s Circumnavigation
Magellan and his historic Circumnavigation of the World which opened the trade routes to the Far East.

4. Voyages of Columbus.
Columbus and his 4 voyages of Discovery to the New World. Who were the first people to discover the New World?

5. Mutiny on the Bounty
An account of the infamous revolt at sea and the settling of Pitcairn Island.

6. Defeat in the English Channel
The Armada and the defeat of Spanish Galleons by English Admirals in the English Channel.

7. Pirates of the World
The largest fleet of 400 ships was ruled by a Chinese lady pirate.

8. Whaling, The Chase for the Mighty Leviathan
The American Whaling History, 17th & 18th century

9. Steam Ships conquer the Atlantic
How Iron ships and steam engines revolutionized North Atlantic travel.

10. SS France
The wonder of French cross-Atlantic travel and her conversion to cruising as SS Norway.

11. Floating Palaces
Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth setting impeccable luxury standards for 1930s trans-Atlantic travel.

12. 100 year history of US Navy Submarines. Presented by ex-US Navy Submariner Jim Clement

REGIONS OF EXPERTISE
I have prepared:
145 Destination lectures for most of the World’s Cruise Ports.
15 Maritime History lectures
10 Naturalist lectures including Wildlife, Glaciers, Marine Mammals, Jungles