Joseph V. Micallef is a multifaceted professional, excelling as a historian, bestselling author, diplomat, syndicated columnist, keynote speaker, and commentator. His areas of expertise span military and maritime history, international politics, and the natural world. He has an extensive portfolio of documentary programs and books to his credit.

Mr. Micallef's academic journey includes a Graduate Degree (M.Sc.) from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and a Fulbright Fellowship at the Italian Institute of International Affairs. He has shared his insights on military and maritime history and world affairs at renowned institutions worldwide, including the Institute of Strategic Studies (London), the World Future Society, the NATO Defense College (Rome), and the Italian Institute of International Affairs (Rome).

He has advised several governments around the world, including the US Department of State and the US Department of Defense. He is an Honorary Consul to the US for the Republic of Malta and President of the Malta-North America Business Council. He holds a diplomatic post as the Special Envoy for Trade, Investment, and Economic Cooperation in the Caribbean and Central America and is also accredited to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) for the Republic of Malta, Ministry for Foreign Trade & European Affairs and Trade.

He is a member of the National Speakers Association and has often been a key note speaker for business and professional organizations. He has also appeared as a commentator on a variety of broadcast venues including Fox News, CNN and Fox News radio. He has also been a Visiting Professor at several universities around the world.

He is a columnist for Forbes, Military.com and The Epoch Times. Joe’s column “Global Pulse” is also syndicated by Troy Media to 1,800 Canadian media outlets. In addition, he is also the International Editor for the Irish Whiskey Magazine Wash.

Among his recent books are Understanding World War One: A Concise History (2014), Islamic State: Its History, Ideology and Challenge (2015), and Scotch Whisky: Its History, Production and Appreciation (2015). The D-Day Landings (2024) and The Whisky Isles (2024), Two new books, Leadership in Uncertain Times: Management in an Opaque Future and A Cruisers Guide to The Northwest Passage, are forthcoming. He also covered Mediterranean and Middle East Politics, including the civil war in Chad, for several Italian newspapers (1978-80).

Mr. Micallef has also frequently spoken about the history and appreciation of food, wine, and spirits. He holds the Diploma in Wine and Spirits and the Professional Certificate in Spirits (with Distinction) from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (London). Joe is also a certified wine judge in the California State Fair Wine Judging Competition and judges for numerous international wine and spirit competitions, including the International Wine and Spirits Competition (London), World Spirits Award (London) , San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York International Wine and Spirits Competition, World Whisky Awards, and the Irish Whisky Awards (Dublin), among others, He is a member of the Council of Whisky Masters, considered the most authoritative body on whisky in the world and one of the few non-Mexicans to have been granted the honorific title of Maestro Tequilero.

He is fluent in Italian, Spanish, Maltese and English, has a working knowledge of French and some proficiency in Arabic and German.

Click here to visit Joseph's website >> josephvmicallef.com

1. The History of Exploration and the Age of Discovery
A variety of talks geared to various cruising venues around the world that cover:
- Alaska and the Northwest Coast (6 Talks)
- The History of the Columbia Basin and the Pacific Northwest (6 Talks)
- The North Pacific. (6 Talks)
- Australia and the South Pacific (8 Talks)
- The Discovery and Exploration of the Caribbean (10 Talks)
- How Piracy Shaped the Caribbean (3 Talks)
- The Exploration of Central and South America (8 Talks)
- The Discovery, Exploration and History of the Amazon River (3 Talks)
- The Discovery and Exploration of the Americas (9 Talks)
- Anglo-French Rivalry and the Struggle for North America (3 Talks)
- The Viking Discovery and Exploration of North America (2 Talks)

2. 19th and 20th Century Military History
A range of talks geared to military history of the 19th and 20th Century. Among the topics covered are:
- The Origins and Consequences of World War I (6 Talks)
- World War I in the Middle East
- The Gallipoli Campaign (3 Talks)
- The Murmansk Conveys (1 Talk)
- Understanding World War II: The Pacific Campaign (6 Talks)
- Understanding World War II: The Campaign in Europe and North Africa (6 Talks)
- Understanding World War II: The Eastern Front (3 Talks)

3. Arctic and Antarctica
-The Exploration of the Arctic Region
-Arctic Geopolitics: The Competition to Control the Arctic
-A Concise Military History of Antarctica
-The History of Whaling
-The Exploration of Antarctica
-The Geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast
-The Search for the Northwest and Northeast Passage

4. The Vikings and Russian History
- Origins and History of the Vikings (5 Talks)
- Viking Exploration, Seamanship and Navigation (3 Talks)
- Origins and History of Russia (3 Talks)

5. Maritime History
- The Maritime History of the Mediterranean" (6 Talks),
- The Exploration of the Indian Ocean" (3Talks)
- Portuguese Discovery of Africa (3 Talks).
- Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail (3 Talks)

6. The History of Food and Spirits.
- The History and Appreciation of Scotch Whisky
- Understanding Irish Whisky
- Understanding Rum"
- Understanding Cognac
- Understanding Tequila
- Various topics on wine: From the History of Champagne, to Understanding Burgundy, Everything Pinot Noir to The Story of Port (6 Talks)

7. Pearls
I am also an expert on pearls. I have a degree in pearls from the Gemological Institute of America and have spoken on "Understanding and Appreciating Pearls" on several South Pacific cruises. (5 Talks)

8. Australia and New Zealand
A variety of talks on the discovery, exploration, history and wines of Australia and New Zealand. (10 Talks)

9. Marine Mammals
A series of talks on marine mammals based on a forthcoming series of books.
- Sharks of the World
- Whales of the World
- Marine Mammals of the World

10. Miscellaneous Topics
- A History of the Royal Jewels (Forthcoming)
- A History of the Scottish Isles (Forthcoming)

Joseph has spoken more than 100 times on approximately 3 dozen cruises, with presentations ranging from 2 to as many as 8 lectures. These have included: Royal Caribbean: Bermuda, Caribbean (4), South Pacific, Alaska; Cruise & Maritime Ventures: Baltic, Celebrity: Mediterranean (5), Ireland/UK (2), Panama Canal (2) Caribbean (6) Quebec and the Maritimes (2) Alaska (3), Princess (Pacific (2) Caribbean (3) Alaska (3) Viking Mediterranean and Quebec and the Maritimes.

Joseph has been both a destination speaker focusing on local history as well as general enrichment topics.

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.