This morning dawned a surprisingly sunny and gorgeous day as National Geographic Quest made its way south, down Chatham Strait. Sleeping in a little later than normal, guests woke to views of a beautiful waterfall and multiple humpback whales spouting and stirring in search of fish. Picking up Dr. Andy Szabo of the Alaska Whale Foundation, the guests learned about research the foundation does on humpback whale health and the specific culture of bubblenet feeding exhibited by certain species of Alaska’s Southeast. After brunch, National Geographic Quest anchored deep off Kuiu Island’s Saginaw Bay. Guests went ashore to kayak, sightsee by stand-up paddleboard, and hike the island’s terrain. After a day’s worth of exploration, the Global Explorers onboard enjoyed a pizza and movie night while the adults dined and recounted the day’s highlights.
9/3/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Peril Strait
National Geographic Quest arose amidst light clouds within the protected waters of Ushk Bay. This area is known for a salmon stream and yields plenty of opportunity for kayaking and exploring the vast meadows of its inner waterways. On this day’s occasion, guests were able to hike and paddle their way along the coast of Ushk Bay and witness firsthand the life cycle of Pacific salmon making their way upstream. As we transited through Peril Strait, we were lucky to see humpback whales. These immense mammals were “lunge feeding” very near our ship. Being able to witness this event was unique for guests and staff. Lunge feeding is process through which individual whales push their gaping mouths through the surface and collect any fish or planktonic invertebrates in the process. Witnessing this behavior was truly a remarkable experience for all. We will cherish this moment for a lifetime.
