It was a day of reflection aboard National Geographic Venture. The sun’s morning rays gave us a stunning view of Margerie Glacier before waking her up for some spectacular calving. The day just got better from there: brown bears at the water’s edge (eight in total!), the rare sight of otters hauled out on icebergs, the season’s first harbor seals with their newborn pups, tufted puffins, Steller sea lions cavorting, and even a quiet walk in the rainforest following an amazing presentation by a speaker from Alaska Native Voices. Alaska wins again!
9/3/2022
Read
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.
