We arose early while sailing in Stephens Passage, and to our delight in the distance we saw a humpback whale calf side-lunging repeatedly. It was determined that this calf was practicing behavior while its mother was feeding or searching for food. Off in the distance on the other side of the bow we saw a Dall’s porpoise zipping through the water creating rooster tails of splashing water. Suddenly a humpback whale surfaced near the ship but dove quickly when it realized how close it was to us; how exciting! As we turned into Holkham Bay we began to see “bergy bits” – large pieces of ice that had calved from Sawyer Glacier and floated down the fjord. Beautiful shapes of turquoise blue hues began to float by regularly. We explored the face of Sawyer Glacier while on the ship, and after lunch we launched Zodiacs to explore amidst the ice and up to the face of glacier. Harbor seals and pups popped their heads up in between the ice. The ice calved and swells sloshed against the sides of the fjord. After an exciting round of ice-watching, we sailed back down Tracy Arm into Holkham Bay and Stephens Passage to a golden setting sun.
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.