It was such a lovely day aboard National Geographic Resolution and a great start to our expedition! We are cruising around the archipelago of Svalbard in the High Arctic and will soon be sailing south toward our final destination in Iceland. Today, we awoke early to a call from the bridge that beluga whales were spotted. We watched great numbers of them in glass calm waters. Later, we went ashore at Ingeborgfellet, where we had lovely hikes in the tundra.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 20 Jun 2023
Bellsund, Svalbard, 6/20/2023, National Geographic Resolution
- Aboard the National Geographic Resolution
- Arctic
Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland's East Coast
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
7/3/2024
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National Geographic Resolution
Westfjords, Iceland
During breakfast we arrived at Isafjörður, the capital of the Westfjords. It was an overcast and slightly windy morning but nevertheless pleasant! National Geographic Resolution lay at the pier and we could choose between spending time on our own, strolling through town on a guided walk with beer and food tasting, or exploring the surrounding fjords and valleys on a bus tour to the small fishing village of Flateyri where a small concert awaited us in the local church. Just after lunch we spotted humpback whales again, this time in the fjord outside Isafjörður. Some of them were really close to the ship and their huge white pectoral flippers could clearly be seen whilst they swam. Tonight’s recap was a special highlight as Hotel Manager Laura had arranged a "bathrobe party". Nearly every guest arrived in their white bathrobes. It was hilarious! After dinner we landed at a small island called Vigur in the fjord Ísafjarðardjúp. Here, a small museum with information about eider down collection awaited us...and there was homemade cake! Those who dared could go on a guided hike over the island, which was interesting as we passed a colony of breeding Arctic terns. A wildlife encounter that will be hard to forget!
7/2/2024
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National Geographic Resolution
Husavik to Grimsey
National Geographic Resolution sailed from Husavik at 0800 under clear skies and calm winds. The sea was glassy and the unlimited visibility was perfect for finding whales. “Blows ahead!” rang out on the PA system and soon we were getting close views of a group of humpback whales. Flukes, fins, and spouts seemed to surround the ship. Camera shutters clicked constantly from the outer decks as each whale surfaced and tossed their flukes up for all to see. The afternoon was a birding extravaganza as we explored the cliffs of Grimsey Island, a prime nesting spot for Atlantic puffin, fulmars, gulls, terns, and razorbills. A hike along the top of the bluffs produced fine photos of puffins around their boroughs, while those in flight where trickier to get in the frame. Behind us in the grass we saw redshanks, Arctic terns, phalaropes, and a few very shy snipes.