After navigating the Icy Strait overnight, we arrived at Cross Sound which placed us in the perfect spot to explore the Inian Islands. South of Glacier Bay National Park, the Inian Islands are an amazing place to view wildlife. The Pacific’s nutrient-rich waters enter the Inside Passage, which creates an upwelling of fish from the seafloor that sea lions, harbor seals, gulls, bald eagles, and others feast on during the day. In the afternoon, our Captain repositioned National Geographic Sea Lion near George Island, providing our guests the opportunity to explore the island by hiking, kayaking, or paddleboarding. In the evening, we had an amazing surprise when killer whales appeared near the bow of National Geographic Sea Lion. As our naturalists provided information about the killer whales our guests enjoyed them as they displayed hunting behavior, breaching, and fluke-slapping.
6/15/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Endicott Arm
Today, we embarked on a voyage through the breathtaking Endicott Arm, a 30-mile fjord carved by ancient glaciers. As our vessel glided through the jade-green waters, towering granite cliffs rose on either side, with cascading waterfalls fed by melting snowfields. The fjord's serene beauty was punctuated by the occasional splash of harbor seals diving from ice bergs and the distant sight of mountain goats navigating the rugged terrain. Approaching the terminus of the fjord, the awe-inspiring Dawes Glacier came into view. Standing over 500 feet tall and half a mile wide, its icy facade shimmered in hues of blue and white. We boarded Zodiacs to get a closer look, maneuvering through a maze of icebergs, each uniquely sculpted by nature. Suddenly, a thunderous crack echoed as a massive chunk of ice calved from the glacier, crashing into the water below and sending ripples across the fjord—a humbling reminder of nature's power. The journey through Endicott Arm was more than a scenic cruise, it was an intimate encounter with the raw, dynamic forces that shape Alaska's wilderness. The memories of shimmering glaciers, playful seals, and towering cliffs will linger, a testament to the allure of this pristine frontier.
