Today is our final full day for this voyage, and what a day we had! Waking up as the ship entered Kelp Bay was beyond words — mirrored reflections everywhere we looked. We had a very busy morning of activities planned for our guests: some went on an extreme bushwhack, some took a medium bushwhack or a forest stroll, and others enjoyed relaxing or kayaking in the bay. Afterwards guests returned to the ship and some brave souls prepared for a POLAR PLUNGE! Once warmed up, our group of Global Explorers had their first Zodiac driving lesson. We ended the day cruising our way to Sitka, our final destination, and searching for wildlife. A perfect end to a perfect voyage.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 07 Jun 2024
Kelp Bay, Southeast Alaska, 6/7/2024, National Geographic Venture
- Aboard the National Geographic Venture
- Alaska
Kimberly Wood, Staff
Kimberly A. Wood is a Hawaii based international marine researcher, photographer, filmmaker, boat captain and educator. Her research focus is often based in population distribution, diversity and habitat usage of cetacean species, however, she has al...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/13/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
Basket Bay
A day of Zodiac cruising in Basket Bay on Chichagof Island brought wild beauty and unforgettable encounters. As the morning mist thinned, we traced the rugged shoreline beneath towering forested cliffs, where ochre sea stars clung to rocks and dense clusters of blue mussels covered the intertidal zone like armor. Bald eagles circled overhead, and a river otter slipped along the kelp-strewn shore. Not long into our cruise, a humpback whale surfaced nearby, vanishing as suddenly as it appeared. Then, the real show began. A pod of five orcas emerged from the north, cutting through the water with smooth, deliberate power. Their tall dorsal fins knifed the surface in silence as we viewed them from a respectful distance, the pod weaving in and out of view among the swells. Onshore, waterfalls thundered from the cliffs, swollen with rain, sending spray across the rocks. The air smelled of salt and cedar. We lingered near one cascade, engines low, taking in the raw energy of water meeting sea. By the time we turned back toward the anchorage, the sky had turned dark and williwaws descended upon us. We were all smiles as memories of our special orca encounter shone brightly.
5/12/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
Glacier Bay National Park
This morning, we awoke to the sun. Our adventures began with a series of hikes at Bartlett Cove, followed by a look at the Tribal House and at Snow, the humpback whale skeleton. We began our cruise north, past wild coastlines to the far extent of Margerie Glacier. Along the way we spotted abundant wildlife, including brown bears, moose, mountain goats, sea otters, sea lions, humpbacks, harbor porpoises, and even a porcupine. Expedition Leader Marylou could barely hold a briefing without getting interrupted by a sighting, but no one on board was complaining!