Daily Expedition Reports

Ideal Cove and Petersburg

We awoke to another fine day as we cruised toward our morning destination at Ideal Cove on the southeast side of Mitkof Island. After breakfast we ventured ashore for our first up-close exploration of the Tongass National Forest. Extra layers were shed in the warmth of the morning as the groups moved along the boardwalk at various paces – speedy, fast, moderate and leisurely. We enjoyed many seasonal wildflowers and other plants of the forest and wetlands. There was time for photography and interpretation of our surroundings by the naturalists.

Back on board, guest speaker Andy Szabo, director of the Alaska Whale Foundation, talked about recent research on humpback whales.

Jun 17, 2013 National Geographic Sea Lion in Alaska

Santorini

Today is Santorini day. Thera is the official name of this southernmost island of the Cyclades. Its more common name is owed to its patron Saint Irene, who died here in exile. The island is one of the great natural curiosities of Greece. It’s a huge active volcano on the volcanic arc of the southern Aegean. The center of the once-round island disappeared in the great explosion of prehistoric times. Today we are left with the crescent shaped island of Santorini; on the northwest side is the island of Therasia, and further south continuing the circular remnant of the ancient island is Aspronisi. In the center of the circle is the great caldera, in the middle of which are the “burnt” islands, made of lava and still actively volcanic.

Being in the caldera and looking up at the precipitous cliffs of the western coast of the island, the sight is overwhelming and dramatic.

Jun 17, 2013 Sea Cloud in Mediterranean

Williams Cove

Nothing could better shatter any pessimistic misconceptions of a “cruise” in Alaska than our first full day here aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird than a sunny cloudless day. One might be moved to double check that we had actually arrived in the northernmost state in the union. In a semblance of order, the ship disembarked her entire compliment of guests into and around Williams Cove for morning activities consisting of hiking, kayaking, and personal tours in the sleek expedition landing craft. Bald eagles kept a cautious eye on the newcomers to their quiet neck of the woods as the sounds of exuberant exploration echoed around the inlet.

Just when the day was on the verge of becoming too warm (remember we are still in Alaska!), we set out in the more maneuverable launches for a special treat for the senses.

Jun 17, 2013 National Geographic Sea Bird in Alaska

Rabida and Bartolome Islands

The Galápagos Islands are among the finest destinations on earth for wildlife. We have just started to explore this magnificent group of islands. It is a mixture of feeling and thoughts about being in a place where humans and sea lions and sea birds can share the land without being a threat for each other!

In the morning we started exploring a tiny island called Bartolomé, and in the early hours before breakfast we started to climb the slopes of this magnificent volcanic landscape.

Jun 17, 2013 National Geographic Islander in Galápagos

Hornsund, Western Spitsbergen

Through the night National Geographic Explorer steamed south along the coast of western Spitsbergen, the main and largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. In the early morning we ventured into the southernmost fjord, Hornsund. We were surrounded by high peaks, with Hornsundtind 1431meters high, and large glaciers falling into the sea – a mighty alpine landscape. Our “hunt” was on and most guests had not even made it to breakfast before the announcement came through: “POLAR BEAR!”

We approached one of the southern arms towards Samarinbreen (breen = glacier in Norwegian) and on a piece calved from the glacier front a large male polar bear was eating with frenzy.

Jun 17, 2013 National Geographic Explorer in Arctic

Fernandina & Isabela Islands

Today we had a marvelous experience at the living paradise of the Galápagos Islands.  An early hike in order to enjoy the wonders of Fernandina Island was the best way to begin explorating.  The marvels of the place overwhelmed us, with the impressive shield volcanoes as the perfect decoration for a magnificent landscape. Farther into the trail, a big aggregation of marine iguanas were the perfect contrast with the young lava that is found at Punta Espinosa.  The main attraction was the flightless cormorants that were drying their feathers as they came out of the water.  Sally lightfoot crabs were the perfect color contrast as they easily hid in the lava rocks.  As we reached the farthest point of the area, we were delighted by the magical view that lava cactus makes against lava rocks. 

As soon as we came back on board the National Geographic Endeavour there was no time to waste, so we got ready in order to sail to our next destination: Punta Vicente Roca.

Jun 17, 2013 National Geographic Endeavour in Galápagos

Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier

Leaving Juneau in the early hours of the morning, guests aboard National Geographic Sea Lion found themselves amidst the grand and perspective enhancing landscape of Southeast Alaska. Cruising among the islands, guests took in the seemingly endless options of bays and inlets, all holding the promise of adventure and discovery. We were treated to a pre-breakfast humpback whale sighting, watching as it logged on the surface before it showed an impressive fluke before descending to the depths. Bald eagles, white-winged scoters, and harlequin ducks owned the air around us – adding up to a full Alaskan morning.

After a few briefings and some tips on photography from our photo instructor, we entered the Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness.

Jun 16, 2013 National Geographic Sea Lion in Alaska

North Seymour Island

Our day started with an early morning excursion to the island of North Seymour in the central realm of Galapagos. This morning we had a great walk, we encountered Galapagos sea lions sunbathing, Galapagos marine iguanas as well as large colonies of blue footed boobies and great, magnificent frigate birds.

Every week is different and one of the things we noticed was the increasing number of juvenile blue footed boobies covered in their white down coat.

Jun 16, 2013 National Geographic Endeavour in Galápagos

Folegandros

It was a wonderful experience sailing from the east end of the Aegean Sea all the way to the south where Folegandros is situated. The island is one of the smallest in the Aegean and in the Cyclades. The skies were clear and after breakfast we were tendered ashore to a very small fishing village called Karavostassi, that is actually the one and only port of the island.

The local bus drove us uphill 3 km to the chora—the island’s capital town—which wasn’t visible at all from the port.

Jun 16, 2013 Sea Cloud in Mediterranean

Tracy Arm, Southeast Alaska

I consider myself a very fortunate fellow. Thanks to Lindblad Expeditions, in concert with the National Geographic Society, I have visited glaciers all around the world, from the Arctic to Antarctica. I believe that the most beautiful of them all are the Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers, right here at the end of Tracy Arm. Certainly, nothing can match the intense blue of these tidewater glaciers. 

After an active morning at Williams Cove featuring forest walks, kayaking, and expedition landing craft cruises, we headed up Tracy Arm, a fjord that cuts into the mainland of Alaska.

Jun 15, 2013 National Geographic Sea Bird in Alaska