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Expedition Stories

In Good Company: Tua Pittman on the Many Islands of Polynesia

In this episode of In Good Company, Cultural Specialist and Master Navigator Tua Pittman shines light on the breathtaking wildlife, natural beauty, and vibrant cultures of the South Pacific islands.

Explore with National Geographic Experts: Photographing New Zealand with Ricky Qi

National Geographic Photography Expert Ricky Qi goes in-depth on the natural and cultural richness of New Zealand and the rewarding experience of teaching guests how to capture the region’s beauty.

7 Stunning Sites That Define Japan

Our new expeditions bring you to a variety of beloved landmarks, from the magnificent Himeji Castle to the famed “floating” torii gate at Miyajima. See the full list of highlights, old and new.

Daily expedition reports

Daily Expedition Reports

10/1/2023

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National Geographic Endurance

Fleming Fjord and Antarctic Havn, East Greenland

After a restful night during which there was no sea ice to contend with and clouds obscured the aurora borealis, we awoke to calm and very cold conditions in the Northeast Greenland National Park. Summer has well and truly ended. Temperatures were several degrees below freezing, and a thin veil of snow laid over the land, accentuating the spectacular geology of the region. Our morning landing took us to Fleming Fjord, a large indentation in the northern shore of Jameson Land. The fjord is rimmed by mountains that were gradually lit up by sunrise, while the distant entrance to the bay lurked under dark, heavy clouds. All in all, dramatic light conditions and the snow made for a beautiful morning hike. As we repositioned over lunch towards the northwest, we transitioned from a Devonian and Triassic to a younger Jurassic landscape; the sedimentary strata became thinner, and the fossils within them changed. As we stepped ashore, the first thing that cultural specialist Lars Abelsen noticed was a tiny sea angel washed ashore. This half-inch-long zooplankton creature looked frozen and dead, and the undersea specialists brought it on board to show everyone at recap. On shore, we explored the layered history of Antarctic Havn and the ruins of Helge Ingstad’s hut which documents Norway’s presence and ambitions in this part of Greenland in the 1930s. Meanwhile, the hotel team – dressed up as Vikings under hotel director Patrick’s expert guidance – prepared a delicious barbeque on the beach! This was a welcome treat in the cold temperatures, especially once the sun sank behind the mountains. The evening recap held one more surprise – the sea angel had actually thawed and come back to life! We were able to admire it under the microscope and look forward to returning it to the ocean tomorrow.

Daily Expedition Reports

10/1/2023

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National Geographic Explorer

Paramaribo, Suriname

Today we had the opportunity to get a taste of Paramaribo, the capital and largest city of Suriname, and its surroundings. Most guests had no idea what to expect given that none had visited Paramaribo before. Everyone I spoke to seemed pleasantly surprised by the city’s charming historical architecture and the vibrant cultural diversity evident in the people and storefronts we passed along the way. Paramaribo is dotted with lovely wooden buildings, some dating back to the 1820s. With their decorative second-story front porches, they are reminiscent of something you might see in New Orleans. The brick Fort Zeelandia dates to the 1600s and is surrounded by the impressive homes of the officers who once lived there. There was even a large, colonial-era structure that looked as if it was based on Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. We passed many impressive religious buildings, including a massive Hindu temple, a lovely Catholic cathedral made entirely of wood, and a synagogue and mosque that are next door neighbors and often share facilities. The history of the Jewish people in Suriname is quite interesting, as Portuguese, Italian, and Dutch Jews started settling here as far back as 1639, although very few of their descendants still call Suriname home. Suriname has a very multicultural society consisting of people of Indigenous American, African, European, Indonesian, Indian, and Chinese descent, or more often, a mix of some or all of these. That diversity is reflected in the cuisine, which we enjoyed during our languid lunch at a former cacao plantation. Our meal consisted of Chinese style noodles and fried rice, Indonesian bean sprouts and shrimp crackers, grilled chicken, a savory Indian inspired curry, and a potent pepper sauce. All in all, it was a brief but fascinating visit to a country that few people other than Dutch tourists get the opportunity to visit. Along with the meal, it was a savory sampler that left me craving more.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/30/2023

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Sea Cloud

Salerno, Italy

Sea Cloud arrived alongside the small cruise terminal at Salerno shortly after sunrise. Our expedition leader gave the morning announcement to rouse the guests: we would depart after breakfast for the much-anticipated visit to Pompeii. Our coaches took us up and over the steep hills behind Salerno, and in just a half-hour we found ourselves at the entrance of the vast archaeological site. It was immediately clear that we were not the only visitors to Pompeii today. Our guides deftly moved our groups into the remains of the ancient port city, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius on that fateful August day in 79 AD. We entered the city gates and arrived in the gymnasium where gladiators were known to have trained. Adjacent to this, we viewed the well-preserved remains of an odeon and much larger theater. From there, our guides made judicious choices of which roads, shops, houses, and baths to visit; they gave us the full experience of the city while avoiding the many other visitors to the site. It was only toward the end of the visit that we really joined the throngs — but this made sense as we were in the forum, the gathering spot of the ancient city. Thrilled and tired, we returned to Sea Cloud and enjoyed another wonderful buffet lunch. Later we met our local guides again, this time for a low-key walking tour of Salerno. This was a much different perspective on Italian cities than we received in the affluent and rarefied Taormina and Syracuse. Rather, we could appreciate the everyday life of Salerno’s inhabitants as we wandered the narrow alleyways and roads of the city’s medieval center. The interior courtyard of the Duomo and its decorative colored stonework was the endpoint of the guided tour. From there, guests continued to explore on their own; some returned to the ship, while others continued wandering the area. Three adventuresome guests joined staff members David and Jess in climbing up the pine-covered hill behind the city to reach the castle ruins overlooking Salerno. We sailed at 18:00 in search of the perfect sunset at the tip of the Amalfi Peninsula — and during our cocktail hour we found it. Afterwards we sat for a beautiful set-table dinner on deck. The evening was not over, as we then enjoyed the rousing salty songs of the famed Sea Cloud Sea Shanty Singers. Guests and crew together joined in the customary party, and danced late into the evening!

Daily Expedition Reports

9/30/2023

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National Geographic Islander II

Bartolome and Santa Cruz Islands

Today was the first full day of our expedition, and we journeyed to Bartolome Island. Before breakfast we hiked to the summit of this iconic island, where the view can be breathtaking. Afterwards, we enjoyed a short Zodiac ride while we looked for Galapagos penguins. This species occurs in very small numbers in the islands, and seeing them was a special moment. Later in the morning we took our guests to Bartolome beach, where we had the best time ever! Two Galapagos penguins approached the shoreline looking for fish and gave a show to our guests; the penguins even pecked on a few cameras. Not long after, we noticed unusual frigatebird activity, just to discover that a sea turtle nest was hatching. We observed this special moment as the baby turtles made their way to the ocean. The afternoon took us to Dragon Hill, where a healthy population of land iguanas is found. We observed marine iguanas, land iguanas, great herons, black-necked stilts, and other species of birds as well. What a great first day!

Daily Expedition Reports

9/30/2023

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National Geographic Quest

Palouse River

Sailing upstream on the Snake River between dark, rugged cliffs of basalt trimmed out with the golden grasses of autumn, we arrive at our destination and anchor at the confluence of the Snake and the Palouse Rivers. On this brisk and beautiful day, we Zodiac to shore and set out on motor coaches to the beautiful Palouse Falls. This is where the Palouse River flows over a precipice of basalt and plummets into its roiling green plunge pool 198 feet below. We have plenty of time here for strolling and photographing the stunning scenery from the falls to the magnificent Palouse Canyon downstream. Under a partially cloudy sky this afternoon, the gorgeous Palouse Canyon awaits us, and we launch our Zodiacs for a ride upstream on the Palouse River. Bold basalt cliffs rise steeply on either side of the river where eagles soar overhead, and we keep an eye out for deer, coyotes, pheasants, and other wildlife in the area. This is perhaps the most beautiful part of our journey, and the scenery is unsurpassable.

Joining us on any expedition means signing up for adventure; and the reward for your curiosity is inevitable—the most exhilarating experience of pure discovery possible.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348