Learn more about our brand-new European river voyages aboard the new ship Connect and find out why it's time to see Europe differently with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.
There are few sights as splendid as a bird cliff in full flow, and Alkefjellet is about as good as it gets. Sat on the eastern side of Spitsbergen Island, the cliffs are made up of a dolerite intrusion into a sedimentary layer of limestone. The heat of the magma converted the limestone into a quasi-marble layer, and the resulting effect is a kind of reverse Oreo cookie appearance with a dark chocolate filling surrounded by pale cream biscuit. Having said that, the darker dolerite was today almost hidden beneath tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Brunnich’s guillemots. These, the most common members of the guillemot family here in Svalbard, have just arrived for their annual breeding season, a brief two months spent on the rocks before returning to their default habitat of the open ocean. Weighing just 600g, or just over a pound, these delightfully smart in appearance birds sport a feathered dinner suit – white belly and black back with just two cute little swirls of white on the rump. Their voices cry in a joking laugh, belying their vicious way of fighting over the narrow rock ledges where they must find room to nest.
This morning, guests on National Geographic Explorer awoke early to see the impressive cliffs of Moher at the beginning of another beautiful day. The cliffs are on the western coast of County Clare, Ireland. They are home to thousands of guillemots, razorbills, and northern fulmars. We passed by as the sun rose and were soon anchoring in the harbour of Kilronan on the island of Inis Mor of the Aran Islands. Guests were taken by bus to the start of the path leading to the Dun Angus archaeological site. This clifftop, walled structure is over 2500 years old. We had spectacular views over Inis Mor and out to sea. After returning to the ship and setting sail for Scotland, Mary Robinson (President of Ireland, 1990-1997) gave a thought-provoking talk about ‘Climate Justice.’ Mary explained that although we are not yet moving quickly enough to tackle the climate crisis, we are moving in the right direction. The talk was followed by a sunny barbecue on the aft deck.
Today, our adventure began on North Seymour, where guests took their first hike on Galápagos soil. We watched blue-footed boobies performing their quirky courtship dance, their bright feet a striking contrast against the rocky landscape. Along the trail, we spotted both species of frigatebirds – the magnificent and the great frigatebird. We learned to tell them apart by their size, the color of their throat pouches, and flight patterns. Land iguanas lounged nearby with their golden scales blending into the dry terrain. In the afternoon, we reached Rábida, known for its red sands and stunning views. Here, our guests took their first snorkeling plunge, swimming alongside playful sea lions, colorful parrotfish, and the graceful silhouette of a sea turtle. Before heading back, we visited a small lagoon, where a few flamingos stood quietly, their pink feathers reflected in the still waters – a fitting end to an unforgettable day.
Today’s journey through the inland passage was filled with classic Southeast Alaska magic. We departed from the Inian Islands yesterday under overcast skies, cruising toward Chichagof Island. In the lounge, guests listened to a presentation about the culture of whales in Alaska; then in a very timely manner, we encountered a humpback whale hanging out and feeding shortly after our presentation. Guests watched the whale from the deck as the sun came out. We continued cruising Chichagof, and the wildlife sightings continued as well. Near the shore, we spotted seven brown bears; some were grazing in the sedge of the grass, while others turned over rocks looking for snacks in the intertidal. We watched them from the ship, and then again from the Zodiacs as we cruised toward Eva Lagoon to disembark for our hikes around Lake Eva.
Happy Norway Day! Today is the anniversary of Norway becoming an independent nation and having their constitution. We celebrated by walking on sea ice beyond 80° north. It was a beautiful bluebird day on the ice, and many plunged into the freezing cold -1°C water afterwards. In the afternoon, we encountered a polar bear that was miles out on the ice. As it took notice of the ship, it approached and gave everyone on board an incredible opportunity to view this regal and majestic animal.
