Navy vet Neil O'Connor was a guest aboard National Geographic Orion this past season. Here is the story of this 91 year old's poignant return to the island of Attu in the Aluetian Islands chain.
See spectacular wildlife photos taken aboard National Geographic Orion in the Bering Sea. National Geographic photographers captured brown bears, arctic fox, killer whales, bald eagles and many other animals in the region.
The islands and coasts that ring the Bering Sea are teeming with birdlife and fascinating land mammals like muskox, arctic fox, and brown bears; while the surrounding waters are churning with whales, seals, otters, and more.
Inhabited mainly by wildlife and strikingly picturesque, the Kuril Islands are a land of extremes—of snow and volcanoes, of sea lions and arctic foxes. Learn more about this remote and remarkable place.
We said it at the beginning of the trip, and we meant it…this is not a cruise, it’s an expedition! Today’s plan was to land at Sundneset but when we arrived, we found the site completely blocked by ice. No problem. Within five minutes, the expedition leader and the bridge team had a plan B, a landing on another island just 30 minutes away. And what a plan B it was! A beautiful, icy beach that has witnessed over four centuries of Arctic history, including whalers, trappers, and scientists, all passed through here leaving behind countless stories that helped bring this place to life for our guests. Spring is slowly arriving on the island of Edgeøya. The snow is beginning to melt, the first birds are returning, plants are starting to grow, and reindeer were happily grazing near the landing site, starting their recovery after a long, harsh winter. This place is still mostly black and white, but in just a few weeks, it will be alive with greenery, flowers, and wildlife. A vivid reminder of the ever-changing nature of the High Arctic. Now we say goodbye to the high latitudes of Svalbard and begin our journey south to Bear Island—a solitary rock in the middle of the Barents Sea, and our final stop in this remote archipelago. The adventure continues!
Our expedition throughout the natural and cultural gems of Italy came to its climax today in Syracusa. During the Greek period, it was the capital of Sicily, where the arts flourished during the reigns of tyrants such as Gelon, Dionysios, and Hieron. The archaeological remains of Syracusa include the great limestone quarries, Greek theatre, and Roman amphitheatre, all of which is now complimented by gardens and groves. As we walk through the park, we learned about the great personalities and struggles of the ancient world. Further to the south, the coastal reserve of Vendicari was an oasis of natural wetlands which hosts numerous bird and reptile species. After lunch aboard National Geographic Orion , we headed out for a walking tour of Ortigia, where the city’s oldest temples are still standing today. The Duomo di Siracusa, the city cathedral, is built around the 6th century BC Temple to Athena. This particular place of worship has been active for over 2,500 years and embodies the many chapters of Sicily’s tumultuous history in a single monument. After a fine meal on the ship, we gathered in the lounge to experience the finest crew show in the fleet!
Early morning sailing through Fords Terror Wilderness Area boasted spectacular views. Wispy, low hanging clouds hugged the cracks in the mountainside of the glacial fjord we navigated. The waters have a distinct turquoise green tint, and the calm surface reflects the mosses, lichens, and trees on the shoreline. We were lucky to find a humpback whale feeding near the shore. The whale stayed shallow and continually raised its pectoral flippers out of the water. What a spectacular sight to wake up to! We observed hauled out harbor seals and had a fantastic view of Dawes Glacier during our Zodiac tours. Our spirits are high, and guests are eager for our next adventure.
After passing through the famous Straits of Messina yesterday evening, we came ashore on the second Italian Island of our journey, the largest and perhaps the most famous of them all, Sicily. This morning, we landed in the Bay of Naxos at the foot of the great volcano Etna, and made our way up the narrow, winding roads to the beautiful little town of Taormina. Local guides introduced us to the region as we ascended the steep hillsides above the bay, then led us through the lovely small squares, with bright flowers and beautiful little shops of the town. After some free time for shopping and gelato, we reboarded the coaches and rode out of town to the historic villa of Castello degli Schiavi where we enjoyed hors d’oeuvres in the sunshine followed by a fantastic Italian lunch in the amazing vaulted cellar of the villa.
On our very first expedition day, during the morning we visited the small island of South Plazas. Not too far from the landing site we spotted the Galapagos yellow land iguana. We saw many iguanas under the prickly pear cacti, taking advantage of the fallen pads, as it is their main food source on the island. Also on South Plazas, guests were impacted by the dramatic cliffs and the different species of marine birds flying around — one that especially stood out was the red-billed tropicbird. In the afternoon we visited the island of Santa Fe, where we enjoyed the first snorkeling opportunity of our trip in the beautiful bay. We were greeted by a colony of playful Galapagos sea lions underwater. After snorkeling, we landed on a white sandy beach to start our walk along the arid forest of the Galapagos Islands. We saw many giant prickly pears; the stunning formations with tree-like trunks captivated the attention of our guests. It was indeed a great start for our trip of a lifetime.
