We had another fantastic day on National Geographic Sea Lion. Our ship got the opportunity to visit Alert Bay on the unceded territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations. As guests walked through the Alert Bay Ecological Reserve, undersea specialists Nick Brown and Russell Laman went diving under the pier. Some highlights included footage of giant plumose anemones and basket stars, as those that stayed warm and dry got a chance to see what thrives below the ship. Our visit to the U’mista Cultural Center was a favorite of many; it was fascinating to see the many artifacts returned to Alert Bay after being stolen by Canadian authorities in the 1920s. But the best part of the day was witnessing dances by the T’sasala Cultural Group in the Big House. Generations of families were present and dancing together after years of having to hide their cultural traditions, reminding everyone of the importance of supporting our communities and youth.
9/5/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Glacier Bay National Park, Southeast Alaska
“Glacier Bay Day” is a naturalist’s delight, with its beautiful landscapes, plentiful wildlife, and the majesty of the wilderness. I spent much of the day on the bow, scouring my surroundings for creatures great and small with guests, staff, and crew alike. The day began with views of Lamplugh and Johns Hopkins Glaciers, the latter of which provided ample views of calving and harbor seals. As we continued our cruise through the bay, we were treated to glimpses of bald eagles, red throated loons, and harlequin ducks who flew in front of our bow. Terrestrial wildlife had their moment at Gloomy Knob, where well over a dozen mountain goats roamed the cliffside and four brown bears lumbered through the alluvial plains of the park. I considered the day’s highlight to be our evening cruise past South Marble Island. Tufted puffins, common murres, pelagic cormorants, and gulls of various clades took to the skies while sea otters, Steller sea lions, and a lone humpback whale provided an epic aquatic display.