This morning dawned a surprisingly sunny and gorgeous day as National Geographic Quest made its way south, down Chatham Strait. Sleeping in a little later than normal, guests woke to views of a beautiful waterfall and multiple humpback whales spouting and stirring in search of fish. Picking up Dr. Andy Szabo of the Alaska Whale Foundation, the guests learned about research the foundation does on humpback whale health and the specific culture of bubblenet feeding exhibited by certain species of Alaska’s Southeast. After brunch, National Geographic Quest anchored deep off Kuiu Island’s Saginaw Bay. Guests went ashore to kayak, sightsee by stand-up paddleboard, and hike the island’s terrain. After a day’s worth of exploration, the Global Explorers onboard enjoyed a pizza and movie night while the adults dined and recounted the day’s highlights.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 05 Jun 2019
Chatham Strait and Saginaw Bay, Alaska, 6/5/2019, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
JIll Niederberger, Naturalist
Jill is an aquatic biologist, naturalist, divemaster, and captain with a love for everything living in and depending on water. Whether sailing catamarans, leading snorkeling tours, or assisting with cetacean field research projects, she enjoys connec...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/28/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
Kelp Bay
Southeast Alaska’s rainforest was verdant in the morning rain. Small whitecaps textured the surface of the sea as we searched for marine life. Then, ahead in the distance, a big splash. Then another splash, followed by another. The bridge team expertly moved our ship closer. The young humpback whale had unlimited energy for throwing itself out of the water and flopping back in. We watched this youngster breach over and over until we needed to be on our way. Our next off-vessel excursion was on Baranof Island in Kelp Bay. Bushwhackers and moderate hikers passed along animal trails, climbing through Sitka spruces and western hemlocks. Giant bear’s bread fungus sprouted from downed trees. Delicate flowers, including Jeffrey Shooting Stars, decorated the path. We made our way to the boggy muskeg where few trees survive the wet environment. Streams of snowmelt and raindrops were occasionally blocked by the busy work of beavers. The forest was quiet and warm while hardy Zodiac cruisers toured the shoreline to view waterfalls and gulls hitching a ride on a floating log. Once back on board, we felt the warm comfort of the ship and came to realize that in just a few days, National Geographic Venture has come to feel like home.
5/27/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Glacier Bay National Park
A nice morning that only got better and prettier and sunnier! Truly a gift to bring guests here to witness the scale and diversity of ice and wildlife. South Marble Island had so many tufted puffins, and a few unexpected horned puffins, with sea lions and humpback whales galore. During lunch, we cruised up towards Margerie Glacier to view the impressive glacier and look for Arctic terns. Afterwards, we went past Gloomy Knob and saw mountain goats, looked for wildlife at Russel Cut (saw an osprey!), and ended the day with a stunning colorful sunset with an abundance of whales!