At approximately 6:00 a.m. National Geographic Venture stopped by the headquarters of Glacier Bay National Park at Bartlett Cove and picked up Ranger Daniel to spend the day with us. We sailed north toward Russell Island and went through the “Russell Cut” to look for wildlife, where we encountered a mother humpback and her calf. Turning the corner, we found a brown bear on a beach eating barnacles, mussels, and many other creatures found in the intertidal zone. Further north we spent time in front of the Margerie, Ferris, and Grand Pacific Glaciers, and even saw a bit of calving. Heading south, “Gloomy Knob” showcased quite a few goats and another brown bear. South Marble Island is a hotspot for birds, sea lions, and sea otters.
6/14/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Southeast Alaska
On the last full day of our voyage, we woke in Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. We spent the morning enjoying Zodiac tours to the face of Dawes Glacier and watched multiple calving events. We were also able to spot several harbor seals, waterfalls, and a couple harbor porpoises on the way. After lunch we had the opportunity to participate in a polar plunge. Forty people decided to brave the frigid water for a short swim. Those of us not eager to jump into glacier water were able to watch from the bow. After the polar plunge, we warmed up on board as we started transiting towards Juneau. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall to once again admire the amazing natural beauty of Alaska. During our farewell recap, we were treated to a quick visit by a humpback whale. We ended our day with a slideshow made up of our favorite photos and memories of an amazing week on board National Geographic Quest .