Guests awoke as National Geographic Explorer navigated through more spectacular scenery. On arrival at our first programmed location we were greeted by a welcoming party of two polar bears. After much patience, one of the bears, an adult male bear, finally gave himself up to the group allowing the great views of this majestic animal amongst a mosaic of fast ice. Once everyone had had their fill, the bear was left on his hunt for food as the expedition team frantically adapted their day’s itinerary. No matter what happened next, the morning’s encounters had ensured that the day would last long in the memories of all on board. However, a late morning of zodiac cruising amongst magnificent landscapes and an afternoon landing alongside the cries of thousands of nesting kittiwakes ensured that the customer satisfaction remained through the roof. To top off this magnificent day, guests were treated to a banquet and a night of entertainment courtesy of the amazing Philippines contingent of the crew.
6/10/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
Liefdefjorden, Northern Spitsbergen, Svalbard
National Geographic Resolution awakened in the calm embrace of Liefdefjorden, the fjord's surface as still and soft as a cottony mirror. Guests had the choice of exploring the serene waters by kayak or enjoying the breathtaking sight of tidewater glaciers during a Zodiac cruise. The reflections on the water were truly stunning, offering yet another rich and unique perspective on the magic of Svalbard. The air was alive with birdlife such as king eiders, long-tailed ducks, great skuas, and arctic terns circled above and settled on ancient moraines, adding life and sound to the Arctic stillness. For the adventurous, the legendary polar plunge was on offer, an exhilarating dive into the icy waters. Seven-year-old Tulia, full of spirit, even jumped several times alongside her father, Kimmo! After another epic lunch onboard, guests gathered for a disembarkation briefing followed by an inspiring lecture from National Geographic photographer Sergio Pitamitz, who shared stories from his ongoing work in visual storytelling. Later, once the relaxing wine and cheese teatime came to its end, a pod of white-beaked dolphins unexpectedly appeared, breaching near the ship and playfully, inviting the guests to the bridge, once again. Once the marine mammals left, delaying the start of the captain’s farewell cocktail, all guests and staff members enjoyed the emotional slideshow put together by Giulia Ciampini with all the pictures collected from our 14-day adventure.