Along the northwest limit of the Inside Passage, the turbulent open waters of the Pacific meet the protected waters of fjords and inlets, churning up nutrients and attracting a wide range of hungry animals. We spent our second day in Alaska exploring the Inian Islands and George Island which lie directly at this confluence and are home to some of the most iconic of Alaska’s wildlife including bald eagles, Steller sea lions, humpback whales, minke whales, and sea otters just to name a few.
6/14/2025
Read
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 .