We rose early aboard National Geographic Venture to watch killer whales that made a sudden appearance off the bow of our ship as we traveled slowly north to Kelp Bay, our destination for the afternoon’s activities. We spent the first half of the day on hikes and photography sessions to one of the large beaver lakes on the island, and we reflected and perfected our photography skills. Returning to the landing beach we were given a choice of kayaking or stand up paddleboarding, all the while enjoying a day of sunny skies and perfect still waters. As the day ended we cruised for wildlife, encountering a number of humpback whales solo feeding in the deep waters of Chatham Strait.
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 .