We start our morning aboard National Geographic Venture in Peril Strait, the main waterway that leads from Chatham Strait and on through a series of narrows to the town of Sitka in Southeast Alaska. Our destination for the morning and afternoon is Saook Bay, a quiet protected inlet that was once the site of a logging operation. We spend the morning viewing bald eagles in spruce trees, Sitka black-tailed deer on the beach, and a lone harbor seal from the observation deck. After breakfast we head to the beach for early afternoon photo walks, beach hikes and bushwhacks, and a gentle kayak adventure at the head of Saook; all the while we listen to the shrill calls of varied thrushes and enjoy the gentle solace of the grassy marshes of the back bay. Our evening is spent cruising slowly through Peril Strait near Deadman’s Reach, where we spot a playful pod of Dall’s porpoises and two humpback whales in the evening light. We have enjoyed a magnificent journey seeing new sites and making new friends. We look forward to our day tomorrow in Sitka.
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 .