Guests were woken up for their last day on board the National Geographic Explorer as she approached the ice edge north of 80°. The trip was definitely ending on a high as we ploughed into the thicker ice and were greeted by yet another polar bear – our 21st polar bear spotting on this trip! The bear watched us from a distance as it moved in and out of the water ahead of the ship.
Our day continued with the sighting of a small group of inquisitive harp seals. We then saw a bearded seal and a very obliging walrus. For those less interested in the seals there was an accompanying cast of seabirds, with sightings of all four of the northern skua species as well as puffins, guillemots, fulmars and little auks.
The trip ended with a bang – as the National Geographic Explorer approached the ice, guests gathered on the bow for a fantastic view of a polar bear tucking into his lunch. What an end to yet another amazing Svalbard voyage.
