National Geographic Venture was bathed in sunlight, a few clouds, and warm weather – a climate that is relatively uncommon for Southeast Alaska. Our first full day began with staff introductions, as well as a wonderful presentation on smartphone photography by naturalist and certified photo Instructor Kim Nesbitt. In the afternoon, guests prepared for a wonderful outing. Zodiacs cruised along Tracy Arm, dodging growlers, bergy bits, and icebergs on their way to the face of South Sawyer Glacier. Along the way, the natural history staff spotted harbor seals, Arctic terns, bald eagles, and other animals. At the end of the arm, guests in Zodiacs watched calving at the face of the glacier while enjoying the waterfalls in the fjords.
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 .