Revisit some of the most magical moments that guests experienced in 2024 aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet in the wildest corners of the world.
This week's post includes photos of three different Antarctic penguin species, as well as two additional penguin species in the Galapagos Islands and Australia's Macquarie Island.
A warm breeze welcomed the dawn on our first morning aboard National Geographic Venture . Two blue whales moved around our anchorage, feeding in the morning calm. We took it as a good sign for a great expedition when we witnessed the largest animal that has ever lived as our first wildlife encounter of the trip. As we headed south, our watchful naturalists spotted more marine mammals in the distance. A group of several dozen killer whales passed by our bow along with a large group of sperm whales. On top of the amazing diversity at sea, we set to Isla San Jose for our first exploration of land. Phenomenal desert plants abounded, and we ended the day with delightful cocktails on the beach. With a day as incredible as today, we’re excited to see what tomorrow holds.
We awoke traveling south in Gerlache Strait on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula after amazing days in the Weddell Sea with emperor penguins and tabular icebergs. We passed krill fishing vessels and humpback whales targeting the same prey. Young guests from our Global Explorers kids’ education program were treated to a tour of our Zodiac garage by Staff Captain Sam and Bosun Rocky. Some Global Explorers paused to share impressions of our voyage so far: “I expected it to be a lot colder.” Billy, 11 “I love seeing all the animals and how they act in the wild.” Emery, 10 “I saw some killer whales and it was really cool how big they were.” Nate, 9 “The penguins were walking faster than I expected.” Lukas, 6 “I didn’t expect that emperor penguins were my height. They’re kind of giants to me.” Violet, 9 “My favorite part was the polar plunge. I wish I could do it again.” Harvey, 10 This afternoon, after enjoying great views of humpback whales, we did Zodiac cruises in Chiriguano Bay on Brabant Island. Dinner was delayed to observe killer whales near the ship and we transited beautiful Lemaire Channel later in the evening.
Today on board National Geographic Orion , we embraced the rhythm of a day at sea, leaving the sight of land behind to seek new horizons and fresh adventures. The day began with Undersea Specialist Rachel giving a fascinating session on coral reef fish identification. We delved into the vibrant world of these remarkable creatures, learning how to recognize various species, understand their roles within the reef ecosystem, and appreciate their stunning diversity. It was a perfect primer for future snorkeling and diving adventures. Later with Steve our Photography Instructor, we turned our attention to the art of iPhone photography with a practical workshop designed to enhance our skills in capturing the essence of our journey. Participants explored techniques to compose stunning images using just a smartphone, ideal for documenting the wonders of our expedition. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to the culture and history of Vanuatu with Naturalist Elise’s fascinating presentation on the history of Vanuatu. Through captivating stories and vivid narratives, we explored the traditions, resilience, and rich heritage of this extraordinary island nation. The session deepened our understanding of the region and its profound connection to the sea.
National Geographic Explorer set sail this morning for a full day of operations in true expedition style. On our way to Mikkelsen Harbour, the site of our first hike of the day, guests enjoyed spotting wildlife from the bridge, including humpback whales. Mikkelsen Harbour is a small bay that was historically used by sealing vessels in the early eighteen hundreds, followed by Norwegian whaling vessels. Onshore, remnants of the whaling era were ubiquitous along the beach, which was full of whale vertebrae, jaw bones in particular. Between groups of bones, guests spotted a young elephant seal contently resting on the beach. Venturing further ashore there were chinstrap penguin highways and colonies in every direction, and on the way back to the ship, Zodiacs got the opportunity to observe a leopard seal resting on ice. This afternoon, conditions were favorable for a Zodiac cruise around Cierva Cove, the location of the Primavera Base. This area is teaming with life nestled between towering icebergs. Zodiac cruises encountered feeding humpback whales, chinstrap and gentoo penguins porpoising around the boat, and Antarctic terns flying overhead.
After finding some solid ice last night, we woke up parked in the ice ready for the morning’s operations. We opened the penguin gate, dropped the gangway, and began to explore. After lunch we relocated to Horseshoe Island and visited an historic hut, Base Y. While some guests were ashore, Naturalist Brad entertained the remaining guests on board with an interesting presentation on the seals that you can find down in Antarctica. Day Two complete, and it already feels like we’ve accomplished so much.
