| Sat |
- May 18, 2013 - Seattle, WA/Juneau, AK (Embarkation)
- Today you’ll arrive on the recommended flight, departing from Seattle and arriving in Juneau. A Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions representative will be at the airport in Seattle to assist you with check-in. Before embarking the ship, we stop by the Alaska State Museum for an artful introduction to this unique state. We also visit Mendenhall Glacier, set in the dramatic Mendenhall Valley, located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau. Embark the ship and take the time to settle into your cabin before dinner. After dinner onboard, take a few hours to yourself and explore the port of Juneau.
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| Sun |
- May 19, 2013 - Tracy Arm
- Tracy Arm is a spectacular fjord, and you’ll marvel at the waterfalls cascading from its glacially carved walls. We’ll also pass Sawyer Glacier, which has been described as “bluer than any blue on earth” or the towering Dawes Glacier. As we gather on deck to view this spectacular sight, we’ll likely see harbor seals, porpoises, Arctic terns and Bonaparte gulls. If conditions permit, we'll use our Zodiacs to provide unparalleled up close views of the glacier, nearer to the cracks and booms of falling ice than you’ve likely been before! We may stop at a gravel beach, where we can take out the kayaks, or enjoy a peaceful walk through the woods, stopping to admire the tiny wildflowers and ripe berries.
Read more about what you can see and do in Tracy Arm
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| Mon |
- May 20, 2013 - Petersburg
- Search for humpback whales as we head toward LeConte Bay, a virtual sculpture garden of grounded and floating icebergs. Weather permitting, you’ll have the opportunity to join our naturalists in Zodiacs amid the ice. Later, we head to the small town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island, where there is an opportunity for an optional flight-seeing tour. Bicycles are available for rides through town or you can join our naturalists for a walk in the nearby bog. The ship remains at the dock until we’re called to dinner for a dungeness crab feast.
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| Tues |
- May 21, 2013 - Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait
- These waters are prime areas for both orcas (killer whales) and humpback whales. It's not uncommon to observe their fascinating behavior — breaching, tail-slapping and variations on feeding — as we fill the deck and listen to the play-by-play from our expert naturalists. We may also see sea lions playing below or hauled out and dozing, and we will keep an eye out for the majestic bald eagles that often perch atop tall spruce trees. Once ashore, we’ll have the opportunity to walk along a quiet forest trail. The still waters are excellent for kayaking, offering another option for up-close exploration.
Read more about what you can see and do in Frederick Sound & Chatham Strait
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| Wed |
- May 22, 2013 - Glacier Bay National Park
- Spend the entire day amidst the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. You’ll see glaciers that end abruptly at the water’s edge and observe them “calving” — with tons of ice crashing into the sea — accompanied by an exhilaratingly thunderous sound. Watch for mountain goats scaling the peaks and harbor seals, Steller sea lions and puffins in the icy waters. A visit to tidal inlet may even bring the sight of brown bears lumbering up the hillside.
Read more about what you can see and do in Glacier Bay National Park
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| Thurs |
- May 23, 2013 - Point Adolphus and Inian Pass
- Hike, kayak and search for whales in the waters off Point Adolphus, a favored feeding area for humpback whales. Keep watch on deck with our marine mammal experts and you may find yourself rushing to the side as a pod of whales begins lunge-feeding right off our bow. As we watch, our naturalist lowers the hydrophone and we’re not only watching the whales, we’re listening in on their communications. After some thrilling whale watching, we'll cruise Inian Pass in search of playful sea otters.
Read more about what you can see and do in Point Adolphus and Inian Pass
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| Fri |
- May 24, 2013 - Southeast Alaska’s Islands, Bays and Fjords
- Today, nature is our guide as we set forth. We may stop at an isolated beach for some amazing tidepooling and beachcombing, and follow it up with a stroll down a forest trail. The landscape is often colored with swaths of wildflowers, so bring your camera! We might even do some small ship exploring along the shoreline of Admiralty Island. Keep an eye out for old bear tracks worn into the soil as you move from forest to meadow, and be on the lookout for bald eagles. This area is home to the highest density of nesting bald eagles in the world, so sightings are common. If conditions permit, you can even enjoy a bit of kayaking.
Read more about what you can see and do in the Southeast Alaska’s Islands, Bays and Fjords
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| Sat |
- May 25, 2013 - Sitka, AK (Disembarkation)
- After breakfast we disembark in Sitka, southeastern Alaska’s only oceanfront town. Sitka has a strong Russian heritage, which is readily apparent as you visit the onion-domed St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church. Gaze up at the grand totem poles that line the wooded trails through Sitka National Historic Park. At the Raptor Rehabilitation Center, enjoy close up views of species normally seen at a distance in the wild: bald eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. After our visit, we’ll drive to the airport for our recommended afternoon flight to Seattle.
Read more about what you can see and do in Sitka
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