Expedition Stories

Our fleet navigates the world in search of adventure. These are the stories they bring back…

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Daily Expedition Reports

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Daily Expedition Reports

5/12/2025

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National Geographic Resolution

Alkefjellet and North

Arriving to Alkefjellet this morning, we weren’t too sure what to expect- would the Brünnich’s guillemots that call these cliffs home still be out at their wintering feeding grounds, or would some have returned to begin the courtship and nesting process of springtime? Our questions were quickly answered during our early morning approach, as the sky started to fill with tiny black snitches making their way too and from the cliffs.   The undersea team took advantage of the opportunity to dive under the fertile cliffs, the marine life similarly aflutter with the influx of nutrients from above. But the real treat was heading out in Zodiacs to experience the sheer number of birds- estimated at more than 60,000 breeding pairs. The sky was abuzz, the water was abuzz, the cliffs were abuzz. It was hard to know where to focus! Luckily, we had plenty of time on the water to take it all in before checking in with the cocoa boat for a warm tipple to help us recover.   This afternoon we turned and set sail northbound, hoping to find more four-legged friends on the ice. All eyes on deck, scouting the horizon, looking for that tell-tale sign of a yellowish blur that hopefully moves, bringing confidence that we have indeed encountered the king of the north, the polar bear.

Daily Expedition Reports

5/12/2025

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National Geographic Explorer

Fowey, United Kingdom

We were greeted with clear skies throughout our visit to the lovely village of Fowey along the Cornish Coast. The tiny town is as picturesque as could be with its old town set along the waterfront and castles and churches along the steep hillsides. Guests hiked the nearby hills to get better views of the town and coastline, and others visited nearby castles with idyllic gardens of mature plants and trees.   The undersea team took advantage of the favorable weather to explore the marine environments. We found the oar kelp forests to be teeming with fish and invertebrates. The icing on the cake was when several small-spotted catsharks swam by for a quick visit. These harmless sharks are always a treat to see, and the guests thoroughly enjoyed the footage presented to them at our farewell recap.

Daily Expedition Reports

5/11/2025

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National Geographic Resolution

Moffen Island

It is a rare thing indeed to find a place to land where only ONE person on the expedition team has been before. There can be very few of these destinations in any polar region, such is the breadth of experience we have on board, and yet we accomplished this today.   A stiff breeze following National Geographic Resolution chilled early risers as we traversed the north coast of Spitsbergen Island towards the east. Our destination was an island – well more accurately a shingle bank called Moffen – which is a nature reserve. Timing is significant when visiting the islands of Svalbard, especially in the nature reserves, which are closed between May 15th and September 1st.   An early scout in our Zodiacs took the rifle team out to look for a landing. Ice everywhere, including brash ice and old chunks of pack ice resembling piles of Legos. There was a small piece of shore upon which we could land our Zodiacs. Immediately a plan was made, and people came ashore. The ice returned, and we retreated until after lunch, and then, lo and behold, we were able to land everyone from the ship onto this little piece of nowhere. At 80 degrees north, there is nothing between Moffen and the North Pole apart from ice and water. What a remarkable Mother’s Day!

Daily Expedition Reports

5/11/2025

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National Geographic Islander II

Floreana Island

What a day we had! Floreana Island has so much to offer. We kayaked early in the morning alongside sea turtles, Galapagos sea lions, and baby sharks. We became part of the history of the Galapagos as we visited Post Office Bay. We took part in the enduring tradition of taking letters with us, acting as couriers to deliver letters filled with emotions to the loved ones of the explorers before us, just as someone will do for our letters.   In the afternoon, we were delighted by a hike, where we observed dozens of flamingos. We strolled along a white sand beach full of sea turtle nests with frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies above us.   Our guests were filled with joy after another incredible adventure in the Galapagos archipelago.

Daily Expedition Reports

5/11/2025

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National Geographic Explorer

Isles of Scilly

This morning, we woke to typical English weather – grey skies, a moderate breeze, and drizzling rain. We knew our lucky run of stunning weather would run out eventually; however, no one let that get in the way of a lovely morning in Tresco. We were shuttled ashore by Zodiac and met by a local guide who gave us a wonderfully fascinating tour of the Tesco Abbey Gardens.   First established almost 200 years ago, these seventeen beautifully landscaped acres are home to various native and exotic plants. The vibrant and dense plant life provides the perfect habitat for many species of birds and insects, and the garden was a hive of activity on this damp yet beautiful spring morning. Guests were particularly keen to see a Lady Amherst’s pheasant, which is actually a non-native resident. Although well-established at Tresco, the pheasants can be elusive. However, most guests were treated to excellent views of a male pheasant, looking his brilliant best.   The weather dramatically improved throughout the afternoon as we cruised around the outer isles looking for wildlife. We were rewarded with multiple pods of common dolphins, a fin whale, and various species of seabirds, including everyone’s favourite – puffins.