Our first day of the voyage dawned bright with our first wildlife sighting of the day, a humpback whale logging near the surface. Those who ventured out of breakfast in time, got a sighting before it disappeared beneath the surface to find its own meal of plankton or forage fish. The rest of the morning was spent in briefings, staff introductions, and how things work aboard the ship, while we cruised northward to our destination at the northern end of Georgia Strait. After lunch we ventured out into Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park to explore a beautiful wilderness of sheltered bays and islets by Zodiacs, kayaks and paddleboards. A few hardy travelers went ashore to bushwhack their way from cove to cove. Towards the end of the day, we cruised northward to our next destination at Alert Bay, British Columbia.
10/2/2024
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National Geographic Venture
Alert Bay
This morning, National Geographic Venture cruised north to the tip of Vancouver Island through Seymour Narrows. It was a misty morning full of birds migrating south and Pacific white-sided dolphins bow-riding the ship. It was a great start to the morning. After a delicious brunch, guests disembarked to walk along the bay to the U’mista Cultural Centre. This is the First Nation’s homeland of the ‘Namgis Nation, who welcomed us with their regalia and museum, gifted with rich history and culture. It’s always a blessing to be welcomed into the hearts and spirits of this community and to witness their dances and songs in their big house potlatch ceremonies. After leaving the dock, National Geographic Venture cruised back south and saw humpback whales off in the foggy afternoon, along with gulls and seabirds galore. Thank you for joining us on another great day in the Pacific Northwest!
