Expedition leader Doug Gould woke guests early for our first excursion by Zodiac of icebergs from the LeConte Glacier. These chunks or shooters from the water’s subsurface line themselves along the face of the glacier: They are exceptional and large and blue. Overcast skies and drizzle actually enhances the blue hue of the dense ice. Back on the vessel, guests enjoyed a hearty brunch. National Geographic Quest by midday was docked in the fishing village of Petersburg. Explorers enjoyed an afternoon of hiking, biking, or botany tours among the town’s muskeg. Dinner was a special feast of crab including local Southeast Alaskan brewed beer. The evening ended with a lively presentation by naturalist and Alaska resident Sean Neilson.
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 .