Guests and crew on board National Geographic Orion welcomed in 2024 at an idyllic anchorage deep inside Doubtful Sound. Sheltered from the storm that was pounding the west coast, many guests stayed awake to be among the first in the world to celebrate the New Year, with celebrations taking place from the Crew Mess up to the newly replenished hot tub on the top deck.
After the late celebrations, we welcomed a lazy start to the day. We sailed out across the glassy surface of Doubtful Sound, waterfalls still surrounding us 360°, to head north toward our third and final stop in Fiordland, Milford Sound.
Waterfalls fell from spectacular heights, creating rainbows in their mist. Dolphins entertained us by riding the bow of both National Geographic Orion and the Zodiacs. Stunning green temperate rainforest clung to the dramatic walls of the glacially-carved fiord. And most on board were just pinching themselves as 2024 began, with signs of great things to come in the year ahead.
