The penultimate day of the expedition brought National Geographic Sea Lion to Baranof Island, where travelers were treated to a medley of morning activities, including hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and Zodiac cruising. Whether through the use of legs or paddles, everyone enjoyed exploring the Alaskan wilderness one last time. Later in the afternoon much to the delight of younger passengers, the Global Explorers were offered Zodiac driving lessons. Afterward, passengers had the opportunity to brave the Polar Plunge. Those who participated had their closest encounter yet with the chilling Alaskan waters as they leapt out, submerging themselves in the name of adventure. After a morning full of activity, the remainder of the afternoon was spent cruising through Morris Reef and Chatham Strait, resulting in amazing views of both landscape and wildlife, including a mother humpback whale swimming with her calf.
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 .