Seeing Alaska by boat is always more enjoyable when Andy Szabo of the Alaska Whale Foundation comes aboard to talk about their latest research. His team is using drones and cameras attached to whales with suction cups (which fall off and are retrieved) to get views of whale health and behavior never seen before. Kudos to this non-profit!

Our afternoon was spent hiking, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding on the shore of Kuiu Island’s Security Bay. This lovely forest location featured wildflowers such as coral root, yarrow, and common red paintbrush.

Our Global Explorers acted in a unique time-lapse video choreographed by our National Geographic photographer, Anna Mazurek. An evening highlight was watching ten minutes of time-lapse photography on the bow, being compressed into a one-minute fun film.