Our morning was filled with wildlife viewing from the bow of National Geographic Quest. Early on, we saw our first Pacific loons and rhinoceros auklets. A distant flurry of bird activity turned out to be five bald eagles, more Pacific loons, and many Bonaparte’s gulls all feeding together. We figured it might be a bait ball of fish. Moments later, we discovered a pod of killer whales nearby and realized the birds might have been feeding on the leftovers of a killer whale breakfast. We could not confirm, as we turned the ship to spend the rest of our time with the orcas. In the afternoon, we traveled to Alert Bay, where we disembarked the ship. We had a very special cultural experience on Cormorant Island with a welcoming ceremony by the Kwakwaka’wakw, one of the Indigenous peoples of the coast of the Pacific Northwest. We enjoyed a tour of the U’mista Cultural Centre. It was another beautiful and fun day here in British Columbia!
5/14/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Petersburg, Alaska
Alaska is dotted with small communities and villages, each with its own spirit and story. Petersburg is one of these communities, and it’s one of the highlights of the Alaskan experience aboard National Geographic Quest. Docking early in Petersburg allows guests to see this small island town come to life in the morning. Fishing vessels drift out of the harbor, eager to secure the day’s catch of herring, salmon or halibut. Fishing being the life blood of Petersburg, the harbor is a prime place for meeting locals and viewing the array of boats, old and new, that provide transportation to a town devoid of connecting highways. The harbor holds more life under the water’s surface than it does above; our undersea dive team sank into the icy depths to document the beautiful bouquet of sea anemones, starfish, and crabs that make the Petersburg dock their home. Guests had many options for activities in town, including guided bike tours, a muskeg hike on an adjacent island, a longer aerobic hike to Raven’s Roost Viewpoint, Zodiac cruises, guided dock walks, or even just taking time to explore town on their own. Whatever the choice, time spent in Petersburg is always uniquely Alaskan.