In the early morning, guests set out to shore to stand by a waterfall known for its gifts of salmon. The late summer run of these majestic fish all but guarantees that the brown bears in the area will come to feast, and so they did. A lively pair arrived. They splashed in the shallows and searched for fish to fatten up for the cold Alaskan winter as they entertained our guests with their antics. Leaving the bears to the hunt, we set out in the afternoon in search of more feeding adventures but this time with a larger mammal in mind. We were not disappointed and found a host of humpback whales bubble-netting in unison to scoop up a bounty of herring.
9/3/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Peril Strait
National Geographic Quest arose amidst light clouds within the protected waters of Ushk Bay. This area is known for a salmon stream and yields plenty of opportunity for kayaking and exploring the vast meadows of its inner waterways. On this day’s occasion, guests were able to hike and paddle their way along the coast of Ushk Bay and witness firsthand the life cycle of Pacific salmon making their way upstream. As we transited through Peril Strait, we were lucky to see humpback whales. These immense mammals were “lunge feeding” very near our ship. Being able to witness this event was unique for guests and staff. Lunge feeding is process through which individual whales push their gaping mouths through the surface and collect any fish or planktonic invertebrates in the process. Witnessing this behavior was truly a remarkable experience for all. We will cherish this moment for a lifetime.