After a classic crossing of the Northwest Passage, today was a sea day. For those of us who have travelled on these ships, we know that every day we place ourselves in expedition mode. Staff and guests were out on the decks watching wildlife and the sea ice, the perfect pastime for today. Weather conditions were perfect with blue skies, sparkling white horizons, brilliant sunshine, a comfortable temperature, and pristine, calm, and ripple-free seas.
The day started with our normal routine of stretching with Robin and breakfast before contemplating today’s activities.
Our lovely Community Ambassador, Mariah Erkloo, started off activities with her presentation on, “Inuktitut – An Introduction to the Inuit Language of Nunavut.”
This was followed by a Bloody Mary party in the Tupaia Bar, hosted by our bar manager Derek and his bar team of Mitchell, Michael, and Karlo. There was something about the freshness of these beverages that set up the scene on the outside deck, just before lunch. Our guests were getting excited as they witnessed miles of sea ice ahead of National Geographic Resolution. Yes – expedition mode, indeed!
During lunch, Captain Martin and our expedition leaders Stefano and Javier put together a plan. They thrilled our guests with the announcement of a final walk on the sea ice before heading out to sea for our final destination – Nome, Alaska.
We were in expedition mode, and we were excited. The sea ice crept up to our ship as staff rolled out the Zodiacs and scouted the ice for the perfect landing. Within moments, guests were ecstatic for the opportunity to be one with nature. They were eager to experience the magic of this Arctic region.
In true expedition mode, our peaceful visit was interrupted by a radio call from leader Stefano. “We have a polar bear sighting. Please have all guests return to their Zodiacs.” The mother and two cubs were approximately a mile away from us, but at Lindblad Expeditions, our priority is always safety first! This added to the excitement, and it added to our guests’ experience in this wild and free region.
After observing the bears for a while, we reassessed the danger and decided that we could continue with our visit to the ice. Expedition mode at its best! Cheers to all on a job well done.
