After the spontaneous operation the previous evening, we started the day peacefully, approaching the Lemaire Channel after breakfast. The sun was shining all morning and the heavily glaciated mountain peaks rising skyward from the channel’s reflection. After going through Lemaire, our fantastic hotel team invited us to frühschoppen on the aft deck. Barbecue in true German style with hotdogs, spätzle, music, beer and bloody maries while the Captain was navigating us through the channel one more time. The scenery in this channel is breathtaking, and while seals and penguins were hanging out on ice or swimming beside the ship, with spectacular views of the heavily folded mountains in the background, National Geographic Orion repositioned itself to our afternoon destination in Hidden Bay.
The sun was still shining, the sky crystal blue and with perfect reflections in the ice full water our expedition leader, Peter Wilson, thought that this would be a perfect setting for a Zodiac cruise and kayaking! The expedition team and deck department quickly launched the kayaks and Zodiacs, and guests enjoyed paddling around the sapphire blue ice bergs in the bay. The afternoon was finished with one of Lindblad Expedition traditions: POLAR PLUNGE! A great number of fearless souls threw themselves into this refreshing challenge. Even Captain Alexander Dudov “jumped” into the freezing cold water.
