Cruise Line |
Lindblad Expeditions |
Ship |
National Geographic Orion |
Destination |
Alaska & Canada West |
Nights |
12 |
Departure Date |
01 Jul 2021 |
Description |
12 Night cruise departing from Nome to Seward onboard National Geographic Orion.
Traverse the depth and breadth of the iconic Bering Strait and venture deep into the two distinct worlds it joins. Encounter the rich culture of Provideniya, “the Gateway to the Arctic,†before exploring the Pribilof Islands, a naturalist’s paradise sometimes referred to as "the Galápagos of the North.†From those lively breeding grounds continue on to explore the dynamic history, culture, and natural wonders of the remote islands along Alaska’s rugged coast. A visit to Katmai National Park, one of the premier brown bear viewing areas in the world and a unique petrified forest round out this immersive Arctic travel expedition.
Day by Day Itinerary:
DAY 1: Nome/Embark
Embark National Geographic Orion in the afternoon. (D)
DAY 2: At Sea/Crossing the Bering Strait
Spend the first day at sea crossing one of the most iconic bodies of water on the planet. If conditions permit, we may stop at the very remote Little Diomede Island, in the center of the Strait. (B,L,D)
DAY 3: Provideniya, Russian Federation
At the western limit of the rich transboundary area known as Beringia, Provideniya is often called “The Gateway to the Arcticâ€. It’s also the administrative center where we will conduct our outbound clearance from Russia. Visit the excellent museum, and witness a traditional Yupik dance performance. (B,L,D)
DAY 4-6: At Sea/Pribilof Islands
A naturalist’s paradise, the Pribilof Islands welcome three million seabirds and a million marine mammals each summer as they arrive to breed. Go ashore at St. Paul to explore on land, at St. George go by Zodiac to view puffins, kittiwakes and red-faced cormorants, as well as a northern fur seal rookery. (B,L,D Daily)
DAY 7-8: Unalaska/Alaska Peninsula
This morning, arrive at Dutch Harbor, site of a fierce WWII battle and now one of the world’s most important fishing ports. Continue to the Baby Islands, just east of Unalaska, where dynamic tides offer exciting potential to spot sea otters and fur seals, as well as rare seabirds, both from the ship’s deck and from Zodiacs. Continue along the eastern shore of the Alaska Peninsula, with time for exploration and wildlife watching. (B,L,D Daily)
DAY 9: Shumagin Islands
Go ashore on Unga Island to explore a unique petrified forest of sequoia or metasequoia trees that were buried in a volcanic mudslide nearly 25 million years ago. These fascinating and colorful stumps and logs have washed out of the sediment at the rocky shoreline, with some only visible at low tide. (B,L,D)
DAY 10: Katmai National Park
Spend today exploring the shorelines and waters of coastal Katmai National Park & Preserve, known for its abundant brown bear population, this area provides countless opportunities to watch and photograph bears digging for clams at low tide, or fishing for salmon in the creeks. (B,L,D)
DAY 11: Kodiak Island
The second largest island in the U.S., Kodiak is best known for its brown bears and its fishing industry. Less well known is its unique mix of Native Alutiiq and Russian-American history. Join your Undersea Specialist for a “dock walk†among the commercial fishing boats in Kodiak’s inner harbor. Photograph the beautiful Holy Resurrection Church on a photo walk, or peruse native art and artifacts at the Alutiiq Museum. Later, explore one of the island’s outer bays by Zodiac. (B,L,D)
DAY 12: Exploring the Kenai Peninsula
Nearly 40 glaciers flow out of the Kenai's Harding Icefield, so the opportunities for exploration abound. Cruise one of the ice-scoured fjords to the face of a tidewater glacier, while searching for mountain goats and other wildlife along the way. (B,L,D)
DAY 13: Seward/Disembark
Arrive in Seward this morning, disembark. (B) |
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Itinerary |
Cruise Itinerary
Day | Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
1 |
01/07 |
Nome, Alaska |
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2 |
02/07 |
At sea |
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3 |
03/07 |
Provideniya, Russia |
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4 |
04/07 |
Pribilof Islands, Alaska |
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5 |
05/07 |
Pribilof Islands, Alaska |
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6 |
06/07 |
Pribilof Islands, Alaska |
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7 |
07/07 |
Dutch Harbour, Unalaska, Alaska |
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8 |
08/07 |
Dutch Harbour, Unalaska, Alaska |
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9 |
09/07 |
Shumagin Islands, Alaska |
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10 |
10/07 |
Katmai National Park, Alaska |
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11 |
11/07 |
Kodiak, Alaska |
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12 |
12/07 |
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska |
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13 |
13/07 |
Seward, Alaska |
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All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
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