The dawn did not really break today as National Geographic Explorer made her way into Tromsø, the land of the midnight sun, the most northerly city in the world and the gateway to the Arctic. We have now entered the realm of 24-hour daylight. The day was bright, sunny and cool. The options opened to the guests were varied, with visits to the Polar Museum, the magnificent Arctic Cathedral that overlooks the town, the Tromsø Museum, and an option to take a birdwatching walk along the coastal edges of Hella Island. The museums were filled with excellent exhibits and the cathedral is a marvelous building. The birdwatchers enjoyed fantastic views of willow grouse, golden plover and the beautiful ruff. The birdwatchers also had the first reindeer sighting of the trip as they made their way back to the ship. The afternoon was free for the guests to enjoy a relaxing time in the town, before setting off in the evening to make our way across the Barents Sea and to Bear Island, the first island of the Svalbard Archipelago.
6/10/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
Liefdefjorden, Northern Spitsbergen, Svalbard
National Geographic Resolution awakened in the calm embrace of Liefdefjorden, the fjord's surface as still and soft as a cottony mirror. Guests had the choice of exploring the serene waters by kayak or enjoying the breathtaking sight of tidewater glaciers during a Zodiac cruise. The reflections on the water were truly stunning, offering yet another rich and unique perspective on the magic of Svalbard. The air was alive with birdlife such as king eiders, long-tailed ducks, great skuas, and arctic terns circled above and settled on ancient moraines, adding life and sound to the Arctic stillness. For the adventurous, the legendary polar plunge was on offer, an exhilarating dive into the icy waters. Seven-year-old Tulia, full of spirit, even jumped several times alongside her father, Kimmo! After another epic lunch onboard, guests gathered for a disembarkation briefing followed by an inspiring lecture from National Geographic photographer Sergio Pitamitz, who shared stories from his ongoing work in visual storytelling. Later, once the relaxing wine and cheese teatime came to its end, a pod of white-beaked dolphins unexpectedly appeared, breaching near the ship and playfully, inviting the guests to the bridge, once again. Once the marine mammals left, delaying the start of the captain’s farewell cocktail, all guests and staff members enjoyed the emotional slideshow put together by Giulia Ciampini with all the pictures collected from our 14-day adventure.