“
The PA crackled at 6:23 a.m. with the hushed voice of our expedition leader: 'Good morning ladies and gentlemen...we have whales outside.'
And thus it began, our southeast Alaskan adventures were heralded by a pod of orcas. What a sight, these powerful creatures, peacefully breaking
the surface with their misty outbreath, their white markings on black. After breakfast, we went ashore to explore the temperate rain forest, a
true wilderness where we breathed in the fresh scent of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and musty earth as we tromped down trails made by
bears. Later, we cruised up a narrow fj ord lined by 2,000-foot-high cliff s. We piled into expedition landing crafts to get a closer look at spectacular
waterfalls spilling down granite walls, Arctic terns soaring above, hundreds of harbor seals resting on ice fl oes, and the white thunder of ice calving
into the waters below. We reconvened in the lounge for a local wine and chocolate tasting. What a great taste of Alaska for our fi rst day!
— Susan Moebus, Wellness Specialist, July 2013 ”(^5)