The day began with an early breakfast in C. Greens, stretches in the sanctuary, and then regular breakfast in Two Seven Zero and C. Greens. South Georgia was still approximately 400 nautical miles ahead, and birds were all about. By 0915, historian Josh Peck spoke to us about his fascinating time as Station Manager for the British Antarctic Service based out of Grytviken, South Georgia. This was followed by a lecture from our marine mammal specialist, Toby Stephenson, who introduced us to the pinnipeds of South Georgia. After lunch, guests received a briefing about the sensitivity of South Georgia, and then biosecurity of all boots and outer garments was conducted at Base Camp. Coinciding with the completion of biosecurity, our bridge crew spotted a group of fin and sei whales in the distance, and Captain Oliver graciously detoured so we could view them. Following Pilates and tea at 1600, we were treated to an extraordinary lecture by Mensun Bound, the man responsible for the discovery of Sir Earnest Shackleton’s wrecked vessel, Endurance, in 2021.
3/13/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea Towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia
A gently swaying National Geographic Endurance greeted the day. The wind and waves that our guests had become accustomed to during this voyage were nowhere in sight. Instead, a light breeze and calm seas lifted our spirits as we prepared for our final day on the ship. Sei whales, albatross, and dolphins welcomed us into the Beagle Channel before long. In between packing and reclaiming our passports, several presentations were given with a wide range of topics. First up, our undersea team shared footage from several dives in the Falklands, including a notable visit from some rather playful southern sea lions. Secondly, our National Geographic photographer spoke about photography and how it can be used to inspire conversation about wild places. Wrapping up our presentations for the day was our guest speaker, Mensun Bound, who provided a loose Q&A session on Shackleton. Captain Oliver and Expedition Leader Russ shared a few words about our epic voyage and sent us off to dinner. A day full of education and sightseeing – a great way to say farewell to our incredible guests.