In the morning, after passing through heavy ice, National Geographic Endurance entered Skjoldungesund Fjord, where we planned to spend the day. We soon found that the approach to the landing site was blocked by icebergs, so a scouting party went searching for another landing site. In the 20th century, a small Danish settlement was established in this fjord. It only existed for a short period of time, and later the Danish government decided to relocate people from this very remote place to some larger settlements. The site of this village was chosen as an alternative landing for the morning activity. All houses are still standing, and guests were able to see and imagine how people used to live here less than a half a century ago.
After lunch, the guests had two options – kayaking or Zodiac cruising. The weather was gorgeous – almost no wind and blue skies with scattered clouds. Magnificent cliffs on both sides of the fjord allowed kayaks and Zodiacs to approach them from the distance of a hand’s length. A few waterfalls falling directly into the ocean water captured our attention. The guests had an opportunity to come as close as they wished to the sprinkling margins of these waterfalls. A bit farther down the fjord, a powerful stream ran from the ice cave at the base of a glacier.
During dinner, the ship left the fjord and entered a dense field of floating sea ice and icebergs. From the windows, guests observed hundreds of hooded seals on ice in the foggy air.
After a special Philippine dinner, guests enjoyed the famous crew show.
