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First polar bears sighted on Crystal's Northwest Passage expedition

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Crystal Serenity passengers exploring in Zodiacs had this exciting view Tuesday morning in Victoria Strait (Photo: Anne Kalosh)
Passengers on Crystal Cruises' Northwest Passage expedition have spotted their first polar bears.

Early Tuesday morning in Victoria Strait, Crystal Serenity Capt. Birger Vorland dispatched expedition leaders from the escort icebreaker RRS Ernest Shackleton to scout the area.

Shortly afterward, passengers who signed up for Crystal's 'Unexpected Adventures' bundled up in their expedition gear and parkas and were loaded into Zodiacs to go exploring.

Almost immediately a large polar bear was spotted, napping on an ice floe.

'It was fascinating. We were super-excited,' said Ken French of Westchester, New York.

Passengers also observed beautiful ice formations, a ringed seal, flocks of Canadian geese and a loon on the wing. One Zodiac crew dispensed hot chocolate.

Using dynamic positioning, Crystal Serenity maintained its spot for several hours so as many people as possible could get out into the Zodiacs.

The ship's position was 69 degrees N, 101 degrees W, with wind at about 18 knots and about one knot of current flowing from the northeast, Vorland said from the bridge. Depth under the keel was 18 meters/59 feet. Air and sea temperature was 2 degrees C/36 degrees F.

Charting course for the afternoon, Vorland said: 'We'll kick it up to 11 or 12 knots and proceed further north.'

Update: As the day continued, passengers saw multiple polar bears, including a mother frolicking with two cubs and a male tearing into a seal kill.