Le Lyrial

The 2015-built MS Le Lyrial cruise ship is the 4th and final vessel in a 4-ship series of identically designed Ponant-owned megayachts, together with L'Austral, Le Boreal, and Le Soleal. All ships feature ice-strengthened hulls, sleek superstructures, Zodiacs for ship-to-shore landings, and coastal cruising itineraries with overnight stays, long port calls, and late departures.

The vessel (IMO 9704130) is France-flagged (MMSI 578000800) and registered in Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.

History - Construction and Ownership

Compagnie du Ponant (CDP) is a French cruise company founded in April 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers. All Ponant vessels sail under the French flag. The company specializes in premium expedition and adventure cruises targeting primarily the French-speaking market, offering all-inclusive fares. Most of the fleet operates in Antarctica between December and March. These megayachts provide modern amenities, luxury service by highly trained staff, and 5-star hotel-style comforts. Ponant’s exotic itineraries visit destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, South America, and Australia.

The 264-passenger Le Lyrial is named after the Lyra constellation, with interior decor inspired by its Vega star. The elegant yacht features 6 decks, a casual grill restaurant, a fine dining room, open deck areas, evening entertainment, and multiple observation lounges. Elevators connect decks 2 through 6.

Decks and Cabins

Ponant Le Lyrial staterooms (122 total, in 9 categories) include 92 Prestige cabins (205 ft² / 19 m², each with a 45 ft² / 4 m² balcony). The largest is the Owner’s Suite (485 ft² / 45 m² plus a 95 ft² / 9 m² terrace). All accommodations are designed by French interior designers and feature 5-star amenities, including smart HDTVs, DVD/CD player, minibar, King-size beds, and contemporary furnishings.

The ship has 7 decks, 6 of which are passenger-accessible, and 4 with cabins (33 suites and 89 cabins).

Shipboard Dining - Food and Drinks

Small and intimate, Le Lyrial is ideally suited for ports inaccessible to larger ships. Onboard dining includes two restaurants: the casual Le Grill and the Gastronomic Restaurant (main dining room serving international and French cuisine).

Complete list of restaurants and dining venues:

• Gastronomic Restaurant ("Le Coromandel", 268-seat main dining room; serves international upscale cuisine; open seating; buffet breakfast and lunch, waiter-served dinner).
• Grill Restaurant ("Le Rodrigues"; buffet breakfast and lunch, served dinner; with outdoor seating area).

Shipboard Entertainment - Fun and Sport

Following the design of her sisterships, Le Lyrial was built for yacht-style cruising to remote and exotic destinations. She carries a fleet of Zodiacs for expedition landings and features a fitness center, three lounges, a spa, and a theater.

List of entertainment and leisure venues for adults and families:

• The Marina (water sports platform, mainly for swimming; available only when anchored in calm seas).
• Le Lyrial Atrium (two-deck open space with Swarovski crystal chandelier).
• Main Lounge ("Karikal Lounge") with LED screen and floor-to-ceiling windows. Offers early breakfast, specialty teas, premium coffees, Afternoon Tea with gourmet cookies and chocolates, evening entertainment with live performances, and once-per-cruise art auction. The aft terrace is the only designated smoking area onboard.
• Boutique Shop (designer clothing, luxury jewelry, Ponant-branded items, gifts).
• Theater (main show lounge for music and dance productions).
• Wellness Centre (spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, massage rooms, beauty salon, hair salon, shower room, relaxation area, large terrace).
• Fitness center (gym with panoramic views).
• Leisure Area (kids playroom, photo gallery, Internet stations, and photo desk in partnership with Philippe Plisson).
• Swimming pool sun deck with luxury loungers.
• Panoramic Lounge and Bar (with library, Internet corner, grand piano, and terrace; doubles as a late-night disco).
• Sun Deck (open-air area served by “Le Comptoir” bar; with loungers, padded chairs, showers, shuffleboard, golf driving net, mini-golf).
• Zodiac boats (for expeditions and landings).

Itineraries

Le Lyrial operates itineraries in Europe (Mediterranean cruises departing from Greece and Italy), as well as Antarctic expeditions from Argentina, with seasonal transatlantic repositioning voyages.

For the 2021-2022 winter season, Ponant chartered the vessel to Abercrombie & Kent (USA) for four Antarctica expedition cruises, roundtrip from Ushuaia, Argentina. These voyages had reduced passenger capacity (200 guests max), limited Zodiac capacity (8 passengers per boat), and land transfer buses capped at 60% occupancy. All itineraries included pre-cruise hotel stays in Buenos Aires (with guided tours) and charter flights Buenos Aires–Ushuaia–Buenos Aires.

• (Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2021) 15-day "Antarctica and the Total Solar Eclipse Cruise" visiting the South Orkney Islands, with guest lectures by astronomer Massimo Tarenghi and former NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain, plus themed lectures on marine life, geology, and photography. Promo fares from USD 19,000 pp (double occupancy).
• (Dec 10-22, 2021) 12-day "Antarctic Cruise Adventure – A Changing Landscape," climate-focused, featuring guest lecturer James McClintock (Antarctic researcher). Promo fares from USD 13,000 pp.
• (Dec 20, 2021 - Jan 6, 2022) 18-day "Antarctica and South Georgia Holiday Voyage," visiting South Georgia Island, celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Antarctica. Promo fares from USD 19,500 pp.
• (Jan 4-21, 2022) 18-day "Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands Cruise," photography-themed, with onboard lectures and workshops led by National Geographic photographer Michael Melford. Promo fares from USD 20,000 pp.

Le Lyrial cruise ship joined Compagnie du Ponant's fleet of luxury megayachts on April 11, 2015, when shipbuilder Fincantieri officially delivered her as Ponant's 4th vessel. Her sisterships are similarly designed: Le Boreal (2010), L'Austral (2011), and Le Soleal (2013). MS Le Lyrial's Inaugural Cruise departed on May 9, 2015, with an 8-day roundtrip from Venice, Italy, visiting Mediterranean and Adriatic ports in Croatia (Split, Korcula, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj) and Montenegro (Kotor). During the winter, Le Lyrial was deployed in Antarctica, homeported in Ushuaia, Argentina.

The name "Le Lyrial" refers to the northern hemisphere's Lyra constellation. The ship’s interior was designed by architect Jean-Philippe Nuel, with a “luxury yachting” ambiance inspired by the blue light of Vega, Lyra’s brightest star.

The vessel is a certified "Cleanship" (like her sisterships), equipped with a modern marine propulsion system that ensures smooth and quiet navigation with reduced noise and vibration. Her advanced positioning system allows her to remain stable without anchoring, protecting sensitive marine environments such as coral reefs.

Antarctica Cruises 2020-2021 (Abercrombie & Kent USA)

For the 2020-2021 Antarctica season, Le Lyrial was time-chartered by Abercrombie & Kent USA. A&K voyages are family-oriented and supported by a dedicated Expedition Team of approximately 18 staff members.

A&K’s Early Booking Discount (for reservations made through October 31, 2019) offered savings of up to USD 4,000 per person plus a USD 1,500 flight credit (for flights booked through A&K). Solo travelers benefited from a 50% reduction on the single supplement. Abercrombie & Kent’s Antarctica itineraries aboard Le Lyrial included themed voyages such as "Classic Antarctica - Enhanced Photography" (December 7-19, 2020), "Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands" (December 17, 2020 - January 5, 2021, and January 13-30, 2021), and "Classic Antarctica - Climate Change" (January 3-15, 2021).