Le Lyrial

The 2015-built MS Le Lyrial cruise ship is the 4th (last) in a 4-ship series of same-designed Ponant-owned megayachts, with sisterships L'Austral, Le Boreal and Le Soleal. All these vessels feature ice-strengthened hulls, sleek-design superstructures, Zodiacs for ship-to-shore landing and coastal cruising itinerary routes (featuring overnight stays, long port days and late evening departures).

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

History - construction and ownership

Compagnie du Ponant (CDP) is a French cruise shipping company founded in April 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers. All Ponant ships are France-flagged. The company specializes in premium adventure cruise travel targeting the French-speaking source market with all-inclusive deals. Most of CDP's fleet is based in Antarctica (December through March). All these mega-yachts offer modern amenities, premium service by highly-trained staff and crew, 5-star hotel amenities onboard. Exotic, offbeat itineraries visit popular travel destinations worldwide, including Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, South America, Australia.

The 264-passenger ship Le Lyrial is named after the Lyra constellation. Its interior decor is inspired by the Vega star (in Lyra constellation). The elegant yacht has 6 decks, casual grill restaurant, and chic main dining room, open decks, classy evening entertainment, multiple observation areas (onboard elevators service decks 2 to 6).

Decks and Cabins

Ponant Le Lyrial staterooms (132 total, in 9 categories) are predominantly Prestige cabins (92) sized 205 ft2 / 19 m2, with step-out balconies 45 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest is the Owners Suite (485 ft2 / 45 m2 plus 95 ft2 / 9 m2 terrace). All staterooms have been decorated by French designers and offer 5-star hotel amenities, including smart HDTVs, DVD-CD player, minibar, King-size beds, contemporary furniture.

The boat has 7 decks, of which 6 passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins (33 suites plus 99 cabins).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Le Lyrial cruise ship is small enough and provides a truly intimate experience. This special yacht is ideally suited to visit ports of call that bigger ships cannot reach. On board, Le Lyrial offers two restaurants - the casual Le Grill and the Gastronomic restaurant (the main dining room serving international and French cuisine).

Follows the complete list of Le Lyrial restaurants and food bars.

• Gastronomic Restaurant ("Le Coromandel", 268-seat, ship's MDR; serves International upscale cuisine; offers open-seating dining, with buffet-style breakfast and lunch, the waiter served dinner)
• Grill Restaurant ("Le Rodrigues", offers open-seating buffet breakfast and lunch, served dinner; has an outdoor seating area).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Following the design of her sisters Le Boreal, L'Austral and Le Soleal, the latest cruise ship in the Ponant's fleet, Le Lyrial, has been specially designed for cruising in yacht style to the most exotic and remote world's areas. The cruise ship is equipped with dozen Zodiac rafts which take the passengers on outings in expedition style. The vessel features a small fitness, three lounges, a SPA, and a theater.

Follows the complete list of Le Lyrial lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• The Marina (water sports platform; offers mostly swimming; it is used only when Le Lyrial is anchored and the sea is calm)
• Le Lyrial Atrium (2-deck high open-floor area; features a chandelier with Swarovski crystals)
• Main Lounge ("Karikal Lounge") has a large-size LED screen and floor-ceiling windows. Here are offered early breakfast, specialty teas and brand coffees, Afternoon Tea service (complemented with gourmet cookies and fine chocolates). The evening entertainment features live performances by resident singer and pianist and an art auction/once per cruise). The lounge's outdoor area/aft terrace is the only smoking area on the boat.
• Boutique Shop (designer clothing, luxury jewelry, Ponant logo merchandise, special occasion gifts)
• Theatre (main show lounge for music and dance shows)
• Wellness Centre (Spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, Massage Room, Beauty Corner, Hair Salon, Shower Room, Relaxation Room, a spacious terrace)
• The Fitness (gym room with panoramic windows)
• Leisure Area (has a small kids playroom, Photo Gallery, Image & Photo desk via the partnership with Philippe Plisson, and Internet stations)
• Image and Photo Desk
• Swimming pool's sunbathing area (with luxury loungers)
• Panoramic Lounge and Bar (with an Internet corner, grand piano, Library, "Panoramic Terrace" - served by the Panoramic Bar, it is the ship's late-night disco)
• Sun Deck (open-air sunbathing area, served by the "Le Comptoir" bar, with luxury loungers, padded chairs, showers, deck games - Shuffleboard, Golf Driving Net, 9-hole Mini-Golf)
• Zodiacs (inflatable boats).

Itineraries

Le Lyrial itinerary program is based on cruises in Europe (the Mediterranean Inaugural season, with departures from Greece and Italy), and Antarctica cruises leaving from Argentina, with Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

For winter season 2021-2022, Ponant chartered the ship to the USA-based travel company Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) for a total of 4 expedition voyages to Antarctica. All leaving roundtrip from Ushuaia Argentina, the voyages had limited passenger capacity (max 200 guests) as well as limited max Zodiac boat capacity (8 guests) and bus capacity (60%/land transfers). All voyages included pre-cruise hotel overnights in Buenos Aires (with guided city tours) and domestic flights (Buenos Aires-Ushuaia-Buenos Aires).

• (Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2021) 15-day "Antarctica and the Total Solar Eclipse Cruise" itinerary visited South Orkney Islands and featured two guest lectures (Massimo Tarenghi/astronomer, and Susan Kilrain/former NASA astronaut) and themed onboard lectures (marine mammals, ornithology, geology, history, photography). Promo prices started from USD 19000 per person with double occupancy.
• (Dec 10-22, 2021) 12-day "Antarctic Cruise Adventure- A Changing Landscape" itinerary was climate changes-themed, featuring James McClintock (Antarctic researcher) as a guest lecturer. Promo prices started from USD 13000 pp.
• (Dec 20, 2021 - Jan 6, 2022) 18-day "Antarctica and South Georgia Island Holiday Voyage" itinerary visited the UK's South Georgia Island and celebrated Christmas and New Year's Eve in Antarctica. Promo prices started from USD 19500 pp.
• (Jan 4-21, 2022) 18-day "Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands Cruise" itinerary was photography-themed, featuring shipboard lectures and workshops led by Michael Melford (NatGeo photographer). Promo prices started from USD 20000 pp.

Le Lyrial cruise ship joined Compagnie du Ponant's fleet of luxury megayachts on April 11, 2015, when the shipbuilder Fincantieri officially delivered it as Ponant's 4th ship. Similarly designed are the sisterships Le Boreal (2010), L'Austral (2011) and Le Soleal (2013). MS Le Lyrial's Inaugural Cruise was in May 2015. The itinerary visited Mediterranean ports before heading to Antarctica.

The "Le Lyrial" name refers to the northern hemisphere's Lyra constellation. The ship's interior designer is the architect Jean-Philippe Nuel. The "luxury yachting" feel aboard is inspired by the blue light of the Lyra constellation's Vega star.

The vessel is a certified "Cleanship" (like the sisterships), featuring a modern marine propulsion system. It provides smooth and quiet navigation by creating reduced engine noise and little vibration. The modern vessel positioning system eliminates the need for the ship to anchor in order to remain stable, thus preventing contacts with seabeds in environmentally sensitive areas, such as coral reefs.

Antarctica cruises 2020-2021 (Abercrombie & Kent USA)

For winter season 2020-2021 Antarctica, Le Lyrial was time-chartered by the cruise travel company Abercrombie & Kent USA. A&K cruises are designed with families and each voyage is served by a dedicated Expedition Team (of ~18 staff members).

A&K's Early Booking Discount (reservations made through October 31, 2019) offered savings up to USD 4,000 pp plus USD 1,500 flight credit (for flights booked through A&K), while solo cruisers benefit 50% discount on cabin's single supplement. Abercrombie & Kent's Antarctica cruises on Le Lyrial include the themed voyages "Classic Antarctica - Enhanced Photography" ((December 7-19, 2020), "Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands" ((December 17, 2020 through January 5, 2021, and January 13-30, 2021) and "Classic Antarctica - Climate Change" (January 3-15, 2021).