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Albatross cruising the Drake Passage to Antarctica

Emblematic Antarctica

Example 12 Day Cruise aboard Le Lyrial
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The start of your cruise will be marked by the crossing of the mythical Drake Passage, during which you will probably be escorted by several albatrosses and Cape petrels, the sentinels of these often-choppy waters. Then, then reach the White Continent, the realm of the unexpected. Weather and ice conditions permitting, this extreme environment where nature reigns supreme will reveal to you its most beautiful secrets through numerous discoveries. Each day, whether on land, aboard your ship or during a Zodiac outing, you will be surrounded by a grandiose scenery ranging from icebergs to ice floe and ancient glaciers.
An ocean of icebergs.Port Lockroy AntarcticaWeddell seal taking a restSeals in Antarctica with zodiac in backgroundAlbatross cruising the Drake Passage to Antarctica
Highlights
  • Hop on Zodiacs for outings and shore visits
  • Visit research stations and former whaling stations
  • Look out for whales, penguins, seals, and sea birds
  • Marvel at giant icebergs, ice floes, glaciers and snow-covered mountains
Activities
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Overnight in Buenos Aires

Arrive in Buenos Aires, relax and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.  (You'll need to transfer independently from the airport, or from any other independent pre-cruise travels.  You'll have a "meet and greet" at the hotel with Ponant's local representative, and the ability to check in from late morning onwards.)  
 

Day 2: Ushuaia | Embarkation

Early morning breakfast will be served before leaving on a provided transfer from your Buenos Aires hotel, bound for the airport for your flight from Buenos Aires – Ushuaia.  (Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 min.)  Once in Ushuaia, you'll have another "meet and greet" at the airport with proper instructions provided for the rest of the day...

Depending on your choice made when booking your cruise (options not combinable):
   You will be transferred to a restaurant in Ushuaia for lunch, then have a bit of free time to explore before embarkation.
          OR
   Guests choosing to book the trip to visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park (additional cost) will move forward on this group excursion.  Immediately upon arrival at Ushuaia airport, these travelers will leave towards the Park where they will have lunch before starting the tour.  Created in 1960, the park which covers 63 000 hectares (155 670 acres) is located southwest of the Tierra del Fuego Province on the Beagle Canal.  Mountainous landscapes, lagoons, bogs, and rivers draw a picturesque scenery reinforced by the southern position of the park itself. The Darwin Mountains, which represent the southern part of the Andes Mountains are mainly responsible for such landscape. The Park is only partly accessible to the public and this tour will provide you with the opportunity to discover the local flora and sub-Antarctic landscapes. If you get lucky, you may encounter beavers, beaver dams, birds, wild orchids, etc… This is a true paradise for Nature Lovers!  At the end of your visit, you will return to Ushuaia and the port, for embarkation on your vessel.

Pull away from Ushuaia this evening, entering the Beagle Channel and eventually the Drake Passage, bound for Antarctica!

Day 3-4: Drake Passage

Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarize yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the Zodiac® outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. From the ship’s bridge, you will experience exceptional sailing moments before joining the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.

Day 5-9: Antarctic Peninsula

Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds a real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals, and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.

Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest Zodiac® outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula.  Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.

Day 10-11: Drake Passage

If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly the Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to Antarctica. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbors a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.

Day 12: Ushuaia, Argentina | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Today, you will return to Ushuaia, disembarking in the port area after breakfast.  One last "meet and greet" with local folks here, to get instructions on how to board the proper transfers to the Ushuaia airport.  Fly back to Buenos Aires (flight duration 3.5 hours) and complete your journey there.  You can choose further independent travels, or you can choose to connect on a late-evening northbound flight back home.  

Ship/Hotel

Le Lyrial

Le Lyrial Lobby
Le Lyrial Observatory Lounge
Le Lyrial Restaurant

Buenos Aires - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$12,970 2-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Cabins on the Le Lyrial
Superior Stateroom
Individually-controlled A/C, en suite shower, desk, Wi-Fi access, TV, and stereo.
Cabins on the Le Lyrial
Deluxe Stateroom
28 cabins, 200 sq. ft. + 43 sq. ft. private balcony. Located on Deck 3. Individually-controlled A/C, en suite shower, desk, Wi-Fi access, TV, and stereo.
Le Lyrial Prestige Stateroom
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
35 cabins, 200 sq. ft. + 43 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually-controlled A/C, en suite shower, Wi-Fi access, TV, and stereo.
Le Lyrial Prestige Stateroom
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
37 cabins, 200 sq. ft. + 43 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually-controlled A/C, en suite shower, Wi-Fi access, TV, and stereo.
Le Lyrial Prestige Stateroom
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
1 cabin, 200 sq. ft. + 43 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually-controlled A/C, en suite shower, Wi-Fi access, TV, and stereo.
Cabins on the Le Lyrial
Deluxe Suite
3 cabins on Deck 6, 290 sq. ft. + 54 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually-controlled A/C, en suite shower, sofa, armchair and pedestal table, Wi-Fi access, TV, and stereo.
Le Lyrial - Prestige Suite
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
11 cabins, 398 sq. ft + 86 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually controlled A/C, ensuite bathroom with shower, desk, sofa, armchair & table, 2 TVs, stereo, Satellite telephone, Wi-Fi access.
Le Lyrial - Privilege SuiteLe Lyrial - Privilege Suite
Privilege Suite
8 cabins, 398 sq. ft + 86 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually controlled A/C, ensuite bathroom with shower, desk, sofa, armchair & table, 2 TVs, stereo, Satellite telephone, Wi-Fi access.
Le Lyrial - Grand Deluxe SuiteLe Lyrial - Grand Deluxe Suite
Grand Deluxe Suite
1 cabin, 484 sq. ft. + 96 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually controlled A/C, ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi and shower, desk, TV, stereo, Satellite telephone, Wi-Fi access.
Le Lyrial - Grand Privilege SuiteLe Lyrial - Grand Privilege SuiteGrand Privilege Suite on the Le Lyrial
Grand Privilege Suite
7 cabins, 398 sq. ft. + 86 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually controlled A/C, ensuite bathroom with bathtub and shower, desk, minibar, TV, stereo, Satellite telephone, Wi-Fi access.
Le Lyrial - Owner SuiteOwner's Suite on the Le LyrialLe Lyrial - Owner Suite
Owner Suite
On Deck 6, 592 sq. ft. + 129 sq. ft. private balcony. Individually controlled A/C, ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi and shower, desk, sofa, table with 4 chairs, armchair and table, 2 televisions, stereo, Satellite telephone, Wi-Fi access.
Included
  • 11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners
  • 11 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Port Fees
  • Unlimited Wifi
  • Onboard Entertainment 
  • Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Gala Dinner
  • Gratuities to Onboard Crew
  • “Open Bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands...list available upon request)
  • 24h Room Service (special selection)
  • English-Speaking Lecturer 
  • Highly experienced and bilingual (French-English) expedition staff
  • Park Entry Fees into Protected Areas
  • Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite. 
  • Arrival & Departure Transfers
  • Return flight Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires selected by PONANT, in economy class.
  • 1-night accommodation in a 4* hotel the night before embarkation
  • Use of rubber boots for landings, and a polar parka
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Buenos Aires Hotel tax (up to $2 per person/night) - paid at checkout
  • Visa Fees
  • Optional Excursions - Ponant allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately six to two months prior to the cruise* departure. Please note that this is subject to change. Please contact us for more details.
  • Any ground services before and/or after the cruise other than the ones mentioned
  • Luggage Handling 
  • Laundry Services, Hair Salon, and à La Carte Spa Treatments
  • Pre or post cruise programs, overland programs or shore excursions 
  • Beverages other than the ones mentioned in inclusions
  • CDP recommends that every Traveler has full and adequate travel insurance covering the risks of cancellation, assistance being required, repatriation, damages to and loss of baggage, and medical expenses
  • Transfer between airport and hotel in Buenos Aires, the day before embarkation
  • Kayak Discovery must be pre-booked in advance at least 7 days before the start of your cruise. Bookings made after this deadline will only be confirmed once onboard and are dependent on availability.
  • Tips for the local guide

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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