Arrive in Argentina’s capital city, where immediate check-in has been arranged. With its wide boulevards and classical buildings, romantic Buenos Aires boasts an energy all its own. Relax before this afternoon’s tour of the city’s highlights, including the Plaza de Mayo, the stately Casa Rosada, the Cabildo, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. You may drive past the colorful La Boca District or San Telmo, the birthplace of tango. Get to know your fellow guests this evening at a welcome cocktail party.

With its wide boulevards and classical buildings, romantic and exciting Buenos Aires boasts an energy all its own. Explore its best treasures with expert A&K local guides, choosing from a selection of included excursions. Opt to explore the city on a guided tour complete with a tango demonstration; spend a full day at an authentic estancia (ranch), where you pause for an authentic lunch; or dive into a burgeoning art scene on a guided tour focused on Buenos Aires street art. Tonight, enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Fly to the port city of Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of South America. On arrival, enjoy lunch at the Arakur resort and, time and weather permitting, take a nature walk in the Cerro Alarken Nature Reserve, or simply relax with a cappuccino and views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. Later, board 'Le Lyrial' and settle into your cabin, where you can take in views right from your own private balcony. Throughout your journey, benefit from immersive insight, with incomparable enrichment programs both aboard and on shore, and an Expedition Team that is second to none. Walk the decks and explore the common spaces as you familiarize yourself with the luxury cruiser, your home for the next 15 nights at sea. You may even want to toast to your journey in the bar with your fellow guests.

As you sail east toward the Falkland Islands, your Expedition Team begins their informal series of enlightening daily discussions on the flora and fauna, geology, and history of the region. These expert lectures span diverse topics, such as seabirds and penguins of the Southern Ocean, the formation of sea ice over thousands of years, and personal accounts of living and working in Antarctica. While a professional photography enrichment coach is on hand to assist with questions, enthusiasts may especially enjoy this unique Photography Expedition departing January 16. The cool waters in these parts are rich in krill, making them a favorite with local wildlife searching for food. Alongside your naturalist guides, spot various species of whales and seabirds from ‘Le Lyrial’s’ deck.

Today, 'Le Lyrial' arrives in the remote Falkland Islands. Spend the day exploring the Falklands. This may include a visit to Stanley, the tiny colorful capital of the Falkland Islands, where you may stroll its charming streets and explore its surrounding wilderness areas; or the southeast Falkland islands of Sea Lion and Bleaker, home to unspoiled wildlife habitats.

As the ship approaches South Georgia, deck-side sightings of whale, seal and other wildlife become more frequent. Time spent cruising is once again filled with informative lectures and casual talks with your guides. Scan the seas to spot marine mammals and seabirds, as the ship cruises the nutrient-rich waters past the islands of Shag Rocks.

South Georgia is a nearly submerged continuation of the Andes mountain range, and your days here are spent exploring its glacier-carved coves and rugged shores. Visit Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, or Gold Harbour, all home to vast colonies of king penguins as well as fur and elephant seals. You also have the opportunity to retrace part of the route taken by Ernest Shackleton during his historic crossing of South Georgia in 1916. Weather permitting, you may visit his gravesite in Grytviken alongside your on-board historian, an expert on the great explorer’s life.

During your time cruising the Scotia Sea — rich with marine mammals and fish — your expert lecturers recap your adventures in South Georgia. They also enlighten you with more enriching lectures of what’s to come once you set foot on the Seventh Continent, from the terrain to the hardy wildlife that inhabits this forbidding but beautiful environment.

The ship’s itinerary calls for landings on the Antarctic Peninsula and a number of South Shetland Islands, which may include Half Moon, Penguin, and Deception. Other possible island visits may include Cuverville, Paulet, and Goudier. There are also plans to sail through Paradise Bay and the Lemaire Channel, the latter often referred to as “Kodak Alley” for its breathtaking, picture-perfect beauty. You may also enjoy additional opportunities for exploration, including a stop at a scientific research station. While on board Le Lyrial, you may view whales and birdlife from the deck or from your own cabin’s private balcony.

Bid farewell to Antarctica as you cruise back to Ushuaia through the Drake Passage, where there are plenty of opportunities to observe more marine and birdlife. Reflect and compare notes on your incredible journey with your fellow guests and new friends.

Disembark in Ushuaia after breakfast and transfer to the airport to fly to Buenos Aires for your independent flight home.