Cruiseable Plan my cruise

Ponant Cruises

Le Lyrial

Small ship Bliss scored

Le Lyrial, which debuted in April 2015 from the French cruise line Ponant, is one of a handful of vessels that can rightly be called a luxury expedition ship. The intimate yacht , with no more than 264 passengers, visits exquisite ports of call around the…

  • 264guests
  • 10,944gross tons
  • 0cruises now

Plan my cruise

Sail on Le Lyrial to take in the romantic ports of the Adriatic Sea, including Venice.

At a glance

Le Lyrial is a small-size cruise ship operated by Ponant Cruises, in service since 2015. It carries 264 guests and 139 crew (1.9 guests per crew member) at 10,944 gross tons. It ties with 3 other ships as the 2nd largest of 12 Ponant Cruises ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for active and romantic (9/10) and lowest for entertainment, family friendly, party and spa & fitness (5/10).

Builder's plate

Specs

Guests
264
Crew
139
Gross tons
10,944
Decks
7
Length
465 ft
Beam
59 ft
Maiden voyage
2015
Space ratio
1.9
Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew
1.9
Mph
18
IMO
9704130

Bliss scores

What Le Lyrial is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

  1. Active 9.0
  2. Adventure and nature 8.0
  3. Cultural 8.0
  4. Dining 8.0
  5. Entertainment 5.0
  6. Family friendly 5.0
  7. Party 5.0
  8. Romantic 9.0
  9. Spa and fitness 5.0
  10. Staterooms 7.0

Our review

Le Lyrial: Upscale small-ship cruising from Ponant

Le Lyrial, which debuted in April 2015 from the French cruise line Ponant, is one of a handful of vessels that can rightly be called a luxury expedition ship. The intimate yacht, with no more than 264 passengers, visits exquisite ports of call around the world while guests revel in her lean, modern design and welcoming atmosphere.

Like her sister ships — Le Boreal, L'Austral and Le Soleal — Le Lyrial has been built for upscale, yacht-like cruising to exotic destinations around the globe. She also has been specially outfitted for the icy terrain of Antarctica, where she spends several months a year. The ship carries a dozen Zodiacs used to take passengers on expedition-like outings.

Fully 95% of Le Lyrial's 122 staterooms and suites have private balconies. Throughout the ship, you'll find a contemporary decor inspired by the ship's destinations. The experienced crew has a reputation for solicitous, personal service, and you can coordinate excursions in port with the port excursions manager. Socialize in the lounges or on deck, or carve out some quiet time and read in the library or while enjoying the salt air.

Language spoken on board, you ask? English and French. The crew is bilingual, with many of the service staff from Asia.

Having fun on Le Lyrial's sun deck.
Having fun on Le Lyrial's sun deck. Courtesy of Ponant

Where Le Lyrial sails

Le Lyrial offers a wide range of itineraries that stop at small, exotic ports. Cruise from Lisbon to Cadiz, Casablanca , Funchal (on Madeira) and Arerecife (Canary Islands). Or sail from Athens to Katakolo (Greece), Lipari and Salerno (Italy), Bonifacio and Calvi (France), then on to Marseille. Or have the experience of your life and cruise to Antarctica. 

Your take

Have you cruised on Le Lyrial? What was the highlight? We'd love to hear about your experience.

Help improve this article. See anything wrong? What did we overlook? Be a co-creator!

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

If you're interested in a cruise on Le Lyrial, contact a Cruiseable travel advocate at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. You'll get a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.

 

SEE ALL LE LYRIAL SAILINGS

On board highlights

Dining

Where to eat on Le Lyrial

  • The Restaurant
    The Restaurant French-inspired & international cuisine · Breakfast, lunch & dinner
    No additional cost

Photos

Inside and out

Destinations 12

  • Nightfall at St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy.
  • View of the iconic Acropolis set atop a hilltop in Athens, Greece.
  • La Caleta beach, in the historical center of the port of Cádiz in southwestern Spain, is popular with locals and travelers during the summer months. Cádiz, capital of Cádiz province, boasts a scenic coastline and rich culture.
  • Palácio Nacional de Sintra as seen from Castelo dos Mouros near Lisbon, Portugal.
  • See Croatia and other charming destinations from the deck of the Ponant luxury yacht Le Lyrial.
  • See the wonders of Antarctica on Ponant's Le Lyrial. Here's Bongrain Point on Pourquoi Pas Island.
  • Cruise Ponant to Antarctica and get up close and personal with some king penguins.
  • See whales close up on your Ponant cruise to Antarctica.
  • Sail on a Ponant luxury expedition ship from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica.
  • Sail from Argentina to Antarctice on Ponant's luxury expedition ship Le Lyrial.
  • View king penguins on your Ponant cruise from Argentina to Antarctica.
  • Get up close and personal with king penguins on your Ponant cruise to Antarctica.

Dining 8

  • Enjoy refreshing sea and land views during al fresco dining on your Ponant cruise.
  • The sommelier on Ponant's Le Lyrial can offer suggestions for the perfect wine to accompany your meals.
  • The head chef can assist with menu choices during your luxury cruise on Ponant's Le Lyrial.
  • Dine on French fusion cuisine, such as carpaccio of yellow fin tuna or pan-fried filet steak and finish your meal with panna cotta with red berry fruits on your Ponant sailing.
  • Dine in a casual, stylish setting aboard Ponant's Le Lyrial.
  • Enjoy exquisite foods and well paired wines when dining al fresco on a Ponant cruise.
  • Dine in style during a luxury expedition cruise on Ponant's Le Lyrial.
  • Dining is a gastronomical experience on Ponant voyages.

On board 12

  • Sunset and a perfectly chilled glass of champagne make for a perfect vacation escape on a Ponant cruise.
  • View of the sun deck on the luxury expedition ship Le Lyrial.
  • Find your perfect state of bliss on a luxury cruise aboard Ponant's Le Lyrial.
  • Stay fit while exploring new vistas on a Ponant cruise.
  • Socialize in the main lounge of Ponant's luxury ship Le Lyrial.
  • Enjoy good conversation and a light snack the lounge of Le Lyrial on your Ponant sailing.
  • Relax with a cocktail and meet new friends on Ponant's Le Lyrial.
  • Having fun on Le Lyrial's sun deck.
  • Watch the sun go down over a glass of Champagne on the deck of Le Lyrial, a Ponant yacht.
  • Have a butler pamper yourself on a Ponant cruise with canapes on deck.
  • A look at a stylishly furnished stateroom on Ponant's Le Lyrial.
  • The pool deck on Ponant's luxury expedition ship Le Lyrial.

Ship exteriors 1

  • Le Lyrial from Ponant offers a wide range of itineraries that stop at small, exotic ports.

Staterooms 3

  • It's all about comfort, style, and relaxation in the staterooms on Ponant's Le Lyrial.
  • Relax in the comfort of your suite on Le Lyrial, a Ponant luxury ship.
  • Your cabin on Ponant's Le Lyrial is light and airy, and designed for comfort and style.

More photos 7

  • Sail on Le Lyrial to take in the romantic ports of the Adriatic Sea, including Venice.
  • Le Lyrial during a visit to Cuverville Island in Antarctica.
  • Relax poolside as your Ponant ship slips into small bays and secluded coves.
  • Take in the sweeping views on Ponant's luxury ship Le Lyrial.
  • Dine in style on French dishes, cheeses and desserts on Ponant's luxury ship Le Lyrial.
  • The Theatre is the main show lounge for small-scale music and dance productions on Ponant's ship Le Lyrial.
  • A penguin stands guardian as a Ponant expedition Zodiac passes by in Antarctica.

Sailing now

Cruises on Le Lyrial

Plan my cruise

No cruises on Le Lyrial are on sale in this week's fares. Tell us when you want to sail and we will find you the closest match.

Side by side

Compare Le Lyrial with

Thinking about Le Lyrial?

Tell us your dates and who is coming. Our partner travel agency replies with the sailings and cabins that fit.

Plan my cruise More Ponant Cruises ships