PATAGONIA, CHILE - PONANT LE LYRIAL
CRUISE MARCH 2023
Kerry has recently returned from an expedition cruise with Ponant to the glaciers of Patagonia, Chile.
This was a fantastic experience on Le Lyrial, with 170 passengers on board, a mix of French and English speaking.
The adventure started with all passengers meeting in Buenos Aires for a night before flying to Ushuaia the following morning on a charter flight to board Le Lyrial. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in Argentina and is the point at which many cruise ships depart for Antarctica. The port over the summer months is extremely busy.
The southern coast of Chile presents a large number of fjords and navigational channels such as the Beagle Channel, Straits of Magellan, and the very narrow English Channel. As you can see from our actual route map, we meandered our way along this coast both north and southbound. The captain made decisions on where to go based on tides, weather and data from previous expeditions and it is stressed it is an expedition and there was a desire to be flexible to maximise opportunities that arose along the way. Inside these channels it was very calm, protected from the Pacific Ocean.
The scenery was spectacular. Each glacier was different. I did wonder initially if it might be a bit repetitive to spend 14 days in the same region. In conversation with other passengers some expressed they had similar thoughts pre cruise, but all said how varied it was.
A typical day on board started with a fabulous breakfast in either of the two restaurants or with room service. Being French the breads and pastries were fabulous and the Cheese and Butter!!
Guests were divided into groups based on French or English speaking for all expeditions. There was a morning and an afternoon activity. This could be a zodiac cruise exploring the fjords and shoreline, or a landing and a hike. There are opportunities to kayak, at an extra cost. The fantastic expedition leaders spent time on the observation deck and mingled with guests on the ship, on shore and at mealtimes. The crew are all bilingual. Lunch onboard could be at either restaurant. Each afternoon or evening was a lecture with a summary and review of that day and a guide as to what to expect on the next. Dinner was smart attire with 2 Formal nights and a White night as we were on a long cruise.
Long boots are provided for your personal use. Many of the landings are wet, requiring getting off the zodiacs into shallow water, crossing streams and dealing with mud. A polar parka is also provided and is yours to keep. There is a need for good mobility to be able to enjoy all the activities. Guests on board were very well-travelled and a great mix of nationalities and backgrounds. You could dine with anyone at tables from a single to parties of ten. People mingled and there was a great vibe on board. Ponant is all inclusive of activities, food, and beverages. The cabins are all very comfortable and well designed with plenty of storage. Most have a balcony which I think is a ‘must’ on this type of cruise. It was wonderful to be able to fling open the sliding door for fresh air and to take photos of the close-up landscapes and wildlife which was plentiful and varied. Birds, seals, elephant seals, penguins, whales, and dolphins.
An absolute highlight of the cruise was our circumnavigation and landing at Cape Horn. It is often not possible to land even if the weather appears calm. It is a wet landing onto a rocky beach and often the tides or swell mean it is too dangerous to go ashore. We had time to walk to the lighthouse and the Albatross monument, symbol of Cape Horn before returning to the ship. It was a very moving experience to then sail around the cape to classical music playing and the captain reading The Albatross over the PA system. Over eight hundred ships perished here with the loss of over ten thousand lives.
We then continued back to Ushuaia and the flight back to Buenos Aires.
A fabulous experience and Ponant excelled in this expedition style of luxury cruise.
Highly recommended.
The following links are to similar itineraries offered in 2024. Ponant rewards its passengers with early booking discounts. So, book soon to secure your preferred date at the best possible price.
This first one is the same cruise that Kerry has just completed – sailing in Feb 2024. Starting and ending in Buenos Aires
Exploring the Chilean Fjords Ushuaia - Ushuaia 27/2/24 to 12/3/24
The best of the Chilean Fjords Valparaiso -Ushuaia 19/10/24 o 2/11/24
Prices are in AUD and are the current discounted/early booking prices
Contact us now to secure your cabin on one of these incredible expedition cruises.
