Cruise Description

PONANT invites you to an exceptional experience by discovering the Far North and the immense open spaces of the polar Arctic and its ice floes that extend to the North Pole.

You will board the ship at Longyearbyen in Norway for an 8-day expedition cruise to the heart of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago.

On this expedition aboard Le Lyrial, in the company of our specialist teams, you will discover the exceptional flora and fauna that lives in these extreme conditions, where temperatures reach -30°C in winter.

First of all, you will set sail south to discover Hornsund, one of the Spitsbergen’s most beautiful fjords, which boasts an impressive glacier front, as well as Bellsund, whose lush valleys are sure to delight.

Le Lyrial will head north to reach the Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park, following the footsteps of the former whalers who once settled in the sites that are now home to the graves of many sailors and are frequented by various species of cetaceans.

You will then discover the world’s northernmost small town, Ny-Alesund. This international research base and former mining city was the departure point for many expeditions to the North Pole, the first of which, in 1926, was led by Umberto Nobile and Roald Amundsen aboard the Norge airship. Finally, you will reach the sumptuous Kongsfjorden glaciers.

This journey will take you on the trail of walruses, as well as the traces of the polar bear, the lord of the Arctic, which you might be able to admire in its natural environment.

The next destination on your itinerary, Svalbard archipelago are the last islands before the North Pole and here you will discover a unique feeling of having reached the top of the world. During this unforgettable expedition, our ship will sail to latitudes of 80° north.

Itinerary is subject to change according to port authorizations and government regulations. We are privileged guests in these remote lands where we are at the mercy of weather, ice, tidal and current conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.