Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen
8 Days - Le Lyrial
Somewhere in the High Arctic, between 76 and 80 degrees latitude North, Spitsbergen, meaning "pointed mountains”, awaits you for seven days of unforgettable travel looking out for wild life. You will lift the anchor in Longyearbyen, where colourful wooden homes dot the landscape with a human presence that will certainly be the last you see for a while.
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Home » 8 Day Le Lyrial: Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen
Itinerary Highlights
- A cruise to discover the riches of Svalbard, in search of mysterious wild fauna, in the comfort of an exceptional ship.
- Discovering the incredible geology of Spitsbergen, easily observable with the naked eye due to the archipelago’s short vegetation.
- Landscapes: rugged mountains, icebergs, ice caps, deep valleys, striated cliffs, vertiginous walls, gigantic glaciers, glacier fronts, tundra and the possibility of observing the ice floe.
- Wildlife: polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, walruses, bearded seals, harbour seals, Arctic fulmars, Arctic terns, black-legged kittiwakes, eiders, guillemots, blue whales, minke whales, orcas.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Embarkation day - Paris/Longyearbyen
- Day 2: Hornsund
- Day 3: Bellsund, Spitsbergen
- Day 4: Sailing towards the Ice Floes
- Day 5: Makeoyane, Spitsbergen/Monaco Glacier, Spitsbergen
- Day 6: Raudfjorden, Spitsbergen/Smeerenburg, Spitsbergen
- Day 7: Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen/Kongsfjorden (King Bay), Spitsbergen
- Day 8: Disembarkation Day - Longyearbyen/Paris
Day 1: Embarkation day - Paris/Longyearbyen
After arriving in Paris, you board your flight to Longyearbyen. The flight might take around 4-5 hours to reach the remote town. At 6 pm, you will transfer to the pier to board the vessel that will take you on your expedition.
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.
Day 2: Hornsund
Nestling between millennial glaciers and carved mountains, and considered to be “the crown of Arctic Norway”, Spitsbergen is a place that never sees the night. Your ship will take you closer to this fascinating archipelago and, more particularly, the Hornsund fjord. Considered to be Svalbard’s southernmost fjord, it is especially reputed to be its most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, 8 great glaciers slowly make their way down to the sea before giving way to the many icebergs elegantly drifting along its cold and mysterious waters.
Day 3: Bellsund, Spitsbergen
You will head to the Bellsund fjord to follow in the footsteps of the first explorers who came from the Norwegian coast, or those of the many fur traders seeking game and trophies. Boasting an astonishingly rich wildlife, the arms of the fjord separate to form two lush valleys. Give free rein to your imagination in the heart of this majestic natural environment where time seems to stand still.
Day 4: Sailing towards the Ice Floes
Your captain will sail right up to the limit of the ice, to the edge of the ice floe. Weather conditions and state of the ice allowing, you will be able to go out in a zodiac dinghy for a unique experience in the middle of these floating slabs of ice. In addition to this grandiose journey through the middle of these floes with their cut and blue-tinged edges, sometimes over 2 metres thick, it is also often an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe: birds, seals and polar bears.
Day 5: Makeoyane, Spitsbergen/Monaco Glacier, Spitsbergen
Måkeøyane is a small archipelago in the heart of the Woodfjorden, whose names is a reference to the large quantities of driftwood washing up on the beaches. It is located at the intersection between the Bockfjorden and the Liefdefjorden which leads to the Monaco Glacier, one of the most beautiful in Spitsbergen. As you sail around these little islands, you will be able to observe Arctic terns whose eggs sometimes attract polar bears.
Located to the North-West of the Svalbard archipelago, the Monaco Glacier is probably one of Spitsbergen’s most beautiful and majestic. Named in honour of Prince Albert I of Monaco, a sailor, it stands as an impenetrable, blue-tinged jagged wall, the last glacier before reaching a latitude of 80° North. Imagine the sound of the ice cracking as it breaks free and crashes into the transparent water. And to make the magical landscape even more perfect, you might be lucky enough to spot bears and whales, as these two animals have a special fondness for this area.
Day 6: Raudfjorden, Spitsbergen/Smeerenburg, Spitsbergen
Raudfjorden means “red fjord”, from the colour of the sandstone of the surrounding mountains. Along the west coast of this 20 km fjord, dissected by many shallow bays, you will be able to admire some of Spitsbergen’s most spectacular ice formations. At the extremity of the fjord, two offshoots lead to the magnificent glaciers of Chauveaubreen and Raudfjordbreen which is 3 km wide. To the east, Alicehamna Beach in Bruceneset Bay has seen trappers, fishermen and explorers arrive for centuries, as evidenced by the “Raudfjordhytta” - the cabin of a Swedish trapper built in 1927.
Located at the far north-west of the Svalbard archipelago, at the intersection of oceanic and Arctic influences, Smeerenburg is a former Dutch whaling colony on the southern part of Amsterdam Island. In a landscape of hills with steep slopes, plateaux, lakes and lagoons, you will anchor at a sandy beach. Dotted with driftwood and the remains of ovens that were used to melt the whale blubber, this is one of Spitsbergen’s most important archaeological sites. At the height of the whaling activity, 200 men worked here and several are buried here.
Day 7: Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen/Kongsfjorden (King Bay), Spitsbergen
During your cruise, discover Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town that has been transformed into a scientific base. Founded in 1916, this small town was the departure point for many Arctic expeditions, including those of the famous explorer Roald Amundsen. Don't miss a visit to the museum and its famous post office, considered to be the most northerly in the world!
Very close to the former mining town of Ny-Ålesund, set off to discover Kings Bay. Your ship will sail in one of the most beautiful fjords in Svalbard: Kongsfjorden (the fjord of the King), a gateway to grandiose landscapes. Here, the snow-capped mountains are reflected in the water where superb icebergs try to outdo each other in their beauty, a delight for photographers. Seals, reindeer, barnacle geese and black guillemots frequent these places that have a unique atmosphere. Once you arrive at the end of the fjord, admire the Kongsbreen (glacier of the King) and its three characteristic rocky points, which take their names from three Scandinavian countries: Svea (Sweden), Dana (Denmark) and Nora (Norway).
Day 8: Disembarkation Day - Longyearbyen/Paris
On the final day of your adventure we invite you to enjoy an early morning breakfast. It was time to disembark from the ship and make your way to the airport. A short flight from Longyearbyen took us to the heart of the City of Love, Paris.
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
14 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025 | USD $10497pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $10497pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Double Stateroom | USD $11190pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $12190pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $12701pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $13286pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $17694pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $23190pp | Contact us | |
Privilege Suite | USD $24286pp | Contact us | |
Grand Deluxe Suite | USD $27592pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $32252pp | Contact us | |
Grand Privilege Suite | USD $32293pp | Contact us | |
21 Jun 2025 - 28 Jun 2025 | USD $9993pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $9993pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Double Stateroom | USD $10646pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $11585pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $12061pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $12612pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $16748pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $21898pp | Contact us | |
Privilege Suite | USD $22925pp | Contact us | |
Grand Deluxe Suite | USD $26020pp | Contact us | |
Grand Privilege Suite | USD $30429pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $32252pp | Contact us | |
28 Jun 2025 - 05 Jul 2025 | USD $9993pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $9993pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Double Stateroom | USD $10646pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $11585pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $12061pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $12612pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $16748pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $21898pp | Contact us | |
Privilege Suite | USD $22925pp | Contact us | |
Grand Deluxe Suite | USD $26020pp | Contact us | |
Grand Privilege Suite | USD $30429pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $32252pp | Contact us | |
05 Jul 2025 - 12 Jul 2025 | USD $9993pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $9993pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Double Stateroom | USD $10646pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $11585pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $12061pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $12612pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $16748pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $21898pp | Contact us | |
Privilege Suite | USD $22925pp | Contact us | |
Grand Deluxe Suite | USD $26020pp | Contact us | |
Grand Privilege Suite | USD $30429pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $32252pp | Contact us | |
12 Jul 2025 - 19 Jul 2025 | USD $10497pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $10497pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Double Stateroom | USD $11190pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $12190pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $12701pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $13286pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $17694pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $23190pp | Contact us | |
Privilege Suite | USD $24286pp | Contact us | |
Grand Deluxe Suite | USD $27592pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $32252pp | Contact us | |
Grand Privilege Suite | USD $32293pp | Contact us | |
19 Jul 2025 - 26 Jul 2025 | USD $9497pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $9497pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Double Stateroom | USD $10102pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $10980pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $11422pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $11939pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $15796pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $20605pp | Contact us | |
Privilege Suite | USD $21565pp | Contact us | |
Grand Deluxe Suite | USD $24449pp | Contact us | |
Grand Privilege Suite | USD $28565pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $32252pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Superior Stateroom
21m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, french bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Deluxe Double Stateroom
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access and butler service.
Deluxe Suite
27m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
36m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, 8m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Privilege Suite
36m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, 8m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, bathtub, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Grand Deluxe Suite
45m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, 10m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, bathtub, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Grand Privilege Suite
54m², 4 single beds or 2 king beds, 12m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower and bathtub, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Owner's Suite
54m², located on deck 6, 2 single beds or 1 king bed, french design, panoramic views, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access, 1 private transfer (round trip: airport - hotel - port) and 1 free hour of spa treatments.
Deluxe Single Stateroom
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Le Lyrial Deckplan
Specifications
- Length: 466 feet
- Beam: 59 feet
- Draft: 15.3 feet
- Cruising Speed: 14 knots
- Ice Class: 1C
- Classification: Bureau Veritas
- Flag: French
- Guest Decks: 6
- Guest Capacity: Up to 260 pax
- Guest capacity Antarctica: 200 pax
- Normal Crew Size: 140
- Fleet of Expedition Zodiac®: Mark V HD
- Gross Tonnage: 10,992 UMS
- Electric Motors: 2 x 2300 kW
- Installed Power: 7,200 kW
- Construction: Fincantieri-Ancône-Italy
Whats included?
- Economy class flight from Paris to Longyearbyen.
- Economy class flight from Longyearbyen to Paris.
- Transfers mentioned in the programme.
- English-speaking assistance.
- Accommodation in your selected stateroom
- Landings and zodiac outings
- A full meal plan
- Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar.
- Free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day
- Port taxes
What’s not included?
- Personal expenses.
- Any other service not mentioned in the programme.