Le Lyrial

Single-occupancy cabins are available, and solo travelers are welcome on this journey. Single supplement prices are reasonable, and A&K hosts get-togethers onboard for those traveling solo to meet each other.

All staterooms and suites feature their own climate control system, a private balcony with a sea view, a TV, a minibar, a Nespresso machine, a Bose Bluetooth speaker, robes and slippers, and luxury bath products. There’s ample storage for coats, boots, and clothing.

Accommodations feel spacious and bright. Rooms are turned over multiple times a day by housekeeping, who leave treats each evening and will do one load of laundry (up to eight items per guest) for free while aboard.  Staterooms and suites are equipped with 220V European two-prong style and 110/220 U.S. outlets style power outlets.

Stateroom categories 1–3 are on decks 3-5. There are 28 category 1 staterooms, 35 category 2 staterooms, and 15 category 3 staterooms. This room level includes 195 square feet of space and a 43-square-foot balcony.

There are three category four Prestige suite cabins, which are 291 square feet with 65 square foot balconies. There are 11 category 5 premier two-room suite cabins with 390 square feet with 86 square foot balconies. There are seven category 6 privilege two-room suite cabins, which are 390 square feet with 86 square foot balconies. There’s one category 7 grand deluxe two-room suite cabin, which is 484 square feet with a 108 square foot balcony. There’s one category 8 grand privilege three-room suite cabin, which is 581 square feet, with a 129-square-foot balcony. There’s one category 9 owner’s suite, which encompasses 581 square feet with a 129-square-foot balcony.

The suites (room categories 4 and above) include a butler service and welcome gifts like Champagne and nightly canapés. But be forewarned that, ironically, the premiere-level, expensive suites experience stronger rocking sensations on the Drake Passage since they’re higher on the ship.

Travelers should be aware that a minimum level of baseline fitness is required to enjoy the journey fully—many excursions are active and involve entering and exiting Zodiacs and a sufficient amount of walking. Women who will be at least twelve weeks pregnant are not permitted to travel. The ship has three elevators and ramps, offering access to all passenger decks for those less physically mobile.

Dining is all-inclusive. There are two restaurants onboard. The Main Dining room is on the second deck, serving as an elegant feeling sit-down restaurant with waitstaff service and hosted seating. Diners can eat alone if they prefer or ask to be seated with other passengers at random. Both restaurants usually feature similar food, but the Main Dining Room featured a fancier pre-fixe menu twice on the journey.

There’s an open-seating buffet-style meal service on the sixth deck.

There’s also an impressive 24/7 room service menu and a breakfast-in-bed option, an excellent choice for those feeling under the weather or wanting to rest after a long day. There’s an “early riser” coffee and pastries session outside official dining hours in the early morning hours. There’s an afternoon tea session featuring a daily theme and sweet or savory treats, and there are also late-night snacks in the lounge area. Guests will never go hungry.

The second-floor restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and the buffet is open for all three meals. Meal times depend on the schedule for the day and what time passengers are heading out on excursions, but typically range from 7 – 9 a.m., 12 – 2 p.m., and 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Libations include classic cocktails, beer, house wine, soft drinks, coffee drinks, juices, and water (excluding premium wines, Champagne, and spirits). One bar is located in the lounge on the third floor, and one is on the observation deck on the rear of the ship on the sixth deck.

On deck three, there’s a reception area with a 24-hour front desk, a boutique with a selection of clothing and jewelry, and a main lounge area with a full bar, hosting live music on most evenings. There may be a “Karaoke Night” or a “Dance Party” on your journey.

On deck four, there’s a spacious theater with enough seating to fit all of the ship’s guests, where A&K’s working crew of scientists host educational lectures. The “nightly recap” group session is also held in the theater. Each guest attends these nightly meetings, summarizing the day’s adventures and offering insight into the next day’s anticipated schedule. This theater room is also used for movie showings on some evenings, a piano reception one night of my journey, and morning “stretch classes” hosted by the onboard dance crew. On deck five, there’s a gaming area with a Wii and PS4.

On deck six, there’s an outdoor, heated swimming pool on the bow, and a library with books in multiple languages, and a dedicated business center area with some computers on the stern.

On the fifth floor, there’s a wellness area with a Spa in partnership with SOTHYS, free access to a hammam, and a fitness center. Guests can pay an additional charge for a spa experience such as a massage or salon treatment.

The fitness center is clean, bright and beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing sweeping views of the scenery outside. There are treadmills, a few stationary bikes, and a Panoramic Fitness Center with a Kinesis wall. There are no free weights due to the safety precautions of the weather conditions in the open ocean.