Ponant has opened a science-focused Antarctica sailing on Le Lyrial that pairs the ship with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution experts from December 7 to 17, 2027, roundtrip from Ushuaia.
Travelers comparing late-2027 expedition options can now weigh a named scientist roster, package inclusions, and a from-fare that starts at 14,990 dollars per person, knowing the sailing is not a one-click online booking and requires a quote request.
- Ship: Ponant Le Lyrial on a Ushuaia roundtrip Antarctica expedition.
- Dates: December 7 to 17, 2027, with 10 nights on board.
- Science partner: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution guest experts.
- From fare: 14,990 dollars per person double occupancy with Ponant Bonus.
- Booking: Request a quote; the product is not available to book fully online.
What Ponant put on sale
According to the official Ponant voyage page, the sailing is titled Antarctica: Ocean (Re)Imagined with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The page lists Dec 7, 2027, to Dec 17, 2027, aboard Le Lyrial from Ushuaia to Ushuaia.
Duration is framed as 12 days with 10 nights on board. The product page shows prices from 14,990 dollars per person for a window or porthole stateroom, with the Ponant Bonus discount included in displayed fares.
The voyage is explicitly not available to book online. Ponant routes guests to a quote request, which is the practical booking path for travelers who want a firm cabin hold rather than a screenshot of a brochure page.
Cruise Industry News reported on August 15, 2026, that Ponant Explorations and WHOI announced the expert lineup for the 2027 voyage, matching the official product framing as a 10-night Ushuaia expedition on Le Lyrial.
Who the WHOI guests are
Ponant names four Woods Hole-linked enrichment guests on the product page: polar oceanographer Ted Maksym, ocean policy leader Kilaparti Ramakrishna, ocean communicator Richard Vevers, and glaciologist and planetary scientist Catherine Walker.
Cruise Industry News identifies the same four experts and quotes Ponant Americas CEO Samuel Chamberlain saying the draw is the combination of Ponant’s expedition team with four distinct WHOI perspectives. That is the product differentiator against a standard Antarctic Peninsula cruise that relies mainly on ship naturalists.
The company says the experts will lead daily lectures, discussions, and interactive conversations, while the expedition team still runs Zodiac outings, shore landings, and wildlife viewing when conditions allow. Guests should treat landings and wildlife sightings as weather- and ice-dependent, not as guaranteed checklist stops.
For shoppers, the named roster is the decision filter. If you want a polar trip mainly for scenery and landings, a non-WHOI Ponant Antarctica sailing may be enough.
If the science dialogue is the reason to pay expedition fares, this Dec 2027 departure is the one to compare first.
What the package includes, and what still costs extra
The official package includes a one-night pre-voyage hotel stay in Buenos Aires, roundtrip group charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, and roundtrip airport transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days. That softens the usual multi-city logistics tax of flying to the bottom of South America.
Kayak Discovery Antarctica is listed as an optional activity with additional cost and professional equipment provided when booked. Do not assume a kayak seat is automatic with the base fare.
Displayed stateroom prices on the product page climb from 14,990 dollars for a window or porthole room through balcony categories and suites that can exceed 30,000 dollars per person. Prices are double occupancy, subject to change, and already reflect Ponant Bonus discount language on the page.
Cruise Industry News separately cited fares starting at 15,060 dollars for a Superior Stateroom. Use the live Ponant product page for the current from-fare when you request a quote, because brochure and trade figures can lag or map to different cabin labels.
How this compares with other Ponant Antarctica options
Ponant’s own related sailings show why the WHOI product is not the only late-2027 path. Emblematic Antarctica and other Le Lyrial or sister-ship departures remain available on nearby dates with different inclusions and price points.
A Smithsonian Journeys Antarctica alliance sailing on Le Lyrial appears later in the lineup as another partnership product, not a clone of the WHOI December 2027 dates. Partnership brand, guest experts, and exact calendar window all change the traveler decision.
Expedition shoppers who want a broader polar-ship shortlist can also study independent ship pages such as the Douglas Mawson polar expedition guide and the m/v Janssonius ship guide before locking a single brand narrative.
The practical comparison is still simple. Same continent, different enrichment partner, different package, different booking friction. Request quotes on the same day so currency, cabin category, and Bonus levels line up.
Booking path and planning timeline
Because online booking is blocked on the product page, the first step is a quote request through Ponant or a travel advisor who can place the request. Expect follow-up on cabin category, single supplements if relevant, and whether your preferred suite classes are already sold out.
December 2027 is far enough out that inventory can still move, yet close enough that popular Antarctica expedition windows often fill early. Waiting for a last-minute flash sale is a weak strategy on a named-science product with package flights attached.
Passport validity, polar medical readiness, and clothing for Zodiac days remain the traveler’s job regardless of WHOI lectures. The science program does not replace IAATO landing rules or the captain’s weather calls on the peninsula.
If your group needs English-language science discussion and a bundled Buenos Aires overnight plus Ushuaia air, this Le Lyrial product is purpose-built. If you only need any Antarctica berth at the lowest open fare, scan the broader Emblematic Antarctica grid before you spend time on a quote-only SKU.
| If you want… | What to do |
|---|---|
| The WHOI expert roster on Le Lyrial | Request a quote for the Dec 7 to 17, 2027 Ocean (Re)Imagined sailing. |
| Any Antarctica berth at lower complexity | Compare Emblematic Antarctica and other open Ponant dates first. |
| A cabin you can buy online tonight | Skip this product path. It is quote-only on the official page. |
| Kayaking on the waterline | Ask the advisor to price Kayak Discovery as an add-on, not as included. |
| A different expedition brand | Use polar ship guides to shortlist alternatives before you lock Ponant. |
- Calendar: Hold Dec 7 to 17, 2027, if this is your target Antarctica window.
- Budget: Start planning around 14,990 dollars pp before suites and extras.
- Logistics: The Buenos Aires night and Ushuaia flights are package features, not DIY add-ons.
- Booking: Use the quote request path; do not wait for an online cart that will not appear.
- Expectations: Landings and wildlife remain weather dependent under IAATO rules.
For expedition travelers who care who is teaching on the Drake crossing, the August 15 expert announcement and the live Ponant product page now give a concrete Le Lyrial option to price against the rest of the 2027 Antarctica board.
When does the Ponant Le Lyrial WHOI Antarctica voyage sail?
December 7 to 17, 2027, roundtrip from Ushuaia, Argentina, with 10 nights on board Le Lyrial.
Who are the Woods Hole experts on the sailing?
Ted Maksym, Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Richard Vevers, and Catherine Walker are named on the Ponant product page and in trade reporting.
What does the package include?
A Buenos Aires hotel night, roundtrip group flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, and transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days, plus the cruise program.
Can I book the voyage online?
No. Ponant marks the product as not available to book online and directs guests to request a quote.
What is the starting fare?
The official page shows from 14,990 dollars per person double occupancy for a window or porthole stateroom with Ponant Bonus applied, subject to change.
