Le Lyrial, from French cruise line Ponant, became the first cruise ship of the 2026-2027 season to dock at Valparaíso's Terminal Pacífico Sur (TPS) and the second to reach the port this cycle. It spent a night in the city and sails on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 3, on a 14-day voyage ending in Ushuaia, according to PortalPortuario and PortalCruceros.
*Updated November 3, 2026.* The first ship of the season in Valparaíso was the Fridtjof Nansen, which opened the cycle on October 17 at the port's other terminal.
Le Lyrial's itinerary from Valparaíso
| Date | Port of call or leg |
|---|---|
| November 2 and 3 | Valparaíso (overnight in port, departs Tuesday the 3rd in the afternoon) |
| November 4 and 5 | At sea |
| November 6 | Castro, Chiloé Island |
| November 7 | Start of the Patagonian fjords |
| November 8 | Caleta Tortel |
| November 9 to 11 | Southern channels |
| November 12 | Strait of Magellan |
| November 13 and 14 | Patagonian fjords |
| November 15 | Cape Horn |
| November 16 | Puerto Williams, Navarino Island |
| November 17 | Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina |
Source: PortalPortuario, November 2, 2026. The Chilean stops include places we have covered: Chiloé, where Castro has its own cruise season; Caleta Tortel, the boardwalk village of Aysén; and Puerto Williams, which just added the world's southernmost hotel.
What Le Lyrial is like
| Feature | Data |
|---|---|
| Cruise line | Compagnie du Ponant (Ponant Cruises) |
| Owner | Groupe Artemis (Financière Pinault) |
| Built | 2015, Fincantieri shipyard, Ancona (Italy) |
| Approximate cost | US$150 million |
| Flag | Wallis and Futuna |
| Length and beam | 142 m and 18 m |
| Gross tonnage | 10,700 GT |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Cabins | 122, on 4 of its 7 decks |
| Passengers | 224 to 264 |
| Crew | 140 |
| Hull | Ice-strengthened |
Source: PortalPortuario. It is a small expedition ship, which is why it can enter Caleta Tortel and the southern channels, where large cruise ships cannot go. In Valparaíso it berthed at TPS berth 5 with the help of SAAM Towage's tug Mataquito II, and its agent is Broom.
The 2026-2027 Valparaíso cruise season in figures
30
Scheduled calls
25% more than last season
14
At Terminal Pacífico Sur
Ships over 250 m long
16
At Terminal Portuario Valparaíso
Mostly expedition ships
80%
Single-day calls
The rest stay overnight
Source: PortalPortuario, with Valparaíso port data
View the data as a table
| Scheduled calls | 30 · 25% more than last season |
| At Terminal Pacífico Sur | 14 · Ships over 250 m long |
| At Terminal Portuario Valparaíso | 16 · Mostly expedition ships |
| Single-day calls | 80% · The rest stay overnight |
| Item | 2026-2027 season | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled calls | 30 (+25%) | PortalPortuario |
| Terminal Pacífico Sur (TPS) | 14 | PortalPortuario |
| Terminal Portuario Valparaíso (TPV) | 16 | PortalPortuario |
| Single-day calls | 80% | PortalPortuario |
| Opening | October 17, 2026, Fridtjof Nansen | Viajando Chile, with Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso data |
| First cruise at TPS | Le Lyrial, November 2, 2026 | PortalPortuario |
| Expected end | April 15, 2027 | Ladevi |
Sources differ on one point: in October, Ladevi reported that the first call of the cycle had been the Silver Wind, on October 5, at TPS; PortalPortuario and PortalCruceros now count Le Lyrial as the terminal's first and the port's second this season. Full calendar details are in the Valparaíso cruise season.
Do you run a tour, restaurant or shop in Valparaíso? Reach cruise passengers before they disembark.
See advertising optionsWhat to do in Valparaíso if you arrive by cruise ship
Eight out of ten cruise ships spend a single day in port, so head straight for the essentials: the funiculars and Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, Muelle Prat and the viewpoints. We sum it up in Valparaíso in one day and in the historic quarter, a World Heritage Site. Heading further south, there is another cruise season in Puerto Natales.
Frequently asked questions
What was the first cruise ship of the season at Terminal Pacífico Sur?
Ponant's Le Lyrial, which docked on November 2, 2026, and sails on November 3.
How many cruise ships will call at Valparaíso in the 2026-2027 season?
There are 30 scheduled calls, 25% more than last season: 14 at TPS and 16 at TPV.
Where does Le Lyrial's voyage end?
In Ushuaia, Argentina, on November 17, after Castro, Caleta Tortel, the Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn and Puerto Williams.
How many passengers does Le Lyrial carry?
Between 224 and 264, with 140 crew and 122 cabins.
