Travel to Spain’s legendary Basque Country, rich with culture and flavor. Enjoy two nights in Bilbao, home to the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, and two nights in the stunning seaside resort of San Sebastián. Then travel to France’s legendary wine capital, Bordeaux, where your cruise begins. Iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards and delicious wine tastings are plentiful as you visit Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Pauillac and Cadillac. Following the cruise, enjoy two nights to experience the lure of the UNESCO-designated Loire Valley, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and is buried. Then, conclude your journey with an overnight stay in romantic Paris. This trip is a must for anyone interested in the best of French culture, lifestyle, wine and food.
Travel to Spain’s legendary Basque Country, rich with culture and flavor. Enjoy two nights in Bilbao, home to the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, and two nights in the stunning seaside resort of San Sebastián. Then travel to France’s legendary wine capital, Bordeaux, where your cruise begins. Iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards and delicious wine tastings are plentiful as you visit Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Pauillac and Cadillac. Following the cruise, enjoy two nights to experience the lure of the UNESCO-designated Loire Valley, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and is buried. Then, conclude your journey with an overnight stay in romantic Paris. This trip is a must for anyone interested in the best of French culture, lifestyle, wine and food.
Taste of Bordeaux (Wine Cruise)
At A Glance
On our cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and Special Interest Tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
Embark the ship for your Taste of Bordeaux cruise. (D)
| Day 2 | Bordeaux | Scenic cruising |
|
| Libourne | Saint-Émilion excursion and Grand Cru Classé wine tasting |
|
| | OR Saint-Émilion bike tour and wine tasting |
|
Take in the romance of Bordeaux as you pass iconic sights on a scenic cruise. Later in the day, dock in Libourne, a gateway to one of Bordeaux’s most elite wine regions. Join an excursion to Saint Émilion, known for its celebrated vineyards, and while here, explore the monolithic church carved out of one piece of limestone rock, and then go under the church to discover its catacombs and caves. Afterwards, enjoy a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting at either Château de Ferrand or Château de Pressac. If you prefer a more active adventure, pedal through the vineyard-rich countryside to Saint-Émilion and then to Château Soutard for a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting. You can also choose to tour the magnificent Château Vayres, one of the most prestigious historic buildings of Aquitaine. (B,L,D)
| Day 3 | Libourne | Walking Tour |
|
| | OR Bastide town and market visit |
|
| | OR Château Boutinet hike with wine and tapas tasting |
|
Stroll through the colorful, open-air Bastide Town market amid 16th-century architecture, while indulging in some of the region’s specialties. Or, you can get your heart pumping by venturing deeper into town on an invigorating bike or hiking tour while taking in Libourne’s breathtaking scenery and renowned vineyards. (B,L,D)
| | OR Blaye bike tour towards Les Etauliers |
|
| Bourg | Bourg walking tour, Carriage Museum and WWII Petrol Cistern |
|
Once in Blaye, you can join a tour of its 17th-century citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a more active excursion, take a bike ride around Blaye. Later in the day, you can choose to bike from Blaye to Bourg or towards Les Etauliers discovering beautiful châteaux through the idyllic French countryside. While in the ancient village of Bourg, take a walking tour and visit the Carriage Museum, which houses a wonderful collection of horse-drawn vehicles, as well as the World War II Petrol Cistern. Later in the day, experience the hospitality of this charming medieval village with an exclusive wine festival. Meet the local wine growers and taste the fruits of their labors as well as enjoy live French music and dancing. (B,L,D)
| Day 5 | Pauillac | Medoc Grand Cru Classé wine tasting and scenic vineyard tour |
|
Pauillac, a lovely village on the Left Bank of the Gironde Estuary, is gateway to the famed Médoc region, renowned for producing some of the world’s finest Bordeaux wines. You will see some of the most beautiful and famous wine estates, including Château Latour, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Pichon Longueville. You’ll then visit either Château Gruaud Larose or Château Léoville Poyferré for a tasting of Grand Cru wines. (B,L,D)
| Day 6 | Cadillac | Roquetaillade Castle with Sauternes wine tasting |
|
| Bordeaux | Illuminations cruise |
|
CADILLAC – BORDEAUX, FRANCE. Visit the impressive Castle of Roquetaillade, an amazingly preserved masterpiece of medieval military architecture owned by the same noble family for 700 years and travel to the Sauternes wine region to either Chateau de Rayne Vigneau or Chateau Guiraud to taste the highly prized golden-hued sweet wines produced here. In the evening, enjoy a spectacular illumination cruise, gazing at the iconic structures of Bordeaux as they glow against the night sky. (B,L,D)
| Day 7 | Bordeaux | UNESCO city tour and Wine Museum |
|
The breathtaking capital of the wine world, Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and classified as a “City of Art and History.” You’ll have an opportunity to experience much of the rich culture and architecture on a city tour followed by a visit to the immersive and interactive Bordeaux Wine Museum, housed in an awe-inspiring building. Bike enthusiasts will wish to join a tour along the city’s amazing network of bicycle paths. (B,L,D)
| Day 8 | Bordeaux | DISEMBARKATION |
|
Disembark the ship and prepare for your flight home. (B)
Embark the ship for your Taste of Bordeaux cruise. (D)
| Day 2 | Bordeaux | Scenic cruising |
|
| Libourne | Saint-Émilion excursion and Grand Cru Classé wine tasting |
|
| | OR Saint-Émilion bike tour and wine tasting |
|
Take in the romance of Bordeaux as you pass iconic sights on a scenic cruise. Later in the day, dock in Libourne, a gateway to one of Bordeaux’s most elite wine regions. Join an excursion to Saint Émilion, known for its celebrated vineyards, and while here, explore the monolithic church carved out of one piece of limestone rock, and then go under the church to discover its catacombs and caves. Afterwards, enjoy a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting at either Château de Ferrand or Château de Pressac. If you prefer a more active adventure, pedal through the vineyard-rich countryside to Saint-Émilion and then to Château Soutard for a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting. You can also choose to tour the magnificent Château Vayres, one of the most prestigious historic buildings of Aquitaine. (B,L,D)
| Day 3 | Libourne | Walking Tour |
|
| | OR Bastide town and market visit |
|
| | OR Château Boutinet hike with wine and tapas tasting |
|
Stroll through the colorful, open-air Bastide Town market amid 16th-century architecture, while indulging in some of the region’s specialties. Or, you can get your heart pumping by venturing deeper into town on an invigorating bike or hiking tour while taking in Libourne’s breathtaking scenery and renowned vineyards. (B,L,D)
| | OR Blaye bike tour towards Les Etauliers |
|
| Bourg | Bourg walking tour, Carriage Museum and WWII Petrol Cistern |
|
Once in Blaye, you can join a tour of its 17th-century citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a more active excursion, take a bike ride around Blaye. Later in the day, you can choose to bike from Blaye to Bourg or towards Les Etauliers discovering beautiful châteaux through the idyllic French countryside. While in the ancient village of Bourg, take a walking tour and visit the Carriage Museum, which houses a wonderful collection of horse-drawn vehicles, as well as the World War II Petrol Cistern. Later in the day, experience the hospitality of this charming medieval village with an exclusive wine festival. Meet the local wine growers and taste the fruits of their labors as well as enjoy live French music and dancing. (B,L,D)
| Day 5 | Pauillac | Medoc Grand Cru Classé wine tasting and scenic vineyard tour |
|
Pauillac, a lovely village on the Left Bank of the Gironde Estuary, is gateway to the famed Médoc region, renowned for producing some of the world’s finest Bordeaux wines. You will see some of the most beautiful and famous wine estates, including Château Latour, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Pichon Longueville. You’ll then visit either Château Gruaud Larose or Château Léoville Poyferré for a tasting of Grand Cru wines. (B,L,D)
| Day 6 | Cadillac | Roquetaillade Castle with Sauternes wine tasting |
|
| Bordeaux | Illuminations cruise |
|
CADILLAC – BORDEAUX, FRANCE. Visit the impressive Castle of Roquetaillade, an amazingly preserved masterpiece of medieval military architecture owned by the same noble family for 700 years and travel to the Sauternes wine region to either Chateau de Rayne Vigneau or Chateau Guiraud to taste the highly prized golden-hued sweet wines produced here. In the evening, enjoy a spectacular illumination cruise, gazing at the iconic structures of Bordeaux as they glow against the night sky. (B,L,D)
| Day 7 | Bordeaux | UNESCO city tour and Wine Museum |
|
The breathtaking capital of the wine world, Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and classified as a “City of Art and History.” You’ll have an opportunity to experience much of the rich culture and architecture on a city tour followed by a visit to the immersive and interactive Bordeaux Wine Museum, housed in an awe-inspiring building. Bike enthusiasts will wish to join a tour along the city’s amazing network of bicycle paths. (B,L,D)
| Day 8 | Bordeaux | DISEMBARKATION |
|
Disembark the ship and prepare for your flight home. (B)