Travel to France’s legendary wine capital, Bordeaux. Iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards and delicious wine tastings are plentiful as you visit Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Pauillac and Cadillac. This trip is a must for anyone interested in the best of French culture, lifestyle, wine and food.

OVERVIEW RIVER CRUISE:

DAY DESTINATION ACTIVITIES

1

BORDEAUX

EMBARKATION

2

BORDEAUX

Morning scenic cruising

Saint-Émilion excursion and Grand Cru Classé wine tasting

OR Saint-Émilion Excursion

OR Château de Vayres

OR Saint-Émilion bike tour and wine tasting

3

LIBOURNE

Bastide town and market visit

OR Fronsac Wine Tasting

OR Château Boutinet hike with wine and tapas tasting

Free evening

4

BLAYE

Citadel visit

OR Blaye bike tour towards Les Etauliers

Blaye to Bourg bike tour

Bourg walking tour and Carriage Museum

Exclusive wine festival

5

CUSSAC FORT MEDOC

Medoc Grand Cru Classé wine tasting and scenic vineyard tour

OR Margaux Vineyards hike & local specialties tasting

OR Soulac-sur-Mer
excursion

6

CADILLAC

Roquetaillade Castle with Sauternes wine tasting

OR Roquetaillade and Cadillac visit

OR Cadillac bike tour

7

BORDEAUX

UNESCO city tour and Wine Museum and market tasting

OR Bordeaux bike tour

Bordeaux Cite du Vin visit

OR Bassins de Lumières show

Illuminations cruise

8

BORDEAUX

DISEMBARKATION

RIVER CRUISE ITINERARY DETAILS :

Day 1: BORDEAUX

Embark the ship for your Taste of Bordeaux cruise. (D)

Day 2: BORDEAUX LIBOURNE

Take in the romance of Bordeaux as you pass iconic sights on a scenic morning 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. Alternately, you can enjoy an excursion to Saint-Émilion solely to discover more of the small historic town. If you prefer a more active adventure, pedal through the vineyardrich 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 BLAYE

Stroll through the colorful, openair market, tasting some of the region’s specialties. You can also choose to enjoy a tasting of local wines from one of the beautiful wine estates in the Fronsac region. Or, you can get your heart pumping by venturing deeper into town by hiking through one of Libourne’s renowned vineyards. Later in the day, set sail for Blaye, where you’ll enjoy an evening at your leisure. (B,L,D)

Day 4: BLAYE BOURG

Once in Blaye, you can join a tour of its 17thcentury 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 through the idyllic French countryside to Bourg. While in the ancient village of Bourg, take a walking tour and visit the Carriage Museum, which houses a wonderful collection of horsedrawn vehicles. 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: CUSSAC FORT MEDOC

Cussac-Fort Medoc, a lovely village on the 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. Alternately, you can visit Margaux Vineyards, a quaint wine estate, followed by a wine and local specialties tasting. Or, enjoy a coast drive to Soulac-sur-Mer where you’ll see unique sights, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Cordouan lighthouse known to be the oldest in France. (B,L,D)

Day 6: CADILLAC BORDEAUX

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 goldenhued sweet wines produced here. For those wishing to explore more of the history on the decadent castles, you can enjoy a visit to the Roquetaillade castle and Cadillac castle. Or, pedal through the charming town of Cadillac for a guided bike tour. (B,L,D)

Day 7: BORDEAUX

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 famed indoor Les Halles de Bacalan market for a tasting of local specialties to please the palate. Bike enthusiasts will wish to join a tour along the city’s amazing network of bicycle paths. Depending on your interests, you have a choice from three excursions in the afternoon. Enjoy a visit to the immersive and interactive Bordeaux Wine Museum, housed in an aweinspiring building. Alternately, be treated to a spectacular sound and light show, Les Bassins des Lumières. Or, explore the enriching city of Bordeaux at your own leisure. 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 8: BORDEAUX

Disembark the ship and prepare for your flight home. (B)