A taste of Bordeaux 7 night river cruise is a trip you must do. Enjoy a wine river cruise that will create lasting memories. 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.
On our wine river cruise, 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.
Wine River Cruise
Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town offers stunning views of vineyards and beautiful examples of architecture from ancient times to modern day.
The beginning of the wine tradition in this town dates back to the Ancient Romans, earning Saint-Émilion the title of the oldest wine producing appellation in the Bordeaux region.
On the Taste of Bordeaux river cruise, guests will have the opportunity to join an excursion to the town of Saint-Émilion. There, you will attend a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting and experience the top wines of the region. Guests will also tour through the famous cathedral, and explore its catacombs and massive underground church.
The Château de Chenonceau is the most visited French château after Versailles. Stunning in its blend of late Gothic and early Renaissance architecture — it’s actually part castle and part bridge. Spanning across the Cher River.
It is home to splendid gardens, intricate mazes, forests, a canal, and opulently decorated rooms with 16th century tapestries and bouquets of fresh flowers.
Celebrate life’s sweetest moments with an intoxicating pairing of ultra-rich, honeyed Sauternes wine from Bordeaux. Taste this delicious wine for yourself on an included excursion, available during our Taste of Bordeaux itinerary. Common flavor notes include apricots, honey, peaches, and a rich nuttiness. Although sweet, it pairs perfectly with savory flavors, relishing with the contrast.
A taste of Bordeaux Itinerary
| DAY 1 | EMBARKATION | |
| DAY 2 | Bordeaux | Morning scenic cruising |
| Libourne | Bordeaux | |
| OR Saint-Émilion Excursion | ||
| OR Château de Vayres | ||
| OR Saint-Émilion bike tour and wine tasting | ||
| DAY 3 | Libourne | Bastide town and market visit |
| OR Fronsac Wine Tasting | ||
| OR Château Boutinet hike with wine and tapas tasting | ||
| Free evening | ||
| DAY 4 | Blaye | Citadel visit |
| Blaye | OR Blaye bike tour towards Les Etauliers | |
| Blaye to Bourg bike tour | ||
| Bourg | Bourg walking tour and Carriage Museum | |
| Exclusive wine festival | ||
| DAY 5 | Pauillac | Medoc Grand Cru Classé wine tasting and scenic vineyard tour |
| OR Lynch Bages Village visit & local specialties tasting | ||
| OR Soulac-sur-Mer excursion | ||
| DAY 6 | Cadillac | Roquetaillade Castle with Sauternes wine tasting |
| Bordeaux | OR Roquetaillade and Cadillac visit | |
| OR Cadillac bike tour | ||
| DAY 7 | Bordeaux | UNESCO city tour and market tasting |
| OR Bordeaux bike tour | ||
| Bordeaux Cité du Vin visit | ||
| OR Bassins de Lumières show | ||
| Illuminations cruise | ||
| DAY 8 | Bordeaux | DISEMBARKATION |
7 Night River Cruise Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: BORDEAUX. Embark the ship for your Taste of Bordeaux 7 Night River cruise. (D)
Day 2: BORDEAUX LIBOURNE. Take in the romance of Bordeaux as you pass iconic sights on a scenic wine river cruise. Later in the day, dock in Libourne, a gateway to one of Bordeaux’s most elite wine regions. Join an excursion to to Saint Émilion, known for its celebrated vineyards. While there, explore the monolithic church carved out of one piece of limestone rock. Then go under the church to discover its catacombs. Afterwards, enjoy a grand Cru Classe’ 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 vineyard rich countryside to Saint E’millon. Then go to the Château Soutard for a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting. You can also choose to tour the magnificent Chateau Vayres. It is one of the most prestigious historic buildings of Aquitaine. (B,L,D)
Visit Libourne Blaye
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. This is truly a great wine river cruise. 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 will 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 bikeride 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. It is the house of a wonderful collection of horse drawn vehicles. Later in the day, experience the hospitality of this charming medieval 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)
Pauillac
Day 5: PAUILLAC. Pauillac, a lovely village on the Left Bank of the Gironde Estuary. It is a gateway to the famed Médoc region, renowned for producing some of the world’s finest wines. You will see some of the most beautiful and famous wine estates including Château Latour, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Pichon longueville. You will then visit either Chateau Gruaud Larose or Chateau Le’oville. For a tasting of Grand Cru wines. Alternately, you can visit Lynch Bages, a quaint wine estate and village. This is followed by a wine and local specialities tasting. Or enjoy a cost drive to SoulacsurMer where you’ll see unique sights, such as the statue of Liberty and the 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. It is owned by the same noble family of 700 years. Travel to the Sauternes wine region to either Chateau de Rayne Vigneau or Chateau Guiraud. Taste the highly prized goldenhued sweet wines produce there. 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)
Boreaux
Day 7: BORDEAUX. The breathtaking capital of the wine world. In fact, Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is classified as a “City of Art and History.” You will have an opportunity to experience much of the rich culture and architecture on a city tour. This is 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 awe inspiring building. Alternately, be treated to a specular sound and light show, les Bassins Lumierres. Or, explore the enriching city of Bordeaux at your own leisure. In the evening, enjoy a specular 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)
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