Aquitaine River Cruise -Wines of SouthernFrance
France
All Inclusive
£1852
5 nights in France
What to expect
Explore Wine Regions
Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion & the Médoc
Optional Excursions
Sightseeing
The Gironde Estuary, Libourne & more
MS Cyrano De Bergerac
Your own cabin with panoramic views
About this trip...
Settle into life on board the MS Cyrano De Bergerac and share an easy-going river cruise as you glide through one of France’s most celebrated wine regions. Cruising the Garonne and Dordogne, you’ll enjoy discovering Bordeaux and its surrounding landscapes, while having your own private cabin to retreat to whenever you wish. With flights, transfers, all-inclusive dining and drinks, and a Tour Leader taking care of the details, the experience feels relaxed, sociable and completely effortless—leaving you free to enjoy great company, beautiful scenery and the simple pleasure of slow travel.
What's included?
Flights from London Gatwick to Bordeaux-
Transfers
Main deck sole occupancy cabin
All Inclusive
Official welcome from the captain and crew
Tour Leader
Fully Financially Protected
What's extra:
- Prices available on request for regional flights
- Cabin upgrades – prices available on request
- Shore Excursions
- Insurance click here
Itinerary
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux-Cussac-Fort Medoc
- Cussac-Fort Medoc- The Gironde Estuary
- Blaye-Libourne-Saint Emillion
- Libourne-Bordeaux
- Bordeaux
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrival into Bordeaux
Day 2: Bordeaux - Cussac-Fort-Medoc - The Médoc
- All Inclusive
This excursion can only be pre-booked. Price £74.
Departure by coach to discover the Médoc, prestigious wine-growing region. A corner of the world that produces the most prestigious red wines on the planet, tightly wedged between an ocean and an estuary. A mild, humid microclimate which has been favourable to the development of the vines. We will go through most of the Médoc appellations (Saint Julien, Margaux, Haut-Médoc). On the famous Châteaux Route, we will stop to taste the famous wines of the region. On the way you will see major domains such as Châteaux Laffitte-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. Return to the boat at the end of the afternoon.
NB: Visit mostly by coach. Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation. The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.
Day Three: Cussac-Fort-Medoc - The Gironde Estuary - Blaye
- All Inclusive
Blaye & its citadel in a tourist train with a tasting of regional products and wine. Price before departure £42 - On board £47.
We'll set off on a tourist train to discover the history and heritage of Blaye and its citadel. Perched on a cliff with a magnificent view of the Gironde Estuary, the Blaye Citadel has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garrison possesses immense gates, underground passages, fortified buildings, and almost a mile of ramparts. The defence system created by Vauban to defend Bordeaux from invasions has remained intact. This tour will take you along the historic streets of Blaye and introduce you to the citadel's architecture. You'll then cross the vineyards to the Château Marquis de Vauban restaurant to tour the wine cellar and enjoy a tasting of local products. We’ll return to the ship on the train. *
NB: Times are approximate. The order of the visits can change. Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes. *Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.
Day Four: Blaye - Libourne - Saint-Émilion
We'll cruise to Libourne, a town rich with history and full of character located at the confluence with the Isle and the Dordogne Rivers. Upon arrival, join us on the optional excursions proposed. We'll return on board in Libourne. Tonight is our festive gala dinner and evening.
- All Inclusive
Guided tour of the underground monuments in Saint-Émilion village. Your guide will tell you all about the history of the medieval town. You will then visit an exceptional troglodytic site with, undoubtedly, its most original monument, the Monolithic church. Hewn entirely in limestone, it is the largest in Europe. You will then depart for a visit of a family-owned wine-growing estate, where you will be welcomed by the owner, who will explain the stages of the wine-making process in Saint-Émilion. A wine tasting* session will complete the visit. Return to Libourne by coach.
NB: The tour will take place entirely on foot, so wear sturdy shoes
The visit to the underground sites involves certain rooms which may be poorly lit and confined.
*Alcohol abuse is dangerous to your health, please consume with moderation.
The order of visits can be modified. Times are approximate.
DISCOVERY: Libourne by bike and wine tasting*. Price before departure £89 - £99 on board
Discover this former English bastide. Located at the confluence of the Isle and Dordogne Rivers, Libourne expanded around its port. We'll see the Saint John the Baptist Church, Abel Surchamp Square, and the imposing clock tower in the grand harbour. Then, we'll hop on our electric bikes and head over to the Pomerol wine-growing area. We'll enjoy a wine tasting*
PLEASE NOTE: Please wear sturdy shoes/ *Alcohol abuse is dangerous to your health, please consume with moderation. The order of visits can be modified. Times are approximate. Electrically assisted bicycles available - Helmets are provided on all our cycling tours.
Day Five: Libourne - Bordeaux
We'll cruise towards Bordeaux this morning. Join us on the optional excursions proposed. When we return, we enjoy an evening of entertainment.
- All Inclusive
CLASSIC: The Chartrons District, Wine and Commerce Museum. Price before departure £50 – On board £56
The Chartrons District, Wine and Commerce Museum. Set out with your guide on foot to explore the old neighbourhood where wine merchants performed their trade—the Chartrons District. You'll visit the Wine and Commerce Museum to trace the history of Bordeaux's classic nectar. We'll enjoy a tasting of wine.*
NB: Please wear sturdy shoes. The order of visits can be modified. Times are approximate. *Alcohol abuse is dangerous to your health, please consume with moderation.
DISCOVERY: The Bassins des Lumières Price: Price before departure £73 - £82 On board
With our guide leading you, discover this unique digital art centre within a former submarine base built by the Germans during their occupation of France during World War II. Each year, the centre hosts a different multimedia exhibit, perfectly adapted to the architecture's grandeur and reflective waters.
Day Six: Bordeaux
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00am and transfer to the airport for our flight home, taking with us memories of a fabulous holiday.
- Breakfast included
Accommodation
MS Cyrano De Bergerac
Every shade of blue, from night blue on the walls to the soft blue on the leather sofas, dress every space of the ship. The colour orange brings a touch of pep to the lounge / bar. During the cruise, all meals are served in the restaurant which is located on the middle deck. The lounge / bar, at the front of the ship, will welcome passengers during evening entertainment, aperitif games... Do not hesitate to go to the sun deck to relax! Equipped with armchairs and sun loungers you can relax while enjoying a panoramic view of the landscapes.
Facilities include:
Every shade of blue, from night blue on the walls to the soft blue on the leather sofas, dress every space of the ship. The colour orange brings a touch of pep to the lounge / bar.
The upper deck cabins have wide windows with French balconies, the ones on the middle deck have large windows and on the main deck the cabins have portholes.
During the cruise, all meals are served in the restaurant which is located on the middle deck. The lounge / bar, at the front of the ship, will welcome passengers
during evening entertainment, aperitif games... Do not hesitate to go to the sun deck to relax! Equipped with armchairs and sun loungers you can relax while enjoying a panoramic view of the landscapes.
Room includes:
The upper deck cabins have wide windows with French balconies, those on the middle deck have large windows and on the main deck the cabins have portholes.
Amenities: TV, telephone (for internal calls only), bathroom with shower and toilet, towels, safe, independent air-conditioning, electricity 220V, Wi-Fi.
Please note that there is no laundry service on board the ship.
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
From the 12th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.
WhatsApp Group: Shortly before your holiday, you will be invited to join an optional WhatsApp group to connect with your fellow travellers and your Tour Leader. If you choose to join the WhatsApp group, you’re consenting to your phone number being visible to other travellers. Photos or messages may be shared within the group. Solos may use group content for marketing purposes. You can opt out at any time by emailing: [email protected].
If you would prefer not to join the WhatsApp group, you can simply meet the group on your first day instead. Please note, if you have not received an email within 24 hours of departure, we recommend you check your email junk folder. Upon the conclusion of your holiday, please be informed that we will close your specific holiday WhatsApp group. Therefore, we recommend making personal arrangements with those you wish to stay in touch with before the holiday concludes.
Passport and visas To enter France your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
- less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit ; France Foreign Advice
If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.
From the 12th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.
- the latest information on health risks and what vaccinations you need in TravelHealthPro’s France guide
- where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page
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