Discover an exceptional region- Gironde Estuary and Arcachon Bay

Board the MS Princesse d'Aquitaine between 6 and 7 PM and settle in your cabin. Explore the ship and meet the crew during a welcome cocktail party. Enjoy dinner on board.

Sail down the Garonne River to join the Gironde River, passing Cazeau Island and Patiras Island before arriving in Pauillac. After lunch, embark on an optional excursion to Medoc, a renowned vineyard region where the world's most famous red wines are cultivated. Then, have the opportunity to see the “must see”châteaux Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. Return on board for dinner and an evening of entertainment. Moor for the night in Pauillac.

Cruise along the Gironde River to its estuary and enjoy a relaxing lunch on board before arriving in Blaye around 2 PM. Join an optional excursion along the Corniche, or cliff route. Stop in the village of Bourg, a charming city built on a rocky outcrop enclosed by medieval ramparts. Then return to Blaye, for a visit the citadel. Go back on the ship for a delightfull dinner followed by an evening of dancing. Moor for the night in Blaye. 

Set sail early this morning, taking breakfast as you cruise, heading towards Libourne. Join the river Dordogne and head for Libourne arriving in the early afternoon. After lunch on board, set off by coach on an optional excursion of Saint-Emilion. Enjoy a guided visit of the underground monuments of Saint-Emilion village as your guide introduce you to the history of the medieval city. Then visit an exceptional Troglodyte settlement - the cave of Emilion, and enjoy a tasting to conclude your visit. Rejoin your floating hotel in Libourne at the end of the afternoon. After dinner on board have an evening’s entertainment provided by your crew before you moor for the night.

Have breakfast as you cruise this morning, heading for Cadillac. Lunch on board before you enjoy an afternoon of optional guided visits to the Roquetaillade châ-teau and to Cadillac. Set off by coach for the Roquetaillade châ- teau. Return on board for dinner and enjoy a free evening in the charming Cadillac. Moor for the night in Cadillac.

Cruise back to Bordeaux in the morning and arrive in the early afternoon. Set off by coach on an optional guided tour of Bordeaux. A city of art and architecture, Bordeaux is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Join a tour by bus before walking through the ancient city. Return on board for dinner and the rest of the evening is free.

Today chooose between two optional excursions:

1) After breakfast on board, set off for an optional excursion of the centre of the Arcachon Bay (lunch included). Begin the tour with a visit of the oyster centre and museum situated at Larros Port. A modern, interactive scenography helps you to discover oyster farming and the history of the oyster. Then visit an oyster cabins and taste some oysters. Have lunch in a local restaurant and get back on the road heading to Arcachon, for a boat trip on the Bassin d’Arcachon. See the Bird Island, the famous "Cabanes tchanquées" houses on stilts and the the oyster beds. Then visit the GreatDune of Pilat, at 107m the highest sand dune in Europe. The view from the top is awe-inspiring. Return to Bordeaux at the end of the day. Your gala dinner on board is followed by an evening of dancing.

2) After breakfast depart for the optional excursion of Cognac (lunch included). Start with a visit of a major Cognac house, followed by a tasting session. Lunch is provided in a local restaurant before a tour of the town by tourist train, complete with commentary, along the roads and quaysides, passing monuments and Cognac’s public gardens. Next visit the Cognac Museum of Arts (closed on Mondays), and learn about the enthralling adventure of the “Liqueur of the Gods”with much information about vine growing and harvesting, wine production, distilling, barrel making, wine and Cognac trade, the glass industry and also packaging design - a modern addition. On Mondays, there is a guided visit of the chateau of Cognac, birthplace of French king, François I. A historic building dating from the 13th to 16th centuries, the chateau is a wonderful blend of the history of both Cognac and France. Visit is followed by a tasting session in Baron Otard’s cognac cellars. Return to Bordeaux at the end of the day. Enjoy a gala dinner on board followed by an evening of dancing.

Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking at 9 AM.