Exclusively with Rewarding Times, experience a five star all-inclusive cruise of the Aquitaine Region - Bordeaux to La Rochelle.

 Offer price for two people €4,358

 Normal price for two people €4,758

 Save €400.00

 Departure: Friday, May 22nd 2020

 Offer includes:

 Return flights Dublin to Bordeaux with Aer Lingus

Return transfer from airport to port

Six night cruise on board Five Anchor MS Symphonie based on two sharing a main deck cabin

Refined French cuisine on a full board basis

Drinks included throughout the cruise

Excursions as outlined in the itinerary

Gala evening and dinner

Onboard activities

Welcome cocktail

Airport taxes, 10kg hand luggage and 20kg check-in bag per cabin

Upper deck cabin available - supplement applies

 This magnificent itinerary will take you to the heart of Southwestern France, well known for its idyllic landscapes, famous wines, historical monuments, and emblematic sites. What better way to explore this part of French paradise than through longstanding maritime cities and an unequivocal art of living? 

 Itinerary:

DAY 1

BORDEAUX - PAUILLAC

On arrival in Bordeaux you will be transferred to the ship for boarding. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew and a welcome cocktail and enjoy our first evening together. We’ll begin our cruise on the Garonne River, before entering the Gironde River where we’ll pass the islands of Cazeau and Patiras before reaching Pauillac.

DAY 2

PAUILLAC - THE MEDOC - GIRONDE ESTUARY - ROYAN

Pauillac has managed to preserve the mansions formerly belonging to nobility along its waterfront that were constructed with great blocks of stone.

Morning excursion : Tour through the Médoc vineyards. Visit the prestigious earth at the end of the world that nurtures the most renowned red wines of the planet, tucked between and an ocean and an estuary.  We’ll cross through most of the famed names in the Médoc region—Saint Julien, Haut-Médoc, etc.— stopping along the celebrated wine route to have a tasting of some of the illustrious regional wines.  We’ll then pass by the marshes, steep cliffs of Meschers-sur-Gironde, troglodyte homes, and fishing cabins before arriving in Royan.

Afternoon (Optional) excursion: Royan and its waterfront. Join us for a panoramic tour of Royan, a seaside city and an official French "Ville d’Art et d’Histoire." Villas from the Belle Epoque and the charming “retro” homes from the 1950s line the waterfront.  After our excursion, we will return on board the ship. Join us then for an evening of dinner and dancing.

DAY 3

ROYAN - ROCHEFORT - LA ROCHELLE - ROYAN

Day Excursion: The seaside cities of Rochefort and La Rochelle. We’ll leave by coach for Rochefort. Rochefort was originally chosen by Jean-Baptiste Colbert as a refuge, defense, and supply post for the French navy back in the mid-1660s. The historical downtown area boasts lovely private mansions and beautiful homes where the legendary sailors and explorers lived. We’ll visit the Corderie Royale, a historical rope-making factory. At the end of our afternoon, we’ll return to Royan for dinner and an evening of entertainment.

DAY 4

ROYAN - SAINTES - MESCHERS-SUR-GIRONDE - LIBOURNE

Morning excursion: Saintes. Saintes has accumulated almost two thousand years of history, marked by its rich heritage and its Gallo-Roman and medieval ruins. We’ll visit the Roman theater, one of the oldest from the era. The theater can hold up to 15,000 attendees and was used as a showplace for battles between gladiators and wild animals for almost three centuries. We’ll then continue on to the Saint-Eutrope Basilica. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the Way of St. James, it is one of the most important monuments in the city and its crypt has been described as fascinating and impressive on online tourist reviews.

Afternoon excursion: Talmont-sur-Gironde and Meschers-sur-Gironde. We’ll visit a typical French seaside village with tons of charm which is officially listed as one the most beautiful villages in the country. Talmont-sur-Gironde is lined with cobblestone streets that take you to the white tower on the coastline, up to its beautiful Romanesque church, and over to the quaint port. We’ll begin to cruise to our next stop, spending the rest of our day cruising up the Dordogne to Libourne.

DAY 5

LIBOURNE - BORDEAUX

Morning excursion: Saint-Émilion. We will take a guided tour of Saint-Émilion's underground monuments, discovering the rich history of this medieval city, including its enigmatic monolithic church. We’ll then head to a vineyard where we’ll learn how the famous local wine is produced. We’ll enjoy a tasting of local products at the end of our tour. We’ll then spend the afternoon cruising to Bordeaux. 

Evening excursion : Guided tour of Bordeaux at night. We’ll leave by coach for a panoramic tour of the city, where you’ll be able to discover the main monuments, followed by a tour on foot of the old quarter of Bordeaux. We’ll discover the impressive areas such as the Place des Quinconces and the Grand Théâtre, as well as the intimate side streets tucked around the Place Saint Pierre. After our excursion, we will return on board the ship.

DAY 6

BORDEAUX - CADILLAC

Morning excursions:  A visit to the magnificent and prestigious Château de Roquetaillade. This castle has been the backdrop for several French films including Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte des Loups) and Fanfan la Tulipe. Explore the towers and keeps in this medieval château and take time to learn about the architecture, interiors, and ambiance of French life almost 500 years ago.  We’ll then head to a wine cellar in the Sauternais to enjoy a tasting of the famous Sauternes wine. Afterward, we’ll return to Cadillac for a guided tour of the city. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Bordeaux, and we’ll arrive during the evening for our festive gala evening.

DAY 7

BORDEAUX

Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking for your transfer to the airport for your return flight home.