As described by Victor Hugo, Bordeaux combines the best of wealthy Versailles and elegance of Antwerp.
Between terroir and cultural discoveries, our cruises from Bordeaux on the Garonne River, the Dordogne River and the Gironde, will help you discover the French traditions and France’s “Sleeping Beauty” in a new light.
Located in the region of Aquitaine, in Southwest France, the city’s name is synonymous world over with the French well-known red wine produced in the region so it is no surprise that the world of wines and vineyards is in the spotlight: our wine cruise will allow you to discover some of the best Bordeaux wines along with the prestigious vineyards of the Médoc and Sauternes. A stop on the famous road of the castles of the region is planned for a wine tasting. This is also an opportunity to discover Saint-Emilion, known for its great wine and its Romanesque churches and where you can explore a cavernous underground church that’s the largest of its kind in Europe. The region is also home to some of the best French pastries, so why not treat yourself with Blaye’s pralines or sweet caramel crusted cakes, called the cannelés?
If Bordeaux is heaven for food lovers and wine afficionados, nature is also at the heart of these cruises, with the discovery of the Gironde estuary, the Bassin d'Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat. Between oyster tasting and hiking in the Gironde region in the heart of Aquitaine, these cruises are always characterized by the comfort and the quality of welcome of the CroisiEurope fleet in Aquitaine.
CroisiEurope also offers you the opportunity to discover the beauties of the region during the end-of-year celebrations. Whether you wish to discover the region under the sun or prefer to celebrate the winter holidays in the South-West of France, CroisiEurope offers you many options!
Combining local flavors with cultural discoveries, cruises on the Garonne and Gironde rivers offer a fresh perspective on French traditions, with Bordeaux as the perfect backdrop. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this “sleeping beauty” that has become a “city of light” reveals itself through its riverbanks, lively neighborhoods, and museums, including the Bassins des Lumières, an immersive experience set within a former submarine base. From the banks of the Garonne to the medieval alleyways of Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux and its region reveal a generous way of life, marked by elegance and warmth.
The world of wine and vineyards takes center stage throughout these cruises: the Médoc Grand Cru route, one of the most beautiful wine routes in the world, leads from prestigious châteaux to exceptional tastings, accompanied on board by our sommelier. Saint-Émilion, a hilltop medieval village renowned for its exceptional wines, the Vauban citadel of Blaye—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the Château de Roquetaillade round out an itinerary where wine treasures and architectural gems complement one another at every stop. These cruises also offer the opportunity to travel to the Basque Country, at the foot of the Pyrenees, to discover the flavors of Espelette pepper, Bayonne chocolate, and Irouléguy wines before setting sail for Bordeaux.
Cruises on the Garonne also offer a glimpse into the great outdoors of southwestern France: the voyage to Royan in the Gironde Estuary, exclusive to CroisiEurope, reveals spectacular landscapes between the river and the Atlantic. The Arcachon Basin, with its famous stilted huts and oyster beds, and the Dune du Pilat, the tallest and most majestic dune in Europe, create a breathtaking natural scene. Further north, the maritime cities of Rochefortn, a “City of Art and History” with its Corderie Royale, and La Rochelle, with its old port and arcaded streets, add a beautiful historical dimension to these stops between land and sea.
This is my second cruise with CroisEurope, and this one has been particularly enjoyable. The hospitality and service were top-notch. The dining experience and the quality of the food were impeccable. I’m planning a third cruise in a few months. The view from the river is so different from traveling by road… it’s like rediscovering the regions.
