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7-night Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux, Wineries and Charming Villages Cruise

Roundtrip Bordeaux
7-night Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux, Wineries and Charming Villages Cruise
March 25, 2025
Avalon Waterways: Avalon Artistry II®
Roundtrip Bordeaux
Vacation Offer ID 1543058
Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.
Exclusive Offer
  • One Complimentary Pre or Post-Cruise Night OR $300 per Couple Savings*

*Savings, applied to a purchased Land Extension, is provided only if the Pre or Post-Cruise Night is unavailable.

Overview
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Ship Info
|
Staterooms
|
Deckplans
The Signature Collection – Exclusive Amenities
The Signature Collection Sailings offer Exceptional Value and Exclusive Amenities.

Cruise Inclusions

  • Choice of complimentary sightseeing excursions in every port – choose between Classic, Active or Discovery options
  • Whisper headsets for all excursions
  • Digital Signage ship-wide with daily agenda, menus, key details
  • Unlimited free Wi-Fi
  • Visits to UNESCO Sites
  • Enrichment lectures & local entertainment, dance floor and nightly song lists
  • Meals with regional specialties, including local wine
  • Sky Deck grill for lunch – weather permitting
  • Welcome Dinner & Farewell Dinner
  • Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner – sparkling wine with breakfast
  • 24-hour specialty coffees, teas & water filling station, including flavored waters
  • 24-hour Club Lounge (includes coffee machine), games, books, TVs, great views!
  • Walking track & sky deck
  • Fitness room with machines and free weights
  • Adventure Host and Adventure center (maps, binoculars, walking sticks, etc)
  • Afternoon tea (coffee, tea, sandwiches and cookies)
  • 16 bikes on board
  • Movie Night
  • Elevator between stateroom decks
  • 24-hour guest services
  • All port taxes & fees
  • Airport transfers on embarkation/disembarkation day with Avalon Air purchase
  • No single use plastics

YOUR STATEROOM INCLUDES:

  • River-view stateroom Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; Comfort Collection bedding, including choice of pillow and firmness (Panorama Suites 200 sq feet)
  • Desk area with chair
  • Spacious closets and under bed storage
  • Panorama Suites include Wall-to-wall window with Open-Air Balcony
  • Panorama Suites include loveseat and table with chair seating area
  • Panorama Suites include extra large bathroom and spacious glass enclosed shower
  • Flat-screen LCD TV with complimentary Movies On Demand
  • 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
  • Mini Bar; security safe; hair dryer
  • L’Occitane® toiletries; plush robes & slippers in every stateroom
  • Stateroom steward & multiple times daily housekeeping
  • Destination Guide
  • Suggested Shore Excursions
Destination Arrival Departure
Bordeaux

Bordeaux 03/25/2025

Welcome to France! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding Flights into Bordeaux must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Your day is free to explore the city before starting your cruise on the Garonne and Dordogne. Get acquainted with this city, capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and famous worldwide for its vineyards and wines.

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Bordeaux - About Grape Varietals… - 8 hours
Several possibilities based on the theme of grape varietals, be it wine tastings or, practical activities. The great Bordeaux wines will no longer hold any secrets for you. 

It's possible to have this activity in any Bordeaux wine appellation!

Wine tasting:  Merlot or Cabernet?

There are 2 major top grape varieties in Bordeaux:  Cabernet Sauvignon produces Ch. Mouton Rothschild and Merlot Pétrus. Each grape variety taste very different. The terroir and the work carried out by Man can exalt each grape and create amazing Bordeaux wines. During the blind tasting find out which grape has been used in the wine before or after its oak ageing. Merlot or Cabernet? 

Theory put in practice:
Blending is an art
Several grape varieties tasting different are available to the wine maker. He/she is an artist making rational or subjective choices in order to elaborate a great wine. Be the wine maker and create your own cuvée but explain your logic first. Does it match? Each group forms a team. 

Wine taster & Expert
Learn how to taste wines like a professional with fun. You also learn about the tricks of the trade. Words like single variety, futures, blended wines, bottled wine and ageing wine will have no more secrets for you. While tasting several wines, you may recognize which wine and term match together. 
 
09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting separate grapes varieties and then have a blending session
05:00pm - End of the tour


Tour Duration: 8 hours 
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,

 
Package price includes
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits
  • Blending sessions
Bordeaux - Wine Architecture in Saint-Emilion - 8 hours
Modern Temples of Bacchus
 
To wine lovers everywhere, the grand vintages of the Bordeaux region of France have long been regarded as the true pinnacle of excellence.

The methods and philosophies used in their production have by and large remained true to the old traditions; modern technology however has undeniably played an ever-more important role in recent years.

To add even more significance to this glorious culture of the grape, if that was possible, the past  decade has seen some of Europe’s most highly-acclaimed and imaginative architects taking time off from their ground-breaking and spectacular major urban projects to contribute their innovative designs to the cellars and vat rooms of some of the region’s top châteaux.

Discover Architectures / Understand Classification/Discover techniques of wine making and appreciate wine tastings!

09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères                         
11:30   am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it’s perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.
The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting Chateau La Dominique
05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible:  no
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes 
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits
  • Monument tour in Saint-Emilion
Bordeaux - Gourmet tour - 8 hours
We invite you to enjoy a gourmet guided tour of Bordeaux which has been listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in June 2007.

“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work.

Our visit offers to combine historic discovery with regional and typical "delicacies" punctuated by three stops at specialized producers:

Tasting of ewe cheese with jam of cherries from Pyrenean mountains
Tasting of cannelé a very local sweet specialty at Baillardran,
And of course a "wine tasting" in a bistro…

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

 
Package includes 
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
- All entrance fees & tasting
- All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
Not available during French Bank Holiday
Bordeaux - Cultural tour - 8 hours
“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work. 

The futuristic tram network established in 2005 is evidence of the dynamism of today’s Bordeaux and the historic heart which has been given back to pedestrians, allow the visitors to discover the principal monuments illustrating the city’s History: the Palais Gallien amphitheatre (4th century), the Saint Seurin Basilica (11th century foundations), the Saint André Cathedral (13th century), the Porte Cailhau and the "Grosse Cloche" ("big bell", 15th century). 

The 18th century gave the city its outstanding "Grand Theatre", a national opera house built in 1781, and the Allées de Tourny, as well as the remarkable waterfront buildings and the Place de la Bourse (formerly the Place Royale), a quarter over 4 kilometres in length which serves as the backdrop for the port’s trading activities.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
 
Package includes
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
  • All entrance fees
  • All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
Not available on May 1st, January 01st & December 25
Bordeaux -Saint Emilion Wine Tour - 8 hours
In the morning, departure with your English speaking driver guide to Saint Emilion.
 
Surrounded by its vineyards, the city offers ancient ramparts, monuments and narrow streets. The village and the vineyards have been classed as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco in 1999.

“Grape production was introduced into this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans and was intensified during the Middle Age. The area of Saint-Émilion benefited from its position on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella and several churches, monasteries and hospices were built there from the XIth century onwards. It was granted its own jurisdictional status during the period of English rule in the XIIth century. This is an exceptional landscape entirely given over to grape-production and whose towns and villages are home to outstanding historic monuments.” (Unesco Cit.)

Centuries after the Latin poet Ausonius, the hermit Emilion found here peace and tranquility, which were necessary for his meditation. He discovered a grotto watered by a natural spring in the rocky centre of what is now the town bearing his name, where he lived until his death.

Private guided tour of the principal sights of the medieval town: the Emilion Hermitage, the Tour du Roy built in the 13th century by Richard the Lion heart, the collegiate church and its 14th century cloister and, above all, the exceptional monolithic church and its catacombs dug out of the limestone cliff between the 9th and the 11th centuries. Its 38 metre span makes it the largest such church in Europe.

Lunch will take place at a restaurant located in the city.

In the afternoon, visit with wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light, 

 
Package Includes 
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
  • All entrance fees & tasting
  • All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
May 1st - due to French law, cost double and most of the Wine estate are close 

 
Bordeaux - A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting… - 8 hours

 A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting…

Taste and identify the differences between the great Bordeaux wines, according to the vintage…

Wine experts give a great importance to Vintages. Why is it so important? How to recognize the quality of the vintage? How to guess the vintage? Should we agree or is it a matter of taste? Let us taste 4 vintages from the same wine property and comment. The expert guides you and shares his knowledge while you comment and learn tricks of the trade.
 

Château Grand Vertical Tasting Workshop

The privilege of tasting 6 great vintages dating back as far as 20 years:

• Château de Ferrand 1988 & 1989

• Château de Ferrand 1998 & 1999

• Château de Ferrand 2008 & 2009


This workshop includes a private tour, an initiation into aromas, a tasting of 6 vintages, and a food/wine pairing with our “Assiette Gourmande”.

Schedule: 

09:00am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères

11:30am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it is perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.

The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.

12:30pm to 02:00pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting at Chateau  La Dominique

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,


Package price includes

  • Transportation: Pick up/drop off at the Port
  • Day Tour: English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits and vertical workshop
03/25/2025 03/25/2025
Cadillac
03/26/2025 03/26/2025
Fort Medoc
03/27/2025 03/27/2025
Blaye
03/28/2025 03/28/2025
Libourne
03/29/2025 03/29/2025
Saint-Emilion
03/29/2025 03/29/2025
Bordeaux

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Bordeaux - About Grape Varietals… - 8 hours
Several possibilities based on the theme of grape varietals, be it wine tastings or, practical activities. The great Bordeaux wines will no longer hold any secrets for you. 

It's possible to have this activity in any Bordeaux wine appellation!

Wine tasting:  Merlot or Cabernet?

There are 2 major top grape varieties in Bordeaux:  Cabernet Sauvignon produces Ch. Mouton Rothschild and Merlot Pétrus. Each grape variety taste very different. The terroir and the work carried out by Man can exalt each grape and create amazing Bordeaux wines. During the blind tasting find out which grape has been used in the wine before or after its oak ageing. Merlot or Cabernet? 

Theory put in practice:
Blending is an art
Several grape varieties tasting different are available to the wine maker. He/she is an artist making rational or subjective choices in order to elaborate a great wine. Be the wine maker and create your own cuvée but explain your logic first. Does it match? Each group forms a team. 

Wine taster & Expert
Learn how to taste wines like a professional with fun. You also learn about the tricks of the trade. Words like single variety, futures, blended wines, bottled wine and ageing wine will have no more secrets for you. While tasting several wines, you may recognize which wine and term match together. 
 
09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting separate grapes varieties and then have a blending session
05:00pm - End of the tour


Tour Duration: 8 hours 
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,

 
Package price includes
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits
  • Blending sessions
Bordeaux - Wine Architecture in Saint-Emilion - 8 hours
Modern Temples of Bacchus
 
To wine lovers everywhere, the grand vintages of the Bordeaux region of France have long been regarded as the true pinnacle of excellence.

The methods and philosophies used in their production have by and large remained true to the old traditions; modern technology however has undeniably played an ever-more important role in recent years.

To add even more significance to this glorious culture of the grape, if that was possible, the past  decade has seen some of Europe’s most highly-acclaimed and imaginative architects taking time off from their ground-breaking and spectacular major urban projects to contribute their innovative designs to the cellars and vat rooms of some of the region’s top châteaux.

Discover Architectures / Understand Classification/Discover techniques of wine making and appreciate wine tastings!

09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères                         
11:30   am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it’s perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.
The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting Chateau La Dominique
05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible:  no
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes 
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits
  • Monument tour in Saint-Emilion
Bordeaux - Gourmet tour - 8 hours
We invite you to enjoy a gourmet guided tour of Bordeaux which has been listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in June 2007.

“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work.

Our visit offers to combine historic discovery with regional and typical "delicacies" punctuated by three stops at specialized producers:

Tasting of ewe cheese with jam of cherries from Pyrenean mountains
Tasting of cannelé a very local sweet specialty at Baillardran,
And of course a "wine tasting" in a bistro…

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

 
Package includes 
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
- All entrance fees & tasting
- All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
Not available during French Bank Holiday
Bordeaux - Cultural tour - 8 hours
“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work. 

The futuristic tram network established in 2005 is evidence of the dynamism of today’s Bordeaux and the historic heart which has been given back to pedestrians, allow the visitors to discover the principal monuments illustrating the city’s History: the Palais Gallien amphitheatre (4th century), the Saint Seurin Basilica (11th century foundations), the Saint André Cathedral (13th century), the Porte Cailhau and the "Grosse Cloche" ("big bell", 15th century). 

The 18th century gave the city its outstanding "Grand Theatre", a national opera house built in 1781, and the Allées de Tourny, as well as the remarkable waterfront buildings and the Place de la Bourse (formerly the Place Royale), a quarter over 4 kilometres in length which serves as the backdrop for the port’s trading activities.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
 
Package includes
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
  • All entrance fees
  • All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
Not available on May 1st, January 01st & December 25
Bordeaux -Saint Emilion Wine Tour - 8 hours
In the morning, departure with your English speaking driver guide to Saint Emilion.
 
Surrounded by its vineyards, the city offers ancient ramparts, monuments and narrow streets. The village and the vineyards have been classed as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco in 1999.

“Grape production was introduced into this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans and was intensified during the Middle Age. The area of Saint-Émilion benefited from its position on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella and several churches, monasteries and hospices were built there from the XIth century onwards. It was granted its own jurisdictional status during the period of English rule in the XIIth century. This is an exceptional landscape entirely given over to grape-production and whose towns and villages are home to outstanding historic monuments.” (Unesco Cit.)

Centuries after the Latin poet Ausonius, the hermit Emilion found here peace and tranquility, which were necessary for his meditation. He discovered a grotto watered by a natural spring in the rocky centre of what is now the town bearing his name, where he lived until his death.

Private guided tour of the principal sights of the medieval town: the Emilion Hermitage, the Tour du Roy built in the 13th century by Richard the Lion heart, the collegiate church and its 14th century cloister and, above all, the exceptional monolithic church and its catacombs dug out of the limestone cliff between the 9th and the 11th centuries. Its 38 metre span makes it the largest such church in Europe.

Lunch will take place at a restaurant located in the city.

In the afternoon, visit with wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light, 

 
Package Includes 
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
  • All entrance fees & tasting
  • All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
May 1st - due to French law, cost double and most of the Wine estate are close 

 
Bordeaux - A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting… - 8 hours

 A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting…

Taste and identify the differences between the great Bordeaux wines, according to the vintage…

Wine experts give a great importance to Vintages. Why is it so important? How to recognize the quality of the vintage? How to guess the vintage? Should we agree or is it a matter of taste? Let us taste 4 vintages from the same wine property and comment. The expert guides you and shares his knowledge while you comment and learn tricks of the trade.
 

Château Grand Vertical Tasting Workshop

The privilege of tasting 6 great vintages dating back as far as 20 years:

• Château de Ferrand 1988 & 1989

• Château de Ferrand 1998 & 1999

• Château de Ferrand 2008 & 2009


This workshop includes a private tour, an initiation into aromas, a tasting of 6 vintages, and a food/wine pairing with our “Assiette Gourmande”.

Schedule: 

09:00am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères

11:30am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it is perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.

The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.

12:30pm to 02:00pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting at Chateau  La Dominique

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,


Package price includes

  • Transportation: Pick up/drop off at the Port
  • Day Tour: English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits and vertical workshop
03/30/2025 03/31/2025
Arcachon
03/31/2025 03/31/2025
Bordeaux

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Bordeaux - About Grape Varietals… - 8 hours
Several possibilities based on the theme of grape varietals, be it wine tastings or, practical activities. The great Bordeaux wines will no longer hold any secrets for you. 

It's possible to have this activity in any Bordeaux wine appellation!

Wine tasting:  Merlot or Cabernet?

There are 2 major top grape varieties in Bordeaux:  Cabernet Sauvignon produces Ch. Mouton Rothschild and Merlot Pétrus. Each grape variety taste very different. The terroir and the work carried out by Man can exalt each grape and create amazing Bordeaux wines. During the blind tasting find out which grape has been used in the wine before or after its oak ageing. Merlot or Cabernet? 

Theory put in practice:
Blending is an art
Several grape varieties tasting different are available to the wine maker. He/she is an artist making rational or subjective choices in order to elaborate a great wine. Be the wine maker and create your own cuvée but explain your logic first. Does it match? Each group forms a team. 

Wine taster & Expert
Learn how to taste wines like a professional with fun. You also learn about the tricks of the trade. Words like single variety, futures, blended wines, bottled wine and ageing wine will have no more secrets for you. While tasting several wines, you may recognize which wine and term match together. 
 
09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting separate grapes varieties and then have a blending session
05:00pm - End of the tour


Tour Duration: 8 hours 
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,

 
Package price includes
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits
  • Blending sessions
Bordeaux - Wine Architecture in Saint-Emilion - 8 hours
Modern Temples of Bacchus
 
To wine lovers everywhere, the grand vintages of the Bordeaux region of France have long been regarded as the true pinnacle of excellence.

The methods and philosophies used in their production have by and large remained true to the old traditions; modern technology however has undeniably played an ever-more important role in recent years.

To add even more significance to this glorious culture of the grape, if that was possible, the past  decade has seen some of Europe’s most highly-acclaimed and imaginative architects taking time off from their ground-breaking and spectacular major urban projects to contribute their innovative designs to the cellars and vat rooms of some of the region’s top châteaux.

Discover Architectures / Understand Classification/Discover techniques of wine making and appreciate wine tastings!

09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères                         
11:30   am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it’s perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.
The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting Chateau La Dominique
05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible:  no
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes 
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits
  • Monument tour in Saint-Emilion
Bordeaux - Gourmet tour - 8 hours
We invite you to enjoy a gourmet guided tour of Bordeaux which has been listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in June 2007.

“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work.

Our visit offers to combine historic discovery with regional and typical "delicacies" punctuated by three stops at specialized producers:

Tasting of ewe cheese with jam of cherries from Pyrenean mountains
Tasting of cannelé a very local sweet specialty at Baillardran,
And of course a "wine tasting" in a bistro…

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light

 
Package includes 
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
- All entrance fees & tasting
- All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
Not available during French Bank Holiday
Bordeaux - Cultural tour - 8 hours
“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work. 

The futuristic tram network established in 2005 is evidence of the dynamism of today’s Bordeaux and the historic heart which has been given back to pedestrians, allow the visitors to discover the principal monuments illustrating the city’s History: the Palais Gallien amphitheatre (4th century), the Saint Seurin Basilica (11th century foundations), the Saint André Cathedral (13th century), the Porte Cailhau and the "Grosse Cloche" ("big bell", 15th century). 

The 18th century gave the city its outstanding "Grand Theatre", a national opera house built in 1781, and the Allées de Tourny, as well as the remarkable waterfront buildings and the Place de la Bourse (formerly the Place Royale), a quarter over 4 kilometres in length which serves as the backdrop for the port’s trading activities.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
 
Package includes
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
  • All entrance fees
  • All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch 
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
Not available on May 1st, January 01st & December 25
Bordeaux -Saint Emilion Wine Tour - 8 hours
In the morning, departure with your English speaking driver guide to Saint Emilion.
 
Surrounded by its vineyards, the city offers ancient ramparts, monuments and narrow streets. The village and the vineyards have been classed as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco in 1999.

“Grape production was introduced into this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans and was intensified during the Middle Age. The area of Saint-Émilion benefited from its position on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella and several churches, monasteries and hospices were built there from the XIth century onwards. It was granted its own jurisdictional status during the period of English rule in the XIIth century. This is an exceptional landscape entirely given over to grape-production and whose towns and villages are home to outstanding historic monuments.” (Unesco Cit.)

Centuries after the Latin poet Ausonius, the hermit Emilion found here peace and tranquility, which were necessary for his meditation. He discovered a grotto watered by a natural spring in the rocky centre of what is now the town bearing his name, where he lived until his death.

Private guided tour of the principal sights of the medieval town: the Emilion Hermitage, the Tour du Roy built in the 13th century by Richard the Lion heart, the collegiate church and its 14th century cloister and, above all, the exceptional monolithic church and its catacombs dug out of the limestone cliff between the 9th and the 11th centuries. Its 38 metre span makes it the largest such church in Europe.

Lunch will take place at a restaurant located in the city.

In the afternoon, visit with wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light, 

 
Package Includes 
  • Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
  • English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
  • All entrance fees & tasting
  • All tax and Vat 

Does not include 
- Lunch
- Gratuities 
- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  
May 1st - due to French law, cost double and most of the Wine estate are close 

 
Bordeaux - A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting… - 8 hours

 A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting…

Taste and identify the differences between the great Bordeaux wines, according to the vintage…

Wine experts give a great importance to Vintages. Why is it so important? How to recognize the quality of the vintage? How to guess the vintage? Should we agree or is it a matter of taste? Let us taste 4 vintages from the same wine property and comment. The expert guides you and shares his knowledge while you comment and learn tricks of the trade.
 

Château Grand Vertical Tasting Workshop

The privilege of tasting 6 great vintages dating back as far as 20 years:

• Château de Ferrand 1988 & 1989

• Château de Ferrand 1998 & 1999

• Château de Ferrand 2008 & 2009


This workshop includes a private tour, an initiation into aromas, a tasting of 6 vintages, and a food/wine pairing with our “Assiette Gourmande”.

Schedule: 

09:00am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères

11:30am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it is perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.

The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.

12:30pm to 02:00pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting at Chateau  La Dominique

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,


Package price includes

  • Transportation: Pick up/drop off at the Port
  • Day Tour: English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
  • 2 winery visits and vertical workshop
04/01/2025 04/01/2025
Avalon Waterways: Avalon Artistry II®
Part of Avalon's award-winning fleet of Suite Ships, the Avalon Artistry II features two full decks of Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that transform the living space into river cruising's only Open-Air Balcony. With 200 square feet, Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, affording you the incomparable opportunity to wake each morning to splendid passing scenery from your window-facing bed. Stretch out on your Comfort Collection bed and cruise with the world at your feet. Onboard amenities include an alternative light dining option in the Panorama Bistro, a Fitness Center, complimentary Wi-Fi access, and a spacious Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, and light al fresco lunches at the Sky Bistro on the Sky Deck. A true work of art in relaxed luxury on board and amazing adventures on shore!
Ship Highlights
  • Panoramic windows throughout the ship
  • Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges
  • Covered Observation Lounge
  • Fitness Center
  • Avalon Adventure Center for active gear and activities through your Avalon Adventure Host
  • Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room
Ship Statistics
Built Year
2013
Ship Length
361
Number of Crew
37
Dining / Restaurants
2
Bars / Lounges
6
Fitness Center
Yes
Kids Friendly
No

Oceanview

Deluxe Stateroom (E) $2,959
Deluxe Stateroom
  • Category: E
  • Indigo Deck
Size: 172 sq. ft. Stateroom Amenities: Two windows • Comfort Collection by Avalon • Deluxe beds with premium mattress covers • Egyptian super-combed cotton linens • European-style duvets • Choice of soft or firm pillows • Extra blankets • Choice of bed configuration • Nightly turn-down service • Bedside tables with reading lamps • Hairdryer • L'Occitane bath amenities • Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage • Easy under-bed luggage storage • Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels • Alarm clock • Direct-dial telephone • Bathrobes & slippers • Well-stocked minibar • Complimentary bottled water • In-room safe • Individual climate control • Modern Finishings • Large mirror in bathroom
Deluxe Stateroom (D) $2,959
Deluxe Stateroom
  • Category: D
  • Indigo Deck
Size: 172 sq. ft. Stateroom Amenities: Two windows • Comfort Collection by Avalon • Deluxe beds with premium mattress covers • Egyptian super-combed cotton linens • European-style duvets • Choice of soft or firm pillows • Extra blankets • Choice of bed configuration • Nightly turn-down service • Bedside tables with reading lamps • Hairdryer • L'Occitane bath amenities • Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage • Easy under-bed luggage storage • Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels • Alarm clock • Direct-dial telephone • Bathrobes & slippers • Well-stocked minibar • Complimentary bottled water • In-room safe • Individual climate control • Modern Finishings • Large mirror in bathroom

Suite

Panorama Suite (P) $4,209
Panorama Suite
  • Category: P
  • Royal Deck
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door with French Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Writing desk, Vanity, Bed, Sink, Toilet. Size: 172 sq. ft. Stateroom Amenities: • Comfort Collection by Avalon • Deluxe beds with premium mattress covers • Egyptian super-combed cotton linens • European-style duvets • Choice of soft or firm pillows • Extra blankets • Choice of bed configuration • Nightly turn-down service • Bedside tables with reading lamps • Hairdryer • L'Occitane bath amenities • Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage • Easy under-bed luggage storage • Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels • Alarm clock • Direct-dial telephone • Bathrobes & slippers • Well-stocked minibar • Complimentary bottled water • In-room safe • Individual climate control • Modern Finishings • Large mirror in bathroom
Panorama Suite (B) $4,209
Panorama Suite
  • Category: B
  • Sapphire Deck
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door with French Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Writing desk, Vanity, Bed, Sink, Toilet. Size: 172 sq. ft. Stateroom Amenities: • Comfort Collection by Avalon • Deluxe beds with premium mattress covers • Egyptian super-combed cotton linens • European-style duvets • Choice of soft or firm pillows • Extra blankets • Choice of bed configuration • Nightly turn-down service • Bedside tables with reading lamps • Hairdryer • L'Occitane bath amenities • Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage • Easy under-bed luggage storage • Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels • Alarm clock • Direct-dial telephone • Bathrobes & slippers • Well-stocked minibar • Complimentary bottled water • In-room safe • Individual climate control • Modern Finishings • Large mirror in bathroom
Panorama Suite (A) $4,209
Panorama Suite
  • Category: A
  • Sapphire Deck
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door with French Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Writing desk, Vanity, Bed, Sink, Toilet. Size: 172 sq. ft. Stateroom Amenities: • Comfort Collection by Avalon • Deluxe beds with premium mattress covers • Egyptian super-combed cotton linens • European-style duvets • Choice of soft or firm pillows • Extra blankets • Choice of bed configuration • Nightly turn-down service • Bedside tables with reading lamps • Hairdryer • L'Occitane bath amenities • Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage • Easy under-bed luggage storage • Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels • Alarm clock • Direct-dial telephone • Bathrobes & slippers • Well-stocked minibar • Complimentary bottled water • In-room safe • Individual climate control • Modern Finishings • Large mirror in bathroom
Royal Suite (S) $5,858
Royal Suite
  • Category: S
  • Royal Deck
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door with French Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Writing desk, Vanity, Bed, Sink, Toilet, Sofa, Coffee table. Size: 258 sq.ft. Stateroom Amenities: • Comfort Collection by Avalon • Deluxe beds with premium mattress covers • Egyptian super-combed cotton linens • European-style duvets • Choice of soft or firm pillows • Extra blankets • Choice of bed configuration • Nightly turn-down service • Bedside tables with reading lamps • Hairdryer • L'Occitane bath amenities • Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage • Easy under-bed luggage storage • Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channels • Alarm clock • Direct-dial telephone • Bathrobes & slippers • Well-stocked minibar • Complimentary bottled water • In-room safe • Individual climate control • Modern Finishings • Large mirror in bathroom • Marble countertops in bathroom

"Starting at" or "From" price is per person (double occupancy) and includes cruise taxes and port charges but does not include airfare to or from your vacation. Some cruise/tour packages require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Avalon Waterways) in which case intra-vacation air and taxes are included in the price shown.

Important Notes

  • Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
  • A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required for Avalon Waterways to reserve space for you.
  • The hotels and accommodations listed are provisional and subject to change and may be substituted with properties of similar standard. Hotels are confirmed approximately 30 days prior to departure and can be found in your travel documents, but are not guaranteed until check-in.
  • The following charges are not included in the land/cruise vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; intra-vacation air, unless specified in the itinerary; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee up to $11.20 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $4.10 per segment, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Avalon menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature.
  • Additional airline-imposed fees for seat assignments may apply and are not included in your total package cost. Please refer to carrier websites for seat assignment policies and applicable pricing.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

Sky Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Royal Suite (S)
  • Panorama Suite (P)
  • Panorama Suite (A)
  • Panorama Suite (B)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (D)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (E)
Royal Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Royal Suite (S)
  • Panorama Suite (P)
  • Panorama Suite (A)
  • Panorama Suite (B)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (D)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (E)
Sapphire Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Royal Suite (S)
  • Panorama Suite (P)
  • Panorama Suite (A)
  • Panorama Suite (B)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (D)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (E)
Indigo Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Royal Suite (S)
  • Panorama Suite (P)
  • Panorama Suite (A)
  • Panorama Suite (B)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (D)
  • Deluxe Stateroom (E)