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14-night A Portrait Of Majestic France Cruise

Bordeaux/Paris
14-night A Portrait Of Majestic France Cruise
March 30, 2025
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: S.S. Joie de Vivre
Bordeaux/Paris
Vacation Offer ID 1551140
Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.
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Exclusive Offer
  • $300 per Couple Shipboard Credit
Overview
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Ship Info
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Activities & Services
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Staterooms
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Deckplans
The Signature Collection – Exclusive Amenities
The Signature Collection Sailings offer Exceptional Value and Exclusive Amenities.

Cruise Inclusions

Accommodations

  • 14-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the magical S.S. Joie de Vivre and the breathtaking S.S. Bon Voyage
  • Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
  • Free Internet and Wi-Fi access

Dining

  • All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
  • 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 14 dinners
  • 2 Captain's Welcome and 2 Captain's Farewell Receptions
  • 2 Welcome and 2 Farewell Gala Dinners
  • Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water

Excursions

  • 12 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
  • Guided “Let's Go,” “Do as the Locals Do” and “Village Day” programs
  • State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
  • Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks

Experiences

  • 1 country: France
  • 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites
  • Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
  • Captivating onboard local entertainment
  • Exclusive Connoisseur Collection Program on select departures
  • TGV train between Bordeaux and Paris
  • Group Transfers are included on arrival and departure days (please see terms and conditions for transfer guidelines)
  • Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour

Available Add-Ons

  • Pre or post cruise hotel stay
  • Optional roundtrip airfare

Airfare Terms:
Payment in full for optional airfare booked in conjunction with a Uniworld Cruise or Cruise-Tour is required at time of booking. Upon receipt of full air payment, your airfare, taxes and fuel surcharges are final. You may cancel your air within 24 hours of booking and receive a full refund of the cost of the airfare.

  • Destination Guide
  • Suggested Shore Excursions
Destination Arrival Departure
Bordeaux

Bordeaux 03/30/2025

Arrive at Bordeaux-Mérignac International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

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 03/30/2025
Fort Medoc

Fort Medoc 03/31/2025

The legendary Médoc region abounds with prestigious wine châteaux in a dizzying array of architectural styles, as well as miles of grapevines stretching to infinity. Take a scenic drive through the storied Médoc wine route, followed by a wine tasting at a beautiful wine estate.
03/31/2025 03/31/2025
Cadillac

Cadillac 04/01/2025

The French phrase “la douceur de vivre” is an accurate description for your time in Cadillac, known for its deliciously flavored dessert wines. Visit Château Royal de Cazeneuve, site of Henry IV’s and Queen Margot’s tempestuous love. Meet the owner around a glass of Sauternes in the reception hall.
04/01/2025 04/01/2025
Blaye

Blaye 04/02/2025

The Route de la Corniche Fleurie…could this be the most beautiful road you’ve ever traveled? Find out today on the drive to Blaye Fortress, passing through one impossibly picturesque hamlet after another. Once you arrive, you’ll discover the wonders of this historic fortress, a UNESCO-designated citadel that once protected Bordeaux from attacks by sea.
04/02/2025 04/02/2025
Libourne

Libourne 04/03/2025

With Libourne as your base, travel to nearby breathtaking Saint-Émilion and immerse yourself more deeply in the region’s history and wine culture. The medieval town of Saint-Émilion is an ideal place to linger. Wander its cobblestone lanes lined with wine shops and bakeries, and stop to admire the amazing rock-hewn church that extends beneath the city’s streets.
04/03/2025 04/03/2025
Libourne

Libourne 04/04/2025

France’s rich agricultural tradition is the heart and soul of the region’s exquisite cuisine—and what better way to get a taste for the freshest vegetables, cheeses, breads and fruits than with a visit to Libourne’s lively farmers’ market?
04/04/2025 04/04/2025
Bordeaux

Bordeaux 04/05/2025

Discover Bordeaux’s many charms today, either on foot with a local expert or on two wheels—the locals’ preferred way to navigate the city’s charming backstreets. You have a wonderful selection of active opportunities to see this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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
04/05/2025 04/05/2025
Bordeaux

Bordeaux 04/06/2025

Disembark the breathtaking S.S. Bon Voyage and transfer to Paris via high-speed TGV train. Your next ship, the magical S.S. Joie de Vivre, waits to carry you along the Seine on the next leg of your adventure.  Note: Ship schedule and order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Tour to port of destination by motorcoach and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to the impact of water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors.

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
04/06/2025 04/06/2025
La Roche-Guyon

La Roche-Guyon 04/07/2025

Today is a celebration of northern France’s natural beauty, with an excursion to a splendid château and gardens situated in an equally grand setting, plus a chance to immerse yourself in the very landscapes that inspired Impressionist master Claude Monet. In the morning, choose between a scenic hike or a visit to the hilltop Château de La Roche-Guyon, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens and offers sweeping views over the Seine. Later, explore the beautiful gardens of Monet. You'll have the opportunity to take in the French countryside on your way there with an invigorating bike ride, or opt to arrive by coach instead.
04/07/2025 04/07/2025
Rouen

Rouen 04/08/2025

Walk in the footsteps of greatness in Normandy’s medieval capital, a city with a historic quarter that remains amazingly intact. From the cathedral Monet painted dozens of times to the cross marking the spot where Joan of Arc was martyred, Rouen is a treasure trove for the culturally curious. The roll call of famous people who lived or died in Rouen is long and varied—Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert, and Claude Monet are among them.

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!

Le Havre: D-Day Beaches - 9 hours
The numerous monuments and memorials on the Normandy coastal area bear witness to the fierce fighting that took place here during and after the D-Day Landings of World War II. Your driver-guide meets you after you have departed your cruise ship and takes you on a full-day tour of the American Sector to visit some of the most important sites of this pivotal point in the war.

Your day starts on the famous coastline at Pointe du Hoc, which the US Rangers scaled, demonstrating a triumph of planning, training and execution by elite and well-led troops. Further eastwards along the coast is the sector known as Omaha Beach, also captured by invading American forces, and where you can examine several sites from both the German and US perspectives. You also hear about Operation Aquatint, a failed 1942 British Commando raid on the area. Your day ends with a poignant visit to the US Military Cemetery and Interpretation Centre at Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place of over 9300 US soldiers located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. You are transferred back to your cruise ship from here.

Highlights:
  • Visit Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach; two of the most significant D-Day sites
Tour Duration: 9 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:
•    Private transport by luxury car or minivan
•    An expert local driver-guide for 9 hours
•    Entrance fees to all sights and museums
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities
04/08/2025 04/08/2025
Caudebec-en-Caux

Caudebec-en-Caux 04/09/2025

Caudebec-en-Caux, a lovely little town on the right bank of the Seine Estuary, is your base for one of two very different excursions. You could drive through the beautiful Calvados countryside to Honfleur, a delightful seaside harbor and city of painters, or head to the windy cliffs of Étretat for a game of golf.
04/09/2025 04/09/2025
Rouen

Rouen 04/10/2025

There are moments when we travel that move us on an otherworldly level—experiences that stir a profound emotional connection. The Normandy beaches certainly have that effect. On your full-day outing, you’ll visit Normandy’s beaches, with a choice to venture to either the American, British and Commonwealth, or Canadian beaches. After, you’ll partake in a private ceremony at the Omaha Beach Memorial—a sentimental remembrance of Operation Overlord.

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!

Le Havre: D-Day Beaches - 9 hours
The numerous monuments and memorials on the Normandy coastal area bear witness to the fierce fighting that took place here during and after the D-Day Landings of World War II. Your driver-guide meets you after you have departed your cruise ship and takes you on a full-day tour of the American Sector to visit some of the most important sites of this pivotal point in the war.

Your day starts on the famous coastline at Pointe du Hoc, which the US Rangers scaled, demonstrating a triumph of planning, training and execution by elite and well-led troops. Further eastwards along the coast is the sector known as Omaha Beach, also captured by invading American forces, and where you can examine several sites from both the German and US perspectives. You also hear about Operation Aquatint, a failed 1942 British Commando raid on the area. Your day ends with a poignant visit to the US Military Cemetery and Interpretation Centre at Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place of over 9300 US soldiers located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. You are transferred back to your cruise ship from here.

Highlights:
  • Visit Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach; two of the most significant D-Day sites
Tour Duration: 9 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:
•    Private transport by luxury car or minivan
•    An expert local driver-guide for 9 hours
•    Entrance fees to all sights and museums
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities
04/10/2025 04/10/2025
Versailles

Versailles 04/11/2025

How did France’s rulers live over the centuries? Step into the private rooms of the Palace of Versailles, the lavish palace built by the Sun King, to find out.
04/11/2025 04/11/2025
Paris

Paris 04/12/2025

Whether you’re a first-time visitor to the “City of Light” or you’ve been here many times before, there’s something for everyone today in Paris. Enjoy a panoramic overview of the city, or join a local expert for a walk through two much-loved neighborhoods.
04/12/2025 04/12/2025
Paris

Paris 04/13/2025

Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your flight home.
04/13/2025 04/13/2025
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: S.S. Joie de Vivre
S.S. Joie de Vivre brings the “joy of living” to the rivers of France. Step aboard your floating pied-à-terre in France, featuring handcrafted furniture and fine antiques, original artwork, and signature accents inspired by 20th-century Parisian design from the Golden Twenties to the free-spirited Sixties, all blending seamlessly with modern conveniences.
Ship Highlights
  • 24 hours tea coffee stations
  • Serenity River Spa which offers you different massages and relaxation treatments
  • Swimming Pool and Fitness center onboard
Ship Statistics
Ship Length
410 ft (125 m)
Beam
38 ft (11.4 m)
Passenger Capacity
128
Number of Crew
54
Number of Suites
10
Fitness Center
Yes
Pool
Yes
Coffee Shop
Yes
Kids Friendly
No

Dining

Le Bistrot
The ship's very own Parisian-style sidewalk cafe serves classic French cuisine. Designed with windows that lower for an open-air ambiance, Le Bistrot is a tres bon spot to savor wrap-around views of the Seine.
Salon Toulouse
Tea time, accompanied by light piano music, runs for an hour from 4 p.m. Take a seat and waiters will serve tea, coffee, tiered trays of sandwiches, cakes and macarons.
Le Pigalle
Brace yourself for the feasts ahead in Joie de Vivre's buffet extraordinaire for breakfast and lunch and a la carte dinner served by waiters and a sommelier. Evoking a 20th-century Parisian restaurant, this venue exudes simple elegance with white tablecloths, vintage lights, fresh flowers, pineapple motifs on the walls and cream leather chairs with a handle in the back to help pull them out.

Bars & Lounges

Le Bar
Le Bar.

Wellness

Fitness Center
Unwind with yoga. Work out in the resistance pool. Get your heart pumping in the onboard fitness center.

Suite

Suite (SUITE) Call for pricing
Suite
  • Category: SUITE
  • Victor Hugo Deck
Size: 260 sq. ft. / 24 sq. mt.
  • Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, bottled water and flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite
  • Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers
Grand Suite (GRANDSTE) Call for pricing
Grand Suite
  • Category: GRANDSTE
  • Victor Hugo Deck
Size: 410 sq. ft. / 38 sq. mt.
  • Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, bottled water and flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite
  • The Grand Suite offers extra benefits, including a separate spacious living room, bathroom with a separate rain shower and tub, and secluded toilet and bidet area

Balcony

(FRNCH) Call for pricing
  • Category: FRNCH
  • Balzac Deck
Deluxe French Balcony (DLXFRNCH) Call for pricing
Deluxe French Balcony
  • Category: DLXFRNCH
  • Victor Hugo Deck
Size: 194 sq. ft. / 18 sq. mt.
  • Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, bottled water and flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite
  • Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers

Oceanview

Classic Riverview Stateroom (CLASSIC) Call for pricing
Classic Riverview Stateroom
  • Category: CLASSIC
  • Jules Verne Deck
Size: 162-180 sq. ft. / 15-17 sq. m.
  • Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, bottled water and flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite 
  • Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers

All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. Fares are cruise or cruise/land only and include port charges and government fees/taxes. Fares listed may represent promotions or discounts which would require full payment at time of booking to qualify for the listed discounted fares. Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Availability of all stateroom categories cannot be guaranteed. Single Supplement applies for single accommodation. Itineraries, hotels, and vessels may change, and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water level fluctuations and other uncontrollable factors. The order of sightseeing and docking ports are subject to change according to port authority assignments.

TRUE ALL-INCLUSIVE BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISING™: All gratuities for all onboard and onshore services; unlimited fine wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages; shore excursions with local experts as your guide; free Internet and Wi-Fi; and all arrival and departure day transfers.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

Victor Hugo Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Grand Suite (GRANDSTE)
  • Suite (SUITE)
  • Deluxe French Balcony (DLXFRNCH)
  • (FRNCH)
  • Classic Riverview Stateroom (CLASSIC)
Balzac Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Grand Suite (GRANDSTE)
  • Suite (SUITE)
  • Deluxe French Balcony (DLXFRNCH)
  • (FRNCH)
  • Classic Riverview Stateroom (CLASSIC)
Jules Verne Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Grand Suite (GRANDSTE)
  • Suite (SUITE)
  • Deluxe French Balcony (DLXFRNCH)
  • (FRNCH)
  • Classic Riverview Stateroom (CLASSIC)