MS Cyrano de Bergerac, 5 Night Cruise ex Biarritz, France to Bordeaux, France

Dive into the French Basque experience before a cruise on the Garonne and Gironde Rivers. Vacation in the heart of the famous seaside resort of Biarritz. Indulge in Basque culinary traditions and heritage—Espelette chili peppers, chocolate and ham in Bayonne, and Irouléguy wines. This trip will bring you to well-known pilgrimage points such as Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port—the last stage of the Way of St. James before the Pyrenees. Then, kick back and enjoy a delightful cruise while discovering the region surrounding Bordeaux.

Day 1
We'll welcome you at your four-star hotel (or similar accommodations) in Biarritz at 5:00 p.m., where you'll check in and enjoy a welcome cocktail.(1) Dinner and evening in Biarritz.Although once a whaling village, Biarritz is now an upscale seaside resort. The city's destiny changed forever when Napoléon III and his wife, Eugénie, came to take advantage of the ocean's health benefits. Enjoy some free time on the Atlantic coast by walking along the cliffs or even having a swim!

Day 2
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Set out on a full-day excursion to the French Basque Country. The tour will begin in Espelette, a small, colorful city decorated with its signature festoons—dried chili pepper strings. Mildly hot Espelette peppers are a cornerstone of French Basque cuisine. Take some time on your own to explore the city.We'll enjoy a traditional Basque lunch in Espelette.In the afternoon, we'll tour Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and indulge in a tasting of Irouléguy wine. A charming village in the heart of the Pyrenees, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port was named one of the most beautiful villages in France in 2016. Its unique position as the last stop on the Way of St. James makes it popular with pilgrims and hikers. After a guided tour, we'll head over to the Irouléguy wine cellars for a visit and tasting. At the end of the day, we'll return to Biarritz. Dinner. You'll spend the night at the hotel.

Day 3
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.This morning, join us for a guided tour of Bayonne and a salted-meat workshop. The guided tour of old Bayonne introduces you to the history of the French Basque Country and its culture. Strolling down the quaint, narrow streets, you'll learn about the city center's rich architectural heritage, including the cathedral, cloister, and fortifications. We'll then visit a salted-meat workshop to see how dried ham is made and taste a few of its products.Enjoy a traditional Basque meal at lunch in a local cider house. Have a glass of cider directly from the barrel!After your tour, you'll leave by coach for Bordeaux, where you'll board our ship at 6 p.m. We'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail.

Day 4
We will cruise down towards Cussac-Fort-Médoc.In the afternoon, join us for the optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion proposed: Following the trail of the grands crus wines of Médoc, a renowned region where the most famous of all red wines in the world are cultivated.We'll return on board for dinner and an evening of entertainment.

Day 5
We'll start sailing early this morning towards Blaye, whose Citadel built by Vauban is not to be missed. Join us on the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Blaye and a visit to its citadel in a tourist train, plus a tasting of regional products and wine: Set off to discover the history and heritage of Blaye and its citadel. Built by Vabaun under Louis the Great, the citadel protected Bordeaux from invasions as part of the Verrou Vauban with the Forts Pâté and Médoc. This three-garrison defense system is unique in France and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, we'll visit the Château Marquis de Vauban restaurant for a tasting of wine and some regional products.DISCOVERY: Tour Blaye and its underground monuments on foot. After our tour, we'll get to taste some regional products with an excellent glass of wine*.We'll return on board and cruise on the Gironde all the way to the estuary. Enjoy an evening of dancing.

Day 6
We'll cruise to Libourne, a town rich with history and full of character located at the confluence with the Isle and the Dordogne Rivers. Upon arrival, join us for the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: tour of Saint-Emilion.DISCOVERY: Libourne by bike and wine tasting.We'll return on board in Libourne. Tonight is our festive gala dinner and evening.

Day 7
We'll cruise towards Bordeaux this morning. Join us on the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: The Chartrons District, Wine and Commerce Museum.DISCOVERY: The Bassins des Lumières.Enjoy an evening of entertainment.

Day 8
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services. For an optimal organization of the cruise, the organization of excursions can be modified according to the tide.Note to coach: double-decker buses are not allowed on many roads in Gironde, including Libourne, Saint Emilion, Blaye and Cadillac.

Every shade of blue, from night blue on the walls to the soft blue on the leather sofas, dress every space of the ship. The colour orange brings a touch of pep to the lounge / bar. The upper deck cabins have wide windows with French balconies, the ones on the middle deck have large windows and on the main deck the cabins have portholes. During the cruise, all meals are served in the restaurant which is located on the middle deck. The lounge / bar, at the front of the ship, will welcome passengers during evening entertainment, aperitif games... Do not hesitate to go to the sun deck to relax! Equipped with armchairs and sun loungers you can relax while enjoying a panoramic view of the landscapes.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat's design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.