Bordeaux and Dordogne River Cruises

Explore the Bordeaux area of Aquitaine and the top French wine growing areas along the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, with excursions to chateaux and along the Wine Route and its famous vineyards.

The city of Bordeaux has long connections with the English and the wine trade. A World Heritage Site, Bordeaux has many 18th century buildings around the Grand Theatre and impressive facades lining the quays along the river. The city centre has extensive pedestrian areas and street cafes to enjoy the city bustle.


Cruise Collection

Cruise Through The Aquitaine Region
6 Night Cruise Only from £1521 pp On board Cyrano de Bergerac
Bordeaux

Special OfferExclusive fly-cruise package now from just £1553pp!

Bordeaux (France), Cussac-Fort-Medoc - Gironde Estuary, Royan - Rochefort - La Rochelle , Libourne, Bordeaux - Cadillac, Arcachon Bay, Bordeaux

Taste of Bordeaux
7 Night Fly Cruise from £4565 pp On board AmaDolce
Saint Emilion

Special OfferExclusive special early booking discounts on 2025 cruises - call us for details!

Bordeaux (France), Bordeaux - Libourne, Libourne - Blaye, Blaye - Bourg, Pauillac, Cadillac - Bordeaux

Bordeaux the Gironde and Wine Country
5 Night Cruise Only from £1021 pp On board Cyrano de Bergerac
Bordeaux Pont de Pierre

Bordeaux (France), Pauillac, Pauillac - Blaye, Blaye - Libourne - Saint Emilion, Libourne - Bordeaux

Bordeaux Wine Cruise
4 Night Cruise Only from £860 pp On board Cyrano de Bergerac
St Emilion

Bordeaux (France), Bordeaux - Pauillac, Pauillac - Blaye, Blaye - Libourne or Bourg - Saint Emilion, Bordeaux

Brilliant Bordeaux
7 Night Fly Cruise from £2969 pp On board Bon Voyage
Bordeaux

Bordeaux, Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye, Libourne, Bordeaux

Christmas in Bordeaux
4 Night Cruise Only from £998 pp On board Cyrano de Bergerac
Christmas Toast

Bordeaux, Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Blaye, Bordeaux, Libourne, Bordeaux

New Year in Bordeaux
4 Night Cruise Only from £1197 pp On board Cyrano de Bergerac
Bordeaux

Bordeaux, Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Blaye, Libourne, Bordeaux

French Rivers of Normandy and Bordeaux
9 Night No Fly Cruise from £1199 pp On board Balmoral
Honfleur

Southampton, Cruising River Seine, Rouen, Honfleur, La Pallice, Bordeaux, Cruising Gironde & Garonne Rivers, Southampton


About Bordeaux River Cruises

This part of Aquitaine came under English control with the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II in 1152. The border with France was fortified by Henry II and his successors, leaving ancient castles and fortified medieval bastide towns across the landscape and overlooking the Gironde river. Returned to France in 1453 after the Hundred Years War, the whole area is packed with interesting historical sights.

There are some 10,000 wine producing chateaux in the Bordeaux region, including some of the most expensive wines in the world. Five ‘premier cru’ wines - Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux, Haut-Brion are here. Visit Pauillac, capital of the Medoc area, and Blaye, both noted centres for wine culture.

Between the rivers Garonne and Dordogne is the Entre deux Mers wine area. Up the Garonne river from Bordeaux is Cadillac, a bastide town fortified by the English king in 1280 and subsequently a chateau built for the Dukes of Epernon. On the Dordogne call at the market town of Libourne, and from here or Cadillac travel to the village of St Emilion, noted for its catacombs and huge underground church as well as its wine.

The citadel at Blaye St Emilion

Bordeaux River Cruise Highlights

Here are a few highlights of a cruise from Bordeaux:

  • Stately wine châteaux along the River Dordogne
  • Blaye’s 17th-century citadel
  • The city of Bordeaux’s fine architecture
  • Bourg and its citadel castle
  • The fortified town of Cadillac
  • Libourne’s renowned vineyards
  • Pauillac and the Medoc wine region where some of the finest Bordeaux wines are produced
  • Meschers-sur-Gironde with its Troglodyte houses
  • St Emilion’s monolithic church carved out of limestone rock
  • Medieval Roquetaillade Castle

Bordeaux River Ports


Customer Reviews

Bordeaux Wine Country
★★★★★ by N.Warrington

We very much enjoyed our recent cruise. The quality of the ship, the food and the staff were fabulous. Husbands very strict Gluten Free diet was very well catered for. Our favourite spot on the ship was the outside seating area at the back of the ship down the steps from top deck with its own little bar behind it. It was lovely to be sailing along enjoying the passing scenery and having a nice young lady serving you whatever drink you wanted.. all included in the price.

All the staff were very very pleasant and helpful, they worked together as a team very well and it was clear that they were a happy bunch.

Bordeaux is a great city and easy to get around using the tram system.

Bordeaux, Dordogne And Gironde Rivers
★★★★★ by Anne

Just a note tosay how much we enjoyed our recent river cruise. The boat (Princess DAquitaine) was lovely, the crew friendly and the food fabulous. We were the only English passengers on board but were made very welcome by the crew, many who spoke English and went out of their way to ensure we were included in everything (we speak some French so were actually able to manage anyway). Even some of the French passengers chatted to us once they realised we could understand them a little! Raquel, the hostess, was particularly helpful and friendly, and if possible we would like you to send on our thanks to her at CroisiEurope. Also Jean Pierre the musician. He was from Durham so we were able to have some late night chats with him. The waiting staff were all attentive, in fact we found all the crew (25 of them) lovely - bar staff, cleaners, Purser etc. We would definitely recommend the company cruise, and are planning a trip on the Rhone cruise at a future date.

Bordeaux And Dordogne Cruise
★★★★★ by Eileen

We enjoyed the cruise immensely. The boat, crew, food and service could not be faulted. Comparing it to last year on the Douro the only thing not so good was the show put on by the crew. Last years was more amusing and more professional. The pianist however was really good and we enjoyed his playing. We didnt find the Dordogne cruise so scenic and the two outings we went on were ok, but again the one in Portugal had much lovelier scenery and the fact that this time, the river was so much wider most of the time, made for less to see. The area is not so interesting. We were given some English translations on the tours but as we were only 4 English speakers on the boat and the other two didnt go on the tours, we realised that this was difficult. Having said that the guides were good and gave us as much time as they could. We did enjoy it and on board was someone who works at the head office in Strasbourg. She was on holiday but obviously interested to see how the cruise was doing. She told us that you were the best firm to deal with! If we cruise again next year we will book with you and probably use Croise Europe as their standards are so high.