Bordeaux the Gironde and Wine Country

• Day 1 Bordeaux (France)
  Board your ship between 6pm and 7pm in Bordeaux. After settling into our cabins, we have a welcome drink in the lounge and are introduced to the crew. After dinner, we have a welcome party on board.
• Day 2 Pauillac
  We head down the River Garonne and then join the River Gironde, passing Cazeau Island and Patiras Island before arriving Pauillac. Built long ago by wine merchants or ship captains, Pauillac has managed to preserve the fine stone houses along its quaysides. Our optional excursion this afternoon is to visit the Medoc (reservation in advance essential) - the renowned region where the most famous red wines in the world are cultivated, a strip of land squeezed between ocean and estuary with a mild, humid climate ideal for wine cultivation. We pass through most of the great Medoc appelations such as Saint Julien, Margaux, Haut-Medoc following the famous Chateaux Route and the chateaux of Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. There is also the optional excursion visiting the Medoc through walking, wine and cheese. We return on board for dinner and an evening of entertainment. We moor for the night in Pauillac.
• Day 3 Pauillac - Blaye
  We set sail early this morning, cruising along the Gironde to the estuary. We pass the Meschers-sur-Gironde with its steep cliffs, Troglodyte houses and fishermens' huts, before arriving in Blaye. This superb acropolis was an ideal look-out post to watch for invaders and its fortress is the biggest attraction in Blaye. We set off on our optional excursion along the Corniche, or cliff route. Narrow and picturesque, the road snakes alongside the River Dordogne before reaching the Gironde Estuary. As we travel, we catch a glimpse of charming gardens, ancient fishermens' houses, remarkable dwelling places carved out of the heart of the cliff, not forgetting the famous carrelets, the unique fishermens' huts perched on wooden stilts on top of the water. The scenery here is an unusual combination of river, rocks and vines. An alternative optional excursion visits Blaye and its underground monuments.
• Day 4 Blaye - Libourne - Saint Emilion
  Cruise to Libourne at the confluence of the Isle and the Dordogne. Perhaps take the optional excursion to Saint-Emilion, before returning to Libourne. Gala dinner on board. Moor for the night.
• Day 5 Libourne - Bordeaux
  We have breakfast and lunch on board today as we continue back to Bordeaux, where we arrive later in the morning. We set off by coach for an optional guided tour of the city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the key sights and fine buildings on the banks of the River Garonne. Alternatively there is an optional visit to La Cite du Vin and wine-tasting.
• Day 6 Bordeaux
  After breakfast on board, we disembark around 9am.

BOS - Bordeaux, Gironde and Wine Country ItineraryPlease note that this schedule may be modified by the Captain in the light of tidal and other factors.