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Breakfast was my favorite meal, with a buffet of pastries, breads, cereals, yogurt, and fruit as well as a hot dish. You could also get an omelette or eggs made to order, often by the always-smiling hotel manager. If you have wondered the same or more, keep reading because I’m going to give you the full scoop on what you need to know and what to expect onboard the Taste of Bordeaux river cruise from AmaWaterways.
My Trip
Our group then took a driving tour through the Saint Émilion and Pomerol appellations before arriving at the small village of Saint Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most picturesque villages in France. Since I was already in France, I spent a few days in Bordeaux exploring the city prior to the cruise, which I highly recommend. I was able to drop off my bags after noon and have a light lunch in the lounge until the room was ready. Once the room was ready and my husband arrived, we headed out into town so that I could show him around. Each AmaWaterways cruise includes all shore excursions, so you don’t need to worry about extra costs.
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Since biking was such a popular excursion, the fitness room was never crowded. However, if you prefer to bike on land, the crew will happily get bikes down for you to explore on your own, even if you haven’t joined an official bike tour excursion. Towards the front of the ship, there is an area with cushioned lounge seating (although you may need to dig the cushions out of the storage chests yourself), along with a six to eight person hot tub. There are chests nearby with fresh towels if you choose to use the hot tub (and you can also wear your robe from your cabin.) The hot tub didn’t tend to get a lot of use so it wasn’t hard to find a time to enjoy it on our own.
Let’s Go: Bike in the Médoc Vineyards
I’m going to preface this section by saying that my husband and I are foodies. We enjoy fine dining but even more, we enjoy when fresh, local ingredients can be made to shine. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but we like it to be great quality and well-prepared. So we can be a bit picky or critical when it comes to talking about food and if that isn’t you, take what I say with a grain of salt. I really appreciated getting to move around and eat with different people each night, or pick a table for two if we wanted some time alone.
What are the best places to stop off at or visit on a Bordeaux river cruise?
What sets this destination apart from other famous wine regions is how close the itinerary takes you to the heart of rural France, where people still shop daily for that evening's dinner in country markets. Don't feel left out, though, as any chateau that's ranked has its share of excellent wines. For example, on a Scenic river cruise, we visited two Third Growth chateaux, and were served a bottle from 2000 in Margaux, considered a very good year.
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Beyond the enchanting attractions of Bordeaux, you will discover that river cruises in this fertile region take you to some of the finest wine ports and châteaux in France. Interestingly, Bordeaux itineraries vary little -- or not at all -- by cruise line. The primary offering, a seven-night trip, features a couple of days in Bordeaux and visits to small towns where you can tour wine regions such as the Medoc, Sauternes, Cognac and Saint-Emilion. Some cruise lines, such as Viking and Uniworld, include an option to visit the Atlantic seacoast town of Arcachon, with its bay full of oyster farming, and the Dune du Pilat, Europe's largest sand dune. The walking tour included the underground monuments such as the monolithic church.
And Saint-Emilion even has a unique part-subterranean church dating from the early 12th century – its three naves, and a small catacomb beneath, were dug into a rocky hillside. Saint-Emilion is also simply a great place just to amble around, with lot of alluring wine shops, patîsseries and cafés. The range of Bordeaux wines, both lesser-known appellations and crus classés, is vast – this is a huge wine-growing region with lots of diversity when it comes to both soils and climatic conditions. The Gironde Estuary is 50 miles long and is formed by the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. The estuary empties into the Bay of Biscay, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. Most of these voyages will begin in Bordeaux, which is located on the banks of the Garonne River.
From Blaye, the Route de la Corniche Fleurie heading south towards Bourg-sur-Gironde is a must for its cave-houses cut into the cliffsides and its views of Lansac windmill. There are two rivers in the area, the Garonne and the Dordogne, plus the Gironde estuary. Depending on your choice of Bordeaux river cruise, you might travel on all of these as you explore the lovely countryside radiating out from the city.
Taste of BordeauxABOARDAmaDolce
The Taste of Bordeaux river cruise from AmaWaterways starts and leaves from Bordeaux. Even though you have your arrival day and the last day of the cruise to explore the city, I’d highly recommend spending a few extra days because there are so many things to do in Bordeaux. The cruise is a seven night trip and ours boarded on a Thursday afternoon and ended the following Thursday morning. Each of the excursions, which I will go through later in this article, consisted of fairly small groups, ranging from seven people up to about 20 for one of the larger bike tours. We certainly never felt overwhelmed by people and it was very easy to get away for some private downtime on the ship.
You might zest kaffir limes to season a first course of seared duck foie gras or make the cherry sauce in kirsch that accompanies it or help to prepare wild trout or a decadent strawberry tart. With Libourne as your base, travel to nearby breathtaking Saint-Émilion and immerse yourself more deeply in the region’s history and wine culture. 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. The classification of chateaux in Medoc is a little more rigid in viticulture's storied epicenter. In 1855, all chateaux in the area were ranked in importance, with the best marked First Growth; the ratings go all the way down to Fifth Growths.
On board our fleet, our company Les Bateaux Bordelais offers you the most beautiful view of Bordeaux. During a meal cruise or a stroll, sail on the Garonne along the water, along the Bordeaux facades classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Savor a taste of the Bordeaux region’s exceptional wines and local fare in Libourne.
But if you love wine, culinary arts, beautiful gardens and palatial homes, Bordeaux will suit just fine. However, our walking tour was a little disappointing as half of it was a coach tour through the city and the walking portion didn’t see many of the sites. I’m sure this was to minimize how far people had to walk, but I was really happy to have explored on my own because we only saw the best sites out of the window of the bus. If I was to do it again, I’d either take the bike tour or just explore on my own using the tram system and walking around.
With magnificent neoclassical buildings, a vibrant riverfront and exceptional dining and shopping, it’s a city in which to immerse oneself. Nestled in the southwest of France, lies Bordeaux - a region renowned for its gastronomic prowess and world-class wines. Be treated to breathtaking views of lush vineyards, historic châteaux, and charming villages that dot the landscape. This is where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet, forming one of the most expansive estuaries in Europe.
Beyond the city, most tourism revolves around the wine chateaus outside of town, including Margaux, Haut-Medoc, Lafite-Rothschild, Sauternes, Saint-Emilion, Graves and Cognac. Some lines offer an unforgettable tour to Arcachon, a coastal resort town that is one of France's leading sources of fresh oysters. Even if you don't love sweet wines, an excursion in Sauternes is worth it, just to see the gorgeous landscape.
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