Welcome to Bordeaux. Your friendly crew are ready to receive you onboard the luxurious Scenic Diamond. The moniker 'Sleeping Beauty' or La Belle Endormie was given to Bordeaux when industry was moved to the outskirts and the city was all but abandoned. The quiet waterfront was a vestige of a once bustling port, shops were empty... it was a once beautiful city that lay dormant. In the late 20th century, the city was woken and restored to its former glory, a project headed by former mayor Alain Juppe. The city center was pedestrianized, limestone was revealed under blackened facades, and Bordeaux was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 300 structures declared historical monuments. It's now one of the most desirable places in France to live and visit, with its waterfront rich in architecture and bustling with locals and visitors promenading, sipping coffee or wine from the surrounding renowned vineyards, a landscape that's also dotted with beautiful castles. ... Read More
This morning is spent onboard relaxing as you cruise into the beautiful 13th-century port of Libourne. Head up to the Sun Deck to bask in the sunshine and enjoy the scenery along the Dordogne River rolling by. Download the Scenic Tailormade app to listen to river commentary and gain insight to the villages and sites you're passing. Or perhaps drop into Scenic Culinaire for a French cooking class. Spend the afternoon in the nearby town of Saint-Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval village with world-famous wineries, beautiful architecture, and historic monuments. It's also the birthplace of macarons. The town bears the name of a monk who is said to have performed miracles, such as restoring a local woman's sight, and lived in a natural grotto here in the 8th century. You will enjoy a guided tour of the caves and catacombs beneath the city, including a Monolithic church built from limestone, whose 38-meter-long bell tower can be seen above ground. This evening, your Scenic Space-Ship will be docked overnight in Libourne, a 13th-century city located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Isle rivers. ... Read More
Saturday - Jul 27, 2024
Day 3
Libourne, France
This morning, why not ask your personal butler to wake you with a coffee delivered to your suite? Then enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Crystal Dining. Then, you'll have the opportunity to explore Libourne and its surrounding wine-growing region. This afternoon, relax onboard as you sail towards Blaye. Toast the passing scenery with a regional wine or beer in the Panorama Lounge & Bar or spend time in the exclusive Salt Therapy Lounge, which provides natural anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. ... Read More
Sunday - Jul 28, 2024
Day 4
Blaye, France
Fort Medoc, France
Wake this morning in Blaye, a small town with a rich military history and surrounded by vineyards known for red wine production. Most famously, this petite hamlet is home to a UNESCO World Heritage-listed citadel that was constructed to protect the city of Bordeaux, 50 kilometers upstream, from enemy attacks. Afterwards, relax onboard your luxury ship as you sail towards Fort Medoc for tonight's classical concert. ... Read More
Wake up this morning in Fort Medoc, located between Bordeaux and Pointe de Grave, at the northern end of the Medoc winegrowing region. This appellation grows some of the world's most famous and expensive wines, particularly cabernet sauvignon. Back onboard, enjoy lunch as you cruise to Bourg, a picturesque town set on a rocky promontory. Built as a defensive chateau, it's a maze of ancient alleyways, moats, and bell towers on the Dordogne. This quiet village sits among many famous UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites and, though it is just as charming, remains largely undiscovered by the masses. This evening your ship will continue its journey towards Cadillac, stopping overnight in Bordeaux before sailing onward. ... Read More
Departing Bordeaux early, your Scenic Space-Ship will sail along the Garonne River to Cadillac. Relax in your suite, many of which have a window that converts into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you uninterrupted views of the passing landscape, some of the most picturesque in the Bordeaux region. Or perhaps you'd rather spend the morning in the state-of-the-art gym doing an invigorating workout before a day of sightseeing in and around Cadillac. Founded in the 13th century, this charming, fortified city is centered around its magnificent chateau. Back onboard this evening, fabulous local entertainers perform live in the Panorama Lounge for a night of entertainment as you cruise back to the beautiful city of Bordeaux. ... Read More
Waking this morning in Bordeaux, you will have several options to explore this incredible city. Founded by the Celts around 300 BC it became part of Julius Caesar's Roman Empire in the 1st century. It has been an important trading port since the Middle Ages, thanks to its strategic location on the river flowing to a sea port, and even acted as the seat of French government at the start of both the First and Second world wars. This afternoon is at your leisure to wander the streets of Bordeaux. Spend your final hours in France wandering along the waterfront past 18th-century buildings, make a beeline for the city's Golden Triangle district for beautiful architecture and shopping, or visit La Cite du Vin, an interactive and sensory wine museum. ... Read More
Your journey ends in beautiful Bordeaux. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Bordeaux airport or train station for your onward journey. Please note: The Gironde, Dordogne, and Garonne waterways are part of a tidal river system which results in changing water levels in the region. Every effort is made to keep to the brochure itinerary however based on tides it will be amended or modified. ... Read More
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