Taste of Bordeaux River Cruise

We are going on another European River Cruise, this time the Bordeaux region of France, and you are all invited!!  This will be our fourth AmaWaterways European river cruise and can attest that it’s a wonderful and unforgettable experience!  The cruise date is April 22nd  – 29th, 2027. It’s round trip from Bordeaux and explores the iconic wine region!   Plus there are two optional Land Packages to strongly consider. A 4-night Spanish Basque package and a 2-night Loire Valley and 1-night Paris CDG packages.  This is a popular destination and very few river cruise ships travel these waters. The ships are much smaller than an ocean going cruise ship and our ship, AmaDolce, only has room for 140 people! There are a limited number of certain types of cabins so don’t delay if you are interested in a particular type of cabin.

  • Watch the short 2 min video on cruising with Ama Waterways and of the Taste of Bordeaux cruise .  It’s a 5-star and nearly all-inclusive first class experience.

Let us or Roger know if you are interested in more information or want to book a room.

NOTE FROM ROGER:

All bookings have to be made through me to be a part of the group and receive group amenities and extras. One HUGELY important point is that unlike a large cruise ship these ships sell out early and the price never goes down. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ship is 90% booked before a year out from sailing. There is a $250 per person group discount for the group and an additional $500 off the cruise price per room (Double Occupancy)  promotion that is good until September 30th 2025. After that the group will continue to have the $250 off due to the group promotion.

Deposit is only $400 per person – of that $200 per person is non-refundable. Please inquire directly with me about Solo traveler pricing.  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RIVER CRUISING, OUR ITINERARY, AND THE SHIP:

 River Cruise

A river cruise is a much different experience than on a traditional large cruise ship. River cruise ships are easy to get on and off with only ~140 passengers (as compared to 3,000- 4,000 on a traditional cruise ship). Additionally, river cruise ships sail through not to countries.  Most of the time stopping mid-town, you can just walk off and start exploring, whereas on a big ocean cruising ship you are often at an industrial port dozens of miles from the heart of town. You are also on a river or canal versus the ocean, so motion will be almost unnoticeable. Additional differences are what’s included on a river cruise on AmaWaterways. Of course, all of your 5-star dining is included. In addition to this, 1-3 tours/excursions/experiences are included daily at one of three walking paces (gentle, medium, and fast). Some tour options that you can choose from include a guided hiking tour on certain days. Your highspeed internet and ship wide WIFI are included! And you will enjoy complimentary and unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks during lunch and dinner, as well as sparkling wine and fresh-squeezed juices during breakfast. There is a “Sip & Sail” Daily Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks.  All of those included items would cost you a lot extra on a large cruise ship (~$250-$500 for WIFI, $1000+ for beverage package, and $100 – $300 per tour/experience per couple).

Airfare

Airfare is not included in the prices but will be available through the cruise line with their Contract Air Department should you wish for professional help with booking air. Often (but not always) air is less expensive going through the cruise line and if you do the pre and post land packages and air, your airport transfers are included (as long as you don’t deviate from the listed dates). Prices will be available approximately 11 months out from the travel date. Prices are not set and can vary greatly. I recommend budgeting $1200 – $1400 per person for Economy Air.  Hopefully it comes in much less but its good to plan high as who knows what the prices will be like in mid-2026.

Our Cruise

Our cruise is round trip from Bordeaux, France. But with the pre-cruise land package you could begin your journey in the heart of Basque Country, Bilbao! Home to the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao is a cultural hub for rich history and flavorful cuisine. Then enjoy two nights in the stunning seaside resort of San Sebastián before embarking on your river cruise journey in Bordeaux.

From romantic walks to red wine, Bordeaux is the cultural capital of all that is quintessentially French. Follow wine’s journey from countryside to cask as you tour centuries-old vineyards and taste Bordeaux’s finest vintages throughout your river cruise experience. Step into living history when you visit historic Roquetaillade Castle and Château Boutinet, delighting in their elegant décor and regal architecture. Then, contrast their grandeur with the pastoral gems including the historic village of Saint-Émilion and the seaside resort of Soulac-sur-Mer.

After disembarking, you will venture into the UNESCO-designated Loire Valley, the all-important “Garden of France.” Journey to Amboise, the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci, before concluding your journey in the “City of Lights” which needs no introduction, Paris.