By Cruise Specialists Senior Vice President Teresa Tennant
Our seven-day itinerary included stops at Bordeaux and Cadillac on the Garonne, Libourne on the Dordogne, Fort Médoc and Pauillac on the left bank of the Gironde Estuary, and Blaye and Bourg on the right bank.
Embarkation was easy with staff providing baggage assistance the moment they saw us arriving. We were welcomed to lunch in Le Grand Fromage and invited to relax in Le Salon Champagne afterwards until our room was ready.
Each Uniworld ship is decorated in keeping with the region where it is sailing. Our deluxe stateroom 202 on the S.S. Bon Voyage was beautifully appointed with light green headboard and wall coverings, Savoir® Beds of England, custom cotton sateen sheets, marble bathroom and Purple by Asprey London bath and body products. There was plenty of storage space for our 7-day cruise.
Afternoon tea was available in La Brasserie, and the welcome briefing was provided prior to dinner to go over safety and tour information.
We left Bordeaux the next morning to make our way to Fort Médoc for a complimentary fresh oyster tasting with a white wine from Château Poitevin. There was time to walk around the fort grounds before we reboarded for the short sail to Pauillac.
At least two included excursions were offered in each of our ports. Masterpiece Collection excursions for “above and beyond” experiences were also available for an additional charge. We found all of the tours to be excellent. The local guides (and drivers) did a great job, and we learned a great deal about the wine history of the region as well as other local historic and cultural information. We did not participate in the Masterpiece Collection options; however, we heard many positive reviews from our fellow guests.
In Pauillac we toured the Château Pédesclaux on our Châteaux Route with Private Wine Tasting excursion and enjoyed a wine and chocolate pairing. Back on board, the French Can Can demonstration provided entertainment before the welcome reception with introduction to the ship’s staff and an evening Can Can show after dinner.
The meals we had on board were also excellent. The welcome gala dinner was a favorite as it fell on my husband’s birthday. The dining staff brought out a delicious chocolate layer cake for him. We sang happy birthday and shared the cake with guests seated next to us.
Day three, a short drive from our stop in Cadillac, we were welcomed by Count Louis-Elzéar de Sabran-Pontèves to the Château Royal de Cazeneuve. This beautifully restored museum property was once home to King Henry IV and Queen Margot and has been in the Sabran-Pontèves family for nearly 200 years. After touring the estate rooms, we sampled a local Sauternes as well as some Raisins Dorés, chocolate-covered golden raisins soaked in Sauternes, from Maison Verdier.
In the afternoon, we relaxed on the shaded lounge chairs on the Soleil Deck with chilled drinks. The pastry chef gave a demonstration on how to make the famous Canelé Bordelaise treats and evening entertainment was provided by singer/guitarist Jeremy Dupouy.
The ship has a small but well-equipped fitness center, a pool, and the Serenity River Spa, where massage and facials are offered at an additional charge. There is also a complimentary self-service laundry as well as laundry service available. Many of our fellow guests were traveling for several weeks before and after the cruise so these services were appreciated. They also have a Well-Being Coach who provided complimentary yoga and Pilates sessions.
Coffee, tea and cookies are always available as well as chilled still or sparkling water to fill the reusable water bottles given to all guests. Croissants, pastries and juices are provided each morning in La Brasserie for the early risers and 24-hour room service is also included.
The next day we toured the impressive fortress of Blaye, then followed the scenic Route de la Corniche Fleurie by motorcoach, with time left to explore the local market and shops.
After lunch on board, we stopped in Bourg-sur-Gironde for a walking tour. The village was quiet as the unusual heat wave was drawing most of the locals to the public swimming pool.
The evening entertainment was provided by the guests – either participating in Silent Disco or observing the participants!
The morning of our arrival in Libourne, all guests were invited to join a one-hour walking tour of the village of Saint-Émilion before diverging to the various tour options. We took the included wine tasting tour to Château Mayne, then had free time in Saint-Émilion for lunch on our own before taking the return shuttle back to Libourne.
Uniworld is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. We had been advised before departure to pack something gold to wear for the Golden Anniversary Reception on board. The Hotel Manager, Roberto, earned our vote for best outfit with his bow tie, black-and-gold jacket and shiny gold shoes. Captain Harry also had a very impressive sparkly gold hat. It was a fun night, complete with singer Kania Allard providing the entertainment.
The ship stayed overnight in Libourne and we started the next morning with a walking tour of the local Farmers Market. Then, we boarded our motorcoach for a visit to Château Boutinet. This small-group tour to an organic family-owned wine estate in Villegouge was relaxing and informative.
Next, we entered the air-conditioned yurt that serves as the tasting room. The chilled Clairet de Boutinet was very refreshing on such a hot day.
We sailed back to Bordeaux that afternoon and after dinner were treated to a “Nights Out” excursion – a private performance at the Bassins des Lumières of the Matisse Symphony of Colors exhibit. In addition to the immersive, narrated history of the life and works of Henri Matisse, there were also exhibits about the WWII submarine base housing it.
For our final day in Bordeaux, we chose to do our own sightseeing as we had already seen many of the walking tour sights before we boarded. The ship docks right near one of the local tram stops and the tram system is very easy and efficient to navigate. The tickets are also valid for the local buses as well as the “Le Bato” river transport.
The farewell gala and dinner on board featured introduction by senior ship’s staff of the crew behind the scenes and a menu of traditional favorites – beef carpaccio, surf & turf, baked Alaska and, of course, more local wine. With 52 crew members to look after 101 guests, service from the bar, dining, housekeeping and guest services staff was consistently friendly and helpful. All information and announcements are provided in English and the majority of the guests on board were from English-speaking countries.
Cruise Manager Daniele kept us well informed regarding all activities throughout the trip and Sommelier Esteves gave daily descriptions of the local wines available with the meals.
On disembarkation day, guests are asked to vacate their staterooms by 8:30am. As our flight was not departing until the late afternoon, we really appreciated the ship’s extension of hospitality, inviting us to relax in the lounge and enjoy lunch before disembarking.
We chose this experience for the all-inclusive product and the regional wine focus to celebrate a special occasion. While Bordeaux is famous for its wine, I can recommend this trip even to those who are not wine drinkers; the region has much to offer including food, art, history, scenic views and shopping opportunities.
See upcoming Uniworld Boutique River Cruises options >>