Luxury Cruise News

Half of the Authentic Voyages team participated in a walking tour of Libourne later in the morning. With our guide, we stepped off the ship and into the midst of the city. Bustling and alive with commutes, shopping, and all forms of daily life, we were shown the often missed details of Libourne – hallmarks of its culture, arts, and architecture. 

​The other portion of our Founder’s Grand Cruise scouting team embarked on a bicycle tour following Libourne’s Dordogne River. From the ship, we rode along the city’s riverside trail until its end, then onward into the surrounding countryside. Throughout the journey, we made several stops to learn about the Dordogne, local history, interesting automobiles, wine, and more. Cycling amidst the Dordogne’s vineyards, our group stopped to taste and learn about a few of the local grapes. We even had the opportunity to tour a small historic church, built as an indirect part of a local castle – the Château de Condat.

​Each excursion on Day Six left our team with fond memories and loads of great photos to share with our loved ones. The village day, bicycle tour, and painting workshop were all wonderful in their own unique way, allowing us to further immerse ourselves in the French culture as we neared the next leg of our grand Hemingway tour, Spain. From the early morning mascaret to a cocktail reception in the evening, the entire day was packed with great experiences. As our journey continues, we look forward to sharing more details from our Founder’s Grand Cruise with you.

On Day 5 of our Founder’s Grand Cruise scouting trip, our team docked in the brilliant city of Libourne -- a colorful city and a gateway to historic France -- for a day of lively activities. One of our best days on the trip so far, we tasted the wine, sampled the food, and walked the UNESCO-protected streets of Saint-Émilion, France. Today, our team participated in a walking tour through historic St. Émilion, visited the remarkable Chateau de Ferrand for a wine tasting, then headed back into St. Émilion to explore and have lunch on our own. Another member of our scouting team attended a cooking class to learn to cook just as the French do.

​Early on the morning of Day 5, our group boarded a bus bound for St. Émilion with our guide. Delivering an educational intro to the town as we simultaneously drove into it, we were prepared by the time our 25 minute ride was over. Along the way, our bus passed by field after field of perfectly arranged grape vines as the sun rose overhead and the ancient walls of St. Émilion approached. 

​Day 5 of the French river cruise portion of the Founder’s Grand Cruise, our team was entirely impressed. Every member of our scouting team loved the excursions, and having a bit of time to explore a UNESCO-protected city certainly didn’t hurt either. From cooking courses to Grand Cru chateau tours, Day Five of our trip was a resounding success in our books.

​Leaving at a bright and early hour following breakfast, part of our team set out on this excursion to tour the Château Royal de Cazeneuve. Built by the Lord of Albret in the 13th century, this castle was owned by the kings of Navarra, including Henry IV. This ancient kingdom is still an autonomous region of Spain. Pamplona is the capital of Navarra, so you will continue deeper into this ancient history as our tour continues. Today, the magnificent castle is owned by the Lord of Albret’s descendants, the Sabran-Pontevès family.

​Visiting Château Royal de Cazeneuve, we were able to learn all about the famed Sauterne wine that’s produced in the region. What many consider to be a dessert wine, this sweet beverage made for an excellent toast to end this classic French excursion. Being a château, this activity maintained a low level of physical activity, ensuring easy access for everyone.

​After touring the childhood home of Toulouse-Lautrec, our group headed to Verdelais, the quaint French village where the artist was laid to rest in 1901. Visiting the colorful graveyard where he lies today, we received an all-encompassing view of Toulouse-Lautrec’s life and works. Before we ended the excursion, we made one final stop at Verdelais’ only bar for a proper absinthe tasting. One of Toulouse-Lautrec’s favorites, he was known for mixing absinthe into all manner of drinks. Our group was shown the proper way to sip the high-proof liquor, where we melted a sugar cube into the absinthe with ice cold water. The excursion proved to be the perfect accompaniment to our group’s day, one we’d recommend to anyone visiting the Bordeaux region with a remote interest in the best of French art. Physical activity levels were fairly low for this excursion as well, making it an equal opportunity excursion for everyone aboard.

​In our fourth day aboard the SS Bon Voyage, we were astounded at how the excursions seemed to only get better with each coming day. Nearing the halfway point to our Bordeaux cruise, our team was thoroughly impressed not just with today’s excursions, but also the entire itinerary so far. As we scout the way for our upcoming Founder’s Grand Cruise, we look forward to keeping you up-to-date with our grand adventure.