Welcome to Bordeaux. Your friendly crew are ready to receive you on board 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 centre was pedestrianised, 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. (D)
This morning is spent on board 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-Émilion, a 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-metre-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. (B/L/D)
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.
Freechoice: This morning, choose from one of these Scenic Freechoice activities:
This afternoon, relax on board 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. (B/L/D)
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 World Heritage-listed citadel that was constructed to protect the city of Bordeaux, 50 kilometres upstream, from enemy attacks.
Freechoice: This morning, choose your Scenic Freechoice activity:
Afterwards relax on board your luxury ship as you sail towards Fort Medoc for tonight’s classical concert.
Enrich: Tonight’s Scenic Enrich:
Classical Concert at Chateau d’Agassac: Set in spectacular surrounds in the Médoc countryside, Château d'Agassac is truly enchanting. Dating back to the 13th century the Château is one of the oldest winemaking establishments in the region and is the venue for your unforgettable evening concert. Wander through the château and its gardens and soak in the ambiance of this magnificent property before a string quartet performs classical masterpieces for your enjoyment. (B/L/D)
Wake up this morning in Fort Medoc, located between Bordeaux and Pointe de Grave, at the northern end of the Médoc winegrowing region. This appellation grows some of the world’s most famous and expensive wines, particularly cabernet sauvignon.
Freechoice: Explore your way with one of these Scenic Freechoice excursions:
Back on board, enjoy lunch as you cruise to Bourg, a picturesque town set on a rocky promontory. Built as a defensive château, it’s a maze of ancient alleyways, moats and bell towers on the Dordogne. This quiet village sits among many famous World Heritage-listed sites and, though it is just as charming, remains largely undiscovered by the masses.
Freechoice: This afternoon’s Scenic Freechoice options:
This evening your ship will continue its journey towards Cadillac, stopping overnight in Bordeaux before sailing onward. (B/L/D)
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 centred around its magnificent château.
Freechoice: Explore your way with this morning’s Scenic Freechoice excursions:
Back on board 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. (B/L/D)
Waking this morning in Bordeaux, you will have several options to explore this incredible city. Founded by the Celts around 300BC and 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.
Freechoice: The choice is yours with this morning’s Scenic Freechoice:
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. (B/L/D)
Board your included flight from Bordeaux to Paris where you will board the luxurious Scenic Gem. (B/D)
This morning will be spent cruising towards Les Andelys. This riverfront medieval town is set on one of the prettiest bends of the Seine, resplendent with well-preserved Norman-era houses and exquisite public buildings and overlooked by the imposing ruins of King Richard the Lionheart’s castle, Château Gaillard. Take a stroll alongside the river, admiring the striking limestone cliffs rising from it, or through the charming centre of town where the buildings are a living catalogue through time.
As you enjoy your relaxing cruise, be sure to download the Scenic Tailormade App to listen to river commentary and gain insight to the villages and sites you’re passing along the way.
Freechoice: Choose from today’s Scenic Freechoice excursions:
Rouen is the vibrant capital of the Normandy region. With a fascinating history of Roman and Viking settlement, it has also played a pivotal place in history as the town where Richard the Lionheart was crowned Duke of Normandy and Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. Much of Rouen was sadly destroyed in World War II, but much of the city has been faithfully restored, including the exquisite Old Town. It’s an engaging and historically rich destination, packed with museums, stylish bistros and coffee shops, and a wealth of churches, including the famed 12th century Rouen Cathedral.
Freechoice: Explore your way with one of this morning’s Scenic Freechoice excursions:
Back on board this evening, listen to a fascinating lecture about WWI with an expert.
WWI Lecture – Day in the life of Tommy: Join a lecture on WWI with a speaker who is dressed up in a soldier’s uniform. During this interactive evening, you will be able to gain understanding into the life of a soldier on the Western Front and learn why this was known as ‘the Great War’. From the curious 1914 Christmas armistice football match to the horrors of trench warfare involving machine guns, tanks, mining and the deadly flamethrower, you will experience the war through the eyes of an allied soldier, ‘a Tommy’. Try on his equipment and weapons and taste his rations. This immersive journey is bound to be an emotional one that will bring the history of war to life. (B/L/D)
Today you’ll have the opportunity to join an excursion to the Somme Battlefields or take a walking tour from the ship to Rouen’s Fine Art Museum.
Freechoice:
Please note: The Sir John Monash Centre is a state-of-the-art immersive sensory experience that uses technology to tell the story. In order to maximise your experience, we suggest you download the Sir John Monash Centre app from the Apple or Google Play store prior to embarking on your cruise.
This morning your Scenic Space-Ship will dock right in the centre of Honfleur, a colourful coastal town that has been described as having one of the prettiest harbours in France, Le Vieux Bassin. Originally built for trade, the port was chosen for its strategic position on the southern bank of the Seine estuary. Over the years the town has captured the imaginations of countless artists and was the birthplace of impressionism. The bustling harbour and cobbled streets are a confection of half-timbered houses, restaurants, gourmet shops and art galleries. It’s an easy walk from the ship to explore the harbour area and network of laneways beyond.
Freechoice: Explore your way with one of todays’ Scenic Freechoice activities:
Back on board this evening, join a lecture about WWII to gain a better understanding ahead of your full-day excursions tomorrow.
Lecture on WWII - History comes alive tonight with an interactive lecture on the battles of WWII. Discover what life was like during the campaigns of D-Day; learn about Operation Fortitude, the plan created to deceive the Germany Army on the location of D-Day; and see how technology had evolved since WWI. (B/L/D)
Why not ask your butler to wake you with a coffee delivered to your suite, followed by a leisurely breakfast at Crystal Dining before heading off on your Scenic Freechoice excursions.
You could choose to learn about the D-Day Landings, where tens of thousands of allied troops came ashore to free north-western Europe from Nazi occupation. Six weeks of heavy fighting and losses followed, but this strategic campaign ultimately ended the war.
Freechoice: Choose from todays’ Scenic Freechoice activities:
Your Scenic Space-Ship will arrive in Caudebec-En-Caux this morning. This small town is set on a curve of the Seine and the riverfront is lined with handsome homes, stately gardens and crumbling stone walls. Caudebec -En-Caux dates back to the Middle Ages and a handful of historic buildings survived the bombardments of WWII, including the ornate 15th century Notre Dame Caudebec-En-Caux. From where you’ll set out to explore more of the Normandy region.
Freechoice: Explore your way this morning with one of these Scenic Freechoice excursions:
This morning your Scenic Space-Ship will arrive in Vernon, an historic border town between the Duchy of Normandy and the Kingdom of France. Today it’s a great base to explore nearby Giverny, known for its most famous resident, artist Claude Monet, who turned this quiet riverside town into an artist pilgrimage.
Freechoice:
After exploring these beautiful gardens during this morning’s touring, you may feel inspired to create a masterpiece of your own during an on board painting class.
This afternoon your Scenic Space-Ship will sail towards La Roche Guyon, where this evening’s exclusive Scenic Enrich experience will take place.
Enrich: Château de La Roche Guyon: Take a short walk from the ship to Château La Roche Guyon, which is built into a chalk hillside and dates to the 16th century. It features decorative walls and ceilings as well as tapestries, and during WWII was the headquarters for German field marshal Erwin Rommel, known as Desert Fox. On your way to the château, you will pass through the manicured orchard and vegetable gardens, which are kept by nine on-site gardeners. On arrival you’ll enjoy a drink and sit for a splendid classical concert that focuses on music by French composers. (B/L/D)
Wake this morning in Conflans-Saint-Honore, a medieval town located at the confluence of the River Seine and Oise. Though it’s just a short distance from the centre of the city, it feels a world away. A castle was built here by monks in the 9th century to protect the relics of Saint Honore, from whom the town gets its name. It became a popular pilgrimage site in the 11th century, a practice which lasted for more than 700 years. Wander the quiet streets and the riverside pathway, sip coffee at an open-air café, and admire the beautiful ancient church. From here, you can explore some of the outer regions of Paris.
Freechoice: Today, choose one of our Scenic Freechoice activities:
This afternoon you’ll spend time on board as your Scenic Space-Ship cruises back to Paris. Relax with a regional wine or beer in the Panorama Lounge & Bar, take some time out in the wellness centre, where you can enjoy a massage, or head to the state-of-the-art gym for an invigorating workout. (B/L/D)
Welcome back to Paris, where you will spend the day exploring this great city. First timers will love the highlights tour, which allows you to tick off bucket-list items such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, while return visitors may want to discover the trendy Marais District or Opera Garnier, an opulent architectural masterpiece built in the 19th century. Or take a tour south-east of the city to an exquisite château.
Freechoice: Choose from today’s Scenic Freechoice options:
This afternoon is free to explore Paris at your own leisure. Perhaps you’d like to people-watch on the Champs-Elysee from a sidewalk café, head to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a bird’s-eye view of the city, or venture to Montmartre, the artist’s district and where the famed Moulin Rouge is located. Otherwise you can relax back on board your luxurious Scenic Space-Ship. (B/L/D)
After breakfast, transfer to Paris airport or train station for your onward journey.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions. (B)
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