Guest Speaker 
Deluxe Stateroom
15% Ponant Bonus
19 m2
2
Fortified cities of the Atlantic and the Iberian Peninsula
Honfleur - Lisbon
Dates:
20/9/2023
to
1/10/2023
days
nights on board
From Honfleur to Lisbon, PONANT invites you on an unforgettable cruise along the French, Spanish and Portuguese Atlantic coastlines. This 12-day circuit aboard Le Champlain is full of discoveries.
After boarding your ship in Honfleur, you will call at Cherbourg. This city is home to the largest artificial harbour in Europe. Before the advent of air travel, Cherbourg had a proud reputation thanks to its transatlantic passenger terminal.
During your stop in Saint-Malo, a town famous for the legendary Route du Rhum yacht race, lose yourself in the diversity of its heritage, stroll along its rampart and fall under the charm of the city of privateers.
Belle-Île-en-Mer, to the south of Brittany, will be one of the key ports of call on this stimulating voyage. The Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived for a while in the village of Kervilahouen on this island.
You will then reach the beautiful fortified city of Talmont-sur-Gironde and sail near the Cordouan Lighthouse, which guides sailors into the entrance of the Gironde Estuary, before reaching the wine capital, Bordeaux.
Le Champlain will then head for the capital of the Spanish Basque Country, Bilbao. Between daring architecture and the continuation of its ancestral traditions, you will be able to witness the city’s unique energy.
Your journey will continue to Galicia and the city of Vigo, the biggest fishing port in Spain. Not far from here, Santiago de Compostela awaits you. This unmissable pilgrimage destination is home to a number of monuments from the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods, testimony to its illustrious past.
From the port of Leixoes, you will sail to Porto. The capital of the northern region, this 'city of granite' is not only known for its wine, but also for its remarkable historic town centre, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your cruise on Le Champlain will conclude with a visit to Lisbon. This city with its nostalgic charm has a unique personality, a blend of tramways, museums and listed buildings.
Then you will reach Lisbon, your port of disembarkation.
Ref : EC200923
Your itinerary
A cruise along the Atlantic coastlines of three countries: France, Spain and Portugal. UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the historic centre of Porto from Leixoes; Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) from Vigo; the...
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Additional services
For more peace of mind, PONANT selects flights and takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
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*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Services provided
- 24h room service
- Butler service and priority boarding : Owner’s suite, Grand de Luxe Suite, Privilege Suites, Prestige Suite Deck 6
- Inclusive Internet access Wifi (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Selection of Hermès top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar included
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
Depending on the itinerary and the program of your cruise, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Highlights
- A cruise along the Atlantic coastlines of three countries: France, Spain and Portugal.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the historic centre of Porto from Leixoes; Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) from Vigo; the Port of the Moon in Bordeaux, the tower of Belem and the monastery of Jeronimos in Lisbon (disembarkation port).
- Ports of call at Saint-Malo, Cherbourg, Belle-Île-en-Mer - three sites on the French Atlantic coast.
- Variety of landscapes and the relief of the Atlantic coast from the sea.
- An excursion in Galicia to discover Santiago de Compostela.
Ports of Call & Excursions
20 September 2023 - Honfleur
Embarkation 20/9/2023 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Departure 20/9/2023 at 6:00 pm
A treasure of the Côte Fleurie, Honfleur is located on the edge of la Crique de Rouen in Normandy. You will no doubt admire the historical ships moored in its old port. With its tall, slate-covered houses, the quays provide a great setting for a very nice walk. In the streets behind the harbour, you will see many timber houses. These picturesque places were the cradle of several pre-impressionist painters. You can see their works in the Eugène Boudin museum. Exhibited works represent scenes of medieval streets and the coastline as it used to be, as illustrated by the Butin beach and its lush green hillsides.
21 September 2023 - Cherbourg
Arrival 21/9/2023 midday
Departure 21/9/2023 early evening
Lying at the tip of the Cotentin peninsula, between the Channel and the bocage, Cherbourg is the figurehead of a wild and secret region, dear to the heart of Jacques Prévert. The installation of La Cité de la Mer maritime museum in 2002, within the former transatlantic terminal, rejuvenated the maritime and military port. You’ll enjoy the ambiance of this charming town, with its shale façades, which was celebrated by Jacques Demy in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Your exploration will also bring you to the foot of the Château de Vauville, famed for its extraordinary Botanical Gardens. Like an oasis, this small southern paradise is home to more than 1,000 tropical species collected by the family of Éric Pellerin, botanist and perfumer since 1948.
22 September 2023 - Saint-Malo
Arrival 22/9/2023 early morning
Departure 22/9/2023 early afternoon
The mere mention of Saint-Malo’s name is enough to plunge us back into the richness of its past. The fortifications stand as testimony to the Malouins’ determination to defend their citadel, fought over by France and Britain in turn. When we drop anchor here, immerse yourself in the diversity of its heritage: the time when privateers sailed the oceans in search of trade and victories; the legendary yacht races the port city is still famous for, such as the Route du Rhum; and the final resting place of the French writer François-René de Chateaubriand, who was born here and chose to be buried here anonymously.
23 September 2023 - Belle-Île-en-Mer
Arrival 23/9/2023 early afternoon
Departure 23/9/2023 early evening
Lying to the South of Brittany, Belle-Île is very aptly named. The largest of the Ponant islands, it owes its glowing reputation to its exceptional environment and generous natural attributes: pristine moors and dunes, headlands and cliffs cut into granite points, rocky inlets, and sheltered bays with sandy or pebble beaches. Aboard your ship, let the wild coastline of Belle-île-en-Mer surprise you, this little speck of land lying on the ocean, sparkling with colours in the morning light.
24 September 2023 - Talmont-sur-Gironde
Arrival 24/9/2023 midday
Departure 24/9/2023 evening
You will sail along the coast to discover the remarkable Meschers caves, natural cavities carved into the chalk cliffs that loom over the Gironde estuary. Enlarged by man in the 19th century, they became troglodyte dwellings, some of which are still inhabited today. Punctuating the coastline of the Charente region with their poetic presence, the carrelets, fragile-looking huts on stilts fitted with a square fishing net, can be seen along the Saintonge coastline. The beautiful town of Talmont-sur-Gironde is to be found at the heart of the fortified city founded by Edward I, King of England and Duke of Aquitaine. The Sainte-Radegonde church, a jewel of Romanesque art, dating from the 12th century, looms majestically over the estuary.
25 September 2023 26 September 2023 - Bordeaux
Arrival 25/9/2023 at night
Departure 26/9/2023 midday
Bordeaux stretches along the banks of the Garonne river, in South-West France. Its rich wine tradition makes it the world capital of wine. Let yourself be carried away by the history of the Port de la Lune, made a UNESCO World Heritage site for its prestigious classical architecture. On the famous Place de la Bourse, the past and the present unite: here you can observe the majestic old buildings reflected in the contemporary Miroir d’eau creation.
27 September 2023 - Bilbao
Arrival 27/9/2023 early morning
Departure 27/9/2023 late afternoon
Bilbao, capital of the Spanish Basque country, is one of the most avant-garde cities in Europe. Its architectural audacity as well as its ancient built heritage will take you on a journey between traditions and innovations. An unusual cable car will allow you to reach the magnificent Guggenheim Museum, a unique construction of stone, glass and titanium, designed by the architect Frank Gehry and home to a collection of modern art and contemporary monumental sculpture. The narrow streets of the old city and the unmissable Ensanche district are also worthy of a visit, as is the Vizcaya bridge, the world’s first ever transporter bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
28 September 2023 - At sea
Arrival 28/9/2023
Departure 28/9/2023
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
29 September 2023 - Vigo – Santiago de Compostela
Arrival 29/9/2023 early morning
Departure 29/9/2023 early evening
Nestling on the Atlantic coast, in the south of Galicia, the former fishing port of Vigo is now the region’s largest municipality. Its old town, more commonly known as O Berbés, will unveil its many historical monuments and the unusual architectural style of its homes. Off the coast, the Cíes Islands, declared a Nature Reserve and located in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, offer truly splendid landscapes and exceptional biodiversity. Further north, make sure you visit Santiago de Compostela, which welcomes many pilgrims from all over the world every year. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its historical centre has significant architectural heritage.
30 September 2023 - Leixões - Porto
Arrival 30/9/2023 early morning
Departure 30/9/2023 early afternoon
Located at the mouth of the Douro River, the port of Leixões lies less than 10 kilometres from Porto. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic centre of Porto is worth a visit for its famous Ribeira district, the metallic silhouette of the Dom-Luis bridge looming over its ancient houses, its richly decorated Baroque churches and its national Soares dos Reis museum. The São Bento station is also interesting for its typically Portuguese decoration, using Azulejos, blue square ceramic tiles decorated with geometric patterns or figurative scenes.
1 October 2023 - Lisbon
Arrival 1/10/2023 early morning
Disembarkation 1/10/2023 at 7:30 am
Portugal’s capital city located on the banks of the Tagus, only a few kilometres from the Atlantic coast, is a city of exceptionally rich cultural diversity. At the mouth of the river harbour, impose two UNESCO World Heritage monuments, Jeronimos monastery and Belem tower. The Alfama hillside is also worth visiting: known for its fado bars and its Moorish streets, this district is the oldest one of the city and one of the most typical. Not far from there, Chiado’s elegant streets are home to big fashion labels and are an invitation to a bit of of luxury shopping.
Mont-Saint-Michel
From the pier, you will board your coach for the one-hour drive to the Mont-Saint-Michel. On arrival, you will change your transportation and take a shuttle to reach the village entrance.
Your walking exploration will start at the foot of the island. This jewel of France, according to Victor Hugo 'is to the ocean what the Pyramid of Cheops is to the desert'.
At first, you will discover the Mont surrounded by the bay's fragile and natural setting of fauna and flora. You will continue through the narrow streets of the medieval village and walk up to the Abbey for a guided visit inside the abbey, achievement of passionate builders. Taking its inspiration from a dream, the monastery was founded in the 10th century and today welcomes modern pilgrims following the century-old tradition.
After lunch in a famous local restaurant, enjoy some time at leisure for independent sightseeing and shopping before rejoining your guide to take the shuttle back to the parking.
Finally, you will board you coach for your transfer to Saint Malo and your ship.
- The visit of Mont-Saint-Michel is done entirely on foot, covering approximately 1.2 miles (2 km), including uphill and downhill walking on cobblestone streets with more than 350 steps to negotiate, mainly to reach the Abbey. This tour is not recommended for guests with any mobility challenges. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Toilets are available by the bus parking lot, please have 0.40€ handy. The shuttle used to reach the foot of the Mont from the parking lot is not exclusive to PONANT guests. Appropriate clothing is required to enter religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Cancale oyster tasting
From the pier, board your coach and start your 30-minute drive to Cancale.
Picturesque fishing village, Cancale is renowned for its “bancs d’huîtres” (oyster’s beds). The gardeners of the sea work from the parks to the farms thousands of oysters up to the time they are ready to please the gourmet.
En-route, you will discover an oyster farm. During your guided visit of the “Ferme Marine”, you will learn more about the work of the oyster farmer and the workshop (tanks, washing, conditioning). Normally, you will have the opportunity to see the farmer during her/his working day.
Following your visit, you will enjoy an oyster tasting accompanied with a glass of wine.
Then, you will drive to Cancale fishing port to enjoy a walking guided tour along “La Houle” and historical seamen neighborhood before having some free time to explore by yourself.
After, your tour will continue to La Pointe du Grouin nature reserve. At the Northern end of the department, in the commune of Cancale, the “Pointe du Grouin” houses the most important coastal bird nesting site of Ille-et-Vilaine.
Dominated by a semaphore built in 1861, the Pointe du Grouin offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and the coast of the Channel to the east, and a succession of handles and points to Cap Fréhel to the west.
- This excursion involves approximately 1 km of walking on uneven ground with some steps. The tasting includes six oysters and a glass of white wine. Farmer’s work sightings cannot be guaranteed. No farmer’s work sightings during weekends and public holidays. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
The privateer's city of Saint-Malo
Depart from pier and enjoy a walking guided visit of Saint-Malo leading to the Asfeld Hotel.
As you stroll around the quaint narrow streets, your knowledgeable guide points out sites of historical interest. View the castle, part of the ramparts protecting the town, the town's typical streets, the house of Duchess Ann, and the cathedral. Also, get acquainted with the more famous personalities of Saint-Malo, such as Jacques Cartier, Duguay-Trouin, Surcouf, and the well-known romantic writer Chateaubriand. Enter the Asfeld Hotel for a visit of this former Privateer's house, followed by a cider tasting. This Manor house has been built by François-Auguste Magon de La Lande, privateer and merchant. He was one of the most powerful ship-owner in the heyday of Saint-Malo and a director of the French East Indies Company. Built in 1725, the house is listed as a Historic Monument (interior and exterior) so as to protect its authenticity and guarantee that the restoration respects historical accuracy.
Here you will enjoy a glass of cider before walking back to pier and your awaiting ship.
- The visit of Saint-Malo is done entirely on foot, covering approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) including uphill and downhill walking, many steps and cobble stone streets. This tour is not recommended for guests with any mobility challenges. We recommend you to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Eden Garden & panoramic tour
Depart from the pier for a 15-minute walk to your coach (a shuttle is available for passengers who have walking difficulties). After a 30-minute drive, you will reach the Eden Garden.
Brittany, homeland of many explorers, was the starting point of the most prestigious expeditions around the world and is nowadays an ideal land for gardens as hundreds of varieties have been acclimatized since the 18th century. The Eden Garden houses 0.7 square acres of aromatic and officinal plants as well as vegetables and flowers from all over the world. The owner, Michel Damblant, will guide you and narrate the adventures of the most famous 'plant explorers' of Brittany, as you visit his garden.
Then, you will re-board your coach for a panoramic tour. Pass through the 'Impressionists' village of Kervilahouen, watched over by a large lighthouse. Also known as the Goulphar lighthouse, it was designed by Auguste Fresnel, a famous French physicist and the man behind the compact Fresnel lens.
Next, you will then head for the iconic Aiguilles de Port Coton. These formations are one of the most amazing sites on the island, and have been painted many times by Claude Monet who said about the site: 'It is sinister, devilish but superb and I have not found anything like it elsewhere.' The name is a reference to the foam, thrown up by waves in heavy seas as they crash against the rocks, which looks like a veil of cotton.
Lastly you will continue to Poulains point, loved by the actress Sarah Bernhardt, and the giant rocky 'pyramids' of the astonishing Apothicairerie site.
Finally, you will get back to the port and your ship.
- This excursion involves approximately 1.7 miles (2.5 km) walking, sometimes on sloping terrain, uneven surfaces and some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes. The garden visit will be done by the owner. This tour is limited to 40 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Panoramic tour of Belle-Ile-en-Mer
Depart from the pier for a 15-minute walk to your coach (a shuttle is available for passengers who have walking difficulties). You will then leave to explore the island on a panoramic tour.
Pass through the 'Impressionists' village of Kervilahouen, watched over by a large lighthouse. Also known as the Goulphar lighthouse, it was designed by Auguste Fresnel, a famous French physicist and the man behind the compact Fresnel lens.
Next, you will then head for the iconic Aiguilles de Port Coton. These rock formations are one of the most amazing sites on the island, and have been painted many times by Claude Monet who said about the site: 'It is sinister, devilish but superb and I have not found anything like it elsewhere.' The name is a reference to the foam, thrown up by waves in heavy seas as they crash against the rocks, which looks like a veil of cotton.
Lastly you will continue to Poulains point, loved by the actress Sarah Bernhardt, and the giant rocky 'pyramids' of the astonishing Apothicairerie site.
You will also stop in the charming port of Sauzon before getting back to the port and your ship.
- This excursion involves approximately 0.7 mile (1.5 km) walking, sometimes on sloping terrain, uneven surfaces and some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Hiking at Pointe des Poulains
Depart from the pier for a 15-minute walk to your coach. After a 30-minute drive, you will reach Pointe des Poulains.
Dominated by a small automated lighthouse, whose autonomy is guaranteed by solar panels, the site offers a splendid panoramic view. On a clear day, the view extends to the Groix island, Lorient, and embraces all the Quiberon Bay. Held by the “Conservatoire du Littoral” (Coastal protection agency) since 2000, the small military fort was bought in 1894 by the actress Sarah Bernhardt to become in 1897 her villa, named “The Five Parts of the World”, where she spent every summer until the end of her life. The place is now the subject of a protection and recovery programme.
Once arriving, you will follow your guide and start your hiking along the wild coast, appreciating the coves and the turquoise waters.
After a two-hour hike, you will join a hamlet at the Logonet mill, where you will enjoy a refreshment stop, before reboarding your coach to drive back to the pier.
- This excursion involves approximately 5 km (3.5 miles) of walking, sometimes on sloping terrain, uneven surfaces and some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable hiking shoes. The refreshment is included on your tour. This tour is limited to 25 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Farm of Neuvic, French caviar producer
Neuvic Estate spreads out over 19 hectares at the confluence of the Isle and Vern rivers, in the town of Neuvic.
It is situated on the land of a farm dating back to before the French Revolution, which left traces and memories that can still be seen and felt on the stone walls. The Isle River is omnipresent, whether crossing the property or bordering its contours with its meanders flanked by imposing chalky cliffs.
Domaine de Neuvic produces and markets the Caviar de Neuvic. It also produces caviar for other brands in accordance with precise specifications. Domaine de Neuvic is first and foremost synonymous with an innovative and stringent quality approach.
In 2013, Domaine de Neuvic received the acclaim of the Association France Initiative, chaired by Mr. Schweitzer, as one of ten "remarkable companies" in France. This title rewards its innovative approach, promotion of its region and recognition of human capital as a criterion for the overall success of the company.
During the visit of the estate, your guide will tell you all the secrets of sturgeons breeding and how to make caviar.
At the end of the visit, you will have the opportunity to taste the estate’s caviar, with a glass of sparkling wine!
- We recommend you wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. This tour involves 1 ½ hour transfer each way.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Sauternes : Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Located in the Sauternes wine region, Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey is a magnificent wine estate, classified Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855. Nearby Chateau Yquem, its 37.5 hectares of vineyards stand on the third terrace of the Sauternes appellation, over 70 metres above sea level.
The ‘L’Enclos’ and ‘Maisons Rouges’ plots of land (15 hectares) form the historic heart of this exceptional terroir, with the others distributed near various Crus Classés within the appellation, in the form of five-hectare islands (Yquem, Suduiraut, Guiraud, Rieussec and d’Arche). A wide range of soils and subsoils (mostly gravel and clay) have been recorded here, a unique typology which explains the exceptional aromatic complexity offered up by Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey wines.
During your visit, you will discover the history of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, the territory of Sauternes, its viticulture and the secret of its sweet wines. You will be explained the special link that unites the Chateaux’s wines to the art of Lalique.
After visiting the estate (the “enclos”, the fermenting room, the cellars and the Chapel), you will be invited to taste three of the Chateaux’ wines. This liquid gold’s tastings will take place in the Vinothèque or the Chapel, entirely redecorated by Lalique, and nestled between the two historic wine cellars.
- This private tour is subject to a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 15 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Secrets of French oak wood barrel-maker
At Nadalié, family and business have gone hand in hand for five generations. Cooperage's art is the family true heritage. Today, learn about the complete process of cooperage (art of oak barrel making) and meet the craftsmen who make the beauty of that art… Dexterity, precision, attention to the quality of the product, you will discover a preserved know-how.
You will be impressed and astonished by the high productivity of these craftsmen that is only made possible by a high technical level acquired throughout decades of know-how and passion. From the selection of the oak trees to the final customisation of the barrel, expertise is at work. Despite improvement from modern research, analysis, machinery and wood selection techniques, the barrel making process has changed very little over the years and is extremely time intensive. To achieve the highest standards of quality, most of the work is still done by hand by highly qualified coopers.
During the visit of the “Tonnellerie Nadalié” you will learn the secrets of the production of the wine barrels, a major component of the wine ageing process. Discover the complicity in between chateaux wine masters and barrel makers, and how they predict the exchanges in between the French oak wood and the wine tannings during the wine’s ageing in the cellars, and finally how they monitor it to obtain the flavours they are looking for.
You will see the 'mise en rose' (how wine barrel 'raise the barrel') and the toasting which will give complex flavours to the wines. After this exclusive visit, you will taste wines stocked in differently-toasted-barrels or made from different oaks (French & American) to better understand how wine aromas differ according to barrel wood origins and wood toasting. Finally, you will taste the wine of the owning family’s wine estate, Château Beaurivage. After this immersion into the world of the wine barrel makers, you will return to your ship in Bordeaux.
- We recommend you wear flat and comfortable walking shoes. This private tour is subject to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Saint Emilion village and Château SOUTARD
There can be no better place to start a visit to this attractive region than UNESCO World Heritage Classified Saint Emilion region and village, heartland of the Merlot grape, which produces delicious, rich, round wines.
The vines on the "hill with a thousand châteaux", reach right up to Saint Emilion's 13th century town walls and surrounding moat dug out of solid rock. Members of the local wine brotherhood, the Jurats, proclaim the vintage banns in much the same way as their ancestors did during the reign of Richard the Lion heart.
You will visit the main monuments of the town: the Collegial church and its magnificent cloister from the 12th century, the ramparts (12th), the marketplace. Strolling in the streets, you will also see the Cadene gate and the King's Tower. You will then have some time at leisure for shopping.
Continue your discovery of the first UNESCO classified village by driving through the vineyard and going to the impressive Château Soutard where you will be explained the techniques of wine making during the visit of the cellars, before a wine tasting.
- This tour involves walking over cobblestone streets and some steps. We recommend you wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties due to steep cobblestoned streets in Saint-Emilion in addition to several stairs in the château.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Visit of Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Following a customized tour of the estate, you will visit the owners' private cellar, taste the estate's first wine, both white and red, and the young vines in red.
Today, you will be invited to a special confidential wine tasting at Pessac-Léognan Classified Great Growth Château Smith Haut Lafitte estate. This great growth owes its reputation as "the quintessential Graves" to its superb Günz gravel terroir in a single block. The estate's history dates back to the Crusades. The Scottish navigator Georges Smith acquired the château in the 18th century and Monsieur Duffour-Dubergier, a Mayor of Bordeaux from a famous family of traders, was a subsequent owner.
Since its purchase by Florence and Daniel Cathiard in 1990, Smith Haut Lafitte has become one of the leading lights of Bordeaux thanks to its elegant, powerful red and white wines. In twenty years, the owners have not only brought the wine of Smith Haut Lafitte up to the very highest level, but also restored the château's 16th century tower, completely renovated two underground cellars, built their own cooperage, and introduced such organic methods as horse-drawn ploughing, home-made compost and the use of plant extracts.
Enchanted with this tasting of the finest wines of the Bordeaux wine region, historic cradle of the wine culture in the world, you will return to your ship.
- This tour involves moderate walking on paved and pebbled terrain. You must negotiate various steps to visit the property and its wine cellars. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes. This tour is not recommended to guests with limited mobility or in a wheelchair. This tour is limited to 25 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Gourmet guided walking tour of Bordeaux
Departure on foot from the ship berth for a walking tour of the UNESCO classified city of Bordeaux.
Take advantage of this short guided walking tour of Bordeaux city centre to discover some local traditional specialties, like chocolate, canelé cake, cheese, and of course Bordeaux wine.
Walk by the Grand Theatre, built by Victor Louis in 1773, one of the most beautiful in Europe and a pure work of art from the 18th century. Continue through the old Bordeaux district towards the Parlement (parliament) and Bourse (stock-exchange) Squares, before reaching the Cathedral Saint André and City Hall area. End the tour with the luxury boutiques district, called “the triangle” by the locals, and the Quinconces square.
- This tour is not suitable for persons with walking difficulties as it includes walking long distances, sometimes on cobblestoned streets. The tour will be on foot only. We recommend you wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. This tour is subject to a minimum of 10 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Oenology between modernity & traditions
As a result of the area’s microclimate and deep-rooted wine tradition, the region of Rioja Alavesa produces the highest quality Rioja Designation of Origin wines. The most renowned Rioja Alavesa wine cellars are located in the surrounding area of the capital, Laguardia.
From the pier, board your coach for a 2-hour drive to the cave Marques de Riscal winery.
The wine company, Marqués de Riscal, has given life to a huge complex “City of wine” with the contribution by the Canadian architect, Frank O. Gehry who, faithful to the cellars’ spirit, knew how to combine innovation and tradition in a single building, made using the most modern materials. This project is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken in Spanish wine cellars to date. The form of the building housing the hotel, combined with the rich beauty of the landscape and the surrounding installations of Marqués de Riscal, gives a unique dimension to this estate. A complex set in around 100,000 m2 devoted to making, caring for and studying wine offers you the chance to dive into the wine universe. At the heart of the City of Wine, you can find the oldest of the cellars of Marqués de Riscal, dating from 1858, as well as its later 1883 extension. Surrounded by vineyards, the installations preserve their original charm.
After your visit of the estate, you will enjoy a wine tasting. You will, then, drive to La Guardia.
The capital of La Rioja Alavesa is bordered by the mountains and a river that separate it from the other towns. These geographic nuances make the area’s landscapes and climate, which have clearly made a mark both in its history and in the villagers’ character. Laguardia is a walled town whose name derives from Navarra´s “La Guarda” (The Guardian) due to the strategic position it holds against Castilla. The town is a pedestrian-only zone and its underground houses a multitude of wine cellars at various metres deep.
You will have lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to Bilbao, 2-hour drive.
- This tour involves approximately 2 km (1.3 mile) of walking including some steps and cobblestones. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The duration of the transfers is approximately two hours each way. The tasting and the lunch are included on your tour. The tour is limited to 40 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum
Bilbao is a constantly evolving city and a dynamic metropolis where traditions and relics of the past live side by side with futuristic buildings recognised throughout the world as icons of modernity. This excursion will allow you to admire both aspects of the economic and cultural capital of the Basque Country.
From the pier, board your coach and proceed to the famous Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry.
This imposing and unmistakable titanium, granite and glass building reflected in the river houses important works of contemporary art. Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao building represents a magnificent example of the most groundbreaking 20th-century architecture. With 24,000 m2, of which 11,000 are dedicated to exhibition space, the museum represents an architectural landmark of audacious configuration and innovating design, providing a seductive backdrop for the art exhibited in it. Altogether, Gehry's design creates a spectacular sculpture-like structure, perfectly integrated within Bilbao's urban pattern and its surrounding area. It was built between 1993 and 1997 representing the recovery of the banks of the river, redeveloping them for culture and leisure. The finish of the approximately 33,000 extremely thin titanium sheets provides a rough and organic effect, adding to the material's colour changes depending on the weather and light conditions. The other two materials used in the building, limestone and glass, harmonise perfectly, achieving an architectural design with a great visual impact that has now become a real icon of the city throughout the world.
Your tour will continue with a stroll around the old town with its handsome Renaissance, Baroque and Modernist buildings, where you will have the chance to admire the façade of the Cathedral of Santiago, example of Gothic architecture, and the elegant Plaza Nueva, with its distinctive porticoes.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your awaiting ship.
- This tour involves approximately 1.5 km (1 mile) of walking on flat and cobblestones streets with some steps. It is not recommended to guests with limited mobility. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Please note that due to the limited availability of guides, the inside visit of the museum might be done with headset.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
The Basque coastline
Discover the Cantabrian corniche, the fishing port of Bermeo and historic Guernica. From the pier, travel along the colorful Biscayan coastline and see the dramatic views of the Cantabrian corniche.
You will first visit Guernica, once the capital of the Basque Country. The local lords and kings met here in democratic assembly to promise to respect the special laws of Vizcaya. On 26th April 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, the town was razed to the ground by German aircraft, sent by Hitler to support Franco's troops. Discover the Picasso’s Guernika mural reproduction, illustrating the bombing and showing the tragedy of war.
During your visit, see also the petrified trunk of an oak tree that miraculously survived the horrific bombing raid. In the Park of Europe are the famous sculptures, symbolising Gernika-Lumo as a city of peace. See the interior of the Casa de Juntas, where the Basque parliament has convened since 1979.
Continue to Bermeo, one of the area's most important fishing ports in the region. This colourful, working town has a large deep-sea fishing fleet that regularly operates off the coast of the Azores and southern Africa. See the popular Basque style architecture reflected in the fishermen's houses.
After the visit, drive to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe for a photostop before returning to the pier in Bilbao.
- This tour involves 1 mile (1.5 km) of walking on cobblestone streets in Bermeo and inclines in Guernica. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes. As the Basque government meets at Casa de Juntas, it is subject to closure without any previous notice.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Santiago de Compostela
From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to Santiago de Compostela (a one-hour and fifteen-minute drive), one of the most important cities in Europe and the third most important place in the world for Christian pilgrimage.
Your tour will start by the Obradoiro Square where your guide will present you all the details of this square during a walking tour. You can admire the Cathedral, the Town hall, the Pazo (Palace of Saint Jerome) and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos. This former hospital was built in 1501 by orders of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile to welcome unwell pilgrims and replace the old hospital which was then on the current Plaza de la Azabachería. Today it continues to fulfil its function of hosting service to the traveller, although it has a luxurious character. Every day, a dozen pilgrims carrying their compostela (pilgrim certificate) are allowed in the kitchen to graciously receive a meal.
Your guide will give you a complete description of the outside of the Cathedral and will show you the Jubilee Door which is only opened for the pardons of each Jubilee Year.
Then, you will have some time at leisure to walk along the historical streets before meeting your guide at the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, for the lunch served in one of the dining rooms of the hotel.
Before boarding your coach to Vigo, you will enjoy an inside visit of the Cathedral with the tomb of Saint James, maybe the most important piece of the Cathedral, the “Portico da Gloria” whose lintels were laid in place in 1188, one of the capital works of mediaeval sculpture. You will also visit the museum of the Cathedral.
- This tour involves 2 km (1,5 mile) of walking on cobblestone streets with many steps during the Cathedral visit. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered). The lunch is included in your tour.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Vigo & Baiona
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your scenic drive towards Monte Castro. Once arriving, you will enjoy a panoramic view on Vigo, its bay and its harbour.
Jules Verne wrote that Captain Nemo’s best kept secret was in Vigo. Did you know that this is where the Nautilus submarine came to stock up on gold? In Vigo’s estuary there are dozens of sunken ships loaded with the gold from the Americas, treasures that have not yet come to light.
Back to coach, you will drive to Baiona, one of the most important and characteristic fishing villages on the Galicia coast.
Here you will visit Parador Monterreal, an imposing 16th-century building that has been converted into a hotel. The fortress of Monterreal is highly evocative of times long past, with its walls (dating from the 11th to 17th centuries) and its mediaeval towers: the Reloxo, the Tenaza and the Príncipe Cativo. The walls are ideal for a pleasant stroll around the area, known as the Monte Boi Promenade, offering perfect views over the whole of Galicia’s southern coastline, and of course the town of Baiona.
Then, you will discover old centre of the village with the remains of its ancient walls. A walk through the historic centre reveals impressive pazos (manor houses), such as that of the Correa family (from the 18th century), now the town hall with a tall tower, coats of arms and beautiful balconies; the Casa Ceta (or Casa do Perdón) from the 14th century; the Casa Mendoza (or Casa do Deán) with arched walkways beneath (from the 18th century) and a superb Baroque façade, or the Casa de Salgado (from the 17th century).
Finally, re-board your coach and start your return drive to Vigo, a 45-minute drive.
- This tour involves 2 km (1,5 mile) of walking on cobblestone streets with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to your starting point of your hiking on the way of cross, 45-minute drive.
You will walk on the Spanish part of the way of cross borrowed by the pilgrims, to this day, to join Santiago de Compostela.
Santiago de Compostela is one of the most important cities in Europe and the third most important place in the world for Christian pilgrimage.
Once arriving, you will discover the Obradoiro Square where your guide will present you all the details of this square during a walking tour. You can admire the Cathedral, the Town hall, the Pazo (Palace of Saint Jerome) and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos. This former hospital was built in 1501 by orders of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile to welcome unwell pilgrims and replace the old hospital which was then on the current Plaza de la Azabachería. Today it continues to fulfil its function of hosting service to the traveller, although it has a luxurious character. Every day, a dozen pilgrims carrying their compostela (pilgrim certificate) are allowed in the kitchen to graciously receive a meal.
Your guide will give you a complete description of the outside of the Cathedral and will show you the Jubilee Door which is only opened for the pardons of each Jubilee Year.
Then, you will have some time at leisure to walk along the historical streets before meeting your guide at the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, for the lunch served in one of the dining rooms of the hotel.
Continue with an inside visit of the Cathedral with the tomb of Saint James, maybe the most important piece of the Cathedral, the “Portico da Gloria” whose lintels were laid in place in 1188, one of the capital works of mediaeval sculpture. You will also visit the museum of the Cathedral.
Finally, reboard your coach to join your ship, a one-hour and fifteen-minute drive.
- This tour involves active walking on uneven grounds and cobblestone streets with many steps during the Cathedral visit. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered). The lunch is included in your tour.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Pazo de Rubianes & wine tasting
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 1-hour drive to Villagarcia.
Once arriving, you will visit the Pazo de Rubianes. Located in the Arousa estuary (Pontevedra), it is one of the three official lordships in Spain. The main building was constructed in the 15th century. In the 18th century the tower was pulled down, and a summer residence with rectangular plan was created. The gardens, with more than 11 hectares, have remarkable eucalyptus trees with perimeters of 12 meters, olives and magnolias. It has geometrical flowerbeds of French style, with sequoias and camphors. Its grandiose magnolias Magnolia grandiflora L. have been included in the Galician Monumental Tree Catalogue.
With an area of 25 hectares, the vineyard of Pazo de Rubianes is the largest in the region of Salnés. Don Gonzalo Ozores of Urcola - eighteenth Lord of the House of Rubianes and Marqués de Aranda- and his wife, Mrs. Paloma Rey Fernández Latorre, were responsible for the recovery of ancient vineyards and the new vineyard project that took place between the years 1997 and 1999. Don Gonzalo, great lover of his estate, had a great devotion for his vineyards and planned to produce wine on the property again. But he could not fulfil his dream before his death in 2006. His wife, Mrs. Paloma, picked up the baton in order to realise the desire of her husband. In 2009, ten years after the recovery of the vineyards, the first wine of this new winery of Pazo de Rubianes was bottled. Built in the 15th century, the cellar smells now like wine again, and allows to preserve the quality of each vintage. Only slightly less than 30 % of the grapes produced in the vineyards of Pazo de Rubianes are chosen to give rise to these exclusive wines with which each year comes the new crop of Pazo de Rubianes and García Caamaño wines.
After enjoying a walking tour on the gardens and the cellar, you will enjoy a tasting of this exclusive wine accompanied with tapas.
Finally, re-board your coach and start your return drive to Vigo, a 1-hour drive.
- This tour involves 2 km (1,5 mile) of walking on uneven paths with mud sometimes and some steps to enter the manor at Rubianes. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The tasting is included on your tour. The tour of the gardens will be guided by the Botanical experts of the estate and translate in French by your guide. This tour is limited to 50 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Porto city tour & wine tasting
From the pier, board your coach and start your 30-minute scenic drive to Porto.
Upon arrival, you will visit the Francis Church which is the most prominent Gothic monument in Porto and is also noted for its outstanding Baroque inner decoration.
You will continue your walk to the riverside, also known as the Ribeira one of Port’s landmarks, you will enjoy free time for shopping and stroll around this area.
You will then be driven to the Taylor’s wine cellar. Taylor’s is the archetypal Port house and it wines the quintessential Ports. Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor’s is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. It is dedicated entirely to the production of Port wine and in particular to its finest styles. Above all, Taylor’s is regarded as the benchmark for Vintage Port.
Noted for their elegance and poise as well as for their restrained power and longevity, Taylor’s Vintage Ports are blended from the finest wines of the firm’s own quintas or estates, Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco. These three iconic properties, each occupying a distinct geographic location and with their own unique character, are the cornerstone of the company’s success and the main source of its unique and inimitable house style.
Taylor’s is also respected as a producer of wood aged ports and holds one of the largest reserves of rare cask aged wines from which its distinguished aged tawny Ports are drawn. The house is also known as the originator of Late Bottled Vintage, a style which the firm pioneered and of which it remains the leading producer. Based in Porto and the Douro Valley the family company is closely involved in all stages of the production of its Ports, from the planting of the vineyard, the cultivation of the grapes to the making, ageing, blending and the bottling of the wines. The family’s commitment to the future of Port is demonstrated in its single-minded dedication to the highest standards in Port production, its continued investment in all aspects of the firm’s operations and its determination to preserve the unique environment of the Douro Valley through the promotion of sustainable and responsible viticulture.
Following your visit and wine tasting, join your coach with a 30-minute drive back to the ship.
- This tour involves moderate walking on both uneven and flat surfaces and includes several steps inside the monuments and the wine cellar. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility. Appropriate clothing is required to enter religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered. The wine tasting is included on your tour. In case of religious services, the visit of the church will be an outside visit only.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Tram tour of Porto
From the pier, board your coach and start your drive to Porto.
Upon arrival, you will visit the Tramcar Museum and its collection of trams dating from 1871 until 1950s. Built in 1992, the Tram Museum retraces the history of trams in Porto by means of a plethora of exhibits. One of the highlights is the tram number 22: the first tram operating on the Iberian Peninsula. Overall, the period of time covered by the exhibits starts in the second half of the 19th century, calling forth, at least for the nostalgic public, the atmosphere of those times when getting around was not necessarily a matter of speed.
You will then board one of these historical trams and enjoy a ride along the riverside finishing next to the imposing S. Francis Church. On the bus you will be driven till the Cathedral.
The Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto in Portuguese) is the most important religious building in the city and has been declared a National Monument. The construction of the cathedral began during the 12th century, but it was rebuilt and renovated numerous times throughout the centuries. This explains why the cathedral is a blend of architectural styles. The temple is predominantly Baroque in style, although its façade and the nave are Romanesque and its cloister and one of the chapels are Gothic in style. Inside, the large pillars make the nave seem narrow with a high ceiling, it has bare walls, and only the high altar and some of its chapels are decorated in Baroque style.
Finally, a short walk will take you to São Bento Train Station to admire its unique collection of white and blue glazed tiles before joining your coach and your ship, after a 45-minute drive.
- This tour involves moderate walking on both uneven and flat surfaces and includes several steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility. The museum is divided between two floors without elevator. Appropriate clothing is recommended to enter religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered. In case of religious services, the visit of the Cathedral will be an outside visit only. The tour is limited to 28 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Porto through your camera
From the pier, board your coach and start your 30-minute panoramic drive to explore Porto. Accompanied with a professional photographer, you will capture the main highlights of the city.
Porto, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, is the gateway for a journey across the natural and cultural diversity of the region. It is known for the Porto wine which is shipped from here all over the world, but also for a heritage which combines ancient churches and monuments, such as the Cathedral and the Church of São Francisco, and modern buildings, such as Casa da Música and the Serralves Museum. The city is also famous for its School of Architecture which bred names like Álvaro Siza Vieira and Eduardo Souto de Moura, both winners of the Pritzker Prize.
Strolling through the city, you will discover the Cathedral which is located in the historical centre. It is one of the city's oldest monuments and one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Portugal.
Your walk will lead you to the Ribeira area, one of the city's oldest neighbourhood. Historically the quayside here was one of the busiest points on the River Douro with cargo ships sailing both up and down-stream and landing here. Today it is equally bustling but the major trade here is now tourism.
You will then cross the art street of Rua da Restauração before reaching the Santa Catarina Belvedere overlooking the Douro river.
Finally, you will join your coach for a 30-minute drive to your ship in Leixões.
- This tour involves 3 hours of walking on both uneven and flat surfaces and includes several steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. This tour will be done with your own camera. The professional photographer speaks only English. This tour is limited to 20 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Le Champlain
Like the rest of the PONANT EXPLORERS series, Le Champlain successfully manages to subtly combine the desire to explore the remotest regions of the planet with the comfort and privacy of a cosily intimate ship.
To the innovative and environmentally friendly equipment are added elegant design and a unique atmosphere in keeping with the whole PONANT universe. Your dream of a cruise onboard a cosily intimate ship is thus made possible through the combination of an authentically genuine voyage experience together with discreet luxury.
Up to 184 Guests
92 staterooms & suites
118 crew members
Spa
2 restaurants
Decks
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
Mont-Saint-Michel
From the pier, you will board your coach for the one-hour drive to the Mont-Saint-Michel. On arrival, you will change your transportation and take a shuttle to reach the village entrance.
Your walking exploration will start at the foot of the island. This jewel of France, according to Victor Hugo 'is to the ocean what the Pyramid of Cheops is to the desert'.
At first, you will discover the Mont surrounded by the bay's fragile and natural setting of fauna and flora. You will continue through the narrow streets of the medieval village and walk up to the Abbey for a guided visit inside the abbey, achievement of passionate builders. Taking its inspiration from a dream, the monastery was founded in the 10th century and today welcomes modern pilgrims following the century-old tradition.
After lunch in a famous local restaurant, enjoy some time at leisure for independent sightseeing and shopping before rejoining your guide to take the shuttle back to the parking.
Finally, you will board you coach for your transfer to Saint Malo and your ship.
- The visit of Mont-Saint-Michel is done entirely on foot, covering approximately 1.2 miles (2 km), including uphill and downhill walking on cobblestone streets with more than 350 steps to negotiate, mainly to reach the Abbey. This tour is not recommended for guests with any mobility challenges. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Toilets are available by the bus parking lot, please have 0.40€ handy. The shuttle used to reach the foot of the Mont from the parking lot is not exclusive to PONANT guests. Appropriate clothing is required to enter religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Cancale oyster tasting
From the pier, board your coach and start your 30-minute drive to Cancale.
Picturesque fishing village, Cancale is renowned for its “bancs d’huîtres” (oyster’s beds). The gardeners of the sea work from the parks to the farms thousands of oysters up to the time they are ready to please the gourmet.
En-route, you will discover an oyster farm. During your guided visit of the “Ferme Marine”, you will learn more about the work of the oyster farmer and the workshop (tanks, washing, conditioning). Normally, you will have the opportunity to see the farmer during her/his working day.
Following your visit, you will enjoy an oyster tasting accompanied with a glass of wine.
Then, you will drive to Cancale fishing port to enjoy a walking guided tour along “La Houle” and historical seamen neighborhood before having some free time to explore by yourself.
After, your tour will continue to La Pointe du Grouin nature reserve. At the Northern end of the department, in the commune of Cancale, the “Pointe du Grouin” houses the most important coastal bird nesting site of Ille-et-Vilaine.
Dominated by a semaphore built in 1861, the Pointe du Grouin offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and the coast of the Channel to the east, and a succession of handles and points to Cap Fréhel to the west.
- This excursion involves approximately 1 km of walking on uneven ground with some steps. The tasting includes six oysters and a glass of white wine. Farmer’s work sightings cannot be guaranteed. No farmer’s work sightings during weekends and public holidays. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
The privateer's city of Saint-Malo
Depart from pier and enjoy a walking guided visit of Saint-Malo leading to the Asfeld Hotel.
As you stroll around the quaint narrow streets, your knowledgeable guide points out sites of historical interest. View the castle, part of the ramparts protecting the town, the town's typical streets, the house of Duchess Ann, and the cathedral. Also, get acquainted with the more famous personalities of Saint-Malo, such as Jacques Cartier, Duguay-Trouin, Surcouf, and the well-known romantic writer Chateaubriand. Enter the Asfeld Hotel for a visit of this former Privateer's house, followed by a cider tasting. This Manor house has been built by François-Auguste Magon de La Lande, privateer and merchant. He was one of the most powerful ship-owner in the heyday of Saint-Malo and a director of the French East Indies Company. Built in 1725, the house is listed as a Historic Monument (interior and exterior) so as to protect its authenticity and guarantee that the restoration respects historical accuracy.
Here you will enjoy a glass of cider before walking back to pier and your awaiting ship.
- The visit of Saint-Malo is done entirely on foot, covering approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) including uphill and downhill walking, many steps and cobble stone streets. This tour is not recommended for guests with any mobility challenges. We recommend you to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Eden Garden & panoramic tour
Depart from the pier for a 15-minute walk to your coach (a shuttle is available for passengers who have walking difficulties). After a 30-minute drive, you will reach the Eden Garden.
Brittany, homeland of many explorers, was the starting point of the most prestigious expeditions around the world and is nowadays an ideal land for gardens as hundreds of varieties have been acclimatized since the 18th century. The Eden Garden houses 0.7 square acres of aromatic and officinal plants as well as vegetables and flowers from all over the world. The owner, Michel Damblant, will guide you and narrate the adventures of the most famous 'plant explorers' of Brittany, as you visit his garden.
Then, you will re-board your coach for a panoramic tour. Pass through the 'Impressionists' village of Kervilahouen, watched over by a large lighthouse. Also known as the Goulphar lighthouse, it was designed by Auguste Fresnel, a famous French physicist and the man behind the compact Fresnel lens.
Next, you will then head for the iconic Aiguilles de Port Coton. These formations are one of the most amazing sites on the island, and have been painted many times by Claude Monet who said about the site: 'It is sinister, devilish but superb and I have not found anything like it elsewhere.' The name is a reference to the foam, thrown up by waves in heavy seas as they crash against the rocks, which looks like a veil of cotton.
Lastly you will continue to Poulains point, loved by the actress Sarah Bernhardt, and the giant rocky 'pyramids' of the astonishing Apothicairerie site.
Finally, you will get back to the port and your ship.
- This excursion involves approximately 1.7 miles (2.5 km) walking, sometimes on sloping terrain, uneven surfaces and some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes. The garden visit will be done by the owner. This tour is limited to 40 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Panoramic tour of Belle-Ile-en-Mer
Depart from the pier for a 15-minute walk to your coach (a shuttle is available for passengers who have walking difficulties). You will then leave to explore the island on a panoramic tour.
Pass through the 'Impressionists' village of Kervilahouen, watched over by a large lighthouse. Also known as the Goulphar lighthouse, it was designed by Auguste Fresnel, a famous French physicist and the man behind the compact Fresnel lens.
Next, you will then head for the iconic Aiguilles de Port Coton. These rock formations are one of the most amazing sites on the island, and have been painted many times by Claude Monet who said about the site: 'It is sinister, devilish but superb and I have not found anything like it elsewhere.' The name is a reference to the foam, thrown up by waves in heavy seas as they crash against the rocks, which looks like a veil of cotton.
Lastly you will continue to Poulains point, loved by the actress Sarah Bernhardt, and the giant rocky 'pyramids' of the astonishing Apothicairerie site.
You will also stop in the charming port of Sauzon before getting back to the port and your ship.
- This excursion involves approximately 0.7 mile (1.5 km) walking, sometimes on sloping terrain, uneven surfaces and some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Hiking at Pointe des Poulains
Depart from the pier for a 15-minute walk to your coach. After a 30-minute drive, you will reach Pointe des Poulains.
Dominated by a small automated lighthouse, whose autonomy is guaranteed by solar panels, the site offers a splendid panoramic view. On a clear day, the view extends to the Groix island, Lorient, and embraces all the Quiberon Bay. Held by the “Conservatoire du Littoral” (Coastal protection agency) since 2000, the small military fort was bought in 1894 by the actress Sarah Bernhardt to become in 1897 her villa, named “The Five Parts of the World”, where she spent every summer until the end of her life. The place is now the subject of a protection and recovery programme.
Once arriving, you will follow your guide and start your hiking along the wild coast, appreciating the coves and the turquoise waters.
After a two-hour hike, you will join a hamlet at the Logonet mill, where you will enjoy a refreshment stop, before reboarding your coach to drive back to the pier.
- This excursion involves approximately 5 km (3.5 miles) of walking, sometimes on sloping terrain, uneven surfaces and some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable hiking shoes. The refreshment is included on your tour. This tour is limited to 25 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Farm of Neuvic, French caviar producer
Neuvic Estate spreads out over 19 hectares at the confluence of the Isle and Vern rivers, in the town of Neuvic.
It is situated on the land of a farm dating back to before the French Revolution, which left traces and memories that can still be seen and felt on the stone walls. The Isle River is omnipresent, whether crossing the property or bordering its contours with its meanders flanked by imposing chalky cliffs.
Domaine de Neuvic produces and markets the Caviar de Neuvic. It also produces caviar for other brands in accordance with precise specifications. Domaine de Neuvic is first and foremost synonymous with an innovative and stringent quality approach.
In 2013, Domaine de Neuvic received the acclaim of the Association France Initiative, chaired by Mr. Schweitzer, as one of ten "remarkable companies" in France. This title rewards its innovative approach, promotion of its region and recognition of human capital as a criterion for the overall success of the company.
During the visit of the estate, your guide will tell you all the secrets of sturgeons breeding and how to make caviar.
At the end of the visit, you will have the opportunity to taste the estate’s caviar, with a glass of sparkling wine!
- We recommend you wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. This tour involves 1 ½ hour transfer each way.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Sauternes : Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Located in the Sauternes wine region, Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey is a magnificent wine estate, classified Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855. Nearby Chateau Yquem, its 37.5 hectares of vineyards stand on the third terrace of the Sauternes appellation, over 70 metres above sea level.
The ‘L’Enclos’ and ‘Maisons Rouges’ plots of land (15 hectares) form the historic heart of this exceptional terroir, with the others distributed near various Crus Classés within the appellation, in the form of five-hectare islands (Yquem, Suduiraut, Guiraud, Rieussec and d’Arche). A wide range of soils and subsoils (mostly gravel and clay) have been recorded here, a unique typology which explains the exceptional aromatic complexity offered up by Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey wines.
During your visit, you will discover the history of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, the territory of Sauternes, its viticulture and the secret of its sweet wines. You will be explained the special link that unites the Chateaux’s wines to the art of Lalique.
After visiting the estate (the “enclos”, the fermenting room, the cellars and the Chapel), you will be invited to taste three of the Chateaux’ wines. This liquid gold’s tastings will take place in the Vinothèque or the Chapel, entirely redecorated by Lalique, and nestled between the two historic wine cellars.
- This private tour is subject to a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 15 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Secrets of French oak wood barrel-maker
At Nadalié, family and business have gone hand in hand for five generations. Cooperage's art is the family true heritage. Today, learn about the complete process of cooperage (art of oak barrel making) and meet the craftsmen who make the beauty of that art… Dexterity, precision, attention to the quality of the product, you will discover a preserved know-how.
You will be impressed and astonished by the high productivity of these craftsmen that is only made possible by a high technical level acquired throughout decades of know-how and passion. From the selection of the oak trees to the final customisation of the barrel, expertise is at work. Despite improvement from modern research, analysis, machinery and wood selection techniques, the barrel making process has changed very little over the years and is extremely time intensive. To achieve the highest standards of quality, most of the work is still done by hand by highly qualified coopers.
During the visit of the “Tonnellerie Nadalié” you will learn the secrets of the production of the wine barrels, a major component of the wine ageing process. Discover the complicity in between chateaux wine masters and barrel makers, and how they predict the exchanges in between the French oak wood and the wine tannings during the wine’s ageing in the cellars, and finally how they monitor it to obtain the flavours they are looking for.
You will see the 'mise en rose' (how wine barrel 'raise the barrel') and the toasting which will give complex flavours to the wines. After this exclusive visit, you will taste wines stocked in differently-toasted-barrels or made from different oaks (French & American) to better understand how wine aromas differ according to barrel wood origins and wood toasting. Finally, you will taste the wine of the owning family’s wine estate, Château Beaurivage. After this immersion into the world of the wine barrel makers, you will return to your ship in Bordeaux.
- We recommend you wear flat and comfortable walking shoes. This private tour is subject to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Saint Emilion village and Château SOUTARD
There can be no better place to start a visit to this attractive region than UNESCO World Heritage Classified Saint Emilion region and village, heartland of the Merlot grape, which produces delicious, rich, round wines.
The vines on the "hill with a thousand châteaux", reach right up to Saint Emilion's 13th century town walls and surrounding moat dug out of solid rock. Members of the local wine brotherhood, the Jurats, proclaim the vintage banns in much the same way as their ancestors did during the reign of Richard the Lion heart.
You will visit the main monuments of the town: the Collegial church and its magnificent cloister from the 12th century, the ramparts (12th), the marketplace. Strolling in the streets, you will also see the Cadene gate and the King's Tower. You will then have some time at leisure for shopping.
Continue your discovery of the first UNESCO classified village by driving through the vineyard and going to the impressive Château Soutard where you will be explained the techniques of wine making during the visit of the cellars, before a wine tasting.
- This tour involves walking over cobblestone streets and some steps. We recommend you wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties due to steep cobblestoned streets in Saint-Emilion in addition to several stairs in the château.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Visit of Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Following a customized tour of the estate, you will visit the owners' private cellar, taste the estate's first wine, both white and red, and the young vines in red.
Today, you will be invited to a special confidential wine tasting at Pessac-Léognan Classified Great Growth Château Smith Haut Lafitte estate. This great growth owes its reputation as "the quintessential Graves" to its superb Günz gravel terroir in a single block. The estate's history dates back to the Crusades. The Scottish navigator Georges Smith acquired the château in the 18th century and Monsieur Duffour-Dubergier, a Mayor of Bordeaux from a famous family of traders, was a subsequent owner.
Since its purchase by Florence and Daniel Cathiard in 1990, Smith Haut Lafitte has become one of the leading lights of Bordeaux thanks to its elegant, powerful red and white wines. In twenty years, the owners have not only brought the wine of Smith Haut Lafitte up to the very highest level, but also restored the château's 16th century tower, completely renovated two underground cellars, built their own cooperage, and introduced such organic methods as horse-drawn ploughing, home-made compost and the use of plant extracts.
Enchanted with this tasting of the finest wines of the Bordeaux wine region, historic cradle of the wine culture in the world, you will return to your ship.
- This tour involves moderate walking on paved and pebbled terrain. You must negotiate various steps to visit the property and its wine cellars. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes. This tour is not recommended to guests with limited mobility or in a wheelchair. This tour is limited to 25 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Gourmet guided walking tour of Bordeaux
Departure on foot from the ship berth for a walking tour of the UNESCO classified city of Bordeaux.
Take advantage of this short guided walking tour of Bordeaux city centre to discover some local traditional specialties, like chocolate, canelé cake, cheese, and of course Bordeaux wine.
Walk by the Grand Theatre, built by Victor Louis in 1773, one of the most beautiful in Europe and a pure work of art from the 18th century. Continue through the old Bordeaux district towards the Parlement (parliament) and Bourse (stock-exchange) Squares, before reaching the Cathedral Saint André and City Hall area. End the tour with the luxury boutiques district, called “the triangle” by the locals, and the Quinconces square.
- This tour is not suitable for persons with walking difficulties as it includes walking long distances, sometimes on cobblestoned streets. The tour will be on foot only. We recommend you wear flat, comfortable walking shoes. This tour is subject to a minimum of 10 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Oenology between modernity & traditions
As a result of the area’s microclimate and deep-rooted wine tradition, the region of Rioja Alavesa produces the highest quality Rioja Designation of Origin wines. The most renowned Rioja Alavesa wine cellars are located in the surrounding area of the capital, Laguardia.
From the pier, board your coach for a 2-hour drive to the cave Marques de Riscal winery.
The wine company, Marqués de Riscal, has given life to a huge complex “City of wine” with the contribution by the Canadian architect, Frank O. Gehry who, faithful to the cellars’ spirit, knew how to combine innovation and tradition in a single building, made using the most modern materials. This project is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken in Spanish wine cellars to date. The form of the building housing the hotel, combined with the rich beauty of the landscape and the surrounding installations of Marqués de Riscal, gives a unique dimension to this estate. A complex set in around 100,000 m2 devoted to making, caring for and studying wine offers you the chance to dive into the wine universe. At the heart of the City of Wine, you can find the oldest of the cellars of Marqués de Riscal, dating from 1858, as well as its later 1883 extension. Surrounded by vineyards, the installations preserve their original charm.
After your visit of the estate, you will enjoy a wine tasting. You will, then, drive to La Guardia.
The capital of La Rioja Alavesa is bordered by the mountains and a river that separate it from the other towns. These geographic nuances make the area’s landscapes and climate, which have clearly made a mark both in its history and in the villagers’ character. Laguardia is a walled town whose name derives from Navarra´s “La Guarda” (The Guardian) due to the strategic position it holds against Castilla. The town is a pedestrian-only zone and its underground houses a multitude of wine cellars at various metres deep.
You will have lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to Bilbao, 2-hour drive.
- This tour involves approximately 2 km (1.3 mile) of walking including some steps and cobblestones. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The duration of the transfers is approximately two hours each way. The tasting and the lunch are included on your tour. The tour is limited to 40 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum
Bilbao is a constantly evolving city and a dynamic metropolis where traditions and relics of the past live side by side with futuristic buildings recognised throughout the world as icons of modernity. This excursion will allow you to admire both aspects of the economic and cultural capital of the Basque Country.
From the pier, board your coach and proceed to the famous Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry.
This imposing and unmistakable titanium, granite and glass building reflected in the river houses important works of contemporary art. Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao building represents a magnificent example of the most groundbreaking 20th-century architecture. With 24,000 m2, of which 11,000 are dedicated to exhibition space, the museum represents an architectural landmark of audacious configuration and innovating design, providing a seductive backdrop for the art exhibited in it. Altogether, Gehry's design creates a spectacular sculpture-like structure, perfectly integrated within Bilbao's urban pattern and its surrounding area. It was built between 1993 and 1997 representing the recovery of the banks of the river, redeveloping them for culture and leisure. The finish of the approximately 33,000 extremely thin titanium sheets provides a rough and organic effect, adding to the material's colour changes depending on the weather and light conditions. The other two materials used in the building, limestone and glass, harmonise perfectly, achieving an architectural design with a great visual impact that has now become a real icon of the city throughout the world.
Your tour will continue with a stroll around the old town with its handsome Renaissance, Baroque and Modernist buildings, where you will have the chance to admire the façade of the Cathedral of Santiago, example of Gothic architecture, and the elegant Plaza Nueva, with its distinctive porticoes.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your awaiting ship.
- This tour involves approximately 1.5 km (1 mile) of walking on flat and cobblestones streets with some steps. It is not recommended to guests with limited mobility. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Please note that due to the limited availability of guides, the inside visit of the museum might be done with headset.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
The Basque coastline
Discover the Cantabrian corniche, the fishing port of Bermeo and historic Guernica. From the pier, travel along the colorful Biscayan coastline and see the dramatic views of the Cantabrian corniche.
You will first visit Guernica, once the capital of the Basque Country. The local lords and kings met here in democratic assembly to promise to respect the special laws of Vizcaya. On 26th April 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, the town was razed to the ground by German aircraft, sent by Hitler to support Franco's troops. Discover the Picasso’s Guernika mural reproduction, illustrating the bombing and showing the tragedy of war.
During your visit, see also the petrified trunk of an oak tree that miraculously survived the horrific bombing raid. In the Park of Europe are the famous sculptures, symbolising Gernika-Lumo as a city of peace. See the interior of the Casa de Juntas, where the Basque parliament has convened since 1979.
Continue to Bermeo, one of the area's most important fishing ports in the region. This colourful, working town has a large deep-sea fishing fleet that regularly operates off the coast of the Azores and southern Africa. See the popular Basque style architecture reflected in the fishermen's houses.
After the visit, drive to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe for a photostop before returning to the pier in Bilbao.
- This tour involves 1 mile (1.5 km) of walking on cobblestone streets in Bermeo and inclines in Guernica. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes. As the Basque government meets at Casa de Juntas, it is subject to closure without any previous notice.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Santiago de Compostela
From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to Santiago de Compostela (a one-hour and fifteen-minute drive), one of the most important cities in Europe and the third most important place in the world for Christian pilgrimage.
Your tour will start by the Obradoiro Square where your guide will present you all the details of this square during a walking tour. You can admire the Cathedral, the Town hall, the Pazo (Palace of Saint Jerome) and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos. This former hospital was built in 1501 by orders of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile to welcome unwell pilgrims and replace the old hospital which was then on the current Plaza de la Azabachería. Today it continues to fulfil its function of hosting service to the traveller, although it has a luxurious character. Every day, a dozen pilgrims carrying their compostela (pilgrim certificate) are allowed in the kitchen to graciously receive a meal.
Your guide will give you a complete description of the outside of the Cathedral and will show you the Jubilee Door which is only opened for the pardons of each Jubilee Year.
Then, you will have some time at leisure to walk along the historical streets before meeting your guide at the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, for the lunch served in one of the dining rooms of the hotel.
Before boarding your coach to Vigo, you will enjoy an inside visit of the Cathedral with the tomb of Saint James, maybe the most important piece of the Cathedral, the “Portico da Gloria” whose lintels were laid in place in 1188, one of the capital works of mediaeval sculpture. You will also visit the museum of the Cathedral.
- This tour involves 2 km (1,5 mile) of walking on cobblestone streets with many steps during the Cathedral visit. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered). The lunch is included in your tour.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Vigo & Baiona
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your scenic drive towards Monte Castro. Once arriving, you will enjoy a panoramic view on Vigo, its bay and its harbour.
Jules Verne wrote that Captain Nemo’s best kept secret was in Vigo. Did you know that this is where the Nautilus submarine came to stock up on gold? In Vigo’s estuary there are dozens of sunken ships loaded with the gold from the Americas, treasures that have not yet come to light.
Back to coach, you will drive to Baiona, one of the most important and characteristic fishing villages on the Galicia coast.
Here you will visit Parador Monterreal, an imposing 16th-century building that has been converted into a hotel. The fortress of Monterreal is highly evocative of times long past, with its walls (dating from the 11th to 17th centuries) and its mediaeval towers: the Reloxo, the Tenaza and the Príncipe Cativo. The walls are ideal for a pleasant stroll around the area, known as the Monte Boi Promenade, offering perfect views over the whole of Galicia’s southern coastline, and of course the town of Baiona.
Then, you will discover old centre of the village with the remains of its ancient walls. A walk through the historic centre reveals impressive pazos (manor houses), such as that of the Correa family (from the 18th century), now the town hall with a tall tower, coats of arms and beautiful balconies; the Casa Ceta (or Casa do Perdón) from the 14th century; the Casa Mendoza (or Casa do Deán) with arched walkways beneath (from the 18th century) and a superb Baroque façade, or the Casa de Salgado (from the 17th century).
Finally, re-board your coach and start your return drive to Vigo, a 45-minute drive.
- This tour involves 2 km (1,5 mile) of walking on cobblestone streets with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to your starting point of your hiking on the way of cross, 45-minute drive.
You will walk on the Spanish part of the way of cross borrowed by the pilgrims, to this day, to join Santiago de Compostela.
Santiago de Compostela is one of the most important cities in Europe and the third most important place in the world for Christian pilgrimage.
Once arriving, you will discover the Obradoiro Square where your guide will present you all the details of this square during a walking tour. You can admire the Cathedral, the Town hall, the Pazo (Palace of Saint Jerome) and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos. This former hospital was built in 1501 by orders of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile to welcome unwell pilgrims and replace the old hospital which was then on the current Plaza de la Azabachería. Today it continues to fulfil its function of hosting service to the traveller, although it has a luxurious character. Every day, a dozen pilgrims carrying their compostela (pilgrim certificate) are allowed in the kitchen to graciously receive a meal.
Your guide will give you a complete description of the outside of the Cathedral and will show you the Jubilee Door which is only opened for the pardons of each Jubilee Year.
Then, you will have some time at leisure to walk along the historical streets before meeting your guide at the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, for the lunch served in one of the dining rooms of the hotel.
Continue with an inside visit of the Cathedral with the tomb of Saint James, maybe the most important piece of the Cathedral, the “Portico da Gloria” whose lintels were laid in place in 1188, one of the capital works of mediaeval sculpture. You will also visit the museum of the Cathedral.
Finally, reboard your coach to join your ship, a one-hour and fifteen-minute drive.
- This tour involves active walking on uneven grounds and cobblestone streets with many steps during the Cathedral visit. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered). The lunch is included in your tour.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Pazo de Rubianes & wine tasting
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 1-hour drive to Villagarcia.
Once arriving, you will visit the Pazo de Rubianes. Located in the Arousa estuary (Pontevedra), it is one of the three official lordships in Spain. The main building was constructed in the 15th century. In the 18th century the tower was pulled down, and a summer residence with rectangular plan was created. The gardens, with more than 11 hectares, have remarkable eucalyptus trees with perimeters of 12 meters, olives and magnolias. It has geometrical flowerbeds of French style, with sequoias and camphors. Its grandiose magnolias Magnolia grandiflora L. have been included in the Galician Monumental Tree Catalogue.
With an area of 25 hectares, the vineyard of Pazo de Rubianes is the largest in the region of Salnés. Don Gonzalo Ozores of Urcola - eighteenth Lord of the House of Rubianes and Marqués de Aranda- and his wife, Mrs. Paloma Rey Fernández Latorre, were responsible for the recovery of ancient vineyards and the new vineyard project that took place between the years 1997 and 1999. Don Gonzalo, great lover of his estate, had a great devotion for his vineyards and planned to produce wine on the property again. But he could not fulfil his dream before his death in 2006. His wife, Mrs. Paloma, picked up the baton in order to realise the desire of her husband. In 2009, ten years after the recovery of the vineyards, the first wine of this new winery of Pazo de Rubianes was bottled. Built in the 15th century, the cellar smells now like wine again, and allows to preserve the quality of each vintage. Only slightly less than 30 % of the grapes produced in the vineyards of Pazo de Rubianes are chosen to give rise to these exclusive wines with which each year comes the new crop of Pazo de Rubianes and García Caamaño wines.
After enjoying a walking tour on the gardens and the cellar, you will enjoy a tasting of this exclusive wine accompanied with tapas.
Finally, re-board your coach and start your return drive to Vigo, a 1-hour drive.
- This tour involves 2 km (1,5 mile) of walking on uneven paths with mud sometimes and some steps to enter the manor at Rubianes. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The tasting is included on your tour. The tour of the gardens will be guided by the Botanical experts of the estate and translate in French by your guide. This tour is limited to 50 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Porto city tour & wine tasting
From the pier, board your coach and start your 30-minute scenic drive to Porto.
Upon arrival, you will visit the Francis Church which is the most prominent Gothic monument in Porto and is also noted for its outstanding Baroque inner decoration.
You will continue your walk to the riverside, also known as the Ribeira one of Port’s landmarks, you will enjoy free time for shopping and stroll around this area.
You will then be driven to the Taylor’s wine cellar. Taylor’s is the archetypal Port house and it wines the quintessential Ports. Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor’s is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. It is dedicated entirely to the production of Port wine and in particular to its finest styles. Above all, Taylor’s is regarded as the benchmark for Vintage Port.
Noted for their elegance and poise as well as for their restrained power and longevity, Taylor’s Vintage Ports are blended from the finest wines of the firm’s own quintas or estates, Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco. These three iconic properties, each occupying a distinct geographic location and with their own unique character, are the cornerstone of the company’s success and the main source of its unique and inimitable house style.
Taylor’s is also respected as a producer of wood aged ports and holds one of the largest reserves of rare cask aged wines from which its distinguished aged tawny Ports are drawn. The house is also known as the originator of Late Bottled Vintage, a style which the firm pioneered and of which it remains the leading producer. Based in Porto and the Douro Valley the family company is closely involved in all stages of the production of its Ports, from the planting of the vineyard, the cultivation of the grapes to the making, ageing, blending and the bottling of the wines. The family’s commitment to the future of Port is demonstrated in its single-minded dedication to the highest standards in Port production, its continued investment in all aspects of the firm’s operations and its determination to preserve the unique environment of the Douro Valley through the promotion of sustainable and responsible viticulture.
Following your visit and wine tasting, join your coach with a 30-minute drive back to the ship.
- This tour involves moderate walking on both uneven and flat surfaces and includes several steps inside the monuments and the wine cellar. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility. Appropriate clothing is required to enter religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered. The wine tasting is included on your tour. In case of religious services, the visit of the church will be an outside visit only.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Tram tour of Porto
From the pier, board your coach and start your drive to Porto.
Upon arrival, you will visit the Tramcar Museum and its collection of trams dating from 1871 until 1950s. Built in 1992, the Tram Museum retraces the history of trams in Porto by means of a plethora of exhibits. One of the highlights is the tram number 22: the first tram operating on the Iberian Peninsula. Overall, the period of time covered by the exhibits starts in the second half of the 19th century, calling forth, at least for the nostalgic public, the atmosphere of those times when getting around was not necessarily a matter of speed.
You will then board one of these historical trams and enjoy a ride along the riverside finishing next to the imposing S. Francis Church. On the bus you will be driven till the Cathedral.
The Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto in Portuguese) is the most important religious building in the city and has been declared a National Monument. The construction of the cathedral began during the 12th century, but it was rebuilt and renovated numerous times throughout the centuries. This explains why the cathedral is a blend of architectural styles. The temple is predominantly Baroque in style, although its façade and the nave are Romanesque and its cloister and one of the chapels are Gothic in style. Inside, the large pillars make the nave seem narrow with a high ceiling, it has bare walls, and only the high altar and some of its chapels are decorated in Baroque style.
Finally, a short walk will take you to São Bento Train Station to admire its unique collection of white and blue glazed tiles before joining your coach and your ship, after a 45-minute drive.
- This tour involves moderate walking on both uneven and flat surfaces and includes several steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility. The museum is divided between two floors without elevator. Appropriate clothing is recommended to enter religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered. In case of religious services, the visit of the Cathedral will be an outside visit only. The tour is limited to 28 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.
Porto through your camera
From the pier, board your coach and start your 30-minute panoramic drive to explore Porto. Accompanied with a professional photographer, you will capture the main highlights of the city.
Porto, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, is the gateway for a journey across the natural and cultural diversity of the region. It is known for the Porto wine which is shipped from here all over the world, but also for a heritage which combines ancient churches and monuments, such as the Cathedral and the Church of São Francisco, and modern buildings, such as Casa da Música and the Serralves Museum. The city is also famous for its School of Architecture which bred names like Álvaro Siza Vieira and Eduardo Souto de Moura, both winners of the Pritzker Prize.
Strolling through the city, you will discover the Cathedral which is located in the historical centre. It is one of the city's oldest monuments and one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Portugal.
Your walk will lead you to the Ribeira area, one of the city's oldest neighbourhood. Historically the quayside here was one of the busiest points on the River Douro with cargo ships sailing both up and down-stream and landing here. Today it is equally bustling but the major trade here is now tourism.
You will then cross the art street of Rua da Restauração before reaching the Santa Catarina Belvedere overlooking the Douro river.
Finally, you will join your coach for a 30-minute drive to your ship in Leixões.
- This tour involves 3 hours of walking on both uneven and flat surfaces and includes several steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. This tour will be done with your own camera. The professional photographer speaks only English. This tour is limited to 20 participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
According to availability, price per passenger.