Itinerary
- Day 1
Bordeaux
You'll arrive in Bordeaux and board the Scenic Diamond, meeting other passengers as the ship sets sail on the Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne rivers. This introduction to the region kicks off your journey through France's wine country.
- Day 2
Libourne
The ship sails toward Libourne with lunch served on board. After that, you'll visit the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, checking out its historic buildings and the Monolithic Church carved directly into limestone. Your overnight stop is in Libourne, a 13th-century port town known for winemaking.
Included Activities
- Tour to Saint-Émilion
- Visit Monolithic Church
Landmarks Saint-Émilion Monolithic Church - Day 3
Libourne to Fort Médoc
Morning in Libourne gives you options: take a walking tour of the town, join a vineyard visit and wine tasting in Saint-Émilion, cycle through wine country to Château Siaurac, or try a painting and wine class on deck. The ship departs in the afternoon heading to Fort Médoc.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Libourne
- Wines and Vineyards of Saint-Émilion with tasting
- Biking and tasting at Château Siaurac
- Paint and Pour watercolour class with wine tasting
Landmarks Château Siaurac - Day 4
Fort Médoc
You'll explore the Médoc region with its 16,000 hectares of vineyards across eight appellations. Choose between a coach tour or e-bike ride along the Route des Châteaux to a local winery for tasting. There's also an optional classical concert at the 13th-century Château d'Agassac.
Optional Activities
- Médoc wine tasting by coach
- Médoc wine tasting by bicycle
- Classical Concert at Château d'Agassac
Landmarks Château d'Agassac - Day 5
Cadillac
Relax on board this morning while sailing to Cadillac. You can book spa treatments or learn French cooking in the Scenic Culinaire cooking school. After lunch you'll arrive in Cadillac, a town founded in 1280 with grand historic buildings and connections to Detroit's automotive history.
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment
- French cuisine lesson in Scenic Culinaire cooking school
- Day 6
Cadillac
Based in Cadillac, you'll explore the Sauternes wine region known for sweet, fortified wines. Pick from vineyard tours by coach or bike, visiting ancient Roquetaillade Castle, cycling through the Loupiac wine region, or touring Château Toulouse-Lautrec to see the apartments of the famous painter.
Optional Activities
- Sauternes by coach with tasting
- Sauternes by bike with tasting
- Roquetaillade Castle tour
- Biking in the Loupiac wine region
- Château Toulouse-Lautrec guided tour
Landmarks Roquetaillade Castle Château Toulouse-Lautrec Château Benauge - Day 7
Bordeaux
Back in Bordeaux, try a guided city tour, cycling tour sampling treats like canelé pastries, or shop at a local market with the ship's chef for a cooking demonstration. On board you'll taste fresh oysters from Arcachon Bay. Optional visit to Bassins des Lumières, a former WWII submarine base with immersive digital art.
Included Activities
- Oyster tasting from Arcachon Bay
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux
- Cycling tour of Bordeaux
- Shop with a chef at local food market and cooking demonstration
- Afterhours access to Bassins des Lumières with Champagne and exclusive digital art show
Landmarks Bassins des Lumières Place de la Bourse Bordeaux Cathedral - Day 8
Bordeaux to Bourg
Continue in Bordeaux with options to visit the Cité du Vin Museum by local tram for an interactive wine experience, take a motorbike and sidecar tour through the city, or walk through Arcachon ending at Baltard market. Free time on board during the afternoon sail toward Bourg.
Optional Activities
- Cité du Vin Museum by tram
- Bordeaux by motorbike and sidecar
- Walking tour of Arcachon with visit to Baltard market
Landmarks Cité du Vin Museum Arcachon Baltard market - Day 9
Bourg
You'll dock in Bourg, a town built as a defensive château on a rocky promontory with ancient alleyways and bell towers. Choose from visiting the Carriages Museum in Bourg Castle, exploring Saintes with 2,000 years of history, or taking a full day trip to Cognac with brandy sampling.
Optional Activities
- Bourg with Carriages Museum
- Historic Saintes tour
- Full day excursion to Cognac with walking tour and Rémy Martin estate visit with tasting
Landmarks Bourg Castle Carriages Museum Saintes Cognac Rémy Martin estate - Day 10
Blaye
Arriving in Blaye, you'll see its World Heritage citadel built to protect Bordeaux. Take a leisurely walking tour, actively explore the citadel designed by Sébastien Vauban, cycle along the Captain's Road, or visit Château de la Roche Courbon with its manicured gardens.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Blaye
- Active walking tour of Blaye citadel
- Cycling along the Captain's Road
- Visit Château de la Roche Courbon
Landmarks Blaye Citadel Château de la Roche Courbon - Day 11
Bordeaux to Lyon
You'll board an included flight from Bordeaux to Lyon and join the Scenic Sapphire. The crew welcomes you aboard, and you'll settle into your new ship for the second part of your journey.
- Day 12
Chalon-sur-Saône
Start with a leisurely morning cruising toward Chalon-sur-Saône through Burgundy wine country. Enjoy coffee on the Sun Lounge as you watch the riverside scenery. Chalon features half-timbered houses and a Gothic cathedral, sitting just south of Beaune, the heart of wine country.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Beaune and Les Hospices
- Burgundy wine tasting at a local estate in Côte de Beaune
- WW2 in Chalon-sur-Saône - Life on the Franco-German demarcation line walking tour
Landmarks Beaune Les Hospices de Beaune - Day 13
Tournon
Wake to river views from your balcony as the ship heads toward Tournon. Choose a morning excursion to Château de Cormatin, truffle tasting with a local farmer, or a cooking demonstration by three-star chef Georges Blanc. All guests participate in an afternoon cooperage demonstration showing barrel-making crafts.
Included Activities
- Cooperage demonstration
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Château de Cormatin
- Truffle tasting with local farmer
- Georges Blanc cooking demonstration with village museum visit
Landmarks Château de Cormatin Vonnas - Day 14
Tournon
Arrive early in Tournon with its terraced vineyards and 10th-century castle. Take a walking tour exploring the castle and cobblestoned streets, then optionally cross France's oldest suspension bridge to Tain l'Hermitage for chocolatiers Valrhona. Hike through vineyards or cycle along the Rhône banks. Aperitif gathering at the castle terrace in the afternoon.
Included Activities
- Aperitif at Tournon Castle terrace
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Tournon
- Hiking through the vineyards in Tournon
- Biking along the Rhône
Landmarks Tournon Castle Tain l'Hermitage Valrhona Glun - Day 15
Avignon
After lunch you'll dock in Avignon, the City of the Popes and a World Heritage site with fortified walls and medieval architecture including the Palais des Papes and Pont d'Avignon. Choose a walking tour, visit the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard, kayak beneath it, or enjoy an exclusive gala dinner with classical concert inside the Pope's Palace after hours.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Avignon including Popes Palace visit
- Excursion to Pont du Gard
- Kayaking at Pont du Gard
- Exclusive gala dinner with classical concert inside Palais des Papes
Landmarks Palais des Papes Pont d'Avignon Pont du Gard 
- Day 16
Avignon
Spend a full day in Avignon exploring Provence's charm. Visit the village of Gordes and Sénanque Abbey, shop at a local market with the ship's chef, discover lavender producers and Roussillon, or sample wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape through multiple activity options.
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Luberon villages and Sénanque Abbey
- Shop with a chef and Scenic Culinaire cooking demonstration
- Lavender Museum with visit to village of Roussillon
- Wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Landmarks Gordes Sénanque Abbey Roussillon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 17
Arles
You'll reach Arles, the southernmost point near the Mediterranean with the largest concentration of Roman ruins outside Rome. Walk tours visit the 20,000-seat Arènes d'Arles, or explore the medieval village of Les Baux with its immersive art installation. Discover olive oil production or attend an on-board painting class during afternoon free time.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Arles
- Visit Les Baux with Carrières de Lumières
- Ancestry of the Kitchen with olive mill visit
- Lavender fields to cream - Provence Herbal Workshop
- On board painting class
Landmarks Arènes d'Arles Les Baux Carrières de Lumières 
- Day 18
Viviers
Dock in Viviers, described as an open-air museum with medieval heritage dating to the fifth century. Walk narrow, zig-zagging lanes that feel unchanged over 1,600 years. Morning options include exploring the Cathedral of St. Vincent or learning about French Resistance in WWII. Afternoon activities include Ardèche Nature Park, underground Madeleine Caves, or visiting the town of Grignan.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Viviers
- French Resistance walking tour
- Ardèche Nature Park with Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum
- Ardèche National Park and Madeleine Cave
- Excursion to Grignan de Provence
Landmarks Cathedral of St. Vincent Ardèche Nature Park Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Madeleine Cave Grignan de Provence 
- Day 19
Lyon
Enjoy a relaxed day on board cruising back toward Lyon with beautiful Rhône River views. Bask on the Sun Deck, visit the Salt Therapy Lounge, or take a French cookery lesson. Tonight features an exclusive acapella choir performance inside the 17th-century Trinity Chapel with Carrara marble decoration.
Included Activities
- Acapella choir performance at Trinity Chapel
Optional Activities
- French cookery lesson in Scenic Culinaire
Landmarks Trinity Chapel - Day 20
Lyon
You'll arrive in Lyon, founded by Romans in 43BC where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. This is France's culinary capital with over 4,000 restaurants including 20 Michelin-starred establishments. Choose a guided tour exploring traboules and secret passageways plus the Basilica of Notre Dame, visit medieval Pérouges, or learn about Lyon's five-century silk production in a painting workshop.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon
- Excursion to Pérouges
- Silk painting workshop
Landmarks Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière Pérouges - Day 21
Lyon
Your journey concludes this morning. You'll say goodbye to fellow guests and the Scenic crew, leaving with memories of this food-focused river cruise through France's wine and culinary regions.
