13 Reasons to Do a CroisiEurope Bordeaux River Cruise

Bordeaux River Cruise with CroisiEurope

By Heidi Sarna.

Aug 2024 Update: This review has been updated to reflect current pricing.

Bordeaux is the heart of the world’s most famous wine region. It’s set beautifully on a bend in the Garonne River in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France, not far from the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding region is a vast carpet of emerald green vineyards dotted with golden limestone chateaux.

With France’s highest number of UNESCO World Heritage buildings after Paris, historical Bordeaux is an ideal embarkation port for wine country river cruises.

My family and I did a 5-night Bordeaux River cruise aboard CroisiEurope’s 174-passenger Cyrano De Bergerac round-trip from Bordeaux.

And here’s why you should consider a Bordeaux River cruise too.

The heart of Bordeaux. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#1 The Good Value

Fares include wine, spirits and a selection of excursions in every port, as do many other river lines cruising Europe; and CroisEurope’s prices are typically among the lowest.

#2 The No-Nonsense Everything

The long, white Cyrano de Bergerac, with just a thin band of bright green around the hull, was built in 2012.

The interior décor, based on white and blue with pops of color, embraces a simplicity of form and function; no-nonsense like the French themselves.

Along the same lines, service is straight forward and efficient, but never over-done or cloying.

Cyrano standard cabin. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#3 The Round-trip Itinerary from Gorgeous Bordeaux

The cruise is round-trip from Bordeaux in southwestern France, a lovely and historic city set along the Garonne River. The thriving café life and the city parks with their dramatic statues make strolling a joy. It’s easy to get around by foot, by bicycle and by the city’s famous tramway with its ground-level power supply system and no over-head wires.

We sailed a total of about 350 kilometers on our 5-night cruise, first heading north on the Garonne River from Bordeaux to the broad Gironde Estuary, formed by the confluence of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers; then southeast on the Dordogne to Libourne.

Needless to say, Bordeaux is a great city in which to spend a few nights before or after a river cruise.

RELATED: The Intercontinental Le Grand Hotel is a worthwhile splurge. Read my article about it HERE.

Stunning Bordeaux Cathedral. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#4 The UNESCO World Heritage Sites

There are a lot of them.

In France, Bordeaux is only second to Paris for the sheer number of buildings listed as UNESCO World heritage sites; many are exquisitely restored 18th– and 19th-century limestone beauties.

During the cruise, you’re privy to even more UNESCO sites — citadels, cathedrals and cobblestoned streets — that go back as far as the 12th and 13th centuries, including the Citadel of Blaye and bits of Libourne.

Gorgeous Bordeaux is packed with beautiful centuries-old buildings. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#5 The Landscape

One of the world’s most famous wine regions, Bordeaux is carpeted in an undulating green quilt of grape plants dotted with golden limestone chateaux. Colorful wildflowers, flowering trees and winding country roads complete the scene.

Visit elegant estates and chateaux from the 18th and 19th centuries, and some newer, and soak up the grandeur. Sightsee via bicycle, foot, mini-bus or helicopter. The photo below as taken by me on our thrilling 20-minute helicopter ride.

Emerald green vineyards dotted with golden chateaux for as far as the eye can see. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#6 The Wine of a Bordeaux River Cruise

Of course the point of a Bordeaux cruise for most people is to enjoy the wine.

There are chateaux (large French country houses) everywhere, and many are affiliated with vineyards (small and large) that produce wines and invite visitors for a tour of the facilities.

Enjoy a peek at gorgeous old heritage buildings and their lovely gardens and rows of grapes.

You also learn the inner workings of a wine producer, and can gawk at the barrels, pumps, tanks, bottling machines, fermentation vats and other equipment.

Vineyard tour. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#7 The Convenience of a Bordeaux River Cruise

The Cyrano De Bergerac pulled right up into the center of each town and the walking and biking tours we signed up for left from the dock.

There were also bus tours to nearby towns and villages. No excursions lasted more than four hours, so there was plenty of time to explore on our own or go back to the boat to relax.

The riverbanks are never far away, making hopping on and off the boat in port a breeze. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#8 The Bicycling Opportunities

I love any destination that’s conducive to exploring by bike and the Bordeaux region is ideal. There are biking paths and lanes in many places, including the city of Bordeaux, and many small bike-friendly roads between the vineyards. CroisiEurope recently began offering a set of more active excursions, or “dynamic” as they call them, that includes guided bicycle rides.

We signed up for two — in Pauillac and in the city Bordeaux where the boat was docked the last day and night of the cruise — and enjoyed the wine and cheese tasting at the end.

We did guided bicycle rides in Bordeaux and Pauillac. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#9 The French Way

Many river cruise lines offer a very North American-focused river cruise experience in Europe, including Viking, AMA and Uniworld. Grand Circle takes it a step further, with mostly North American passengers, food and onboard vibe.

There are far fewer lines with a strong European flavor that still welcome North Americans. CroisiEurope is one of them (Germany’s A-Rosa is another).

Owned and operated by a French family since 1976, in the past few years CroisiEurope has started focusing on cultivating other markets, namely North Americans, while still keeping things pretty French. Announcements and entertainment are in both French and English (and German if necessary).

Our wonderfully French bicycle guide in Bordeaux. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

RELATED: John Roberts reviews his combo cruise and cycle Bordeaux river cruise with AmaWaterways and Backroads.

#10 The French Food

Breakfast was served buffet style, and at the center of each table was a large elevated tray of croissants and French bread rolls to get you started.  Lunch and dinner were from set menus — the traditional French service. If you had dietary restrictions (my husband doesn’t like dairy products and none of us eat beef), you mention that at the beginning of the cruise and the galley makes amends.

Otherwise, it was a three- or four-course meal that you could read about each morning on the cabin TV — channel #94. It seemed nearly every lunch or dinner featured duck in some away, a French staple.

It became a family joke in no time: “what’s for lunch (or dinner) today?” “Duck!!”

Dinner on Cyrano usually involved duck. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

#11 The French Wines Included in the Fares

On virtually all of its cruises (all except some winter sailings), CroisiEurope includes a selection of wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks in the rates (finer wines and spirits, and things like Perrier water are extra).

On our Bordeaux cruise, there were 8 to 10 French wines to choose from each day — a combination of red, white and rosé. Most passengers enjoyed a glass or two (or more) at lunch and dinner, and some in between meal time as well. Wine lovers will be in heaven.

Each day there were 9 or 10 French wines to choose from. * Photo: Arun Sarna

#12 The Family-Run Vibe

CroisiEurope is a family-owned business and indeed, to us, the onboard vibe felt like it. Michele, the French purser/hotel manager has been with the company since 2004. He gave the impression of being the responsible, firm uncle who keeps things running smoothly.

Dinah, the Portuguese cruise director (who also ran the “shop” on board and conducted exercise classes) was the friendly upbeat sister you always wanted. Our captain was the father figure, a strong silent Frenchmen who didn’t speak English, though the old salt offered an easy smile and a gravelly smoker’s “Bonjour” that seemed very apropos.

#13 The Authenticity of a Croisi Europe Bordeaux River Cruise

We liked that the cruise felt authentic and quirky, not a cookie cutter overly scripted brand-happy machine. Some crew were very warm and friendly (like our waiter Sam) and others weren’t particularly doting. Everyone worked hard and did a fine job keeping the boat sparkling clean and the dining and excursions well executed.

Neither the décor nor the service were over-done or in your face.

There was a subtly and an earnest dependability that, to me, was appealing and felt very French.

If you’re a wine lover, than a Bordeaux river cruise is a must. Cheers! * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Interested in this Bordeaux River Cruise?

CroisiEurope is offering 5-night Bordeaux river cruises starting at $2,151 USD per person. Here’s more info.

Note, Croisi also offers cruises Bordeaux river cruise itineraries as short as four nights and long as seven.

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