France • Cruise
Barge Cruising in Bordeaux
This luxury barge cruise is the most delightful way to explore beautiful Bordeaux.
The Bordeaux region with its “special terroir” has been producing astonishing wine for around 2,000 years, though it may just be the stunning chateaux, eclectic markets or artistic pastimes that you fall in love with. Cruising in summer and autumn, highlights include a tour of the famous Saint Emilion, visit to the impressive Chateau de Duras, cruise across the 1,900 foot Agen aqueduct, and wine, cheese and Armagnac tastings.
From NZ$11,415 per person, twin share
7 Days / 6 Nights • Sundays, April to October • France
Price quoted is a lead-in rate. As pricing may vary seasonally and according to standard/category selected, please contact us for a quote on your specific requirements.
Luxury barge cruise journey. Cruise in comfort aboard a fully crewed luxury barge, with options to book a cabin, or charter the whole barge for a group of friends or family.
About
About this journey
Alternatively, please enquire about a Gascony cruise in the spring and summer months (April to early July).
The journey
Day by day
Day 1 — Bordeaux › Castets-en-Dorthe
You will be met in Bordeaux and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Rosa. Following a champagne welcome, there is time for a stroll before returning for your first dinner on board.
Day 2 — Castets-en-Dorthe › Meilhan-sur-Garonne
This morning, visit the medieval town of Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site and centre of the most famous of the Bordeaux appellations. Later, stop at Chateau Beau-Sejour-Becot, producer of premier and grand crus wines, where you will discover the secrets of the vine and, of course, enjoy a tasting. After lunch back on board, we’ll follow the Canal de Garonne, to the port of Meilhan-sur-Garonne, before dinner on board.
Day 3 — Meilhan-sur-Garonne › Lagruere
This morning enjoy a cruise to the charming little village of Lagruere. At this time, you can cycle or walk the tow path and enjoy the stunning countryside. Following lunch on board, tour the Garonne river aboard a traditional flat-bottomed boat, after which visit the beautiful village of Le Mas d’Agenais, its 11th century church playing host to an ornate Romanesque doorway and an original masterpiece by Rembrandt. After this take a short drive to an artisanal dairy farm where we experience the entire cheese making process, culminating in a delicious tasting. Dinner, if the weather permits, is a gourmet barbecue beside the barge, overlooking the River Garonne.
Day 4 — Lagruere › Buzet-sur-Baise
This morning depart early and enjoy the colourful market of Lavardac, before heading to the 13th century bastide village of Vianne to see a skilled glassblower at work. A delectable lunch of regional specialties will be served at restaurant ‘Le Moulin des Saveurs’, before returning to the barge for a cruise along the tranquil Canal de Garonne to our mooring at Buzet-sur-Baise, a pastoral haven. Dinner on board.
Day 5 — Buzet-sur-Baise › Serignac-sur-Garonne
This morning, enjoy a leisurely cruise to Serignac-sur-Garonne with time to explore the towpath, or relax on the decktop. After lunch on board, visit the medieval town of Nerac and tread in the footsteps of King Henry IV and Queen Margot. The chateau was built in the 15th century, but much was destroyed during the French Revolution and today only the impressive north wing remains. We then stop at the Lapeyrade estate for a cellar tasting of Armagnac, the oldest alcohol in France. Dinner on board.
Day 6 — Serignac-sur-Garonne › Boe
We start the day with a morning cruise towards our final destination of Boe, crossing the Pont Canal d’Agen, one of the longest aqueducts in France which spans the River Garonne. After lunch, we enjoy a stroll through the historic town of Agen to enjoy the colourfully decorated cathedral dedicated to Saint Caprasius, before a tour and tasting of biodynamic wines at the family-owned Domaine du Bois de Simon. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7 — Boe › Bordeaux
After breakfast you will be transferred by private chauffeured minibus to your choice of location in Bordeaux.
*This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks, the cruise will be in the reverse direction.
Pricing • New Zealand dollars, per person
By season and category
Price quoted is a lead-in rate. As pricing may vary seasonally and according to standard/category selected, please contact us for a quote on your specific requirements.
Your luxury European Waterways barge
Hotel Barge Rosa is an old Dutch ‘Clipper’ barge that was built early in the last century to carry different cargoes on the offshore waterways of Holland. The prettily decorated saloon is particularly welcoming and features attractive wood panelling, comfortable seating, dining area and a bar. The four cosy staterooms accommodating eight passengers have individually controlled air-conditioning, heating and full en suite facilities. Two state rooms have double beds, the other two staterooms have twin beds.
Outside there is a spacious sun deck with a dining area and parasols for enjoying an alfresco meal prepared by your chef. Comfortable loungers are also there to relax in as you take in the passing countryside on your sedate cruise along the Canal de Garonne. Bikes are available for your use if you wish to perhaps venture into the next village along the towpath. Rosa also featured in the successful television series, Rick Stein’s ‘French Odyssey’, and you are sure to enjoy your own personal ‘odyssey’ through this colourful, captivating part of southwest France.
Book a stateroom cabin, or gather a group of friends or family and charter the whole barge!
What’s included
- 6-nights’ onboard the 4-star Rosa barge
- All meals (B, L, D) onboard
- Premium spirits, fine wines, and non-alcoholic beverages
- Shared transfers as per the itinerary
- Shared sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Use of the barge facilities including bicycles and hot tub
Not included
- Gratuities
Booking conditions
Booking conditions as supplied by World Journeys.
- Pricing varies due to fluctuations in exchange rates; please contact us for current pricing or other changes
- The Rosa can be chartered with a minimum of 6 passengers
- Special offers may apply; please contact us for details
- This is a sample itinerary for the Bordeaux route which operates from 12 July 2026 or 18 July 2027 and is subject to change
- On alternate weeks the cruise will operate in the reverse direction
- Please enquire for the sample itinerary for the Gascony route which operates prior to 12 July 2026 or 18 July 2027
Please enquire about pricing for alternate cruise journeys:
- Alsace & Lorraine in France
- The Burgundy or Champagne regions of France
- Dutch Canals in The Netherlands
- River Shannon in Ireland
- Venice & the Po Valley in Italy
Journey operated by World Journeys and booked through Fine Travel.
The Fine Travel Difference
A trusted travel agency since 2000 • TAANZ • CLIA • IATA Accredited
Discounted Business Class fares
Personalised wholesale Business Class airfares to the UK and Europe, on top of the published fares we access with all major airlines, so your journey and your flights are priced together.
The journey alone, or the whole trip
Book this journey on its own, or let us add your connecting flights, stopovers, travel insurance and the rest of your time in the UK and Europe. The help is there when you want it.
One consultant, first call to home again
Your Fine Travel consultant looks after your enquiry and your booking from the first conversation to your return, with the operator’s on-the-ground partners behind the journey itself.
Plan your journey with Fine Travel
Talk to Fine Travel
Book the journey on its own, or let us add your connecting flights and the rest of your time in the UK and Europe.
Contact Fine Travel about this journeyOr call us on 0800 00 34 63