Beautiful Bordeaux, the Dordogne and La Rochelle

We meet at London Gatwick airport for our flight to Bordeaux, one of the world's wine capitals. On arrival we are met at the airport and transferred to our cruise ship for 6 nights, the MS Cyrano de Bergerac. After time to settle in, we are welcomed with a cocktail in the lounge before tonight's 3-course dinner is served, accompanied by wine and followed by an evening of entertainment on board. d.

*If you would like to travel by rail, view our Rail & Cruise option here.

• Dinner

Today our ship moors in the fortified 13th-century town of Cadillac, on the banks of la Garonne. This morning, we tour the medieval Roquetaillade Château, named after the troglodyte caves that are underneath. Built in 1306 as the last English castle in France, this castle is still privately owned by the Roquetaillade family, who have been residents here since it was constructed. It was opened to the public in 1956 and there's a working farm with Bazadais cattle as well as a vineyard which produces the famous white wine, Chateaufort de Roquetaillade. This afternoon, we enjoy a guided walking tour of Cadillac. Famous for its variety of sweet dessert wines, this little medieval town is a must for wine connoisseurs.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we explore Bordeaux - a beautiful city which brims with 18th-century grandeur and 21st-century energy. As the world's largest urban World Heritage Site - with diverse architecture, welcoming boulevards and a quaint Old Town - Bordeaux also has an excellent choice of art museums. A city tour gives us an insight into Bordeaux's history. Back on board this evening we enjoy dinner, wine and entertainment.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After lunch we travel to St Émilion for a guided coach tour of this UNESCO-listed city. According to legend, a Benedictine monk named Emilion sought refuge in one of the natural caves in the area to escape the celebrity status bestowed on him for performing a miracle. We see this very cave on our tour as well as the largest monolithic church in Europe. Visiting a family-run vineyard next, we enjoy a tasting of some popular local wines before returning to our ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend a leisurely morning sailing through riverside scenery. You could relax on a lounger on the sun deck, or take a drink to the terrace area of our ship. On a guided tour through the celebrated Médoc wine route this afternoon, we're treated to a tasting at a vineyard along the Route des Châteaux.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we travel by coach to Rochefort, an ancient maritime city on the banks of the Charente River. On a tour into the city's intriguing past, we visit the Corderie Royale, a historic rope-making factory which supplied the French navy for centuries.

We then continue to one of the most historically important seaports on the European Atlantic coast, La Rochelle. After lunch at a local restaurant, we tour the natural and man-made architecture that makes this destination so unique. You then have time at leisure in La Rochelle to explore the Old Town and harbour. Or you could visit one of the city's many museums.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a final breakfast on board, we disembark the ship and transfer to Bordeaux airport, where we catch our flight back to London.

• Breakfast