AmaWaterways introduced its first Bordeaux
river cruise sailings this week, which the company says underscores its “continued
confidence in France.”
AmaWaterways repositioned its 148-passenger
AmaDolce, which launched in 2009, from the Danube to Bordeaux to sail its new
Taste of Bordeaux itinerary.
The new Bordeaux cruises are part of a larger
initiative to grow the line’s popular wine-themed sailings. AmaWaterways has 34
wine sailings in 2016, double the amount it had in 2015. Ten of its 24 Taste of
Bordeaux sailings in 2016 will be wine-themed voyages led by wine experts.
The Taste of Bordeaux itinerary includes a 7-day
round-trip river cruise from Bordeaux along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Along
the way, travelers will visit chateaus and vineyards, with stops at Cadillac’s
Roquetaillaide Castle, a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting in Pauillac, and an
excursion to Chateau de Montaigne in Libourne, among other highlights. There
are optional pre- and/or post-cruise land extensions available in Paris and the
Loire Valley. The cruise starts at $3,099 per person based on double occupancy.
The AmaDolce features French balconies in
most of the staterooms, a fitness room with sauna, walking track, hair and nail
services, and nightly entertainment in the main lounge. Complimentary unlimited
wine, beer and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner.
The launch of the Bordeaux itinerary comes
just after AmaWaterways launched its newest river cruise vessel, the
158-passenger AmaStella, on the Danube earlier this month.