A PORTRAIT OF MAJESTIC FRANCE
Price
Duration
Min People
Tour Code
UNI-PFJF
Overview
The quintessential voyage for gourmets, oenophiles, and lovers of all things French.
This picture-perfect journey blends your passion for the good life—art, culture, and gastronomy—with a broad sweep of lovely French landscapes. Travel from beautiful Bordeaux and delight in the countryside of southwest France. Explore Saint-Émilion, with its astonishing Monolithic Church, and ancient Blaye, with its famous citadel. Journey through a land of noble wines, tasting the flavors of the regions as you go.
Sail the Seine to marvel at magnificent Rouen Cathedral, tour the former smugglers’ harbor in Honfleur and follow in the footsteps of Monet at his beloved Giverny. And, of course, your majestic France experience ends with an exploration of the romance and magnificence of Paris.
Enjoy the best France has to offer with Uniworld’s plethora of private excursions (including a private wine tasting of famous Médoc wines) as you visit charming locales and sample myriad culinary delights.
A Portrait of Majestic France is a combination of Brilliant Bordeaux and Paris & Normandy.
Included/Excluded
- All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 14 dinners
- 2 Captain's Welcome and 2 Captain's Farewell Receptions
- 2 Welcome and 2 Farewell Gala Dinners
- Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks, and mineral water
- 12 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- Guided “Let's Go” programs
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
- Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
- 14-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the magical S.S. Joie de Vivre and the breathtaking S.S. Bon Voyage
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
- Free Wi-Fi
- 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- Captivating onboard local entertainment
- TGV train between Bordeaux and Paris
- Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
Day 1: Bordeaux (Embark)
- Arrive at Bordeaux-Mérignac International Airport.
- If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.
Note: For Arrival, Departure and Transfer details, please visit Uniworld.com/transfers.
For Port Location details, please visit Uniworld.com/ports.
Day 2: Cussac Fort Medoc, Pauillac
- The legendary Médoc region abounds with prestigious wine châteaux in a dizzying array of architectural styles, as well as miles of grapevines stretching to infinity.
- Take a scenic drive through the storied Médoc wine route, followed by a wine tasting at a beautiful wine estate.
- In the evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Included Excursion:
- Fresh Medoc Oysters Tasting
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Medoc Chateaux Route with Private Wine Tasting OR Let’s Go: Bike in the Medoc Vineyards
Day 3: Cadillac
- The French phrase “la douceur de vivre” is an accurate description for your time in Cadillac, known for its deliciously flavored dessert wines.
- Visit Château Royal de Cazeneuve, site of Henry IV’s and Queen Margot’s tempestuous love.
- Meet the owner around a glass of Sauternes in the reception hall.
Note: Sailing this stretch of the Garonne depends on the tides. If it is not possible to sail to Cadillac, you will be transferred to your destination via motorcoach.
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Private Owner’s Tour of Royal Chateau with Sauternes Toast OR The Colorful Life of Toulouse-Lautrec
Day 4: Blaye, Bourg Sur Gironde
- The Route de la Corniche Fleurie…could this be the most beautiful road you’ve ever traveled? Find out today on the drive to Blaye Fortress, passing through one impossibly picturesque hamlet after another.
- Once you arrive, you’ll discover the wonders of this historic fortress, a UNESCO-designated citadel that once protected Bordeaux from attacks by sea.
Included Excursion:
- Bourg Sur Gironde Stroll
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Intimate Experience with Local Wine & Art Connoisseurs OR Panoramas of Route de la Corniche Fleurie with Blaye Fortress
Day 5: Libourne (Saint-Emilon)
- With Libourne as your base, travel to nearby breathtaking Saint-Émilion and immerse yourself more deeply in the region’s history and wine culture.
- The medieval town of Saint-Émilion is an ideal place to linger.
- Wander its cobblestone lanes lined with wine shops and bakeries, and stop to admire the amazing rock-hewn church that extends beneath the city’s streets.
Note: Today’s lunch will be on your own; ask your Cruise Manager for recommendations on the best nearby restaurants.
Included Excursion:
- Saint-Emilion Walking Tour with Wine Tasting
Day 6: Libourne, Bordeaux
- France’s rich agricultural tradition is the heart and soul of the region’s exquisite cuisine—and what better way to get a taste for the freshest vegetables, cheeses, breads and fruits than with a visit to Libourne’s lively farmers’ market?
In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Included Excursion:
- Village Day: Libourne with Farmer’s Market
- Nights Out: After Hours at the Bassins des Lumieres
Day 7: Bordeaux
- Discover Bordeaux’s many charms today, either on foot with a local expert or on two wheels—the locals’ preferred way to navigate the city’s charming backstreets.
- You have a wonderful selection of active opportunities to see this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Do as the Locals Do: Bordeaux Walking Tour OR Let’s Go: Bike Bordeaux Backstreets
Day 8: Bordeaux (Disembark), Transfer to Paris via High-Speed TGV Train (Embark)
- Disembark the breathtaking S.S. Bon Voyage and transfer to Paris via high-speed TGV train.
- Your next ship, the magical S.S. Joie de Vivre, waits to carry you along the Seine on the next leg of your adventure.
Note: Ship schedule and order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Tour to port of destination by motorcoach and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to the impact of water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors.
Day 9: La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Giverny
- Today is a celebration of northern France’s natural beauty, with an excursion to a splendid château and gardens situated in an equally grand setting, plus a chance to immerse yourself in the very landscapes that inspired Impressionist master Claude Monet.
- In the morning, choose between a scenic hike or a visit to the hilltop Château de La Roche-Guyon, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens and offers sweeping views over the Seine.
- Later, explore the beautiful gardens of Monet. You’ll have the opportunity to take in the French countryside on your way there with an invigorating bike ride, or opt to arrive by coach instead.
- This evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Note: Giverny will be closed during the March and November cruise departure dates.
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Chateau de La Roche-Guyon OR Let’s Go: Hike on the Crests Trail OR Monet’s Gardens at Giverny OR Let’s Go: Bike Ride from Vernon to Giverny
Day 10: Rouen
- Walk in the footsteps of greatness in Normandy’s medieval capital, a city with a historic quarter that remains amazingly intact.
- From the cathedral Monet painted dozens of times to the cross marking the spot where Joan of Arc was martyred, Rouen is a treasure trove for the culturally curious.
- The roll call of famous people who lived or died in Rouen is long and varied—Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert, and Claude Monet are among them.
Included Excursion:
- Nights Out: Private Concert at the Rouen Cathedral
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Rouen Walking Tour, The Dukes of Normandy’s Capital OR Camembert Cheese Farm
Day 11: Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur or Étretat)
- Caudebec-en-Caux, a lovely little town on the right bank of the Seine Estuary, is your base for one of two very different excursions.
- You could drive through the beautiful Calvados countryside to Honfleur, a delightful seaside harbor and city of painters, or head to the windy cliffs of Étretat for a game of golf.
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Honfleur Walking Tour OR Let’s Go: Golfing in Etretat
Day 12: Rouen (Normandy Beaches)
- There are moments when we travel that move us on an otherworldly level—experiences that stir a profound emotional connection.
- The Normandy beaches certainly have that effect. On your full-day outing, you’ll visit Normandy’s beaches, with a choice to venture to either the American, British and Commonwealth, or Canadian beaches.
- After, partake in a private memorial ceremony for a sentimental remembrance of Operation Overlord.
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Normandy Beaches: Highlights of British & Commonwealth Sites OR Normandy Beaches: Highlights of Canadian Sites OR Normandy Beaches: Highlights of American Sites
Day 13: Mantes-la-Jolie (Versailles)
- How did France’s rulers live over the centuries? Step into the private rooms of the Palace of Versailles, the lavish palace built by the Sun King, to find out.
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Included Excursion:
- Versailles Palace Secret Apartments
Day 14: Paris
- Whether you’re a first-time visitor to the “City of Light” or you’ve been here many times before, there’s something for everyone today in Paris.
- Enjoy a panoramic overview of the city, or join a local expert for a walk through two much-loved neighborhoods.
Select your choice of these excursion, which operate at the same time:
- Paris City Tour OR Paris Walking Tour of the Latin Quarter
Day 15: Paris (Disembark)
- Disembark the ship.
- If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your flight home.




