Gastronomy, Vineyards & Grands Crus

Cruise overview

Exceptional caviar, fine wines, and sensory discoveries will take center stage during this unique gastronomic and wine-themed cruise, organized in partnership with the iconic Prunier caviar house and the prestigious Château Latour estate, and elevated by the exceptional presence of Chef Normand Laprise. As a highlight, optional excursions to Château Latour and the Prunier house will offer exclusive experiences, featuring private tours and unforgettable tastings.

From Bordeaux to Lisbon, PONANT invites you on a journey along the shores of the Atlantic to discover the French, Spanish and Portuguese coasts, during an 11-day trip aboard Le Bellot. 

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, follow the Médoc region’s famous “Route des Châteaux” from Pauillac, admire iconic works of art at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or hike the final kilometres of the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) from Vigo. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab). The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

Setting sail from Lisbon, the seven-hilled Portuguese capital, you will chart a course for the port of Leixoes, from where you will reach the city of Porto. Capital of the northern region of Portugal, this ‘city of granite, the centre of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for its wine.  

Your journey will continue to Galicia and the city of Vigo, the biggest fishing port in Spain. Not far from here, Santiago de Compostela awaits you. This unmissable pilgrimage destination is home to a number of monuments from the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods, testimony to its illustrious past. 

Le Bellot will then head for the capital of the Spanish Basque Country, Bilbao. Between daring architecture and the continuation of its ancestral traditions, you will be able to enjoy the city’s unique energy. 

Your ship will then set a course for San Sebastian. In the heart of the Spanish Basque Country, you will fall in love with this city’s shell-shaped bay, its opulent buildings and its narrow little streets. You will conclude your exploration of Basque Country on the French side with a stay in the city of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, before reaching the beautiful fortified town of Talmont-sur-Gironde. 

During your last call in Pauillac, you will have the opportunity to make several visits and wine tastings at some very beautiful wine estates in the Saint-Estephe, Margaux, and Pauillac appellations. 

Your cruise will end in Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world.