The Loire Valley, a Royal legacy (port-to-port cruise)

NANTES - SAINT-NAZAIRE - NANTES - ANCENIS - CHALONNES-SUR-LOIRE - The Châteaux of the Loire Valley - ANCENIS - NANTES

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. Departure of the ship towards Saint-Nazaire. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner. Enjoy an evening of entertainment.

In the morning, join us for the optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion: Tour of Saint Nazaire (This excursion must be booked in advance through your travel agency. Each passenger will be asked to produce a valid passport in order to book the excursion and gain access to the shipyard), a town on the sea. We'll visit Escal'Atlantic, a museum that explores the historic ocean liner experience, and the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, one of the largest shipyards in Europe. We'll return on board in Saint-Nazaire. Enjoy an evening of dancing.

We'll spend this afternoon cruising towards Nantes. Enjoy an evening of dancing.

In the morning, we'll cruise towards Ancenis. Join us for the optional excursions proposed :
- CLASSIC : The Muscadet Wine Route and Clisson, a charming medieval town.
- DISCOVERY: Helicopter ride(1), the Loire from above (this excursion must be booked in advance through your travel agency).

Departure by coach towards the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre River, the structure as it stands today was erected during the reign of Francis I by a wealthy financier, Gilles Berthelot, who sought to combine Italian innovations with French architectural art. Listed as a historic monument, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau embodies all the refinement of an early French Renaissance château.

Continuation to Villandry for lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a stroll through the gardens of the Château de Villandry: spread over three levels, they combine aesthetics, diversity, and harmony. Then, visit the Château de Villandry. Through its furniture, décor, and atmosphere, it stands as a living testament to French heritage. The estate of Villandry has evolved over the centuries. Acquired by Jean Le Breton, it transitioned from a medieval fortress to a residence enriched with Renaissance elements. In the 18th century, the Marquis de Castellane transformed it into a comfortable and luminous place, reflecting the art of living of the time. In the 19th century, it was saved by Joachim Carvallo and Ann Coleman, who restored it to its Renaissance state. Today, Henri Carvallo continues this legacy by combining preservation with the enhancement of the site.

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast before disembarking at 10:00 a.m. End of our services.