AmaDolce

Sailing the Garonne on AmaDolce

AmaDolce spends her season on the Garonne, one of France’s great wine rivers, threading through the landscapes that produce Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion and Médoc. Every sailing she currently offers is a seven-night round-trip departing from Bordeaux, running in November and December 2026. It is a deliberately seasonal programme — a late-autumn voyage through harvest country, with the vines stripped and the light low over the estuary.

Most sailings on this programme call at Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Cadillac, Cussac-Fort-Médoc and Pauillac — a circuit of the appellations and fortified towns that line the Gironde estuary and its tributaries. Not every sailing visits every port in exactly the same order, but the programme is built around this cluster of stops. Fares for this route start from A$4,612pp*. Because Bordeaux is a city guests will fly to, the cruise is naturally the centrepiece of a longer trip — CruiseAway books the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers as one holiday, through our DreamAway Packages.

Life on board

AmaDolce carries 140 guests and 45 crew — a ratio that keeps service attentive and the atmosphere calm. At 109.7 metres she is sized for the Garonne’s waterways, and the ship’s facilities are arranged to make the most of her position on the river rather than to replicate a resort.

Dining is anchored by two included venues. The Main Restaurant offers open seating with regional cuisine and river views, its relaxed schedule encouraging guests to eat at their own pace and fall into conversation with whoever sits nearby. The Chef’s Table is a different experience: a dedicated chef composes a multi-course tasting menu in an intimate setting, served at no extra charge. A Specialty Coffee & Tea Station rounds out the included food and drink offering, handling everything from an early morning espresso to an afternoon break between ports.

The Main Lounge is the social centre of the ship in the evenings — cocktails at the bar, talks on the next day’s ports, live entertainment — with drinks charged separately unless a beverage package is included in the fare. During the day, the Sun Deck gives unobstructed views of the passing countryside, with a heated pool and an integrated swim-up bar on the upper deck. A walking track runs the same deck for those who want to stay active while the scenery slides past.

Below decks, a Fitness Centre with cardio and strength equipment is included for all guests, and a Massage & Hair Salon is available for treatments at a charge. The Library provides a quiet retreat with books and games, and a Gift Shop stocks souvenirs and regional keepsakes. Perhaps the most characterful facility is the complimentary bicycle fleet: bikes are available to all guests at no charge, making it easy to ride out from each port at your own pace rather than waiting for a guided group.

Cabins on AmaDolce

AmaDolce has 71 cabins across eight grades, spanning outside cabins, balcony cabins and five suite grades. The AmaDolce cabins and deck plans page has every grade, dimensions and deck-by-deck layout — the right place to choose the cabin rather than compare summaries here.

Fares and what they include

AmaWaterways offers three fare types on AmaDolce. The standard AmaWaterways River Cruise Fare covers the core inclusions of a river cruise with the line. River Cruise Offers are promotional fares that give access to the same luxury river sailings at adjusted rates — the full details are confirmed at booking. The Solo Traveler Specials fare is designed with independent travellers in mind and is worth comparing if you are travelling alone; again, the specific inclusions are confirmed at booking rather than fixed in advance. Whatever fare suits, CruiseAway’s cruise experts help match the cabin grade and fare to what actually works for each traveller’s circumstances, and put everything on one booking.

The AmaWaterways river fleet

AmaWaterways operates ships across the world’s great river systems. AmaDolce is their sole ship currently on the Garonne. The fleet by river:

• Danube River, Europe: AmaVerde, AmaSonata, AmaBella, AmaReina, AmaMora, AmaLea, AmaMagna, AmaRudi
• Rhine River, Europe: AmaSofia, AmaFiora, AmaPrima, AmaLucia, AmaViola, AmaSiena, AmaCerto, AmaVenita, AmaStella, AmaSerena
• Rhône River, Europe: AmaCello, AmaKristina
• Portugal: AmaVida, AmaDouro, AmaSintra
• South East Asia: AmaDara, AmaMaya
• South America: AmaMagdalena, AmaMelodia
• Nile River: AmaCleo
• France (Saône): AmaDante

For the full picture of the line and all its itineraries, the AmaWaterways cruise page lists every ship and sailing currently on sale.

Why book AmaDolce with CruiseAway

CruiseAway’s cruise experts know the AmaWaterways fleet and the Bordeaux region well, and can match you to the right cabin grade and fare for the way you travel. Our Best Price Guarantee means you are not paying more than you need to. And because the Garonne sailings depart from France, most Australian travellers want the flights, a Bordeaux hotel night either side and the airport transfers wrapped into a single booking — that is exactly what our DreamAway Packages do.

Questions about sailing the Garonne on AmaDolce

When does AmaDolce sail the Garonne?

The current programme runs in November and December 2026, with three departures in that window. It is a seasonal schedule — late autumn in Bordeaux wine country — rather than a year-round route, so dates are worth confirming early.

What are the ports of call on a Garonne cruise?

Most sailings call at Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Cadillac, Cussac-Fort-Médoc and Pauillac — a mix of medieval river towns and famous wine appellations in the Médoc and Entre-Deux-Mers. Exact port order varies by departure; the route is a seven-night round-trip beginning and ending in Bordeaux.

Are the bicycles really free to use?

Yes. AmaDolce carries a complimentary fleet of bicycles available to all guests at no charge. They are there to ride out independently from each port — no booking, no guided group required, though guided excursions are also available through the ship’s programme.

Is AmaDolce suitable for a solo traveller?

AmaWaterways lists a Solo Traveler Specials fare specifically for guests travelling alone, which makes the question worth raising at booking. The ship’s small size — 140 guests — and open-seating dining in the Main Restaurant tend to make solo travel sociable in practice. CruiseAway’s cruise experts can compare the solo fares and confirm what each includes at the time of booking.

Can CruiseAway arrange flights and hotels alongside the cruise?

Yes. Because the cruise departs from Bordeaux, most guests will need flights from Australia, transfers and at least one hotel night either side. CruiseAway puts all of that on one booking through our DreamAway Packages — flights, hotel, transfers and the cruise itself, shaped to what you actually want rather than a fixed bundle.