Luxuriate in the comfort of the French Riviera’s magnificent Château Saint-Martin & Spa and enjoy inspiring day trips to sun-drenched Cannes and other châteaux for wine tastings with a small group of no more than six guests.
DAY 1
After flying into the Nice Cote d’Azur airport, you will be transferred to Château Saint-Martin & Spa, a 5-star luxury resort on a hilltop overlooking the gorgeous countryside of the French Riviera. Once home to Saint Martin and later a Knights Templar stronghold, the château is an extraordinary property with a rich history.
Feel free to settle in, recharge and enjoy the hotel amenities at your own pace. Check is 4:00pm, however if you arrive earlier, your belongings can be left at the reception area, so that you may enjoy the grounds and facilities.
You are welcome to take a refreshing swim in the infinity pool, indulge in a spa treatment, play tennis, use the fitness facilities, shop in the Eden Being boutique and do anything else you desire. If you choose to meander about the 34-acre grounds, chances are, you will see wildlife, especially birds as the château is a recognized biodiversity refuge.
With no schedule to follow or plans for the evening, you will be free to simply enjoy the remainder of the day as you please, with meals on your own.
DAY 2
Following breakfast at the château, you will drive to Cannes and enjoy a leisurely walk through this quintessential resort on the French Riviera. You will stroll along La Croisette, the palm-fringed, boutique-lined boulevard that runs along the beach, and on to Festival Palace, where the Cannes Film Festival is held. Celebrity handprints and signatures in the pavement include those of French actors Gerard Depardieu and Jean-Paul Belmondo.
You will also accompany the guide through the most historical part of Cannes, built on the site of the former Canois Castrum, a Roman town dominated by a castle. Continuing on to Rue Meynardier, formerly the main street linking the new town with Le Suquet, you will pass the old covered market on the way to Rue d’Antibes, the main shopping street.
Following free time for shopping and lunch, you will board a small boat and cruise to Saint-Honorat island. A monastery was established there in the 6th century, although the current monastery dates to the 11th century. The first monks came here to spread the gospel among the Romans and Greeks who traded in the area.
In the Middle Ages, monks took an active part in protecting the shores from pirates. Hence, the white limestone tower, which houses a cloister and everything needed to resist a siege. If you wish, you might climb the remaining stairs and take in the spectacular views.
Later, you will enjoy a wine tasting at the monastery. The wine’s distinctive taste is the result of the unique terroir from the soil’s volcanic origin, salty sea breezes and high levels of sunshine.
You will then retrace your route back to the château, where you will spend another delightful evening with dinner on your own.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at the château, you will drive through the beautiful Provencal countryside to Taradeau, a village in the heart of the Florieye Valley known for its wine-making. Upon reaching Château Saint-Martin (not to be confused with your hotel Château Saint-Martin & Spa), you will learn about the castle’s rich history and how the Romans grew grape vines in the vicinity as far back as the 2nd century BC.
Women have run the château since the 18th century, with one exception—when Count Rohan Chabot took care of it. Today, his granddaughter owns and operates the château. Despite its historical significance, the château is even more revered for its wines. You will sample an inspired selection of them to be chosen the day of the excursion, followed by a delightful picnic lunch on the property.
In the afternoon, you will visit Château Vaudois, another historical winery. It is situated on an exceptional site on the hills of the Maures. The southeast exposure of the vineyards and constant sunshine contribute to an outstanding terroir reflected in the wines of Château Vaudois. The grape varieties grown here include Grenache, Cinsault, Viognier and Tibouren.
Following an enlightening tour of the château and vineyards, you will settle into the wine cellar for a sampling of representative wines with commentary about their characteristics.
Afterwards, you will return to the hotel to enjoy your third evening at Château Saint-Martin & Spa. Dinner will be on your own.
DAY 4
Following breakfast at Château Saint-Martin & Spa and check out, you will transfer directly to the cruise ship in Monaco harbor.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. Programs details including timings and flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.
•Itineraries with up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at the hotel. Please carefully review the Welcome Letter and final itinerary for amendments.
•The hotels used for this land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 2:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 2:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive at the airport in Nice.
Transfer to Château Saint-Martin & Spa for a 4:00pm check in
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure.
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Transfers are not included for guests arriving independently before the program start date.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided. Guests will then be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
8:00am Full-English breakfast before departing for Cannes
10:30am Walking tour of Cannes
12:00pm Free time for lunch on your own
1:30pm Walk to the pier
2:00pm Cruise to Saint-Honorat Island
2:30pm Walking tour of the island
3:15pm Wine tasting in the monastery’s vineyards
4:00pm Walk back to the island pontoon
4:30pm Return by boat to Cannes
5:00pm Drive back to Château Saint-Martin
6:15pm Arrive at the hotel
Dinner on your own
Overnight at Château Saint-Martin
DAY 3
8:00am Full-English breakfast before departing for Taradeau
11:15am Wine tasting at Château Saint-Martin in Taradeau
12:45pm Picnic lunch
2:15pm Drive to Château Vaudois
3:15pm Wine tasting at Château Vaudois
4:45pm Depart for your hotel
6:45pm Arrive at your hotel
Dinner on your own
Overnight at Château Saint-Martin
DAY 4
8:00am Full-English breakfast
10:00am Hotel check out and drive to Monaco harbor
11:30am Arrive at the cruise ship for embarkation
Expected Weather
Expect hot temperatures throughout the summer months with highs reaching 95 F / 35 C and lows going down to only 75 F /24 C in the evenings.
What to Bring
Light, loose summer clothing, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, camera, and a hat.
Local Currency
The Euro. U.S. dollars are not accepted.
Electricity
In France the power plugs and sockets are of type E. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. We recommend brining your own international travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required.
Hotel address
Château Saint-Martin & Spa
2490 Avenue des Templiers, 06140 Vence, France
Phone : +33 4 93 58 02 02
Program Includes for guests
•3 nights at the Château Saint-Martin & Spa, Junior Suite including breakfast daily
•1 picnic lunch
•2 full day tours including several wine tastings per the itinerary
•Meet and greet and transfer on Day 1
•Group transfer to the ship on Day 4
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests
•Any meals or beverages not listed above
•Gratuities for drivers and guides
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
