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Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur (France), a cruise by Ambassador Cruise Line

Cruise · 12 nights · with Ambassador Cruise Line

Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur

Twelve nights aboard Ambassador’s Ambition, following the western coast of Europe from Liverpool to Belfast, Brest, Bordeaux, Cherbourg and Honfleur before returning to Liverpool.

Duration
12 nights
Departs
12 May 2027
Sails from
Liverpool
Returns to the same port
Ship
Ambition
From
£1,599
per person, sharing

Highlights

What makes this one worth it

  1. Two days alongside in Bordeaux

  2. Historic port of Brest, shaped by naval past

  3. Cherbourg’s deep-water Atlantic harbour

  4. Old harbour of HonfleurWith timbered houses

  5. Sight of Belfast’s waterfront from the ship

About the trip

This twelve-night cruise on Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition begins and ends in Liverpool, heading north to Belfast’s waterfront before steering south to some less-visited French ports. Brest’s harbour – shaped by its naval history – offers a quieter alternative to more typical Breton stops. Bordeaux comes next, with a two-day stay allowing time to stroll the city’s wide boulevards and riverside quays, glimpsing the contrast between 18th-century stone facades and sleek modern architecture.

The latter part of the trip takes in Normandy, with stops at Cherbourg and Honfleur. Cherbourg’s deep-water port has long welcomed transatlantic liners, though these days it’s calmer, and Honfleur rewards with its old harbour, framed by narrow, timbered houses. Ambition is a smaller ship than the cruise liners that once called here, easy enough to turn in a bay but with public spaces and cabins that feel thoughtfully laid out.

The route balances the bustle of northern Irish and French ports with stretches at sea along the Atlantic coast. There’s time to watch the coastline shift, from Liverpool’s industrial docks to the chalk cliffs of Normandy, unfurling in gentle stages rather than a rush of sights.

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The route in outline: places are joined in the order visited, not by the roads or sea lanes taken.
  1. 1 Liverpool
  2. 2 Belfast
  3. 3 Brest
  4. 4 Bordeaux
  5. 5 Cherbourg
  6. 6 Honfleur

Itinerary

The route, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Liverpool

  2. Day 2

    Belfast

  3. Day 3

    Brest

  4. Day 4

    Bordeaux

  5. Day 5

    Cherbourg

  6. Day 6

    Honfleur

  7. Day 7

    Liverpool

When to go

Departures and prices

Lowest price each month, per person.

Ambassador Cruise Line confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.

Need to know

Before you book

Price based on
Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
Travelling alone
Check with Ambassador Cruise Line
Flights
Not needed if you join at Liverpool
What’s included
Check with Ambassador Cruise Line
Accessibility
Check with Ambassador Cruise Line

For full details of what’s included, check with Ambassador Cruise Line. See the full details on their site

Questions people ask

How long is Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur?
Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur is a 12 nights cruise holiday.
Where does Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur depart from?
Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur departs from Liverpool.
Who operates Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur?
Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur is operated by Ambassador Cruise Line aboard Ambition.
How much does Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur cost?
Prices for Classic French Escapes: Bordeaux, Brest, Cherbourg & Honfleur start from £1,599, subject to availability.

The operator

Ambassador Cruise Line

Adult-focused cruises from UK ports

A British cruise line sailing from ports around the country, which spares its passengers the airport altogether.

You book with Ambassador Cruise Line directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.

New to United Kingdom? Our United Kingdom guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

Journeys

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