New Scenic programs focus on cycling and regional cooking

The culinary offerings revolve around Scenic Culinaire, a cooking school using dedicated space aboard three newly rebuilt Scenic Space-Ships for immersive courses in culinary traditions of the Rhône and Bordeaux regions.

The cooking emporium on the three vessels has cooking stations and a cheese and wine cellar. Fresh ingredients will be sourced from local markets and the instructors will introduce students to regional recipes. Scenic Culinaire features a real-time camera and screen to ensure each participant can see every instruction in detail.

In addition, foodie excursions ashore include lunches at the Michelin three-star Maison Pic in Valence, a traditional bouchon in Lyon, and at Remy Martin in Cognac with Michelin-star-chef-prepared canapes and matching Remy Martin cognac vintages. Other highlights include a Chateau Phelan Segur wine tasting and food pairing event in the Médoc region and a visit to Baltard Market in Arcachon on the Atlantic coast.

Thirteen- and 14-day 'Tastes of Southern France' cruises are available in August 2017. A 17-day version adds three days Barcelona with two departures, in July and August.Eleven- and 12-day 'Tastes of Bordeaux' cruises sail in July and August.

The new river cruise cycling itineraries focus on the picturesque regions of the Danube and Bordeaux with the option of extending the itineraries with time in Champagne, the Loire Valley, Madrid or Prague.

There will be specialized bikes, cycling guides, a bike mechanic plus a support vehicle that will follow each group. Bordeaux cycling routes include the Arcachon Bay coastal region, Europe’s longest coastal beach and nature wonderland, and the Médoc and Sauternes regions, with local market tastings along the way, including the famed oysters of Arcachon.

Also available is a full day cycling the historic Saint Émilion wine region with lunch and wine tasting in one of the world’s oldest wine regions.

Along the Danube passengers can travel one of the most famous cycling paths in Europe, the Danube Path, through the beautiful Wachau Valley, as well as a full-day tour from Regensburg cycling a trail of five rivers and city tours through Vienna and Budapest.

Scenic offers the 11-day 'Bordeaux Cycling Endeavour' in July and August, with extensions to Champagne, the Loire Valley or Madrid, while the eight-day 'Gems of the Danube Cycling Discovery' has departures in May, June, July and September, with an optional Prague add-on.

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