La Rochelle Cruise Excursion to Cognac Distilleries

FAQ

• What should I expect on a Shore Excursion with Ophorus?

  As a specialized France Tour Operator and tours & activities provider, we organize worry free shore excursions departing from all cruise ports in France. Our professional team of travel advisors, drivers and guides speak fluent English, are experts in the destination and all our shore excursions take place on board premium vehicles.
  
  All our shore excursions in France include pick up and drop off at your ship, once you have exited the Cruise Port terminal. We will always indicate where your driver/guide will be waiting for you. Our itineraries and programs are customized to suit your needs and never include side visits or stops that you had not confirmed. We guarantee your return to ship on time and have a very flexible cancellation policy. All tours can be cancelled up to 48 hours before the tour.
  
  All our shore excursions are for small groups only, we do not cater for groups larger than 20 persons. Typically, we use premium minivans that will take up to 7 or 8 persons maximum. If your group is larger, then we will provide a small minibus but no larger than 20 passenger seats.

• What type of vehicles are used during your La Rochelle private tours?

  Our company uses only premium cars & minivans that are recent, comfortable and fully equipped including individual A/C, shaded windows and large leg space.

• Who conducts your private tours from La Rochelle?

  We only employ accredited and licensed tour guides that are also the drivers for all tours that need visits to be conducted by certified guides. Good examples are: the visit of museums, guided walking tours in cities, visit of historical monuments and so on.
  
  In some regions, where wine tours prevail (Bordeaux, Alsace, Burgundy) the tours are conducted by professional local guides or sommeliers, that are experts in Wines. On this particular tour, we will include the services of one of our guides, expert in Cognac.

• Should I bring something specific for this Shore Excursion?

  Always check the weather before you follow one of our shore excursions. By doing so, adapt your clothing to the local weather conditions. On one of our shore excursions we will not require you to bring your passport but it is always better to have some type of ID just in case. We strongly recommend that you bring with you a photocopy of any ID. Good walking shoes are always recommended in France as you never know on what type of grounds you might be walking.

• Is it possible to visit or choose some famous Cognac Houses on this Tour ?

  Yes, absolutely. You will be able to choose one of our selected visits in the some of the most prestigious Cognac Houses during your booking process. From tours that will introduce you to Cognac to high-end luxury tastings, we have included visits to Hennessy, Martell, Meukow, Rémy Martin and Camus. If the Cognac House you wish to visit is not on this list, just let us know and our team of travel advisors will contact them directly to find out if it is possible to organize a visit for you and your party.

• Is lunch included on this Shore Excursion from La Rochelle?

  No, we never include lunch on our private tours. If you would like to include lunch then just let us know and our team of travel designers will be happy to select a local restaurant for you and make the necessary arrangements. It is also possible for you to ask your guide for suggestions in the morning, on the day of the tour.

• What is Cognac made of?

  In order to qualify as cognac, the brandy must be produced using white grapes from one of six different terroirs in the Cognac region of Southwest France. The juice must be double-distilled in a copper pot still and aged in French oak barrels for a minimum of two years.

• What is difference between Cognac and Brandy?

  In the same sense that Scotch is a type of whisky, cognac is a specific type of brandy that’s made in accordance with strict regulations.