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It began during a conversation over the wines included in a wedding package with my husband-to-be, Mark. As well-travelled, self-proclaimed wine connoisseurs, the tipple that formed part of our venue package for our upcoming nuptials was just okay, but sacré bleu, nothing beats authentic French vino. Although there was no turning back on the reds and whites included in our big day, I ensured there would be time for a pre-wedding French wine and cheese celebration at our home in Delgany. I was excited to come across an advertisement for a wine-tasting mini-cruise with Irish Ferries online. On a whim, we booked a four-day car-ferry trip from Dublin to Cherbourg on board the majestic WB Yeats. The popular event, hosted by the infamous Wine Beer Supermarket, happens several times a year. It offers wine tasting while cruising, the idea being you can sample and purchase beverages at a fraction of the price back home, and collect them by car before heading for the ferry. Tasting aside, there is plenty to do onboard the WB Yeats. The pristine ship operates up to four return sailings weekly during the summer season and features an onboard cinema, bars, restaurants, a quiet reading area and sweeping panoramic sea views. With 1,750 passengers, 135 crew and capacity for up to 1,220 cars, the sheer size of the vessel at 194.80m long means there's plenty of room for everyone, their wine, cheese and pets if required. It truly is a relaxing way to travel with your own car, luggage and purchases. The cabins onboard the WB Yeats are both clean and cosy, although with most short sailings, a four-berth could be a little tight for four adults. As with most vessels at sea, it offers paid and free wi-fi options, and also features a club class lounge, which oozes extra comfort with premium seating, snacks, soft drinks and coffees - just make sure to switch off your mobile data when heading to sea. The restaurant onboard, The Lady Gregory, is also worth splashing out on, should you want to try a special fine-dining experience. View this post on Instagram Having set sail overnight on a Thursday and sampling a wide selection of brut, champagne, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, the lively event saw us arrive in Cherbourg with a list of chosen tipples. Following just over an hour of driving, we reached the medieval village of Bayeux, which captivates visitors with its authentic, windy cobblestone streets and Disney movie style timber-framed buildings. Situated in north-western France, Bayeux is just 10km from the Channel coast. World famous for its tapestry - which, unfortunately, is currently in London - the plan was to tour the town that day, potter around the shops, treat ourselves to some camembert cheese and have a well-deserved pre-nuptial rest. We booked into the Hôtel Reine Mathilde, a clean, affordable two-star hotel conveniently situated in the heart of the city. Adjoining restaurant Le Garde Manger is a must-visit should you head that direction. Our four-day trip was magical until the weather took a dip in Ireland and we were advised that our sailing home on Sunday night was cancelled. Albeit rare, ferry crossing cancellations can happen - more so during off-peak periods. This swiftly turned a four-day trip into six with two unplanned nights in Cherbourg until the next sailing on Wednesday. Everything happens for a reason, however, and it was such misadventure that caused this piece to take an even more positive turn as we found ourselves thoroughly enjoying our three unplanned days as castaways. Dismissed by many as just a commuter spot in the north of the Cotentin peninsula, we were pleased to uncover the sunny side to this maritime-rich port city. As with any travel disruption, the supply and demand of accommodation can vary. Luckily for us, we managed to secure one night in the wonderful Hôtel Le Cercle, a stunning four-star accommodation situated just two minutes from the centre of Cherbourg. Overlooking the port, it had the plushest of beds and modcons, not to mention pleasant staff. Delight in our one-night stay soon came crashing down, however, as we had to downgrade to a shoebox room in another hotel the following day. Having only driven through Cherbourg previously and seeing just how much the city has to offer, I felt guilty for harbouring such low expectations. Working remotely, we managed to explore the historic city centre out of hours, shopping and enjoying authentic French food in the numerous brasseries and cafes dotted around the city streets. Of course, no trip would be complete without a visit to an Irish bar and on both nights we found ourselves swapping tales with other stranded passengers in Kilbeggan's Irish Pub, situated just off the city's main square. Cherbourg may not seem as clean or safe as other spots in France, but it has a certain joie de vivre with pleasant locals and food markets. Some of the attractions worth visiting in Cherbourg include The Basilica of the Holy Trinity, a Gothic church built between the 15th and 19th centuries. A serene place of prayer, there we lit candles for late family members and admired the stained glass windows. Much to Mark's amusement, I even got a chance to practise walking down the aisle. Another recommendation was The Cité de la Mer museum, where you can visit the largest submarine open to the public, the Redoutable, and relive the journey of the Titanic, which docked in Cherbourg prior to its tragic end. The exhibition oozes authenticity and contains 42 artefacts from the excavation field around the wreck. A stroll along the largest artificial port in Europe, The Grande Rade harbour, which stretches 4km, proved enjoyable on one of additional evenings, offering a sense of calm and serenity. They also love electric bikes in Cherbourg and you can rent an e-bike from numerous shops for as little as €25 per day, with the cycle lanes safe and well-maintained. Another upside to our being stranded meant we had even more time to explore the drinks on offer in Wine Beer Supermarket. Frequested by thousands of Irish travellers each year, the warehouse prides itself on having the largest selection of wines, beers and spirits in Cherbourg and its sister store in Roscoff. With quality whites and reds on offer for as little as €3.20 per bottle, it's a must-visit. We managed to get the return WB Yeats sailing on Wednesday, collecting our wine order before boarding - Wine Beer Supermarket is located 17 minutes drive from the terminal. For foot passengers, it is also possible to take a taxi, which costs between €8 and €10, however to make it worthwhile, you really need to bring a car. View this post on Instagram Another plus point of Cherbourg is that it is located at the end of the line from Paris, with regular services operating to and from ParisSaint-Lazare via Caen. This means you could leave your vehicle at the port in Cherbourg free of charge and travel to Paris in three hours. Although our wine and cheese trip to France didn't go to plan, my fiancé and I both agreed we would do it all over again in a heartbeat. You will be happy to hear that we both made it home in one piece, celebrating our homecoming with the most delectable wines and cheeses. Now to prioritise fitting into that wedding dress ahead of our big day. In hindsight, I probably should have cut back on the brie, but, as they say in France, c'est la vie! TRAVEL FACTS Irish Ferries regularly features special offers, see irishferries.com for more. Starting prices off-peak are from €339 for a midweek short break, for two adults, one car and an inside cabin. For details on wine-tasting mini-cruises, check the website. The Hôtel Reine Mathilde has rooms from €98, hotelbayeux-reinemathilde.fr. Hôtel Le Cercle has rooms from 70€, hotel-lecercle.com.
