Hey Margaret and KC...we too are sorry we didn't get to visit during the Alaska trip...so many people..so much to do....so hopefully we will get to know you on the river boat trip. It seems like a long way off, but we all know how fast time flies.  We booked the Palm Springs Resort while on the Alaskan Cruise, it happens during our very short fall break next school year.  Have a great holiday.

Diana and Chlotia

Nice meeting ya'll, Connie & Kay.  Where did ya'll travel on the previous river cruises?  Have ya'll ever done a regular Olivia cruise?  If so, I was just wondering which you preferred.  We took our first Olivia trip ever last September, the Mexican Riviera cruise, got totally hooked and booked the Alaska cruise, then won a two-fer on the Mexican Riviera cruise to Columbus Isle this pas May.  So that gave us one cruise and one resort.  In May at Columbus Isle we booked the Provence riverboat cruise.  When we were on the Alaska cruise we booked the Ixtapa resort this coming January.  So as you can see, we are very much Olivia addicts and have enjoyed the diversity of the trips.  We are really looking forward to trying the riverboat cruise.  

Margaret & K.C. 

This will be our fourth river cruise and we can't wait! I guess I hadn't thought to register for this board because it is so far away. I'm hoping to see lots of familiar Olivia travelers. We are both retired and live in Rockford, IL. I'm the one who is always knitting!

Connie and Kay 

Hi Dawn & Nikki!  It's so good to hear from someone else on this thread.  It has been pretty quiet, I guess because the trip is still 9 months away (I guess it will be kind of like birthing a baby).  LOL   It looks like the South will be well represented:  yall from Georgia, we're from Louisiana, and Diana & Chlotia are from Tennessee!!!  We just returned from Alaska and it was phenomenal.  Sorry, Diana & Chlotia that we didn't get to visit during the trip.  Hopefully we will make up for that on this trip.

Margaret 

Hi Everyone!

Dawn and Nikki here from Decatur, GA (just outside of Atlanta)!  We are also very excited about this trip and can't wait to meet everyone! 

Jill - you were with us on the Galapagos trip last November and you were so wonderful we look forward to seeing you again!

I'll post a picture of us soon.....so that you can all recognize us!  We just returned from a week in the Pacific Northwest so I'm catching up on things.

I work in a support division (IT) for a retailer (Macy's & Bloomingdale's) so we are getting 'geared up' for what is hopefully a very busy Holiday season!  If I go 'dark' for several weeks at a time it's just because I'm trying to keep up with the work!  However, during this busy time, I will make this trip 'my happy place' when the hours become long!

See ya,

Dawn

You can also travel directly from Paris to Arles (usually with one short stop in either Lyon or Avignon) on the Raileurope train:  http://www.raileurope.com - cost ranges from about $110 to $270, depending on the class of service.

The train station in Arles is literally less that 1/4 mile from the ship. Betty DeGeneres and her sister actually walked this as well when we were there in 2008:-) So, this is a good option for people who would rather do this than go to Nice. We are in Arles overnight, so you can get to Arles as late as the train schedule permits on July 20.  I hope this helps.

Hey All

 I am interested in the post trip stretcher but am looking for some one to share accomodation in order to reduce the cost.

Anyone interested?   Also I would like any information on the train ride from Paris.  Is there a websit for the train services in France?

Blue Heron

Wow - my apologies for not checking into this thread for a while. I am VERY excited about this trip. This will be my 4th time, and I am just as excited about it as the first time! You all picked a great trip to go on.

I want to dispel the rumor that we are sold out on our pre and post - we are not!  But, we are holding space at these hotels, and will have to release it soon. So, if you have not booked yet, please do so as soon as possible.

I know the price can seem a little high, but we are in a a very pricey "France" with the Euro a little higher.  I want to assure you that when you add in all the inclusions of our per person Package costs (VAT taxes, breakfasts, tips to luggage handlers, tour, wine and cheese reception in Nice, and that you have someone at your service to assist you with any issue you might have during your stay), is really worth every penny! We have had people stay at a less expensive hotel, but show up to find their reservation isn't in the system, or they didn't realize the cab ride from there to the host hotel is $30 for 2 people; that breakfasts at the hotels are between $25-$40 per person, or no one spoke english well enough to assist with lost luggage from the airline  . . . all these additional costs and added anxieties add up, when if purchasing a package from us, it's one-stop - everything is taken care of for you - no worries. :-)

I am sure you can find airfare less expensive if you fly round-trip to Paris, and look into taking the train to Nice. Our American Discount code also applies to round-trip Paris if you want to take advantage of the 5% discount there.

I must admit, I don't check this site as often as I should, but if you have any trip specific questions, please feel free to email me at jillc@olivia.com anytime!

Looking forward to seeing you all next July!

Jill

We're also thinking of taking the train from Paris to Nice.  TGV is nonstop and takes 5-1/2 hours from Paris Gare de Lyon station.  Cost is $171 normally but there is one departure at 11:46 a.m. arriving at 5:17 p.m. that costs $142.  

Wow sounds like a great vacation for you.  We haven't booked the pre/post stretchers yet; am traveling with a small group from here so waiting for them to decide...heard today they may already be full...so we will see.

I think we do the Mushing school first then the train ride...I think you are the opposite...

Hope all is well in your world Margaret.

Diana

Yes, we did book the pre/post packages.  We really haven't decided how we are going to go yet either.  I never thought about the Paris round trip.  That might be worth looking into, especially since we will end up in Paris.  Do you know anything about the bullet train, time, price?  We are staying the two post days in Paris, but then we are going to take the train into San Sebastian, Spain and spend about a week with a friend of ours.  We could then return to Paris and fly back out of there, allowing us to book a round trip to and from Paris.  I guess I'll have to check out all the options.

 Margaret

You can talk about Alaska......no worries.  I am very excited about the rivercruise though.  I've dreamt of going to Paris (actually the flower fields)  since I was 12 or so (and I'm 45 now so its been a long time).    Did you purchase the pre/post cruise packages?    I'd love o know how people are planning to get to Nice........we were thinking of flying through Paris and taking the bullet train down, but I'm not sure how that would work.  

Lisa in CO

Hey, don't be a lurker, and don't be jealous!  Just sign up for Alaska - there are some great bargains on the rooms left right now.  After all, life is short and so unpredictable that  we may not even be around for the France cruise. 

Let's keep talking and getting to know one another.  I promise I won't say anything more about Alaska! 

Hey, we may as well talk about Alaska on here because no one else is talking about France.  Hehe 

 What time did ya'll book the White Pass and the Musher's Camp.  We are doing both and hopefully we will be on them together.

 Margaret