About Paris, France

Currency

The official currency of France is the Euro. No other currency is acceptable forms of payment in France. We recommend that you either come to Europe with Euros, or use the ATM to get Euros while there. If you do not come to Paris with Euros, be sure and exchange enough dollars into Euros at the Airport to pay for your transport into the city.

If traveling from any other country than the U.S., we recommend that you convert your local denomination to US currency or Euro before you leave, as these are both widely accepted.

Languages

French, English

Before Your Trip

What’s Included and What’s Not

What is included?

• Accommodations for 8 days/7 nights on the elegant MS Creativity
• Most sightseeing tours in each port
• Headsets for all guided walking tours
• All meals onboard the ship’s restaurant
• Bottled water replenished in your cabin daily
• Coffee, tea, juices during all meals
• Transfer from the Host Hotel in Paris to the ship on embarkation day.
• Wine, beer and soft drinks during dinner
• Gratuity to ship’s staff
• All port changes and service taxes
• Olivia’s signature entertainment and programming
• Olivia staff assistance throughout

What’s not included?

• Ship services and incidentals such as salon services, nominal charge for room service (continental breakfast only), soft drinks and alcohol
• Airfare to/from Paris
• Transfers from/to airport
• Internet access
• Optional excursions offered in most ports

Travel documentation and identification

You will need a passport that is valid for six months past the date of the trip. If you are not a US citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the consulates of the countries we will be visiting to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Visa

US citizens DO NOT need to get a visa ahead of time. If you are not from the U.S., please check with your consulate for proper Visa requirements.

Vaccinations

Please check with your local Public Heath Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” and then “Vaccinations.”

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance. Olivia has recently partnered with Travel Guard to make things easier for you; you can now add your travel insurance when you book your trip, all in one call. In order to receive the most comprehensive coverage, please purchase your insurance within 15 days of your initial invoice. If you have questions about Olivia’s travel insurance, call (800) 631-6277 option 1 to talk to one of our travel consultants.

Joining the Olivia.com trip group

If you’d like to chat with people who are going on the trip, sign up for the official Olivia trip group.

Travel and arrival

Where to fly into/out of

You will need to fly in and out of Paris, France (CDG). We encourage all passengers to arrive a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays. We will be offering one and a two night pre-Stretcher package in Paris.

Suggested arrival/departure times

Please arrive before 2:00 pm on July 31, 2012 and make you way to our host hotel. Transfers from the hotel to the ship will be at approximately 4:00pm. Your departing flight on August 7, 2012 should be after 12:00 noon. Please DO NOT book arrivals after 2:00 pm on July 31 or prior to 12 Noon on August 7! If your flight times are close to this cutoff, please call (800) 631-6277 to confirm that they are okay.

American Airlines 7% Discount

We are proud to partner with American Airlines.The AA discount code A3472AZ applies to flights in and out of Paris (CDG). Dates of travel are July 24 - August 14, 2012. Airfare can be booked no earlier than 11 months before the trip. This reservation can be booked by calling (800) 433-1790 ($25 booking fee applies) or visiting AA.com/rainbow (no booking fee and please remove the preceding “A” when booking online).

Luggage allowances

While there is no luggage limit on the cruise itself, airlines often restrict (or charge) for excess baggage. Because each airline is different, and the regulations change over time, please check with your airline for baggage allowances.

Transfers and Meeting up with Olivia

Getting to your ship

The transfer to the ship from the host hotel is included in the cost of the trip. Specific information such as the location of the host hotel, pickup time and where to meet will be in your final documents. We offer this service as a convenience to our guests as we never know the exact location of the ship’s docking position until embarkation day.

Host Hotel

Will be the same hotel we use for our Pre 1 and 2 night package. This will be announced 1 year prior to the trip.

Port Address

Not known until day of embarkation

Ship Check-in

Embarkation and check in will be available after 4 pm.

While You’re There

Accommodations

Avalon’s MS Creativity

Built in 2009, the ms Creativity is a beautifully-designed, intimate 138-passenger ship and boasts the following:

• Lounge with Panoramic Windows
• Bar
• Whirl pool
• Fitness Center
• Hair Salon
• Restaurant
• Sky Deck with Premium Lounge Chairs
• Wi-Fi Access
• Non smoking interior
• Elevator (Does not go up to Sky Deck)

All cabins include upscale amenities

All cabins are comfortably appointed with:

• LCD flat-screen satellite television
• Hair dryer
• Deluxe Beds with Premium mattress covers
• Egyptian-style duvets
• Choice of firm or soft pillows
• Egyptian super-combed cotton lines
• Personal safe
• Refrigerator
• Mini-bar
• International direct dial phones
• Wireless internet (extra charge)
• Private bathrooms with showerL’Occitane toiletries

Dining

Avalon offers a wonderful buffet service for breakfast and lunch, with an opportunity to order from a menu as well. Evenings are an elegant sit-down service, offering several entrees, including one “French” specialty from the regions we visit each evening.

Electricity

The cabins have 110 and 220 volt electricity. Adapters should be 2 round prongs.

Excursions

Included Excursions

Paris

Guided sightseeing Tour of Paris – an overview of the main sites that include Notre Dame, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. Please note you will be seeing these sites from a bus. If you want to be able to spend more time at these sites, please consider an optional tour, or coming in early to do on your own.

Conflans

Choice of guided excursions to Auvers-sur-Olse or Saint-Germaine-en-Laye

Vernon

Choice of guided excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle

Rouen

Guided sightseeing of the Astronomical Clock; visit the Cathedral; choice of excursions to Normandy Landing Beaches or “A Taste of Normandy”

Les Andelys

Orientation

Optional Excursions (Additional Cost)

A final list will be sent with your final documents. You will sign up on board for any optional tour you might be interested in. Some of the optional may include the following (please note pricing is for 2011 and may increase for the 2012 season)

Paris (You will be able to choose ONE of the 3 below)

• Visit the Eiffel Tower - Euro 29.00
• Mona Lisa’s Smile and the Louvre Museum – Euro 48.00
• The Artist Colony of Montmartre – Euro 41.00

Paris/Moulon Rouge

Euro 169. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for the experience. We also get premium seating for our group.

Rouen - Visit to Honfleur – Euro 49.00

Rouen - The Normandy Abbey Road – Euro 49.00

Gratuities

Gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise. Gratuities are provided for your cabin steward, dining room steward, bus person, maître d’ and other-behind-the-scenes crew members. Tips to your local guides on excursions are not included, and are recommended.Below is a suggested guideline:

• Local Guide – ½ day - $2-$3 or full day $4-$5
• Bus driver -½ day - $1 full day - $2

Internet / e-mail / fax

There is an Internet center onboard; minute plans are available. Pricing will be posted onboard. Guests may also bring their own laptops and purchase an Internet wireless plan onboard. Many of the towns we visit have wireless internet cafes, so if you have a laptop or iPad, you can also take advantage of the free internet cafes while having a coffee.

Laundry and dry cleaning

Laundry and pressing service is available onboard. Dry cleaning is not available. Check onboard for pricing.

Medical services

The ship is always minutes from hospitals as we are in port or close to a local town wherever we are. The ship does not have a Doctor on board.

Money: Paying for things on board

Onboard, the currency is Euros. All purchases made on the ship will be charged to your onboard account, which you create when you first check in. Please check with the front office onboard for further details.

Phone

Each cabin has a phone. There is an additional fee to use this phone; cost is available onboard.

Smoking policy

All indoor areas onboard, including cabins, are non-smoking. Smoking areas is the back of the Sky Deck. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation to keep the smoking area down-wind of the other passengers.

Spa services

There is a Beauty salon onboard, and hair appointments, manicures and pedicures are available for an additional fee. Massage services are not available, but we can make recommendations in some of the ports we visit for these services.

Solo travelers

We will have a solos coordinator who will ensure you have a great time.

After Your Trip

Didn’t find what you are looking for? Check out our Olivia travel FAQ. Or call us at 800.631.6277