About Our Destination

Currency

€Euro

Languages

French, although English is also widely spoken.

Being Gay in France

France is very gay-friendly. In recent years, Paris has been home to one of Europe’s largest Pride celebrations. You can feel secure being yourself while walking the streets throughout all of France.

Climate

The French climate in August ranges from 59°F-75°F (15°C-24°C) in the north (Paris), with an average of 66°F (19°C), and 64°F-81°F (18°C-27°C) in the south (Provence), with an average of 73°F (22°C). Weather can be unpredictable, so be sure to pack a rain jacket and umbrella in case of wet weather.

Destinations

• Tuesday, July 30 – Arles
• Wednesday, July 31 – Arles and Port St. Louis
• Thursday, August 1 – Avignon
• Friday, August 2 – Viviers
• Saturday, August 3 – Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage
• Sunday, August 4 – Lyon
• Monday, August 5 – Macôn-Tournus
• Tuesday, August 6 – Chalones-sur-Saone & Beaune

Before Your Trip

What’s Included and What’s Not

What is included?

• Your transfer from Olivia’s host hotel in Marseille to the ship on July 30, 2013
• Accommodations for 8 days/7 nights on board the Avalon Scenery
• All meals while on board
• Bottled water replenished in your cabin daily
• Coffee, hot and iced tea, milk, and juice during meals
• Soft drinks, beer or wine at dinner
• Wi-Fi Internet access
• Gratuities to your cabin steward, waiter, busperson and maitre d’
• Olivia signature and local entertainment
• Tours indicated on your itinerary
• Your transfer to Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport or to Olivia’s host hotel in Paris on August 6, 2013
• Olivia staff assistance throughout

What’s not included?

• Airfare
• Arrival airport transfers from Marseille Airport to host hotel
• Travel insurance
• Personal items
• Alcohol and soft drinks, except where noted
• Beauty salon services
• Telephone, fax and internet access
• Optional tours
• Fuel surcharge
• Medical attention

Travel documentation and identification

Passport

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 French consulate to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Visa

If you are a U.S. Citizen, you DO NOT need to get a visa ahead of time. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the consulates of the countries we will be visiting to make sure you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Vaccinations

Though none are required, please check with your local Public Health Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” followed by “Vaccinations.”

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance. Olivia has partnered with Travel Guard to make things easier for you; you can 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 or (415) 962-5700 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 this trip, sign up for the official Olivia trip group.

Travel and arrival

Air travel

Where to fly into/out of

Flights should arrive in Marseille, France (MRS) before 1:00pm on July 30, 2013. The included transfer from the host hotel in Marseille to the ship will depart at approximately 2:00pm. Departures from Paris, France Charles de Gaulle (CDG) may leave after 5:00pm on August 6, 2013.

Discount airfare offer

The AA discount code A2573BS is good for 5% off and applies to flights in and out of Marseille, France (MRS) and Paris, France Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Dates of travel are July 23 – August 13, 2013. Airfare can be booked no earlier than 11 months before the trip. This reservation can ONLY be booked by calling (800) 433-1790 ($25 booking fee applies).

Olivia’s preferred travel agency

We are happy to partner with Panorama Travel, which provides excellent service and competitive airfares. As a full service agency, they do charge a fee for the service of booking your air, train, transfer services or add-ons. For a small fee, they can also assist you with using your frequent flyer miles for free tickets and upgrades. You can reach them at (800) 523-0093 or (503) 682-6800.

One of the advantages of dealing with a Travel Agency who books your ticket is having assistance while traveling. This becomes extremely helpful when there are flight cancellations or delays in travel; you can call the agency for faster service. For many, it is well worth the additional fee which starts from $75, depending on cost of fare/package.

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

All guests will meet at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Marseille no later than 2:00pm for your 1 ½ hour bus transfer to the ship in Arles. More information on this will be provided with your final documents, sent 3-4 weeks prior to the trip. We strongly encourage you to purchase the one-night Olivia package for the Radisson Blu Hotel in Marseille, which will include breakfast and a Marseille city sightseeing tour by motor coach.

Check in

Ship check-in officially begins at 4:00pm. If you are making your own way to Arles to board the ship and are not using the complimentary group transfer from the host hotel in Marseille, please let us know when we send you a flight itinerary form to fill out for us closer to the trip. As a courtesy on embarkation day, the lounge is open and available for your use should you arrive before your cabin is ready. You may leave your luggage on board the ship while you explore Arles on your own.

During your trip

Accommodations

Avalon Scenery

The Avalon Scenery’s ship amenities include:

• Sun Deck with 360-degree views
• Restaurant, lounge and bar with panoramic view
• Free Wi-Fi
• Library
• Onboard shop
• Small gym with life-cycle, treadmill and free weights
• Attentive English-speaking staff
• Beauty Salon (additional fee)
• Laundry (additional fee)

Room Amenities

• Individual stateroom thermostats
• Hair dryers
• Flat screen TV
• Radio
• Minibar
• Shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap
• Safe
• Egyptian cotton linens

Dining

Seating is open so you may sit where you wish. Times may be adjusted for tour departures, but in general, they are:

• Breakfast 6:30am - 8:30am
• Lunch 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Dinner 7:00pm - 9:00pm

There is one restaurant on board. Meals are served buffet style for breakfast and lunch, with the opportunity to order some items from the menu. Dinner is menu service.

Electricity

Voltage 220V is standard on board. Guests coming from the U.S. will need converters and adapters for heat-bearing items such as personal hairdryers or curling irons, as well as adapters for basic electronic gear (camera batteries and phone chargers); however, your cabin does have a hairdryer for use. If your electronic chargers take 100-240 Volt, an adapter is all that is needed. The "Schuko" plug is the German standard used on the ships. It has a deep plug head with two grounding clips on the sides of the plug instead of an additional prong contact. It resembles the European plug with two round prongs. Visit a travel store for more information on converters and adapters.

Excursions

Certain tours are included in the cost of your trip. There are also optional excursions you may book at an additional cost.

Gratuities

Gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise. Gratuities are provided for your cabin steward, dining room steward, bus person, maitre'd, Avalon Cruise Director and other-behind-the-scenes crew members.

Gratuities to your tour guides and bus drivers for the included daily tours are not included. Suggested gratuities are as follows:

• Tour guides: €2-3 for 1/2 day, €4-5 for full day
• Bus drivers: €1-2 for 1/2 day, €2-3 for full day
• Airport porters: €1/bag
• Hotel porters: €1/person upon check-in and checkout
• Hotel room attendants: €3-5/person per day
• Restaurant wait staff: Restaurants often add a service charge to the bill, but an additional tip of 5-10% (or rounding the bill up) is customary

Internet / e-mail / fax

The ship has wireless internet access and your personal laptop can be used. Full internet access is available, but the connection can be slow. Wi-Fi is complimentary on board. Faxes can be sent from the reception desk at a cost of approx. €2-6 per minute, depending on where you are calling or faxing.

Laundry and dry cleaning

Laundry and ironing services are available on board for an additional cost. No dry cleaning is available. No self-service laundry facilities are available. Irons are not permitted in the rooms due to fire regulations.

Medical services

Medical services are easily attainable in the ports we are visiting. Medical services entail an additional fee.

Money: Paying for things on board

The onboard currency is the Euro. All onboard purchases are billed with a guest check and added to your personal shipboard account. At the end of your trip, you may pay in cash (U.S. dollars or Euros) or by credit card (your bill will be converted at the current exchange rate). The ship cannot accept traveler’s checks for payment of your shipboard account.

Phone

Each cabin has a phone. There is an additional fee to use this phone; please check your final informational packet for details.

Smoking policy

Smoking is only permitted in a designated area on the Sun Deck. Smoking is not permitted in cabins or any indoor areas on the ship.

Spa services

Beauty salon services for hair and manicures are available for a fee. Massages are not available on board; however, our front desk can help you make a reservation for massages in some of the cities we visit..

After Your Trip

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