OPIMIAN CRUISE BURGUNDY & PROVENCE APRIL 4 – 12, 2011
Join Opimian Area Representatives, Heather and Norman Keevil, and fellow Opimians aboard Avalon’s MS Scenery of southern France. Sail up the Rhône on this tranquil river cruise and enjoy fantastic French cuisine, history, and Opimian wine. The 800 km long Rhône river, running through both France and Switzerland, is the only major European river that flows directly into the Mediterranean Sea. It has been an important inland trade and transportation route since Greek times, winding through the orchards and vineyards of the fertile Rhône Valley. With the assistance and guidance of Master of Wine, Kenneth Christie, your hosts have arranged for private tours of Domaine des Cigalons in Châteauneuf du Pape and Château Montmirail, both Opimian suppliers. In addition, Bernard Perrin, one of Opimian’s long time and trusted négociants, will join us on board to showcase a selection of great regional Opimian wines in a private tasting.
420 -5165 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest • Montréal QC • H 4A 1T6 514-483-5551 • 1-800-361-9421 • 514-481-9699 Email:
[email protected] • www.opim.ca
The Scenery is a modern river cruise ship with all the amenities and services that one would expect to find in a 5-star hotel. On board, you will be treated to an elegant stateroom and impeccable service, all in a luxurious yet casual environment. Evening attire is smart-casual – there are no formal nights.
CRUISE ITINERARY Monday, April 4 Arrival in Nice with private transfer to hotel Your private limousine driver will greet you at the baggage area to drive you to the Hôtel Westminster, located on Promenade des Anglais on the beautiful Mediterranean sea. Enjoy the rest of your day, evening and next morning on your own. Tuesday, April 5 Private motor coach Nice – Arles Boarding & Captain’s Welcome Dinner On embarkation day enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast at the Hôtel Westminster. A private motor coach will leave from the hotel at 13:30 for a pleasant drive along the coast to the MS Scenery docked in the beautiful city of Arles in time for the Captain’s welcome dinner on board the ship. Wednesday, April 6 Tour of Arles On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of Provence and was once known as the “Little Rome of Gaul”. See the church of St. Trophime; Les Alyscamps, the remains of the GalloRoman burial road; and visit the Roman Amphitheatre. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the 420 -5165 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest • Montréal QC • H 4A 1T6 514-483-5551 • 1-800-361-9421 • 514-481-9699 Email:
[email protected] • www.opim.ca
special light of Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The Foundation Vincent Van Gogh is a tribute to the artist. Private Opimian pre-dinner cocktail party Get to know your fellow Opimian travelers at a private reception and cocktail party in the Club Lounge before dinner. Thursday, April 7 Tour of Avignon The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region and the most picturesque part of Provence. Also referred to as the City of Popes, it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century, and the city landscape is dominated by the grandiose Palace of the Popes. Private Opimian tour to Domaine des Cigalons, Châteauneuf du Pape Right after the city tour, board our private motor coach for a short drive to Domaine des Cigalons where we will have a private lunch, wine tasting and guided tour of the vineyard. Friday, April 8 Beaujolais region Private Opimian Tour of Château Montmirail After a morning cruise in Beaujolais and lunch onboard the ship, we arrive in Viviers, a charming town with a mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. We board our private motor coach for a drive to Château Montmirail for a private guided tour of the vineyard and wine tasting. Saturday, April 9 Tour of Tournon & Tain l’Hermitage The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France’s oldest medieval cities. Private wine tasting with Bernard Perrin During lunch, the ship sails to Vienne where Opimian négociant, Bernard Perrin, will board the ship with a selection of Opimian wines for a private tasting in the Club Lounge. Sunday, April 10 Lyon (optional tours available) This is a free day to explore at leisure—or take an optional tour offered by the cruise line. Lyon is France’s second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight the visitor. Survey the city from Fourviére Hill and explore the Old Town, a 420 -5165 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest • Montréal QC • H 4A 1T6 514-483-5551 • 1-800-361-9421 • 514-481-9699 Email:
[email protected] • www.opim.ca
UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways, Place des Terreaux, and the beautiful Place Bellecour. Monday, April 11 Mâcon region (optional tour of Mâcon and Tournus available) Mâcon is a city with a rich history that plays an important role in the wine trade. Walk around town or take an option tour offered by the cruise line. Also, enjoy some free time in Tournus. The cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore collection, located in an old family mansion, are worth a visit. Chalon-sur-Saône If you are all packed and ready for disembarkation the next morning, you can take an evening walk in this quaint French town situated on the Saône River. Tuesday, April 12 Disembarkation You may create your own personalized adventure by adding on some extra time in Nice, visiting the Côte d’Azur and Monte Carlo. Or, add on to the end of your trip ~ additional exploration of the Burgundy region or visit Paris before returning home. For information, including costs, please inquire.
COSTS Stateroom
Package Price per person
Initial Deposit Interim Payment at time of due 01 booking November
Final Payment due 15 December
Category E
$3,293.00 per person
$250.00 per person
$750.00 per person
$2,293.00 per person
Category B
$3,812.00 per person
$250.00 per person
$750.00 per person
$2,812.00 per person
Category A
$3,864.00 per person
$250.00 per person
$750.00 per person
$2,864.00 per person
Category P
$3,968.00 per person
$250.00 per person
$750.00 per person
$2,968.00 per person
Category S
$4,540.00 per person
$250.00 per person
$750.00 per person
$3,540.00 per person
Stateroom descriptions can be found at: http://www.avalonwaterways.com/product.aspx?trip=1WAC0&content=ship&ship=scenery 420 -5165 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest • Montréal QC • H 4A 1T6 514-483-5551 • 1-800-361-9421 • 514-481-9699 Email:
[email protected] • www.opim.ca
INCLUDED • • • • • • • • • • • •
Private transfer from the Nice airport to the hotel One night at Hôtel Westminster in Nice with hot buffet breakfast Private Opimian motor coach transfer from the hotel to the MS Scenery in Arles 7-night cruise onboard the deluxe MS Scenery, a 130-passenger river cruise ship All meals on board the ship with paired wines served at dinner City tours as described in the itinerary Private Opimian reception and cocktail party on Wednesday Private Opimian visit to Domaine des Cigalons with tour of the vineyard, wine tasting and lunch Private Opimian visit to Château Montmirail with tour of the vineyard and wine tasting Private wine tasting event on board the Scenery by Opimian négociant Bernard Perrin Your Opimian hosts, Heather and Norman Keevil Port charges
NOT INCLUDED • Air transportation • Gratuities on board the Scenery • Alcoholic beverages other than at dinner on board the ship • Optional tours offered by the cruise line • Transportation at the end of the cruise
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Prices are for the package described above. All prices are in Canadian dollars, per person, based on two sharing a cabin unless otherwise indicated. Single supplement is available on request. Government taxes of $105 per person are included in the price but are subject to change. We do not anticipate any fuel surcharges; however, cruise lines reserve the right to add a fuel surcharge should their cost of purchasing the fuel increase significantly. To receive this pricing and guarantee the group departure, Opimian must have a minimum of 28 people booked. Cabins are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. As our group space is limited, it is recommended that you reserve early. Your deposit is fully refundable until November
420 -5165 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest • Montréal QC • H 4A 1T6 514-483-5551 • 1-800-361-9421 • 514-481-9699 Email:
[email protected] • www.opim.ca
1, 2010 at which time the second deposit is due. For cancellations made after November 1, 2010, note that our suppliers will not refund the deposits. Payment is by Visa or MasterCard or bank draft. Deposit must be paid to confirm the reservation. Airfare is not included; however we can arrange flights from all major Canadian gateway cities to and from France and other European cities. We can also offer private ground transfers, pre or post hotels or villas, rail tickets and car rentals. Due to space restrictions on motor coaches, only one piece of checked luggage per person is allowed on the tour. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Call us to discuss your needs. Our Agency represents RBC insurance, Canada’s premier travel insurance company whose product is specifically tailored for Canadian travelers’ needs. A NOTE CONCERNING TRAVELING BY AIR It is mandatory to carry a valid passport when traveling to Europe. A valid passport’s expiry date must be at least 6 months beyond the return date to Canada. Canadian passports are available from local passport offices as well as from Ottawa. If you need to renew your passport, it is our experience that service is much quicker through a local Passport Canada office than mailing to Ottawa. Photos must be obtained from an approved photographer. You do not require a guarantor if you are renewing your passport. For non-Canadian and non-US citizens traveling via the USA, please note that many countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) but the VWP requires that the passport must meet certain criteria. You should check with your embassy or consulate concerning your passport. The name that you provide for your registration on this tour must be your legal name, as it appears on your passport. Airlines and cruise lines have been instructed by government authorities to deny boarding to passengers whose ticket names do not match their passport names.
HOW TO BOOK Travel arrangements for this cruise are handled by Opimian members Christine and Gerry Delval, owners of Victoria Cruise & Travel Boutique. Contact Christine or Gerry for additional information. To reserve your cabin email Christine and Gerry at
[email protected], or call them toll free 1-800-868-0382. For security reasons, never send your credit card information by email. VictoriaCruiseandTravelBoutique.com 420 -5165 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest • Montréal QC • H 4A 1T6 514-483-5551 • 1-800-361-9421 • 514-481-9699 Email:
[email protected] • www.opim.ca
