We are beginning to plan our June 2, 2007 Voyager MC/Dover cruise. We are anticipating spending 4-5 days, pre-cruise, in Provence. We're wondering if we should devote at least an entire day in either Cannes or Nice, prior to embarkation in Monte Carlo. We hate to cut even 1 day out of Provence; however, will do so if Cannes and/or Nice is a must, if just for 1 day.

Thoughts and suggestions, please.

For sure a must. See the hill villages, the Museums, Promenade d'Anglaise, the Meaght Foundation for the most incredible collection of modern art. So nuch to see and so little time to do it in!!!
Best regards

Definitely a must but, with a car, you can do them both in one day. Just to walk around the market in Nice and the beautiful shops in Cannes is wonderful, not to mention great places to eat.We ate in a little tiny place in Nice called La Merinda - somewhere in the market area with fantastic food.

Denise: We loved Nice - twice - easy to walk around and just enjoyable - was for us!!!

I have been to Nice many, many times. It is great to walk around the core and the pedestrian area.

I agree with others that the hilltowns nearby are really worth doing - St. Paul and Eze. The market - Cours Saleya is wonderful. Lots and lots of flowers, local stuff, etc. Around this area are some wonderful shops to buy local goods and olive oil.

The Negresco Hotel has several, very marvelous Niki de Saint Phalle sculptures and is a great place for a drink before dinner.

L'Ane Rouge (7, quai des Deux-Emmanuel) is one of my favourite restaurants.

As others have mentioned, Cannes has some nice shops but I prefer Nice because of the character in the downtown core area and the Promenade.

Thanks. I knew I'd get some very good input from so many of you. OK, so now we need to consider incorporating Nice into our plans.

We have been to Nice and Cannes a few times and prefer Nice. The market square area is so much fun, shop for spices, candies and jam not to mention some of the best bread and cheese. There are marvelous little restaurants that rim the entire square. Shopping and just walking around is very enjoyable. A trip up to Eze is a must see as is the beautiful little seaside town of Ville Franche. All can be done in a day. The aquarium in Monte Carlo is also a nice stop as is the residential area shopping in Monte Carlo, quite diffrerent than the Hotel de Paris area.

Thanks so much, Doris. Nice sounds so very, very nice! It looks as if at least one day will be devoted to wandering and taking as much as we can in!

Are you driving yourselves Denise? If you need a driver Alain or Jean Marc at
Http://www.dream-tours.com
are the guys!

You can see all of those places in a full day tour with that company.

Nice prices too..Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc.

Thanks for the info, Claudia. I was thinking of contacting you to get his website.

We're all about sightseeing and local markets...not about pricey shopping. Plenty of that at South Coast Plaza, Claudia. But, thanks, anyway!

Denise, At that time of year, you can expect 3 hours from Provence (St. Remy) to Cannes. Nice is a bit further. We took the scenic route and got caught up in terrible traffic. My advice is to go via highway the entire way to Nice. Nice has more to offer than Cannes in the way of museums and tourist sites. Another recommendation is to take the train from Avignon or Arles and go directly to Nice. You can rent a car at the train station. This is the fastest way.

Thanks, Andi. We are arranging a driver from Provence to Nice and then from Nice to MC.

Denise, we had a different company drive us from Nice to MC and took a cab to the ship.

There was not much to do in Monte Carlo. Prices were was over the top with the exchange rates.

We did go to the Casino to look in. We had a pass for the innnr casino, but, did not go. We enjoyed our walking around. We also caught a lot of Auto themeed stuff since itwas just he end of the Grand Prix.

Well, look who's back!!! Welcome home, Kathy! Hope you and all the WAVErs had a wonderful time! Looking foward to hearing all about WAVE!

We are going to pass on any substantial time in MC. Really no interest, except maybe a quick drive-around. We'll pass on the casino. Would rather devote more time to Nice.

Hope to hear lots more once you settle in. Again, welcome back to HOT, HOT, HOT SOCAL!

Thanks for the Welcome Home. Boy, this jet lag is something else!

I felt your pain, Kathy.

Looking forward to your review of WAVE.

Get rested and then tell us all about it! I had the most difficult time after SA cruise with jet lag - it went on and on and on -

Denise:
You might want to re-think that driver from upper Provence to Nice....it is a very easy hiway drive.
Save a few Euros to spend elsewhere?

just a thought.

Doug

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the suggestion; however, after much talk and consideration, we have decided to go with a driver, stopping along the way, relaxing and enjoying the scenery, rather than save a few Euros.

Denise: Having a driver is great - they know the ins and outs and, yes, you sit and relax. We covered so much in one day in MC, Nice, hill towns - it was "full" day but worth every Euro!

Denise, how wonderful to be planning your trip to Provence. You've settled on a relaxing way to do it. Your driver may know of different out-of-the way places to show you. We love taking our time through these hill town/villages. I agree with everyone about how fun it is to walk around Nice, the shopping, eating, etc. Great way to begin a cruise! - :) Michele
Welcome home, Kathy!

Thanks, Joanna and Michele. We really prefer to leave it to a qualified and knowledgeable driver to show us around and stop in out of the way spots that make visiting these towns and villages so special. I would certainly hate to shortchange ourselves, as our time there is limited and, in all likelihood, we won't return.

I'm all for a full day or two to take it all in!

Joanna, are you talking about your first cruise on the Diamond? Did you hire Sylvie for that? I know you were not with us when we did this on 007, as you are not in the pictures! (Especially climbing to our very special little hotel in Haute de Cagnes, as I would have pictured Tony toting bags like I did everyone else)

Yes Diamond 9/003 Sylvie....editing to say and 2 days pre VJ7 -

Denise, I think the driver is a terrific idea. Walking around Nice was great, but if I was going back and forth to Provence, we would definitely either train it, or do a private driver. It's just too easy to waste your precious time getting lost (although sometimes that's fun), hunting for hotels or parking spots. Having just driven around Portugal for 4 days, local knowledge would certainly have helped us tremendously.

Hi Wendy,

I agree that local knowledge really does help, especially when touring within a short span of time. Getting lost can be lots of fun if you have time to spare. Not the case for us, so a wiser decision is to go with those in the know.

I am working on piecing this trip together with a referred guide in Provence.

Hope your WAVE cruise and 4-day visit in Portugal was wonderful.