Just back from our cruise on the Splendor of the Seas. I traveled with my husband, 2 sons (age 16 and 18) and my aunt, we had a terrific time. The ship is a bit dated but very clean. The food was good. The wait staff and cabin staff were outstanding.

Our trip was a huge success mainly due to booking private tours at each location. In Marseille, Catherin D'Antuono a Provence Tour Designer provided us with an absolutely lovely tour of the provence area. The local market in I'Isle sur la Sorgue, wine tasting, the quaint villages of the Luberon were fantastic. You can find her at catherine@provence-travel.com or www.provence-travel.com.

In Villefranche, we had another wonderful day with Sylvie Di Cristo. With her we explored Monaco and Monte-Carlo, Nice and some other "off the beaten track" areas. She was delightful! You can reach Sylvie at sylvie.di.cristo@wanadoo.fr or www.azur-guides-interpretes.com Read more