In This Issue

• This Month’s Events  
• Alex Update (Our Voice Assistant) 
• New 2027 & 2028 Viking Itineraries 
• Caption Contest Winner  
• New Contest: Guess Where We Are? 
• September Specials 
• Update on UK and European Union Visas 
• Links to Past Newsletters 
• The Last Laugh 

September's Events

We’re doing something different this month in celebration of Viking’s sponsorship of Downton Abbey as part of Masterpiece ever since it first premiered in 2011. 

Viking has had a great relationship with Lord & Lady Carnarvon, the owners of Highclere Castle (where the series was filmed), and because of that, we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the final chapter of this popular series.  

We’ve rented two auditoriums in Gainesville and Atlanta, near where many of our Georgia clients live.

We'd love for you come and invite a friend to come too. There are still spots available, so click the links below if you are able to join us! (Space is limited, so it is first-come, first-served.) 

• Friday, September 12 at 4pm; Atlantic Station 
• Saturday, September 13 at 3pm; Gainesville 

You can watch the trailer here: Grand Finale Trailer 

Did you know that Viking offers our guests privileged access to the filming location? While you’re waiting for this final showing, you might want to take a behind-the-scenes look at the setting for Downton Abbey: Highclere Castle: 

Highclere Castle with Karine Hagen 

Tour the Picturesque Grounds of Highclere Castle 

Alex Update – Our New Voice Assistant 

We’ve implemented Alex, an AI Voice Assistant, and frankly, she is still on probation. She knows a lot and is constantly trying to help. However, sometimes she’s too helpful and has created confusion when answering calls. Our developer says that’s a normal part of the training and is continuing to make tweaks to get her to behave properly. 

The reason we went this route is, while we love talking to our clients, we are constantly on the phone. Our goal is to get you to a real person as quickly as possible. 

So, when you call the office number (770-421-9627), just treat Alex as a simple answering machine – just leave your name and number and any message, and she will make sure the right person gets back to you as soon as possible. 

Please feel free to provide feedback, too, as the Alex trainer is constantly making adjustments so she behaves properly. 

Our apologies in advance for any inconvenience she has caused! 

New Viking Itineraries:

The new Viking itineraries keep coming, and Viking has two popular ones touring the Baltics in 2027 and 2028: 

Scenic Scandinavia & Baltic Jewels (15 days, Bergen to Stockholm) 

Scandinavia & Baltic Jewels (15 days, Oslo to Copenhagen) 

Available dates are: June-September, 2027 (May is already sold out) and May to August, 2028.

Why should you be thinking of 2027 and 2028? Because Viking guests know: 

1. Prices tend to increase each month as the sailing gets closer to departure 
2. The best shoreside staterooms go first 
3. Overall ability shrinks (May 2027 is already sold out) 
4. $25 per person deposit solves all of the above problems! 

Plus, if you have an existing reservation, we can extend final payment to six months prior to departure! 

Caption Contest Winner!  

Last month, we had a contest to caption this photo:

Our winner is Tamra Mitchell who suggested: 

“I booked a Victory cruise, thinking it was a Viking cruise…what a mistake!” 

I got a good laugh at her caption, as I have certainly had cruises where I thought I booked one experience but ended up with quite another! 

Congratulations Tamra! You’re the winner of my favorite travel gadget of the month! While I hate ironing clothes, many times irons are not available or are inconveniently placed onboard the ship. This steamer is not only portable, it comes with global voltage adaptation, too.  

Tamra - hope you enjoy your G2 Pro Smart Handheld Steamer 

Guess Where We Are Contest 

(And Win My New Favorite Travel Gadget!) 

Last month I started a Favorite Travel Gadget Giveaway contest, as I’ve had fun trying different things to make travel easier. I have another one for this month! 

All you have to do is identify where Doug and I are in this photo (hint: the famous house is behind us, and there’s a better shot of it in the second photo) 

Rules to Enter: 

Once you identify the location of this photo, send your response to newsletter@imaginegoingthere.com. We will do a random drawing for the winner, which will take place September 30. The winner will be announced in the October 4 online newsletter.  

 
Want to double the odds of winning? Include in your response if you’d like to share your favorite Viking itinerary for other readers to enjoy. 

What’s the Prize?  

One of my new favorite travel gadgets: 

Shark Tank’s ChargeCard - the World’s Thinnest Portable Charger 

I use my phone a lot, and take a ton of photos and videos when traveling. It’s no fun to lug around a bulky charger, but sometimes I don’t have the juice I need to make it through the travel day.  

Enter this credit-card sized charger to the rescue! It’s so handy - it fits in your wallet and will give you a boost when needed.  

One lucky winner will never be without enough battery again! 

September 2025 Special Offers  

As always, we’re going to bring you the best deals and unadvertised promotions. Here are the latest offers for September. (Only available by contacting us at Carol@ImagineGoingThere.com...special pricing will not show on the website!)  

(These offers are only available as capacity allows,  

and can be withdrawn at any time, so act fast!!) 

Free Stateroom Upgrades, Free International Airfare* & Included Gratuities for select 2025-2026 Ocean sailings 

     Ancient Mediterranean Treasures (8 Days, Istanbul to Athens) 

Starts at $2,399; November: 3, 7; December: 20, 22 

     Cities of Antiquity (15 Days, Rome to Athens) 

Starts at $4,999; December: 7 

     Empires of the Mediterranean (10 days, Venice to Athens) 

Starts at $3,999; November: 1; December: 27 

     Grand Australia Circumnavigation (32 Days, Sydney to Sydney)  

Starts at $11,999; December: 30; 2026 - February: 27 

     Iberian Explorer (8 Days, Barcelona to London)  

Starts at $2,499; 2026 - January: 10, 20 

    Iconic Western Mediterranean (8 Days, Barcelona to Rome) 

Starts at $2,399; November: 1, 16, 22, 24, 28; December: 13; 2026 - January: 3, 4, 12, 13; February: 3, 12 

    In Search of the Northern Lights (13 Days, London to Bergen) 

Starts at $4,999; 2026 - January: 27, 29; February: 8, 10, 20, 22; March: 4, 6, 16, 18 

     Italian Sojourn (8 days, Rome to Venice) 

Starts at $3,299; November: 15, 17; December: 8 

    Jewels of Japan & China (15 Days, Beijing to Tokyo) 

Starts at $4,999; November: 14 

    Journey to Antiquities (8 days, Rome to Athens) 

Starts at $2,399; November: 9; December: 20, 21, 27, 30; 2026 - January: 5, 6, 11; February: 5, 10, 27 

     Malta, Morocco & the Mediterranean (16 days, Barcelona to Barcelona) 

Starts at $5,999; November: 23, 28; December: 8; 2026 - January: 17, 19; February: 19 

    Mediterranean & Adriatic Odyssey (15 Days, Rome to Athens) 

Starts at $4,999; November: 23; 2026 - February: 11 

    Panama Canal & Central America (15 days, round-trip Ft. Lauderdale) 

Starts at $3,999; November: 12, 26 

    Panama Canal & the Pacific Coast (18 days, Ft, Lauderdale, FL, to Los Angeles, CA)  

Starts at $4,999; December: 19 

    Venice, the Adriatic & Greece (8 Days, Venice to Athens) 

Starts at $3,299; November: 10; December: 15 

    West Indies to Iberia (15 days, San Juan to Barcelona; or Barcelona to San Juan; includes Casablanca, Morocco) 

Starts at $2,999; December: 5 

FREE International Airfare, Reduced Fares  

On select 2025-2026 Expedition sailings 

    Antarctic Explorer (13 Days, Buenos Aires to Ushuaia) 

Starts at $9,995; November: 14, 25; December: 17; 2026 - January: 5, 16, 19, 30; February: 10, 13, 21 

    Antarctica & South Georgia Island (19 Days, Ushuaia to Ushuaia) 

Starts at $13,995; November: 10; 2026 - February: 24 

    Argentina & the Chilean Fjords (14 Days, Buenos Aires to Santiago) 

Starts at $8,995; 2026 - March: 4, 13 

    Canadian Discovery (13 Days; New York City to Toronto, Ontario) 

Starts at $6,995; 2026 - April: 5 

    Chilean Fjords & Scenic Shores (13 Days, Santiago to Ushuaia) 

Starts at $5,995; October: 30 

    Panama Canal & the Americas (20 Days, Santiago to New York City, NY) 

Starts at $8,995; 2026 - March: 17, 26 

Your Choice Sale expires Sept 30th for select 2025 - 2028 River/Ocean/Expedition/Mississippi sailings 

(Choose one of the two options below)  

Free Silver Spirits + included gratuities 

or  

Up to $1000 Shipboard Credit 

This pricing is based on promotional codes that we will add, and will not be reflected on the website. Call us at 770-421-9627 or email Carol@ImagineGoingThere.com to secure your spot on these incredible itineraries! 

All sailings are for 2025, unless otherwise noted 

Note that these prices won’t be shown on the website. Our priority is ensuring you get the absolute best deals! 

Call Carol at 770-421-9627 for up-to-date availability and best pricing– plus we’ll add extra shipboard credit to your reservation, which you won’t get by calling direct! 

Join Us on Explora Journeys – Feb 24 - March 3, 2026! 

I’ve told you in previous newsletters how fabulous our Explora Journeys cruises have been! 

Well, we’re doing another Imagine Going There Travel cruise to the Caribbean February 24-March 3, 2026, and would love to have you join us!  

What a great way to get away from the winter blues – here's the itinerary: 

A Journey of Paradise Coves and Puerto Rican Spirits (8 nights, Miami to San Juan) 

Below is a photo of the Ocean Terrace Suite 2, pricing at $3,719.35 per person, based on double occupancy, which includes our group rate as well as an additional 5 percent discount (normally pricing is $4,130pp for this category.)  

The sailing includes all the following as complimentary amenities in your cruise fare:

• 5 Restaurants
• Unlimited premium beverages
• Free wifi
• Port Fees
• Taxes
• Gratuities 

Come join us!! Call 770-421-9627 or email Carol@ImagineGoingThere.com for more details. 

**PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE TRAVELING TO THE UK*** 

UK’s new ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is up and running! You must submit if disembarking in the UK!

The United Kingdom officially launched their ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) application process for United States citizens. If you are traveling to the UK you will need to be sure to apply and obtain this authorization prior to your departure.  (Shortly after introducing ETA, they made the change that you will not need an ETA if you are only going through the airport “in-transit” and not going through customs.)  

This application costs £16 and is done online. The website states it could take up to three days to process, so don’t wait until the last minute! Click here for more information and to apply.

Carol recently did it over her phone using this QR code. It was a clear and fairly easy process as long as you read the prompts closely.

CAUTION: If you type in “ETA” to a Google search there are many websites that appear to be “official”.  However, you will end up paying too much if you use a website other than the UK government website.  You should look for the “.gov.uk” address to make sure you have the correct information. 

ETIAS for European Countries  

We are continuing to monitor when this will start, and the EU recently announced it will not start until the last quarter of 2026. Viking has told us they will be sending out announcements to travelers once it finally goes into effect and the European Union will inform about the start of the ETIAS several months prior to it’s launch. Click here for the official ETIAS website. 

One less thing to have to think about – at least for now!

Links to Past Newsletters

• A Magical Night under the Stars!

• What Were You Doing in Mexico
• All Aboard Rocky Mountaineer!
• Cities of Light, Part 2
• Spotlight on Cities of Light
• Big "Bag" for the Buck

The Last Laugh

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."

- Robert Louis Stevenson

About Imagine Going There Travel

Carol is a Viking Master Cruise Expert and Group Travel Specialist, and she loves getting people together to enjoy the intimacy and hospitality unique to small ship cruising.

Consequently, our clients benefit from the “inside information” we have as a result of the great relationships we have developed over the years. They don't have to call an 800-number hoping to get a knowledgeable professional to answer their questions, and are also on the “first-to-know” list for specials and bonuses, all while receiving the signature TLC we put into every trip.

Vacations are the highlight reels of the year, and each one needs to be truly memorable.

Great Vacations Matter, Because Great Memories Matter Most

P.S. Whether you have questions about your upcoming cruise, or you have a Future Cruise Voucher you're trying to put to the best use, feel free to contact me at 770-421-9627 or email Carol@ImagineGoingThere.com. I'll be happy to answer all of your questions and give you the best advice for your Viking dollars.

P.S.S. If you've booked direct with Viking in the last 60 days, call 770-421-9627 to get an additional $200 shipboard credit to your reservation!