In This Issue:

This Month’s Events & Webinars 
Two Peas in a Pod – Mother/Daughter Travel to Alaska on Silversea
August Specials (some great ones this month!)
Join IGT on Explora Journeys Feb 21-28, 2025!
The Compass - Print Edition
Links to Past Newsletters
The Last Laugh

August's Events & Webinars

Webinar: Thursday, August 22nd at 2pm

      Viking Oceans Itinerary: British Isles Explorer Itinerary Link

Registration Link: British Isles Explorer Webinar Link

We will not be holding in-person events this month as Carol will be travelling on Silversea Expedition ship, the Silver Origin to the Galápagos Islands. You can learn more about Silversea and the Galápagos through this webinar with Carol. And be sure to check our Facebook page for updates as she enjoys one of the remotest locations in the world with all its endemic wildlife.

Two Peas in Pod - Mother/Daughter Travel on Silversea

At Imagine Going There Travel, we are all about making memories – and not just for our clients, either! Last month, two of our IGT team members had the opportunity to travel on Silversea to Alaska. In addition to Viking, we are now selling Silversea as well as Explora Journeys (more on an Explora Journeys sailing we're doing later in this issue.)

Not only do I want our team members to have wonderful vacations, it’s important to to me that we giving our clients great advice because we have been on these cruises ourselves. Some things you can only learn by being there - not from research or online trainings.

For instance, did you know that the Alaska itineraries with Silversea are different depending on the direction you’re traveling? Nina traveled with her mother from Vancouver to Seward on the Silver Muse, while Krista and her daughter, Sophia (who recently graduated from high school!) were on the Silver Nova traveling in the opposite direction. They met clients who were staying on the ship to go round-trip so they could fully experience all the ports of call.

You’ll hear from Nina in a future newsletter, but here’s what Krista, our Client Care Manager, had this to say about her trip:

"What an amazing trip and ship! We arrived a day early in Anchorage and had a relaxing afternoon walking around town, poking our heads in cute little shops. The next day, everything started off super smoothly as we took the included Anchorage to Seward scenic bus ride to the seamless check-in.

I went on a completely different week than Nina and quite frankly the weather was abnormally rainy...I mean very rainy...the whole week. But honestly, the boat was so gorgeous we didn’t mind. I felt that Silversea does an amazing job with its included excursion options as there was such a variety to choose from.

Different from Viking, Silversea offers several different options as their included tours...some of them being full day excursions! We wanted to be active, so we hiked, ziplined, visited an Iditarod sled dog summer camp and took a sea otter quest cruise. There were fewer active options, but having such a variety makes it possible for people of varying ages and activity levels to enjoy Alaska the way that fits them best.

The food was amazing as well. Sophia said she ate more fish that week than she had all year! The ship cuisine highlights destination dining in the S.A.L.T. restaurant but there was also an amazing pizza bar, buffet style lunch, continental ala carte restaurant as well as several specialty restaurants (Italian, Japanese and high-end grill) for the evenings.

When not out experiencing Alaska, we loved visiting the observation lounge on our scenic sailing days and many guests were there playing card games, working on puzzles, enjoying the view or perusing the attached library that had a plentiful selection of books.

Silver Nova parked in Seward to start our journey.

The Silversea suite was beautifully appointed and there was so much storage for clothing! It also had a very handy thick curtain you could pull to separate the sitting area from the beds so that if one person wanted to get up early to read or have a coffee you didn’t disturb the person sleeping.

One of our favorite things to do was to have an afternoon specially made coffee at the cafe once we returned from our excursions...especially after the cold and rainy days.

Here is a view of Hubbard Glacier from the Observation Lounge. We were lucky enough to see it calving multiple times! I think due to the abundant rain...

Our rainy hiking day to get a view of Mendenhall Glacier...our guides were a 73 year old retired teacher and a young woman from Atlanta, and both were so knowledgeable. My daughter was intrigued since she will be studying environmental science this fall.

I have to be honest...we didn’t spend much time on the decks as most of the time it was windy and rainy during our week, but this would be a beautiful place to relax on a sunny day for sure!

We played with Alaskan Husky puppies and also rode as they pulled a wheeled cart at an Iditarod Sled Dog summer camp!

One of many gorgeous desserts on the ship. The food was just perfect!

For ziplining, we were transported via Unimog, a unique and huge tractor/truck combination that would take you up steep inclines to the zipline starting point. We ziplined between trees, over creeks and even though it was an extremely windy day it was counterintuitively calm up on the zipline platform.

Cruise hair don’t care!! (We did finally get to enjoy our balcony on the last afternoon as we were cruising the Inside Passage.)

Skagway, Alaska – AB Hall which is supposedly one of the most photographed buildings in Alaska!

Note: Would you like your trip to be featured in a future issue of this online newsletter? We would love to share your favorite highlights and special photos from a cruise you booked through Imagine Going There. Reach out to Carol.McBride@ImagineGoingThere.com

August’s Specials

Free International Air for The Following Sailings!

Iconic Western Mediterranean (8 days, Barcelona to Rome) on sale – free air for the following dates:

December 12, 16, 2024; January 1, 13, 2025 (*add the Tuscany and Madrid or Barcelona extensions if available – it made for a fabulous winter trip for us last year!) Starting at $2,799pp

Empires of the Mediterranean (10 days, Athens to Venice) free air for December 30, 2024!

Just did this one too – one of our favorites! Add Classic Greece extension, and if you haven’t been to Venice, you’ll want to add that, too!

Italy, the Adriatic & Greece (15 days, Athens to Rome)

January 20, 2025 only, starting at $7,198pp

Free Air plus Reduced Cruise Fares on These Popular Mediterranean Cruises!

Malta, Morrocco & Mediterranean (16 days, round-trip Barcelona)

First time I’ve seen this go on such a wonderful sale – reduced fares starting at $5,999pp, plus free air – December 19, 2024 only!

Mediterranean & Adriatic Sojourn - 22 days, Athens to Barcelona

For those of you who love the longer sailings, it is unusual for these extended journeys to go on sale. This promotion offers reduced cruise fare plus free air, starting at $9,997pp. January 13, 2025 only

Christmas Market Cruise Specials for Select November & December 2024 Sailings! (Mostly Standard staterooms available, but a few Verandas available)

Air starting from $499pp from East Coast Gateways + Silver Spirits Beverage Package Included

Christmas on the Rhine (8 Days, Amsterdam to Basel)

Select Dec 2024

Cruise from 2,799 + Free Silver Spirits Beverage Package

Christmas on the Seine (8 Days, Rouen to Paris)

Select Dec 2024

Cruise from 2,499 + Free Silver Spirits Beverage Package

Danube Christmas Delights (8 Days, Budapest to Passau)

Select Dec 2024

Cruise from 2,799 + Free Silver Spirits Beverage Package

Christmas on the Danube (8 Days, Budapest to Regensburg)

Select Nov & Dec 2024

Cruise from 2,799 + Free Silver Spirits Beverage Package

**Note: You won’t see these on the website!! Only available through the special codes we have access to that provides these extra discounts. Call us at 770-421-9627, or email Carol@ImagineGoingThere.com for best pricing and availability. Inventory goes fast when these specials open up, so book now!

Join Us on Explora Journeys – Feb 21-28, 2025!

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

Well, we’re doing an Imagine Going There Travel cruise to the Caribbean February 21-28, 2025, 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 to Boho-Chic Beaches on Rum-Casked Islands (7 nights, Miami to San Juan)

Every stateroom is a gorgeous suite, and includes gratuities, the beverage package and all meals and amenities onboard the ship. It is an absolutely wonderful experience!

You can learn more about the ship by clicking here: Life Onboard Explora Journeys. Pricing starts at just $3,280 per person, and includes $200 per person (up to $400 per stateroom) shipboard credit too. Plus, by booking with us, you’ll also get an additional 5% discount on any cruise booked by September 20. For those that want even more savings, there’s an extra 5% discount if paid in full within 7 days of booking, too.

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

The Compass - Print Edition

If you missed the print edition of The Compass, click here to read Carol’s report on her recent trip on Viking’s Empires of the Mediterranean (and on sale this month!!, see below) where she visited (among many places) the sight of the first Olympics.

Also, having experienced other cruise lines, Charlie Beck and Debbie Turner report on their first Viking experience and why this “Best Vacation Ever” has them planning two more Viking trips on their horizon.

Finally, read some tips on staying cool during summer travel. (Oh, and don’t forget to check out the yummy recipe for Pesto-Chicken Penne Casserole. It’s easy and makes a double recipe that can be shared or frozen for when you don’t want to cook!)

Links to Past Newsletters

The Last Laugh

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!