In This Issue:

• This Month’s Events & Webinars
• Five Years & Counting! 
• May Specials
• Join Us on Explora Journeys – Feb 24- March 3, 2026! 
• Update on UK and European Union Visas 
• Links to Past Newsletters
• The Last Laugh 

May Events & Webinars       

Webinar: Thursday, May 8th at 2pm 

      Viking Rivers Itinerary: Mediterranean Odyssey 

     Registration Link: Mediterranean Odyssey  

Webinar: Thursday, May 22nd at 2pm 

      Viking Rivers Itinerary: Rhine Getaway 

     Registration Link: Rhine Getaway 

May 29th – Del Webb Cane Bay, Summerville, South Carolina 

     Ice Cream Social - 2:00-3:15 pm 

May 29th  – Del Webb Nexton, Summerville, South Carolina 

     Ice Cream Social - 4:30-5:45 pm 

May 30th  – Cresswind Charleston, Summerville, South Carolina 

     Ice Cream Social - 1:00-2:30 pm 

May 30th  – Four Seasons, Summerville, South Carolina 

     Ice Cream Social - 4:30-5:45 pm 

May 31st – Del Webb Cane Bay, Summerville SC 

     Vendor Fair- 12:00 – 3:00 pm 

Five Years & Counting!

For today’s edition of The Compass, I wanted to shine a light on one of the most meaningful parts our travel agency: My Team! 

You may know their names from your emails and calls, but the ones I want to highlight today are Lauren, Meghan, Darlene, and Lynn, and celebrating the five years that we've been working together.  

You might remember that Darlene, Lynn, and Meghan and Lauren joined me in January for the Treasures of the Danube cruise, and it was a wonderful way to start the year! Traveling with them was not only a joy but also a reminder of how hard they work, as the responsibilities didn’t slow down just because they were on board a ship (but what better way to work than to have the beautiful Danube in the background!) 

Five years is a big milestone in today’s world (especially the transient world of travel!), and I couldn’t be prouder of the dedication, wisdom, and heart they bring to each of our clients. 

So, to celebrate, we all gathered for a very special night out! The whole team came over to the house for a group meeting, then we celebrated with a special dinner at Atami, a great little Japanese steakhouse where the chef does the kind of teppanyaki show that makes you cheer for flying balls of rice. It was an evening of shared memories, good food, and lots of laughter. 

After dinner, we came home to balloons, a little cake, and a heartfelt farewell to Heidi, our wonderful Client Engagement Coordinator. Heidi is moving out of state, and while we’re excited for her next chapter, we’ll deeply miss the diligence and care of our clients’ reservations that she brought to our world. It was wonderful to gather as a team and send her off with lots of blessings as starts this new chapter. 

Carol, Cherise (from Australia), Laura, Terri, Krista, Lynn, Darlene, Nina, Lauren, (missing Meghan)

Since Meghan couldn’t make it to the dinner, we had her over separately and celebrated with homemade drop donuts—some of you may remember the recipe from a past issue. (Let me know if you want me to share it again!) 

All of this has me reflecting on what makes IGT special. We love Viking, of course, but it’s the people behind the scenes that make it special. Having someone who will take care of things so you don't have to worry, and who really care when you have questions or something is concerning to you is what makes it fun to work together. 

I started Imagine Going There Travel not just to help guests go on great vacations, but to have a team who truly cares for each guest as well. Behind every itinerary, there’s someone who read the fine print, double-checked that your flights are just right, and thought about how they could make your vacation experience even better if they were in your shoes. Taking care of this team is how I keep taking care of you. They are the heartbeat of IGT, and celebrating them is really celebrating the amazing opportunity we have to continue to create great vacation memories together! 

Lauren, Meghan, Carol, and Nina

May 2025 Special Offers  

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 

Viking River Cruises: Free Category Upgrades & Free Airfare!

Grand European Tour (15 days, Amsterdam-Budapest) 

                November, Starting at $3,999pp

Rhine Getaway (8 days, Amsterdam-Basel) 

                October, November, Starting at $2,499pp 

Danube Waltz (8 days, Budapest-Passau) 

                November, Starting at $2,499pp 

Romantic Danube (8 days Budapest-Regensburg) 

                October-November, Starting at $2,499pp

London, Paris & D-Day (12 days, London-Paris) 

                November, Starting at $4,999pp

Rhine & Main Explorer (11 days, Basel-Nuremberg) 

                November, Starting at $3,299pp

Paris & The Heart of Normandy (8 days, round-trip Paris) 

                November, Starting at $2,799pp 

Paris to the Swiss Alps (12 days, Zurich-Paris) 

                November, Starting at $3,499pp

Portugal’s River of Gold (11 days, Lisbon-Porto) 

                November, December, Starting at $2,999pp

Cities of Light (12 days, Prague-Paris) 

                November, Starting from $3,499pp 

Lyon & Provence (8 days, Avignon-Lyon) 

                November, Starting at $2,799pp 

Chateaux, Rivers & Wine (8 days, round-trip Bordeaux) 

                August & November sailings, Starting at $2,799pp 

Elegant Elbe (10 days, Prague-Berlin) 

                November, Starting at $3,499pp 

Holland & Belgium (10 days, Amsterdam-Antwerp) 

                November, Starting at $2,999pp 

Magnificent Mekong (13 days, Hanoi  Ho Chi Minh City ) 

                September-December, Starting at $5,999pp 

Pharaohs & Pyramids (11 days, Roundtrip Cairo)     

                October-December, Starting at $5,999pp 

Christmas River Cruise Specials: 

Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle  (12 days, Zurich-Paris) 

                December, Starting from $3,999pp 

Christmastime in Paris & Normandy (8 days, round-trip Paris) 

                December, Starting from $2,799pp 

Mississippi River Cruises:

The Big Easy to the Gateway City (15 days, New Orleans-St. Louis) 

                September, Starting from $6,999pp 

Mississippi Delta Explorer (8 days New Orleans to Memphis) 

                November-December, Starting at $3,999pp 

New Orleans & Southern Charms (8 days, round-trip New Orleans) 

                November-December 2025; January 2026, Starting at $3,299pp 

Viking Oceans: Free Airfare, Free Silver Spirits & Free Gratuities! 

* Indicates sail date with lowest starting price 

All sailings are for 2025, unless otherwise noted 

Komodo & The Australian Coast (17 days, Bali-Sydney) 

Nov 14*, 2025; Nov 16*, 2025, Starting at $6,999pp 

North Pacific Crossing or North Pacific Passage (23 or 26 days, Vancouver to Tokyo) 

Sept 9*, 2025, Sept 14*, 2025, Starting at $5,999pp 

Australia & New Zealand (15 days, Auckland-Sydney) 

Dec 16*, 2025, Dec 28, 2025, Starting at $6,799pp; $999pp air 

Grand Australian Circumnavigation (32 days, round-trip Sydney)  

Dec 30*, 2025, Feb 27, 2026, Starting at $9,999pp          

Ancient Adriatic Treasures (15 days, Venice-Istanbul) 

Oct 31, 2025, Nov 3, 2025, Dec 15*, 2025, Starting at $5,898pp 

Ancient Mediterranean Antiquities (15 days, Istanbul-Rome) 

Nov 14, 2025, Dec 6, Dec 20*, Dec 29*, 2025, Starting at $4,998pp 

Cities of Antiquity (15 days, Rome-Athens)  

Dec 7*, 2025, January 28, 2026, Starting at $4,299*pp 

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

Oct 31*, Nov 1*, Dec 27*, Starting at $4,999pp 

Greek Odyssey (11 days, Roundtrip Athens) 

Nov 13, 2025, Jan 18*, 2026, Feb 17*, Feb 25, 2026, Starting at $3,999pp 

Iconic Western Mediterranean (8 days, Rome-Barcelona) 

Oct 6, 17; Nov 1, 6, 16, 22, 24, 28, 29; Dec 1, 13*, 23*, 28*; Jan 3*, 4*, 12*,13*, 2026, Starting at $2,599pp 

Italian Sojourn (8 days, Rome-Venice) 

Oct 13, 24, 25, 30; Nov 15*, 17*; Dec 8, 2025, Starting at $3,299pp 

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

Oct 24, 30, Nov 8*, 10*, Dec 8, 2025, Starting at $6,598pp 

Mediterranean & Adriatic Odyssey (15 days, Athens-Rome) 

Nov 23*, 2025; Feb 11,2026, Starting at $5,799pp 

Mediterranean Antiquities (15 days, Barcelona-Athens) 

Nov 9, 21, 29; Dec 13*, 21*, 23*, 27*, 2025; Jan 4*, 5*, 6*, Starting at $4,998pp

Mediterranean Odyssey (13 days, Barcelona-Venice) 

Oct 5, 8, 9, 19, 20, 2025; Jan 5*, 2026, Starting at $4,999pp 

Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn (15 days, Barcelona-Venice) 

Oct 6, 17, 25; Nov 15*, 17*; Dec 1, Starting at $5,998pp 

Venice, the Adriatic & Greece (8 days, Venice-Athens) 

Oct 31; Nov 6*, 8*, 10*; Dec 15*, 2025, Starting at $3,299pp 

Southern Atlantic Crossing (22 days, Barcelona-Buenos Aires) 

Nov 8, 2025, Starting at $4,999pp 

Atlantic Crossing (15 days, Barcelona-Ft. Lauderdale) 

Dec 5, 2025, Starting at $2,999pp 

Viking Expeditions:

Canada & East Coast Explorer (15 days, Toronto–Ft. Lauderdale) 
Sep 22*, Sep 29*, 2025, Starting at $5,995pp  

Panama & Scenic South America (18 days, Ft. Lauderdale–Valparaíso) 
Oct 6*, Oct 13*, 2025, Starting at $5,995pp  

Chilean Fjords & Scenic Shores (13 days, Valparaíso–Ushuaia) 
Oct 23*, Oct 30*, 2025, Starting at $5,995pp  

Antarctica & South Georgia Island (19 days, Buenos Aires–Ushuaia) 
Nov 10*, Dec 19, 2025, Feb 24, 2026, Starting at $15,995pp  

Antarctic Explorer (13 days, Buenos Aires–Ushuaia) 
Nov 14*, Nov 25, Nov 27, Dec 6, Dec 8, 2025, Jan 5, Jan 8, Jan 16, Jan 19, Jan 30, Feb 10, Feb 13, Feb 21, Starting at $12,995pp  

Canada & Greenland Explorer (15 days, Nuuk–Toronto) 
Sep 15, 2025, Starting at $9,995pp  

Canada & The Northwest Passage (27 days, Nuuk–Toronto) 
Sep 3, 2025, Starting at $19,990pp  

Into the Northwest Passage (13 days, Roundtrip Nuuk) 
Aug 10*, Aug 22*, Sep 3*, Starting at $9,995pp 

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) 

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 $4,135 per person, and includes $200 per person (up to $400 per stateroom) shipboard credit too. 

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.  

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

• Spotlight on Cities of Light

• Big "Bag" for the Buck
  
  
• Surprises Along the Danube 
• Practically Perfect in Every Way 
• Let's Celebrate! 
• Wonders Along the Adriatic Coast 
• Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! 
• A Walk Through Olympic History 

• On to Lyon & Provence 

• Found Treasures, Part 2 

• Found Treasures 

• What's The Real Reason? 

• Discover Alaska & The Inside Passage 

• Iceland & Into the Glacier! 

• Our Guests Review Iceland Ocean Cruise and Portugal River Cruise 

• Our Guests Enjoy Scenic Scandinavia  

• All Aboard Amazing! 

• A Viking Ship Made of 2,100 Toothpicks...50 Years Later! 

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!