Our History
Our history actually starts with The Travel Chalet, which was founded in 1979 as a full‑service travel agency. It quickly became known for its personalized service and deep industry knowledge. Among its dedicated team was Evi Thompson, whose passion for travel—and especially for cruising—would shape the company’s future.
As the cruise industry surged in popularity, The Travel Chalet recognized the growing demand for specialized expertise. In 1995, the agency created a dedicated cruise division, appointing Evi as manager of the new “Cruise Masters” brand. Under her leadership, the division flourished.
By 2001, Evi and her husband Jeff purchased Cruise Masters, officially establishing it as a sister company to The Travel Chalet. With years of hard work, Evi transformed Cruise Masters into a trusted, thriving business with a loyal community of clients who shared her love for exploring the world’s waterways.
In 2013, Evi hired Kathryn as her Administrative Assistant and began mentoring her closely, passing down decades of knowledge and insight. Kathryn soon stepped into the role of Travel Agent, gaining experience not only in crafting unforgettable vacations but also in the operational and business side of the company.
After an impressive 32‑year career, Evi chose to retire. In early 2023, she entrusted Cruise Masters to Kathryn—ensuring the company she built would continue to grow under someone who shares her values, her expertise, and her passion for cruising.
Our Team
Cruising is complex. It requires an agent that knows the industry and is familiar with all cruise lines and their ships. Did you know that many agencies that specialize in cruises do not even have an industry accredited cruise counselor on their staff? The title cruise specialist is a self-given title that means very little. The only way you can be sure that the person serving you is a cruise expert, is to find out if they are "CLIA" (Cruise Lines International Association) accredited, by either the "entry-level" designation of "ACC" (Accredited Cruise Counsellor), the advanced level of "MCC" (Master Cruise Counsellor), or its highest designation of "ECC" (Elite Cruise Counsellor).
Kathryn Wicker - MCC, ACC
Kathryn is a Master Cruise Counselor with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Her adventures have taken her all over the world—Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico, several countries in Europe, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Morocco, Israel, Jordan, and deep into Peru to explore both the Amazon and Machu Picchu.
She has cruised with Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Viking Cruises, and AMA Waterways, giving her firsthand insight into a wide range of styles, ships, and experiences.
Kathryn is genuinely passionate about travel, and she loves sharing that excitement with everyone she works with. Seeing her clients light up as they start to see their next adventure come to fruition is one of her favorite parts of the job!
Favorite Destination: I think my favorite trip of all time has to be my Amazon River cruise and the entire adventure through Peru. It was my first truly “exotic” getaway, and wow—talk about stepping into a completely different world. Everything felt new, exciting, and just the right amount of being outside my comfort zone. I soaked up every moment, every surprise, every bit of culture, and it left a huge impression on me. It’s one of those trips that sticks with you forever, and honestly…I’m already dreaming about the day I get to go back
Travel Agent and Group Escort
Dawn is a Master Cruise Counselor and has been in the business for over 30 years. She has traveled around the world more than once. She even lived in Germany for three years and has extensive travel experience throughout most of the European countries, with Greece and Iceland being a couple favorites. She has traveled and escorted groups to Africa, China, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Britain, Canada & New England, Alaska, the Mediterranean and the Panama Canal. She has visited most of the Caribbean Islands, seen the pyramids of Egypt, the deep jungles of the Amazon and the mysteries of Morocco. She has witnessed the beauty of Cambodia and Vietnam and the serenity of Machu Picchu in Peru. Dawn has also taken the infamous “Around the Horn” South America trip including Iguazu Falls and seen her homeland of Norway!
Dawn is an expert and can create custom trips for many destinations. She has cruise experience on Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Viking Cruises, AMA Waterways and Avalon Waterways. Even after 30 years, Dawn enjoys sending clients on their dream vacations. Making it easy and less stressful for them is what makes her happy!
Favorite Destination: Each destination is special because of the people I was with or the experience that I had. However, the one that stands out and has a special place in my heart is Africa. I didn’t think a safari trip was going to be my favorite, but it surprised me! The adrenaline of being so close to dangerous animals, the power of nature and the circle of life all right in front of my eyes. The beauty of the country and the people make the trip memorable. I realized that you can be happy with simplicity.
Travel Agent
Peggy’s travel industry career started in 1971 where she worked in St. Paul and St. Cloud. She moved to Bemidji in 1975 to work at United Travel. Later, she spent time working for The Travel Chalet and then Travel World. After a 30-year hiatus from the travel industry, she began working for Cruise Masters.
She has traveled to multiple European countries, with Iceland being the most recent. She’s also been to Australia, Philippines, China, several Caribbean islands, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Seychelles and Africa. Cruise lines that Peggy has traveled with include Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Viking Cruises.
Peggy is a “home based” agent and works from her home in Kelliher. She travels vicariously through her clients while planning their trips and enjoys every minute of it!
Favorite Destination: Since I’ve been to so many places, it’s hard to choose just one as my favorite. A common denominator is the cruise itself, so I guess I’d have to say the cruising experience overall is my favorite! It is the ultimate relaxation trip, with adventure thrown in with it. It’s so convenient to unpack your suitcase only once and still visit several destinations. Your choice of dining varies from casual to specialty fine dining options. You can relax in the spa or work out at the fitness center. You don’t have to make your bed in the morning or clean up after taking a shower. The entertainment onboard every night is something different. After the main show, you can dance the night away, enjoy easy listening music, watch a movie or participate in other options available to you. You can be as busy as you want to or as laid back you want. Cruising is definitely my favorite type of vacation.
Group Escorts
Evi and Jeff have traveled to over 130 countries and sailed on over 100 total ocean cruises and river cruises worldwide. They have traveled all over Europe and been to exotic places like Nepal, Tibet, Mt. Everest basecamp, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Russia, China, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Komodo Island, South America including Machu Picchu and the Amazon, Easter Island and the Galapagos. They have been to Africa, including Morocco, South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, Victoria Falls in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The list continues with Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Mexico, Cuba and many more places. Evi is a native of Germany and as many Germans do - suffers from "Fernweh" a German word meaning a deep longing for distant places - a craving to travel, explore, and experience the world beyond where one is now.
Administrative Assistant and Travel Agent
Tiffany is an Administrative Assistant and Travel Agent, where she brings enthusiasm, dedication, and a genuine love for travel to every client she serves. Her passion for exploration has taken her in every direction across the United States. From vibrant major cities to the peaceful serenity of national and state parks and forests, Tiffany has immersed herself in diverse landscapes, climates, and historic landmarks. Each adventure has deepened her appreciation for the uniqueness of every destination and the stories they tell.
Now, as she continues her journey with Cruise Masters, Tiffany has discovered an exciting new passion: cruising. In addition to planning incredible cruise experiences, Tiffany can assist with booking flights and hotels tailored specifically to your needs, ensuring every part of your journey is smooth and stress-free from start to finish.
Favorite Destination: Do I have to choose just one favorite destination? From the moss-draped rain forests of Olympic National Park along the wild shores of the Pacific Ocean, to the brilliant sunsets and rugged beauty of the Grand Canyon; from the bright lights of New York City to the dramatic coastline of Acadia National Park and the historic charm of the Eastern Seaboard—every destination offers something extraordinary. I’m inspired by diverse landscapes, climates, and the stories that shape each place. For me, travel is about discovery, growth, and unforgettable experiences.
Why Choose Cruise Masters of Minnesota?
The combined experience of all of our agents gives us decades of industry insights, background knowledge and first hand experiences to not only plan a trip for you, but also navigate any issues that may come up during the planning process or while you are on the trip.
Decades of Experience
Our agents always have your best interest in mind and we work hard to provide a vacation planning process that leaves you feeling stress free and ultimately excited about your trip! Vacation shouldn’t be work, so leave the work to us!
Dedicated Travel Agents
If you can dream it, we can plan it! Let’s get you sailing the waterways of the world this year!
Dream Vacations
Start Your Cruise Planning Today
Take the first step toward a truly stress-free cruise. Contact us to dive deeper into the cruise lines we work with, and let our experienced team handle the details while you focus on enjoying the journey ahead!