113-Day ~ World Knitting Cruise (Jan 2018)

113-Day World Knitting Cruise - Explore the World w/Judy and Pete Laszcz

Fulfill your dream of cruising the world with Craft Cruises, Holland America Line and other adventurous world travelers. Join your fellow knitters and fiber enthusiasts on this amazing journey to 39 ports in 25 countries on 5 continents. Ten overnight ports give you more time to explore some of the world's most interesting and exciting cities.

Set sail from Ft. Lauderdale onboard the beautiful ms Amsterdam with hosts Judy & Peter Laszcz for a 113-day journey around the world. You will enjoy nearly 40 ports of call, numerous overnight stays including 2 nights in Cape Town, South Africa, the mohair fiber capital of the world, and more. Optional exclusive tours will be offered by Craft Cruises as well as a wide range of journeys ashore offered by Holland America Line. We invite you to pack up your knitting needles and come along on this knitting world cruise of a lifetime.

Onboard, Judy, your personal knitting guru, will teach her 5-lesson "How to Knit" workshop followed by daily at sea coaching sessions. If you have never knit a stitch but have always wanted to learn, here is your chance to start from scratch and learn to knit with helpful guidance available every sea day. Judy will also offer advanced seminars on a variety of specialized topics including: "Blocking," "Advanced Charting - Knit Sweaters That Fit," advanced techniques including the "Russian Join," "Avoiding the Frog - Saving a Project" and more. All of these classes and seminars are included in your Craft Cruise at no additional charge.

2018 World Cruise Itinerary Highlights Include:

• 7 African Ports including a 2-night stay in Cape Town, South Africa


• 11 Australian and New Zealand Ports including visits to Western Australia


• 7 South Pacific Ports


• 2 Ports in the Philippines including an overnight visit to Manila


• Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, Seychelles and Sri Lanka


• Snorkel the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman and visit the turtle farm


• Be amazed at the hummingbirds and butterflies in the cloud forests of Costa Rica where color inspirations abound


• Learn about the Embera Indians of Panama, visiting their village for lunch and basket weaving demonstrations


• Dip your toes in the soothing waters of French Polynesia or get a specialty massage at a Polynesian spa


• Learn all about New Zealand's sheep breeds at the Agrodome in Rotorua


• Shop for yarn and tour the mill at Skeinz in Napier, New Zealand


• Have a pint of Speigh's on a brewery tour or visit the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Dunedin


• Meet Jane Slicer-Smith in her studio in Sydney, Australia


• Meet local knitters on a Tasmanian yarn crawl in Hobart


• See penguins, wallabies, koalas, and more on Kangaroo Island


• Learn about Indonesian textiles such as batik, weaving and indigo dyeing as well as the Balinese culture in Bali


• These highlights and more will be offered in the ports along the way

World Cruise Early Booking Amenities Include (book by June 1, 2017):

Ship Credit and other perks for Pinnacle, Neptune & Vista Suites:

• $2,000 per person, Category PS


• $1,000 per person, Categories SA-SB


• $750 per person, Categories A-BC


• Prepaid Internet Service (400 minutes per person)


• Prepaid Hotel Service Charges


• Complimentary Journeys Ashore from The Collections of Holland America Line


• Unlimited Luggage Delivery Service (to/from Ft. Lauderdale only; US and Canadian residents only. Residents of other countries receive $200 per person Onboard Credit)


• Initial In-suite Liquor Set-up (4 bottles)


• "Welcome on Board" bottle of champagne


• Pay in full by June 1, 2017, and receive a 3% discount off your total cruise fare

Ship Credit and other perks for Ocean-View Staterooms (Categories C-F Only):

• $500 per person, Categories C-F


• Prepaid Hotel Service Charges


• Luggage Delivery Service (2 pieces per person to/from Ft. Lauderdale only; US and Canadian residents only. Residents of other countries receive $125 per person Onboard Credit)


• "Welcome on Board" bottle of champagne


• Pay in full by June 1, 2017, and receive a 3% discount off your total cruise fare

World Cruise Exclusive Knitting Highlights include:

• Onboard Knitting Coach - Judy Laszcz


• Cruise Host - Peter Laszcz


• Pre-Cruise Bon Voyage Party in Ft. Lauderdale


• Sightseeing Tour Dollars (free cash for tours)


• Private Optional Fiber Events


• Private Optional Shore Excursions


• Camaraderie of like-minded travelers


• Exclusive Gifts


• Yarn Shopping Opportunities


• Festive Onboard Parties, get-togethers and show-and-tell

2018 World Knitting Cruise Highlights w/Judy and Pete Laszcz

• EXCLUSIVE SHORE EXCURSIONS - Craft Cruises will offer an exclusive shore excursion program for our clients at reduced pricing. These excursions will feature tailored itineraries and small group sizes. Here are some examples of the expected opportunities: visits to local yarn shops in Napier, Wellington, Sydney, Tasmania and more. Sightseeing alternatives will also be offered for non-knitting traveling companions during scheduled yarn shopping outings. Overland Excursions to Moorea’s overwater bungalows, Angkor Wat, Taj Mahal and an African Safari. Special Arrangements to attend a performance at the Sydney Opera House (If performance scheduled).


• ONBOARD KNITTING PROGRAM - Craft Cruises will offer an extensive onboard knitting program by professional knitter and onboard knitting coach, Judy Laszcz, featuring her basic 5 lesson "How to Knit" program followed by daily at sea coaching sessions. If you have never knit a stitch but have always wanted to learn, here is your chance to start from scratch and learn to knit with helpful guidance available every sea day. Judy will also offer advanced seminars on a variety of specialized topics including: "Blocking," "Advanced Charting - Knit Sweaters That Fit," advanced techniques including the "Russian Join," "Avoiding the Frog - Saving a Project" and more. All of these classes and seminars are included in your Craft Cruise at no additional charge.


• CRUISE HOST - In addition to your onboard Knitting Coach, Pete Laszcz will be onboard as the cruise host. Pete is married to Judy and is a retired Navy Captain, experienced world traveler and is the author of the Travel Blog "The InsideCabin," which chronicled their adventures on the 2016 World Cruise. He will coordinate all Craft Cruise onboard activities, assist in planning your activities and excursions ashore, lead specially designed one-day excursions, optional overnight excursions and yarn crawls in selected ports. Pete will also be available for general assistance before the cruise to help in your general planning for this amazing adventure.


• SPECIAL DINING OPTION - Enjoying fantastic meals with fellow passengers can help make a cruise extra special. The ms Amsterdam offers many dining options from casual dining in the Lido dining area to the traditional main dining room. Craft Cruises is pleased to offer flexible fixed dining. Here is how it works: Our group is assigned to a group of adjacent tables at a specific time. Guests are encouraged to join any of the Craft Cruises tables at our assigned time or you can skip the fixed dining and enjoy dining in the Lido or room service. This way you can share dinner with all your fellow Craft Cruisers as you desire or venture off on your own. Fixed seating for two is available as an option if desired.


• GRAND WORLD VOYAGE SPECIAL FEATURES - The Grand World Voyage aboard the ms Amsterdam is Holland America's premiere cruise and delivers the highest level of dining, entertainment and onboard activities, much more than any other Holland America cruise. The Grand World Voyage is created as one continuous cruise using a handpicked crew with little turnover and is carefully monitored by the highest management levels of the company. Holland America's CEO typically visits the ship during the cruise to host special Mariner events and to ensure the highest levels of quality.


• OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES - Other perks of the Grand World Voyage include: Enhanced dinner menus - no menu is repeated; Wide variety of guest entertainers - no show is repeated; Expanded Room Service Breakfast Menu; Two different guest lectures most sea days; Dance hosts available every evening at sea; Bridge Instructors teaching classes at all levels; Water Colors Instructor; Arts and Crafts Instructor