14-Day ~ Great Alaskan Knitting Cruise (Aug 2026)

14-Day Great Alaska Knitting Cruise with Arenda Holladay
Aug 23- Sep 6, 2026

Holland America Line is the leader in Alaska, and their Explorer cruises are devoted to in-depth experiences not found on other cruises. Taking an Explorer cruise means there will be comprehensive lectures, special cultural performances, and the opportunity to explore parts of Alaska few visitors get to experience.

Join fellow knitters on a unique 14-Day voyage onboard the Noordam, cruising to the Gulf of Alaska and visiting many destinations in Alaska and Canada.

This itinerary features visits to Kodiak, Anchorage, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo before heading through the Salish Sea back into the Puget Sound. This cruise is unique because on its way back to Seattle the ship sails through the Straight of Georgia past the San Juan Islands to Seattle rather than taking the more heavily traveled route through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

On this cruise, knitters will have the opportunity to visit the Musk Ox Farm, where participants will learn about the production of qiviut, and the Oomingmak Cooperative, where indigenous knitters create beautiful heirloom lace.

Students can enhance their knitting skills with classes taught by Arenda Holladay. Numerous sea days will allow plenty of time for learning, knitting and being pampered onboard.

14-Day Great Alaska Knitting Cruise Highlights

• Arrive early to explore Seattle, shop for yarn, and sample fresh seafood.


• Visit the awe-inspiring Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum at the Seattle Center, where you can see the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly.


• Swing by Pike Place Market to shop at So Much Yarn for a unique Pacific Northwest knitting adventure.


• Kodiak is home to a unique subspecies of grizzly bears called Kodiak bears. Visitors can stand in awe of jagged mountain peaks, dark green spruce forests, and abundant wildlife.


• Visit the only yarn store in Kodiak, the Rookery, which carries a wide variety of yarn, fabrics, and fiber from a broad range of suppliers.


• Join our private tour from Anchorage to the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, where participants will learn about qiviut, see baby musk ox, and shop for qiviut.


• Learn about traditional knitting with qiviut, yarn from Arctic Musk Ox, at the Alaskan native-owned Oomingmak Cooperative in Anchorage, and then shop for locally dyed yarns, the Wooly Mammoth & Tangled Skein.


• Go sea kayaking or shop for native arts and crafts in Valdez, nicknamed the "Switzerland of Alaska" for its stunning mountain setting.


• Savor Alaska's best crab at Tracy's Crab Shack right at the dock in Juneau.


• Shop for Alaska-themed fabric and yarn at Changing Tides in Juneau, conveniently located next to a post office for easy shipping home.


• Shop for beautiful hand-dyed yarn, patterns, and kits at Fabulous Fiber Arts on famous Creek Street or at just a little further afar at Untangled Yarn & Fiber in Ketchikan


• Visit Saxman Totem Park in Ketchikan, where you will see the most significant number of totems in one place, and then shop for souvenir yarn at Fabulous Fiber Arts and Untangled Yarn & Fiber.


• Shop for local art in Prince Rupert while keeping an eye out for authentic Cowichan Sweaters created with high yarn in lanolin, that repel water, making them ideal for wet coastal environments.


• Take a whale watching tour in Nanaimo for an immersive experience with British Columbia's coastal wildlife, including orcas, humpback whales, and sea lions.