FEATURED CRUISE

2015 Mediterranean Knitting Cruise

12-Day Cruise w/ Chris Bylsma September 13-25, 2015

Join an instant community of knitters on this cruise adventure beginning in Barcelona and ending in Venice. Visit many amazing places while making new friends and learning new knitting techniques. Barcelona is a fun and trendy place to start your cruise as it boasts fresh seafood and other culinary delights, interesting markets, a vibrant street scene and many major works of art. Barcelona is dotted with work throughout the city by the very eclectic architect, Antoni Gaudí.

This knitting cruise visits France, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro and features dramatic coastal scenery, sun-drenched beaches, delicious seafood, fresh herbs, exotic produce and some of the best olive oils in the world. This fertile region grows rich culinary delights and is, as well, a place where those with an appreciation for color will find visually stimulating vistas around every corner. Stroll through gardens overlooking the sea, shop for souvenir yarn and walk on cobbled streets so full of history every step takes you back in time. Join fellow knitters on this cruise for the perfect knitting vacation.

More Info

Before the Cruise

Barcelona is a fascinating city that is a favorite amongst travelers. The sights, sounds and tastes of this city combined with the architecture and colorful street performers make it a very entertaining place to explore for at least a day or two before embarking on your cruise vacation.

Take a leisurely stroll along Las Ramblas, Barcelona's famous boulevard full of street performers, cafes, and outdoor shopping. See everything from live animals to art and every weird and wacky thing in between. Explore La Boqueria Market where you will find all kinds of marvels that will entice your senses. Shop for yarn at Barcelona's most popular yarn shop and visit the astoundingly beautiful Gothic Quarter with even more great little shops full of unimaginable treasures.

All You Knit is Love

This is an absolutely gorgeous yarn store about a fifteen minute walk from the cruise port near the Picasso Museum. All You Knit is Love has a great selection of natural fibers that will ensure you take home some lovely souvenir yarn. The multi-lingual owners are very passionate about sharing all things fiber with visitors and are looking forward to the group's visit. At this shop make sure you keep an eye out for local rare breed sheep blends and Catalonian spindles. Visit All You Knit is Love for a knit night with local knitters, refreshments and special discounts. What fun!

INSTRUCTOR

Chris Bylsma

Chris Bylsma is a popular designer who will be teaching some of her most popular classes onboard. Techniques covered will include a collection of knitting morsels, or tapas, in keeping with the itinerary. These include using dropped stitches, finishing, edges, creating your own closures and buttons, steeking and set-in sleeves. As a bonus to the scheduled classes, participants will be encouraged to choose one of Chris’ signature designs from her website, complimentary to those taking classes, as a knit-along during the cruise.

Being pampered while enjoying your knitting with like-minded individuals and cruising from one scenic port to the next is pure heaven. The gorgeous scenery, rich history, fresh Mediterranean cuisine and more will tantalize your senses and inspire you. Chris is an artistic individual who enjoys playing with color and texture and is looking forward to cruising the magical Mediterranean with you.

More Info - Chris Bylsma

Italy

Italian Yarn Shopping

This cruise visits many exciting ports along the Italian coast including Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Rome, Naples (Pompeii), Taormina and Venice. Shopping for yarn in Italy can be challenging and often knitters come home empty-handed but that need not be the case! Craft Cruises researches the top shops closest to the port and provides tips on finding hidden stores along the way. Yarn stores in Italy are most often found in places most tourists never go and stores selling yarn can be hard to identify.

Most shops only accept cash, have morning hours, long afternoon breaks and then reopen until late. Another thing to note is hours are often seasonal and most owners take extended 4-6 week holidays with extended closures. This makes contacting shops in advance before you go too far out of your way important. Join us and let us do the legwork for you. Craft Cruises understands your time in port is valuable.

Important Italian knitting Words

In Italy you’ll find yarn in maglierias (commercial mending), negozios di filatis (dedicated yarn stores) and mercerias (general craft or department stores) as well as a wide range of other places. Here is a list of knitting terms in Italian that might come in handy. It is also smart to load a language app such as iSpeak from Future Apps onto your smartphone with knitting and shopping phrases.

• negozio di filatii - yarn store
• lavoro a maglia negozio - knitting store
• filato - yarn
• lana - wool
• lavoro a maglia - knitting
• merino - merino
• alpaca - alpaca
• cotone - cotton
• seta - silk
• mohair - mohair
• acrilico - acrylic
• ferri da maglia - knitting needles
• uncinetto - crochet
• quanto costa questo - how much does this cost
• avete più di questo filato - do you have any more of this yarn

Milleidee

Merceria Milleidee is a yarn shop very much like those found in North America. The shop is comfortable and inviting and the owner understands knitters want to touch the yarn! Here you’ll find Italian brands as well as many other popular hard-to-find yarns. Located in the ancient city center of Rome near the Vatican City, this shop is easy to find.

Lellabella

Shop at Lellabella Yarn Shop in the heart of Venice, lovingly operated by a mother and daughter team. Here you’ll find a wonderful selection of fine Italian yarn and cashmere, unique handcrafted gifts and the most sought after yarn brands from around the world. This shop also takes custom orders for handknits you design and they knit.

HIGHLIGHTS

• In Barcelona learn about the unique artist, Antoni Gaudí, who had a very personal style that combined both Cathedral Gothic and Art Nouveau in a very ornate way


• In St. Tropez enjoy the taste of France on a winery tour to Provence or perhaps a delicious French-inspired meal while taking in the gorgeous sea views and people-watching on the seafront promenade


• Enjoy the Monaco Gardens overlooking the sea in Monte Carlo then go take in the art in the lobby of the Casino (no dress code required), take pictures of the expensive cars parked in front and then dine alfresco in the park and people watch


• Savor Florence, once the center of European art, where you can visit the famed Gothic style cathedral, the Duomo, and take in great Renaissance art at the Uffizi where you can gaze up at Michelangelo's 'David'


• Visit Rome where you’ll find thousands of years of influential artifacts on display including amazing art, ancient ruins, Vatican City with St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel


• Explore Corfu with its pastel-hued architecture, turquoise water, peaceful squares, little bays, great beaches, delicious food and rich cultural heritage


• Take a stroll back in time in Naples, Southern Italy’s open air museum with its beautiful statues and monuments set along the seasid


• In Touramina, feel the magical atmosphere as you take in the two absolutely stunning bays below, and Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, above


• Slide your feet along the smooth cobbled streets of Dubrovnik or walk the wall taking in stunning sea views with many contrasting photographic opportunities


• Visit Montenegro. Once a playground for the rich and famous, this pocket-sized country, formerly part of Yugoslavia, offers visitors a wealth of activities from exploring winding cobbled streets in medieval old town and dining on fresh seafood, to hiking rugged trails and enjoying views of the spectacular coastline


• Take in the ambiance of Venice with its canals, bridges and the grandness of St. Mark’s Basilica while trying to resist the temptation of having yet another amazingly delicious gelato

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam is a popular mid-sized ship with all the luxuries passengers have come to expect onboard Holland America Line. This Italian-built ship was built in celebration of New York City with its multi-million dollar art collection and other design features. The innovative guest offerings of the Nieuw Amsterdam give passengers the traditional cruise experience with modern features in the tradition Holland America Line.

Dinner in Tamarind is spectacular in this cruising area and the onboard BB King’s Blues Club is funky and smooth and good for your soul. Dancing with the Stars at Sea offers passengers free dance classes and competitions and will have you on your feet.

On this ship you can enjoy many entertainment options or you can simply sit out on deck and watch the gorgeous Mediterranean coast scenery go by.