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JudyM
Chatty Knitter
USA
270 Posts |
 Posted - 08/22/2003 : 09:09:05 AM
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Oh, I am so hot for a knitting cruise! I don't much care where, but the Awesome Ewe cruise starts from Vancouver, a wonderful city, and it's on Royal Caribbean, which has probably the best kids' program in the business. Also, Royal Caribbean has the Shipshape fitness program, which allows you to earn Shipshape Dollars towards hats, T-shirts, mugs, etc. as you work off a few calories from the midnight buffets (you can see I'm very impressed with this line). DH and I have already started talking about a knitting cruise next year, and we'd definitely be interested in joining a group like this.
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Knit2Relax
Gabber Extraordinaire
433 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 09:24:22 AM
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Speaking of knitting and cruises, I'm going on a cruise in two months with my husband and two daughters  The first thing I said, when I found out we were going, is that I could take my knitting! I'm planning on knitting a lot and using the cruise gym..... it should be fun!
Teresa |
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SerMom
Permanent Resident
Canada
6412 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 09:25:03 AM
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Oh, this all sounds sooo wonderful. I just don't think I could afford it, and unless it were during a school holiday, I couldn't take my 8 yr. old along. 
Barbara
"I know we've got one SOMEWHERE" |
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Lelani
Permanent Resident
USA
2005 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 1:28:05 PM
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Judy M, your cruise plans sound great? is this a knitting cruise? If so would you be willing to share with me how some of the rest of us may get in on it? When are you going? cost etc.. you may email me privately as well if you prefer at debra_76@hotmail.com. Thanks.
Lelani |
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Shelia
Permanent Resident
USA
2317 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 2:08:42 PM
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This is great - we've been talking about Scandiavian cruises the past couple of years, and my husband really wants to do an Alaskan cruise, but I've told him that the only way I would go is if it is a knitting cruise. (couldn't work with the schedule of the Awesome Ewe cruise, otherwise we might have planned that for this year)
Anyway, those are my votes for venues - and they would both be in the summer because of the climates, which would work well for the teachers, schoolworkers, and folks with kids among us.
Hope this works out!
Shelia
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Shelia
Permanent Resident
USA
2317 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 2:14:22 PM
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I probably should explain the previous post about not going on an Alaskan cruise unless its a knitting cruise - its not that I'm anti-Alaska! I'm from the Northwest, so have been to Alaska a few times already, also I'm much more of a people-and-history-instead-of-scenery kind of person, so the Alaskan cruises aren't as appealing as other cruise destinations. But, if there were a congenial group of knitters along, I'd be happy (and in my experience, all knitters are congenial).
Didn't want to be rude to any Alaska people on the forums-
Shelia
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Rebecca
Permanent Resident
USA
1119 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2003 : 04:48:51 AM
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My buttons have been pushed! I've never been on a cruise but would love to try a knitting cruise. Summers are best for me, a northern cruise makes sense if we plan to knit and I'd be happy to do something that would include the aussies/kiwis among us.
It will take me a year to save up so I'll check back!
Rebecca
Dances with Wools |
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Jacqueline
Gabber Extraordinaire
Australia
509 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2003 : 06:18:39 AM
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Rebecca - you are the greatest! We Aussies/Kiwis very much appreciate the fact that you remembered us.
Jacqueline
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut, that held its ground |
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Flory
New Pal
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2003 : 12:22:37 PM
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I live in Ketchikan, Alaska, were all the cruise ships stop, and am wodering; why do people what to come here? I have lived here for almost 7 years and would have love to leave the day after we arrived. Please tell me, what is the fascination with this place?
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Rebecca
Permanent Resident
USA
1119 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2003 : 06:44:33 AM
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Flory, I think the cruise lines have done a great job of selling Alaska to tourists. They think a moose, a polar bear, and whales will be waving from the shoreline. For those of us on the east coast, it seems like the last free place, once visited it is an accomplishment to talk about.
You sound like you need some sunshine and margueritas.
Rebecca
Dances with Wools |
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Marg in Mirror
Permanent Resident
Canada
3204 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2003 : 6:42:28 PM
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It's true. I have wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise for years. My parents took one and particularly enjoyed the visit to Skagway. My mother brought home gold nugget earrings. The gold-panning days (the whole Klondike thing) was fascinating history for them. Also they did see some whales...and they loved the scenery.
Later they went on a cruise 'round the Hawaiian islands. Now *that's* one I could enjoy too!
-- Marg in Calgary
TLWKOTB
http://knitsonthebus.blogspot.com |
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Flory
New Pal
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2003 : 7:42:19 PM
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I grew up in the tropics and hate the heat.
About Alaska - Polar Bears are in the artic (there is one at the Zoo in Anchorage that became a celebrity when he took a tourist's sneaker), moose in the mainland proper (bigger than a horse and ugly as sin), black bears are everywere, brown bears in the mainland (either way, they know the garbage routes), have been here 7 years and have yet to see a whale. My first day here, saw my first eagle; it was dumpster diving. In late August the dead salmon are in the creek and the smell will tear your eyes and no place to hide. Millions of acres of trees, 15 feet of rain a year and 750 thousand tourist and hundreds of tourist shops; welcome to Ketchikan.
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JudyM
Chatty Knitter
USA
270 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2003 : 9:54:33 PM
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Lelani! Another Minnesotan! Whereabouts are you from? I'm right in Minneapolis. If you're going to the State Fair, you can see my second-prize-winning gloves in the Creative Activities building  . Now, to answer your question and get back on topic: A yarn shop near Vancouver, Awesome Ewe, sponsored knitting cruises last year and this year. I don't know if they will in 2004, and the cruise page on their website has been removed. I just googled for knitting cruise, and there's one leaving from Seattle next year (to Alaska). If I have my choice, I'd prefer Royal Caribbean - but of course, there could be no such thing as a bad knitting cruise!
What I loved about the Alaska cruise is that the scenery has to be just about the best in the world. We spent an entire glorious day going up the Inside Passage, and also a morning viewing the Hubbard Glacier. Flory, I'm so sorry you feel trapped in Ketchikan. You're certainly right about the tourists and tourist shops. I can't imagine how I would feel, living in a city accessible only by air or sea, watching tourists cruise merrily in and out. All I can say is that I will treasure the memories of Alaska's forests and mountains for the rest of my life. I hope someday you can get away and maybe come back voluntarily to enjoy the natural beauty from a visitor's perspective.
Christina and Lelani, if you can put together a plan, three cheers for you both. From helping a little on a family group of 13 people, I know it's almost hopeless trying to come up with a schedule and itinerary that will please everyone. So it may be easiest just to continue searching for cruises that are already in the works, and then maybe picking one or two that several of us can join.
For those who haven't cruised before: it is pure heaven! And not as expensive as I first thought. From Minnesota, in central North America, getting to the pier always requires a long plane flight. For a 7-day cruise, we usually have to pay in the range of $1200-$1500 US per person, including airfare, taxes, port charges, and bus between the airport & pier. But that's it! Once on the ship, food (nonstop), entertainment, activities, and of course lodging are all free. Unless you choose to hit the casino or run up a bar tab, your vacation is prepaid and you can relax and enjoy it. The only thing that could possibly improve this experience would be adding some knitting companions. I sure hope we can make this happen!
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vicky by the bay
Permanent Resident
USA
4768 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2003 : 03:23:50 AM
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I don't believe it! I just typed this long....posting....where did it go? I don't understand where it went? Anyway, I wanna come too!!!!!!!! I would love an Alaskan cruise. The gorgeous vistas! I can just imagine myself on deck...It's brisk outside but sunny....I have a nice warm afghan across my lap...a warm drink in my hands...I prefer a Mocha....(with whip cream of course!) My favorite knitting project in my lap....I'm talking w/ and enjoying the views with 10...20...30...40 other knitters! Pure Heaven on Earth if you ask me! I would just need a good amount of time in advanced to schedule a vacation at work....that's if and when I go back...How about next summer - late in the Summer! We put in for our vacation at the end of January...early February for the whole year...It would be nice if we had dates set up by then.....I hope to go back to work as soon as I regain my strength from the Chemo....I have decided I don't have to work full-time financially So I think I am only going to work three days a week. 24 hours gives me plenty to pay my bills and get all my benefits! Anyway, don't go without me PLEASE!!!!!! It would be a great way to celebrate life! Could the knitter's "Down Under" make it up to Seattle to hop on the cruise ship????? Or even here in San Francisco then we could cruise up the coast together!!!!
Vicky (Queen O'Yarn archivist-QYA) |
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ChristinaN
Chatty Knitter
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2003 : 09:15:27 AM
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Wow, there seems to be quite a bit of interest in a knitting cruise. I can tell the hardest part is going to be deciding on a location. Maybe we can create a posting with the top three suggestions and everyone can repy with quotes and put a "*" next to the destination they'd like. For example:
- Alaska: * * * *
- Carribean: * *
- Greek Islands: * * *
What do y'all think about that voting process? And we should also have a nomination process for the destinations.
Also, thanks for your offer of help Parrot Girl. I'm sure as a travel agent you could help us in finding great deals on cruises during whatever time frame we pick.
And what does everyone think about the type of cruise? Does it have to be a pre-designated knitting cruise, or could we make it one by all going?
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Parrot Girl
Permanent Resident
2129 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2003 : 10:20:09 AM
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I would suggest that we do a poll finding out where people want to cruise, what dates (or range of dates), and for how many days (3, 4 or 7). At that point I'd be happy to do some research with cruise lines to get the best price available and find out all the restrictions and requirements. I have to agree that Alaska sounds like the best idea, just because handling yarn in the tropics is not really appealing to me!
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." Thoreau |
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Lelani
Permanent Resident
USA
2005 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2003 : 8:08:14 PM
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Now Im really excited. I can tell we are going to make a go of this. Thanks Parrot Girl and Christina for replying to me my email. Whatever I can do to help organize, plan etc.. I will. Vicky, I know we would never leave without You. I have the same visions you have about sitting on the deck. I have to go back now and look at some of the choices that were posted. Last night i was surfing the net and saw of couple of companies/cruise lines that sponsor cruises. On of them was called CraftCruises. Has anyone heard of them? Parrot Girl and Christina have you heard of them. It seemed a popular place to go was Alaska. I am game for Alaska but would really go just about anywhere most folks wanted to go. I live in Minnesota so Im used to cold weather. I like Vickys time frame of going the end of next summer 2004. Gives us some time to get our funds together so we can buy a bunch of yarn wherever we go. I am so thrilled how this has taken off.
Lelani |
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Lelani
Permanent Resident
USA
2005 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2003 : 9:17:44 PM
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Hi again, I just came from www.craftcruises.com which started with knautical Knitters, a group of knitters who liked to travel. It looked interesting. I was thinking of calling for more info. It looks like they are going to the Mediterranean in Oct 2003. I know its too late to go this year but take a look at this web site and their group and see what you think. Parrot Girl and Christina, what do you think? How about you Vicky? and you JudyM.?
Lelani |
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ChristinaN
Chatty Knitter
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2003 : 5:16:35 PM
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I'll take a look at the site now...
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BLN3320
Permanent Resident
USA
3808 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2003 : 5:58:49 PM
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How about an Alaskan cruise that sails from and back to San Francisco. Take care. Beverley
Bev |
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