Craft Cruises® - Cruising with a Purpose

Craft Cruises® - Cruising with a Purpose

Cruising with a purpose is about collecting experiences and making new friends. If you have found yourself resisting cruising then you may want to think again. Craft Cruises® is known for having the highest quality educational programs onboard award winning cruise lines. Craft Cruises® carefully selects the cruise lines, ships and itineraries used to ensure each passenger's safety, comfort and enjoyment.

Misconceptions about cruising have kept many from trying it but it is truly one of the safest, most comfortable and easy-to-budget vacations available. The most satisfied of all Craft Cruise® participants are the ones who resisted. The onboard classes, the pampering, the friendships, the overall feeling of togetherness, and the exclusive opportunities to meet other like-minded people in ports around the world have led to expectations being exceeded and the cruise experience being repeated over and over again.

Craft Cruises® is a full service travel agency specializing in personalizing the cruise experience by including activities people love. At Craft Cruises® our purpose is to create the highest quality cruise experience by catering to travelers with a keen interest in the shared travel experience, cultural exchange and learning new skills.

“...I have taken three of your knitting cruises so far. I have toured such places as Alaska, New England, and the Baltic. I have never spent money or time more wisely. The cultural and learning on these cruises is beyond what I'd hoped for. The people I've met along the way are unforgettable. And the instructors were simply great!...“

2013-2014 Program at a Glance

In 2013 we started the year off with our first land-based retreat in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado where over 60 participants enjoyed our first ever Knit & Ski retreat with Cat Bordhi, Lucy Neatby, Galina Khmeleva & Ann Budd. This event was so much fun we'll definitely be repeating it so if interested join our email newsletter list for updates. Our next Steamboat Springs retreat will be in the summer of 2014 when the wildflowers are at their peak and will include such fun activities as horseback riding, rafting, tubing, hiking and biking.

Our 2013 cruises include Asia with Lily Chin, Panama Canal, Peru & the San Blas Islands with Chris Bylsma, Spain, Portugal, Channel Islands, Belgian & Denmark with Stephen West & Ragga Eiriksdottir, Alaska's Inside Passage with Ginger Luters & Marly Bird, the Voyage of the Vikings with other knitters, Baltic & Estonia with Merike Saarniit & Anna Zilboorg, Canada New England with Edie Eckman & Chris Bylsma and the Christmas Craft Markets along the Danube with a visit to Wollmeise.

In 2014 we'll be including South America with Antarctica, the waterways of France, the ever-popular Musk Ox and Glaciers trip into the heartland of Alaska, Scotland, Ireland and the British Isles, the Baltic, Hawaii, Canada New England and more.

“...I just keep coming back! The Baltic Knitting cruise was my first Craft Cruise and the main attraction for me was the private tour and visit with Horst Schulz in his flat in Berlin. This was a surprise inclusion and a definite highlight. The high quality of instructors was also great and many of the topics I have an interest in were covered. I have been attending various workshops for 6 years, but have found the particular close contact and communication interchange provided onboard to have been the most valuable experience in my developing understanding of the techniques covered..."

Celebrate Cultural Differences

At Craft Cruises® we believe what we have in common is more important that our differences and that by recognizing this we are better able to celebrate those differences. Craft Cruises® has handcrafted experiences impossible to duplicate traveling alone.

In addition to being affordable, cruising offers something for everyone. With Craft Cruises®, our special interest groups makes up only a small percentage of the passengers onboard. So while you are attending class, your family, friends and loved ones can be enjoying a plethora of other onboard activities. On any given day there are often hundreds of fun activities to keep them entertained. Most cruises offer excellent enrichment programs that range from culinary classes and wine tasting to computer lessons and yoga. Of course there is also plenty of time for relaxation, sunbathing and catching up on that book you have been wanting to read.

“...Unlike some of my past experiences with knitting retreats your operation is way ahead of them all. Within 50 minutes of my e-mail giving you the go ahead on the Baltic Knitting Cruise you sent a confirmation with all the details I needed to finalize my plans. Keep up the good work....“

Cruising with a Purpose

Cruising with a purpose offers inspiration to everyone who joins us because we believe happiness is not a destination but a way of life. Take some time for yourself, join us on a Craft Cruise and discover the joy and freedom travel brings.