28-Day ~ Ultimate Alaska Knitting Cruise (June 2024)

28-Day Ultimate Alaska Knitting Cruise with Alissa Barton
June 9-July 7, 2024

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 28-day voyage onboard the Westerdam, cruising to the Bering Sea and visiting many new destinations in Alaska and Canada.

Cruising during Summer Solstice, when the days are long, and the weather is ideal, gives ample opportunity to enjoy gorgeous scenery throughout the day and night. This itinerary features visits to Anchorage, Dutch Harbor, Haines (Skagway), Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Nome, Seward, Sitka, Valdez, and Wrangell, as well as Prince Rupert, in Canada. In addition to these ports, the Westerdam will also ply the waters of the most stunning cruising areas found in Alaska, including Glacier Bay, the Inside Passage, Tracy Arm, College Fjord, Little Diomede Island, Prince William Sound, and Hubbard Glacier.

Summer solstice is an astronomical event that occurs annually in the Northern Hemisphere around June 20th or 21st (the exact date varies from year to year). It marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.

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 Alissa Barton. Numerous sea days will allow a custom knitting program based on each student's individual interests and skill levels. Alissa will present a series of courses to offer a comprehensive learning experience.

28-Day Ultimate 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.


• Shop for beautiful hand-dyed yarn, patterns, and kits at Fabulous Fiber Arts on famous Creek Street in Ketchikan.


• Learn about the Russian colonial period in Sitka and see Tlingit and Haida totems at Sitka National Historical Park.


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


• From Seward, journey over the Kenai Peninsula to explore its rugged beauty and dramatic landscapes.


• In Dutch Harbor, located in the Aleutian Islands, learn about its unique culture and spot a variety of seabirds, including bald eagles, puffins, and cormorants, as they nest on the cliffs and rocky shores.


• Cross the Arctic Circle.


• Learn about rich culture, gold mining, and the Iditarod Trail Sled Race in Nome.


• 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.


• Take a 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.


• Take in the vibrant arts community in Homer, Alaska, a picturesque town located on the Kenai Peninsula.


• Spend the day with local experts aboard the ship in Glacier Bay National Park. Park rangers and Huna Tlingit guides provide live commentary and insight into this unique ecosystem and ancient culture.


• At Aurora Yarns of Alaska in Skagway, shop for locally dyed yarn, a fine selection of qiviut, blends of arctic fox and arctic hare produced by Inuits from Nunavut village, and a variety of Alaskan hand-knit garments.


• 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.


• 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.