FEATURED CRUISE

2018 South America Knitting Cruise

14-Day Cruise w/ Gwen Bortner (Nov 19 - Dec 3, 2018)

Sailing from Chile around Cape Horn conjures up visions of stunning snow-capped peaks, primeval Patagonian forests, blue-tinged glaciers, penguins, wine, and tango. For the fiber enthusiast, South America is also known for producing amazing yarn.

Join Craft Cruises and knitting instructor Gwen Bortner aboard the ms Zaandam for fourteen days of gorgeous scenery and knitting. Arrive in Santiago and then set sail through the Chilean Fjords and the Strait of Magellan to Punta Arenas, and the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia. From there, sail from Tierra Del Fuego around Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands and Uruguay before disembarking in Buenos Aires, the "Paris of South America."

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Before the Cruise - Santiago

Arrive a few days early to enjoy Santiago. Set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains, this cosmopolitan city has much to offer. Enjoy stunning views from high above the city or walk through the lovely Providencia section of town. Stroll through the grapevines and sample wine at any number of Chile's top vineyards.

Visit the Quintessence Alpaca Farm in Llay-Llay just north of Santiago. Here you will learn all about raising South American alpaca, "the soft secret of Chile." The Quintessence Alpaca Farm is the largest privately-owned alpaca farm outside of Peru producing some of the highest quality fiber in the world.

The founder, Maria de la Garza, will give everyone an introduction to her farm, a tour of the fiber mill and a gourmet lunch. Afterwards, there will be a shearing demonstration and plenty of time for shopping for some of the most luxurious baby alpaca yarn in hundreds of hand-dyed colors. There will also be natural silk, vegetable silk, linen and cotton yarns for sale.

On the way to San Antonio, to embark the ms Zaandam, enjoy a tour of Santiago and a scenic drive through the picturesque Casablanca wine region. Before arriving at the ship stop at an outdoor market selling handicrafts, olive oil and wine.

INSTRUCTOR

Gwen Bortner

Gwen Bortner first learned to knit at age six, but she discovered knitting as a passion while she was in college studying computer science and mathematics. Between classes, Gwen worked at a local yarn shop, teaching customers, and designing in her spare time. After college, Gwen worked in information technology but left her executive career behind to follow her passion. Staying true to her motto of "Taking Knitters to the Next Level," Gwen is thrilled to be teaching on this cruise to help others find greater joy in their knitting.

Gwen will teach a number of techniques on this cruise including color work, knitting in the round and argyle for more than just socks. She will cover techniques to help knitters pick the right yarn as well as options for working with two yarns at once. Gwen will also show students how to understand shadow knitting, ways to bulk up a yarn without having to manage multiple balls, how to unravel the mysteries of mosaic knitting and how to apply mosaic techniques to other projects.

More Info - Gwen Bortner

HIGHLIGHT

Puerto Montt

The capital of Chile's lake district, Puerto Montt, is the gateway to some of Chile's most scenic areas. The snow-capped volcanic peaks of Osorno and Calbuco can be seen if the cloud cover is light. Take a boat tour on Chile's second largest lake, Lake Llanquihue, go white-water rafting down a glacier fed river or take a hike in an ancient forest. The area is home to the Alerce trees, which are related to the California Sequoias and are the world's second oldest growing tree with some reportedly as old as 3600 years. The slow-growing trees increase about one millimeter in diameter every year.

Visit Lanas Chucao, a fiber co-operative, and learn about dying yarn using native plants, see a demonstration of weaving using traditional, indigenous Mapuche techniques, and have a chance to purchase locally produced yarn. Near the ship, shop at the Caleta de Angelmó Handicraft Market for wood and wool products or have a glass of German-style white wine.

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

While the port hamlet of Chacabuco itself has little tourist infrastructure, it nestles at the head of the Aisén Fjord and serves as a launching point to see some of Chile's most beautiful spots. Travel to Río Simpson National Preserve to the southeast or to the Lake Los Palos for mountain views. Try fly fishing or hike to waterfalls on well-marked trails in the Aiken del Sur private park.

Chilean Fjords

From about half way down the long coast of Chile, the ship sails in and out of fjords and channels along almost 1,000 miles of scenic coastline. The fjords and glaciers reportedly outnumber those of Scandinavia. Remote and beautiful as well as rugged and windswept, the landscape is alluring. Canal Sarmiento, a channel that cuts north to south through Tierra del Fuego, was settled first by pre-Columbian Yagán people and is named after Spanish explorer Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa.

Strait of Magellan

Between the mainland and Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), the Strait of Magellan connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through about 250 miles of narrow passages named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who sailed through the strait in 1520.

Before the building of the Panama Canal in 1914, the Strait of Magellan was the passage of choice to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Today, the route is best seen from the cruise ship as it passes through glacial-blue waters against a backdrop of forests and snow-topped mountains.

Punta Arenas, Chile

A port city in the Strait of Magellan near the tip of Chile's southernmost point, Punta Arenas is the largest city south of the 46th parallel and is also capital of Chile's wool industry. It became a thriving port city during the California gold rush, when it served as a stopover port for clipper ships rounding Cape Horn. Today, the city is quieter, but it still is considered a gateway to Patagonia.

Enjoy seafood, local lamb, or beef asado-barbecue Chilean style. In town walk ten minutes to the top of Cerro de la Cruz for panoramic views. Explore a replica of Magellan's ship Nao Victoria, the first ship to circumnavigate the globe. Kayak in the Strait of Magellan, or walk through forests of southern beeches. Take a ferry or speedboat ride to Magdalena Island and see a large colony of Magellanic penguins; tourists must stay on the path, but penguins have free rein and are known to walk right in front of you as they waddle to and from the sea to their nesting burrows on the hillside.

Cockburn Channel, Beagle Channel

The Cockburn (pronounced "co-burn") channel is part of the route connecting the Strait of Magellan to the Beagle Channel. The Beagle Channel, named for the HMS Beagle, the ship on which naturalist Charles Darwin sailed and recorded his impressions of seeing glaciers for the first time, is between Tierra del Fuego and Isla Navarino.

Sometimes visitors can spot a pygmy right whale or dolphin. On both sides of the Beagle Channel sits Alberto de Agostini National Park, named for an Italian Salesian priest who extensively wrote about, photographed, and mapped this enchanting land.

Daylight cruising Glacier Alley

On a cruise of beautiful sights, cruising Glacier Alley, which is part of the Beagle Channel also called the "Avenue of the Glaciers," will be a highlight of the voyage. Tidewater glaciers-named for countries of Europe, including France, Holland, and Italy-form from the huge Darwin ice field and make their way to the sea. While you watch the scenery, crew members will bring out hot soup and coffee to keep you warm.

Ushuaia, Argentina

At the southernmost tip of Argentina, Ushuaia, which in the Yámana language means "deep bay" or "bay to the west," is a launching off point for Antarctic explorers and has an end of the world feel to it. Once a penal colony, the town today is highly scenic with a walkable, compact downtown, nestled as it is between the Martial Mountains and the Beagle Channel. The town seems to rise from the harbor by steps into the hills. Take a tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Walk along scenic lakes. Try a local seafood specialties-king crab and mussels.

Scenic Cruising Cape Horn

Discovered by Dutch sailors in 1616 as another passageway around South America, Cape Horn marks the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. The area is infamous for its winds, waves, and currents. With Antarctica some 600 miles to the south, today, luxury cruise ships only make this journey during the spring and summer months when conditions are known to be the smoothest.

Cape Horn itself is a rocky headland on Hornos Islands in Southern Chile's Tierra del Fuego archipelago, a narrow spit of land not easily accessed on which a small lighthouse stands. Cloudy, windy, and cool, the area can truly feel like the "end of the world."

Stanley/Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas

The Falklands were first claimed by the British in 1765 after which the islands were used as a base for whale hunting and the seal trade. The world's southernmost capital city, Stanley still exudes its British heritage, so stop into a pub for fish and chips or a cup of tea. But the windswept and treeless islands are also perfect for colonies of penguins, including Gentoo, King, Rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins, and many other nesting birds. Sheep farming is one of the main industries in Falkland and the wool produced here is some of the highest quality in the world.

In Stanley, learn about local history, including about the 74-day-long Malvinas/Falkland's War of 1982, at the Britannia House Museum. See the whalebone arch at the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral.

Montevideo, Uruguay

The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo has a smaller feel than Buenos Aires across the Río de la Plata and yet Montevideo has great charm. Stroll along the malecón, the long esplanade along the coast. Take a guided tour and learn about the Graf Spree Monument, a German battleship that sank in the Río de La Plata during World War II.

For knitters, Montevideo promises visits to Malabrigo to watch yarn being hand-dyed into beautiful must-have skeins, and to Manos del Uruguay, a non-profit cooperative of some 400 rural women artisans who dye yarn.

Malabrigo is one of the most beloved of all the South American yarn companies and has been actively employing local women in Uruguay to create beautiful hand-painted yarns since 2004. Malabrigo, a family run company, primarily uses merino wools in different weights with silk blends and organic cottons. Malabrigo publishes popular knitting books with patterns created by a variety of well-known designers. A trip to Montevideo would not be complete without visiting Malabrigo.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The cruise ends in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, and so-called "Paris of South America." The city exudes a cosmopolitan charm, from its colonial architecture to its wide tree-lined avenues.

Explore the Recoleta district with its art museums, cafes, and the famous Recoleta Cemetery where Eva Perón and other luminaries are buried in elaborate above-ground tombs. See the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace. Enjoy a grass-fed steak dinner and an evening of tango dancing.

Visit La Boca, a pedestrian street of artist studios, and shop for souvenirs. Sip Argentinian Malbec wine or try empanadas filled with beef at a sidewalk café. Finally, hopefully you've left room in your suitcase for an afternoon of shopping for yarn in the Buenos Aires yarn district.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

ms Zaandam

A mid-sized Holland America ship, launched in 2000 and refurbished in 2017, the ms Zaandam offers a musically themed décor. Memorabilia includes signed guitars from Queen, Iggy Pop, and the Rolling Stones, as well as a saxophone played by President Bill Clinton. A Baroque-style Dutch pipe organ takes center stage in the three-story atrium at mid-ship.

The ship offers a variety of music venues and dining choices certain to suit every mood from formal to casual. Enjoy on-board programs, such as BBC Earth Experiences, engage in hands-on activities from cooking classes to Pilates, or enjoy a relaxing massage at the Greenhouse Spa and Salon. From a cocktail at the Ocean Bar to a cappuccino in the Explorations Café over the daily crossword, there;s something for everyone on board.

REUNION CRUISE

2019 Reunion Cruise - 7-Night Eastern Caribbean

Craft Cruises is celebrating a big milestone next year and we're inviting you to join us on a reunion cruise to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. Set sail from Ft. Lauderdale on this 7-night Eastern Caribbean adventure from January 13-20, 2019 visiting the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Holland America's private island, Half Moon Cay.

Come join other Craft Cruisers along with Melissa and Shannon onboard Holland America Line's brand new ship, the ms Nieuw Statendam. January is the best possible time of year to cruise this region, when the weather is sunny, the crowds are minimal and it's winter at home.