FEATURED CRUISE

Glacier Discovery Cruise (7-Nights)

Musk Ox and Glaciers, one of our most popular trips, brings you face to face with the creativity of Alaskan knitters and the beauty of the Alaskan landscape. This cruise, combined with an adventure into the heart of this great land, gives visitors the best of Alaska. Not only will you see amazing scenery and wildlife but you will take the domed-rail train to Denali, see baby musk ox, learn about the processing of qiviut and meet the Oomingmak knitters.

This is an excellent time to visit Alaska because the weather is typically clear, the days are long, and the infamous Alaskan mosquitoes are nowhere to be seen. This is also the time of year the Arctic Musk Ox shed their undercoats and give birth. It is also ideal for fewer crowds and more wildlife activity.

Take classes from world renowned knitting instructor Ann Budd while the ship is at sea. While in port discover some of the best places in Alaska including the famous Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Seward. Anchorage and Palmer.

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AFTER THE CRUISE

Musk Ox Tour (4-Nights)

Extend your adventure to experience the interior of Alaska. Shop for yarn with trunk shows by local fiber producers and take a tour of the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer. Learn about the processing of qiviut, and see Native Alaskan knitters at work at the Oomingmak Cooperative, Enjoy a real Alaskan salmon bake at the home of Myler Almandinger from Touch of Alaska, while meeting local knitters and small-batch fiber producers. Learn about the history of this unique cottage industry where native Alaskan women knit lace from musk-ox wool.

In addition to the domed-rail journey, you will enjoy the Tundra Wildlife Tour into the heart of Denali National Park. With majestic Mount McKinley in the background, there's nothing more amazing than seeing a mother grizzly bear with cubs in tow or cuter than a baby moose trying out his new legs. Plus, we've included a visit to the Husky Homestead where you will meet an award winning Alaskan dog sled team, learn about the Iditarod race and get to cuddle some of the cutest puppies in Alaska.

INSTRUCTOR

Ann Budd

Ann Budd is a master knitter who is a freelance editor, author, designer and instructor. Ann loves to share her knowledge so others can find greater enjoyment in their knitting.

Ann Budd has worked as a book editor, managing editor for Interweave Knits magazine and has authored and co-authored many popular knitting books. Her latest book, Scarf Style 2, was released in July 2013. Ann has also just re-launched her website with a facelift and links to make purchasing her books and patterns easy.

Ann will be teaching a wide range of classes onboard including: Socks at any Gauge, Conquering the Kitchener Stitch, Sweaters from the Top Down Raglan Style, Reading your Knitting (and Charts) and Fixing Errors. Take just one or take them all to maximize your learning experience on this trip.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is a vibrant city with great mountain views and exceptional yarn shopping. There will be an organized YARN CRAWL featuring Vancouver's top shops and a dyeing demonstration at Sweet Georgia Yarns. In addition to the private fiber events at the shops mentioned below, other favorites include Maiwa Supply on Granville Island, Gina Brown's Yarn, Baaad Anna's, and Three Bags Full.

Urban Yarns

"Always Something New" is what Urban Yarns lives by to keep the store fresh and customers inspired! This store opened when two young, fashionable devoted knitters had a dream to start a business and thus Urban Yarns was born. Catering to young, elder and everyone in between, Urban Yarns built a solid business that has become the leader in the Vancouver knitting community.

This gem of a store is in one of Vancouver's best neighborhoods and will be hosting our group with special fiber events before the cruise begins. This is definitely a store you will not want to miss.

Sweet Georgia Yarns

Sweet Georgia is an artisan hand-dyed yarn company known for luxury fibers. These gorgeous yarns and fibers are popular for their stunningly saturated colors. Felicia Lo, whose lifelong passion is for knitting, color and design, is the entrepreneur behind Sweet Georgia Yarns.

For Felicia, a Vancouver native, Sweet Georgia has become a way of life where work and play are inseparable. When Felicia is not playing with yarn, she's hitting the slopes or trying sketchy noodle shops with her husband.

Felicia has invited our group to her studio for dyeing demonstrations and to shop for yarn.

Ketchikan

The Point Waterfront Art Cafe & Yarn Store

Cheri & Terry Pyles have created one of the best yarn shops in Alaska. The Point is Ketchikan's only waterfront art cafe and yarn store. Serving lunches of homemade soups, breads, sandwiches, quiches, cookies and other gastronomical delights, The Point is a destination in itself and has an extensive yarn and bead selection.

The Point is also home to the art gallery displaying the work of Terry Pyles. This shop not only has one of the best views in Ketchikan but it also gives visitors the opportunity to meet some really friendly locals.

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Juneau

Seaside Yarns

Seaside Yarns will be celebrating their fourth year in 2014 and will be hosting our group with a trunk show of local designs and yarns. Located just steps from the cruise ship dock, this shop offers yarn with every budget in mind including locally dyed yarns, fibers and luxurious qiviut, qiviut blends and qiviut roving.

The owner, Melissa Highfill, has been busy working with California Shepherds to bring you "Frontier," a collaborative yarn that embodies the Alaskan spirit. Simple yarn that is perfectly suited for outerwear, this is a hard wearing single ply wool in two weights.

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Anchorage

Oomingmak Co-Operative

Since 1969, the knitters of the Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers' Co-operative have created beautiful hand-knit accessories made from qiviut, the soft downy undercoat of the Arctic Musk Ox. Qiviut is extremely lightweight, is softer than cashmere, is eight times warmer than wool and does not shrink or felt when washed.

The co-op is owned by about 250 Native Alaskan women from the coastal villages of Alaska. Each hand knit item has a different lace pattern derived from aspects of the Eskimo culture and traditional village lifestyle. The shop in Anchorage also houses a miniature museum, filled with memorabilia and photos from the history of the co-op.

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Rabbit Ridge Designs

Michelle Coburn raises a herd of Huacaya Alpacas on her farm overlooking the beautiful Turnagain Arm in Alaska. Alpacas naturally produce over 20 different colors and Michelle uses hand-dying techniques to make each skein a work of art. Rabbit Ridge colorways are all designed to reflect the beauty of nature. Michelle will feature her yarns at the Quilted Raven in Anchorage and will host our group for a special presentation.

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Arctic Qiviut

Arctic Qiviut began when Vivian Osborne decided to specialize in yarn and custom knit-wear produced from one of the softest and warmest fibers on earth, qiviut. Vivian will feature her beautifully dyed yarns at the Quilted Raven shop in Anchorage and will talk to our group about her yarn. Arctic Qiviut uses only the finest quality qiviut, angora, cashmere, baby alpaca, silk, super-wash merino and nylon in their blend of yarns.

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Palmer

Musk Ox Farm

The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska is a non-profit organization dedicated to the domestication and survival of the musk ox. In the 1930's musk oxen from Greenland were reintroduced into Alaska by scientists at the University of Fairbanks. Because of these efforts to return these magnificent animals to the natural Alaskan habitat these animals are no longer endangered and continue to survive in the Alaskan tundra.

Located just 45 miles north of Anchorage in the historic Matanusa Valley, agricultural center of Alaska, the scenery surrounding the farm is stunning. While visiting the farm, you will have the opportunity for an up close experience with these majestic animals that once roamed the earth with the woolly mammoth.

Every summer the Musk Ox Farm hosts about 16,000 visitors who come to learn about the project and to see the newborn babies. Every year brings something new to the farm and this year they've added a few homespun items. For the first time, the farm is selling their own 100% qiviut yarn that is gently and sustainably harvested from these magnificent animals.

What's new at the farm? You can now buy garments knit by the Oomingmak knitters at the farm or their own brand of yarn and roving so you can knit your own. In addition to adopting a musk ox to show your support or making purchases in their gift shop, you can also purchase raffle tickets to win a fabulous qiviut blanket made with 20 ounces of pure qiviut! The Musk Ox Farm has a brand new online store so you can get a head start on showing your support.

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Touch of Alaska - Myler Almandinger

In Palmer, you'll also have the chance to meet one of the nicest and most talented fiber artists in Alaska. Myler Almandinger will be showcasing her hand painted yarns. This includes handspun qiviut, cashmere, yak, alpaca, llama, sheep, angora and pygora. Myler spins the yarns from local farmers as well as from hunters in Nome. In many cases she earns the fiber free by spinning half for them and half for herself. Myler does all of her own spinning, dyeing and knitting by hand.

Denali

Denali National Park

Denali National Park is spectacular and the Tundra Wildlife tour is a great way to experience it. Your naturalist guide is an expert at spotting all of the wildlife for which Alaska is famous: moose, bear, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, ptarmigans and lynx. This tour takes you 53 miles into the heart of the park. In addition to spotting wildlife you will also learn all about the historical and geographical aspects of the area.

Husky Homestead

Husky Homestead, home to about 75 Alaskan sled dogs, is owned and operated by Jeff King who opens his home to visitors to learn about Alaskan Huskies and spirit of Alaska. Jeff King is a professional "musher" with over 100,000 miles logged as a dog sledder. He is also the most awarded dog sledder in the world and has won the 1049 mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race four times.

At the Husky Homestead in Denali National Park you will get to see these amazing dogs up close and personal while meeting one of the greatest dog sledders of our time. Here you will also find hand-knit items made from yarn spun from husky fur.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

ms Oosterdam

The ms Oosterdam is a Vista-class ship that includes all of the traditional touches that make Holland America cruisers feel at home: a warm palette of colors with an extensive use of crystal, marble, wood and brass, fresh flowers, stunning artwork, antiques and a teak promenade deck for scenic viewing.

Fine dining, spacious staterooms, the Vista Show Lounge, a movie screening room including fresh popcorn, library, coffee shop, game room, Internet cafe, and world class service ensure an experience of luxury and enjoyment.

BOOKING INCENTIVE

Booking Incentive - Book by 11/15/2013

Explore 4

On select sailings, including this one, Holland America Line is offering the Explore 4 promotion if booked by November 15:

1. Free Signature Beverage Package or Card valued up to $100 per day per person


2. Free specialty restaurant dinner


3. Free or reduced cruise fare for third and fourth guests


4. 50% Reduced Deposit

Explore 2

On our Transatlantic cruise visiting Shetland, Faroe, Norway and Iceland Holland America is offering the Explore 2 promotion if booked by November 15:

1. $75 Cabin Credit per stateroom


2. Reduced Deposit of $100 p.p. on 7-day cruises, $200 p.p. on 8-14 day cruises and $300 p.p. on cruises 15 days and longer

Onboard Value Coupon Booklet

Holland America Line is offering the following onboard discount booklet worth over $350 in savings on all cruises booked by November 15:

• Spa Discounts


• Casino match-play certificates


• 15-minutes free internet with any plan


• Discounts on wine packages


• Photo discounts


• Logo-item souvenir discounts


• Laundry discounts and more