Quilting Cruises

Many years ago I did a (non-quilting) cruise from Bergen, up the west coast of Norway to the Geiranger fjord. It was wonderful. This price looks reasonable, even for single occupancy. I have read about a cruise around the Western Isles of Scotland which, then, was over £3000.

It does sound lovely. It could have bad weather in those areas; but then you have all your quilting lessons etc - and what fabulous teachers! . In message , Lizzy Taylor writes

I've never done a quilting cruise (DH isn't wild about going, though it wouldn't affect him in the least; I don't think I'd ever go without him), but I have cruised and enjoy it. The worst part of cruising is the at-sea days, and this would eliminate that problem, as you'd be busily quilting!

How can the days at sea the worst part, with all the things there are to do on a cruise?? I just can't imagine that. For me, there's never enough time at sea to do all the activities that are offered. I've not done a quilting cruise, but did an embroidery one. I don't think I'd ever do a class cruise again, for the above mentioned reasons. Missed way too much that the ship had to offer. I know 2 others that did take a quilt cruise, and they said the same thing. I love cruises. Gen

I love cruises, too, but mainly for the chance to go see a new place. I've done several cruises, and the shipboard activities are okay, but they're a bit repetitive. But -- as always -- different strokes ....

I have never taken a "quilting cruise", but always take a tote bag with quilting with me on board any ship! Sometimes I take wholecloth blocks, which later become a part of a quilt made of wholecloth blocks set off with sashing. Othertimes I take piecing. After breakfast and a morning at the pool and then a light lunch, I get cleaned up, grab my bag of stitching, and find a spot in a lounge by the windows, order a soda pop, and stitch while bingo, a trivia quiz, or something else is going on. I find that if you are reading a book people leave you alone, but if you are stitching people tend to stop, ask what you're working on, and stay to chat a bit. I adore days at sea!

Sounds fun, have you ever been on a cruise (non-quilting) before? The only reason I ask is because I have a friend who went on a quilting cruise from Seattle to Alaska and despite having never had seasickness on boat trips before, she had terrible trouble. I've not heard of anyone else having such trouble, so she may well have been very unlucky that the size of ship and weather and whatnot was just what set her off, but it is worth bearing in mind.

Cheers Anne

I get seasick every time I'm on the ocean, no matter what size the boat/ship. On the first morning of our first cruise, our cabin steward (a real sweetheart!) saw that I looked rather "green" and told me to go straight to the desk area and ask for some Bonine. From then on, I've always taken a pill every morning, and I'm fine. :)

I think I would like to go on a cruise so long as they stayed at the dock. Polly

She found something to take that worked, but she said it made her drowsy and even though she made it to the classes etc felt like she didn't get much out of them.

Cheers Anne

LOL Thanks Taria. I needed that. Once upon a time we went with friends to what's called the Blessing of the Fleet; attended by boat or ship. I promised the Dear Lord Himself that if He would get us safely out of that, that He wouldn't have to do it again. Mercy! at the drunk drivers at sea. Really. It is quite a celebration and festival - but, thank you, I'll view from the shore. Polly

"Taria" well then I guess I might go on a flight if the plane didn't leave the

I've never been on a cruise, but have lost count of the number of hours I have spent on the 12 hour Hull to Zeebrugge / Rotterdam ferry crossings. I've only felt slightly ill on a couple of those and that was when thes were rough.

Lizzy

Where did you sail from. My eldest son is Chief Electronics Officer on Stena from Harwich to Rotterdam. My youngest son is also Chief Electronics Officer on Stena from Immingham to Rotterdam. His is mainly cargo though. Shirley PS for John I put some of my DH's wood turning projects up on my web site.

Bonine doesn't make people drowsy the way some of the other stuff does; that's why I like it a lot.

We use the out of Hull routings almost exclusively. It takes 90 mins to get to Hull from Rochdale and you arrive the next mroning after a full night's rest. Much better for us than more driving and less sleep.

Lizzy

We have done the Hull thing twice. Takes us about 70 minutes to get there. Immingham is the other side of the Humber. We used to go there often when eldest son was on a ship there. We even spent Christmas onboard one year when eldest was on duty and could not get home. We could see the PO ferries across the river. Shirley

On Aug 15, 9:25=A0am, Lizzy Taylor wrote:

I have taken one cruise. From S.F. up to Alaska and back. Lois and i both went. It was a gift from my father. Or rather my father had 2 tickets for himself and my mother. She passed away and he didn't feel like going on the cruise without her. He gave me the tickets. I found the cruise itself, quite boring. There were plenty of opportunities to do things, but they mainly involved things I don't do. Gamble, play cards, eat way too much food, and drink heavily. I have owned sail boats in the past and love the ocean, but believe me, there is more to do on a small sailboat than there ever is on a large cruise ship. The thought of the quilting cruise would be fine if you are somebody that takes quilting classes or courses, but the cost of the cruise should be factored into the equation. Do you like to take cruises? If so, then the combination should be just right for you. For me, I don't take classes, (I am a self teacher, and prefer that). I will stick to doing my quilting at home, and sailing a small sailboat wherever and whenever I can. My idea of a great cruise, would be sailing and paddling a Kayak down the Ohio river into the Mississippi, around the coast of Florida, up the East Coast, via the inter-coastal waterway. Up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal, into the Great Lakes. Over to Chicago, and then via local waterways, over to and down the Mississippi and back to the Ohio and home. Now that is a cruise! There is a society (The Great Loop Society), that has that route mapped out and many people have done it, from large power boats to small cockle shells. An adventure, to be sure, but a doable one. in whole or in part. I hope to do it before I die, or at least while I am still able. Life should be an adventure, because the alternative is unacceptable.

John

Lizzy,

I would love to go on a quilting cruise, haven't found one that suites me, however the timing on this one is really appealing. If I could find inexpensive tickets round trip to London I think I might just think about this one. The days at sea would be filled with quilting classes. We would meet new people, but the price of a single bothers me. The information says that they would find a roomate for you if necessary - that is probably the only way I would go. I love Edinburgh, I want to go to Jeffrey's and get another kilt, I lost weight and now my custome quilt will wrap around me twice!

On Aug 15, 9:25=EF=BF=BDam, Lizzy Taylor wro= te:

If I decide to go for this I will be going for a room-share too. I figure that it is only for a few days and there is all the rest of the ship to spend time on too.

Lizzy