Quilting Cruises
 

I'm interested in taking a quilting cruise in the spring. Any thoughts? Recommendations? Horror stories?
SVAL

I travel a lot and have been on several cruises, but never a quilting cruise. To me, traveling is seeing and experiencing as much of the foreign country culture and sights as possible, and that wears me out. I can't imagine also having the time or energy to quilt too. Although I love both, I just can't see mixing the two and would be difficult for me to try to balance between them---I would constantly worry about what I was missing out on between them! But i am sure a quilting cruise could be lots of fun for meeting new people, etc. If you aren't the travel/photography addict that I am.

I can see how that would be an issue if going to someplace exotic and wonderful. But to the Caribbean not so much. The quilting days are at sea days. Not much to do those days usually anyways. Plus I'm looking for a trip to take alone. I've never done that. And I thought going on a quilting cruise I'd be able to meet people. It's a very scary idea and as I"m typing this I can feel myself backing out on the idea.
I would hope the other quilters would be people to eat meals with and perhaps go on shore excursions with.
SVAL

I guess it would depend on who was teaching the classes??

Go for it! You could check into Bonnie Hunter's quiltville blogspot as she did a cruise recently and has another planned. If her destination doesn't please you, check into the company that she has organize hers as they also do cruises for other quilters.

Many of my guild members go on quilt cruises. The only complaint they have is the projects taught are very simple and not that interesting. They like the company of other quilters so that is why they go.

I have been wanting to go on one too! I have been looking alot at the ones offered by stitchin Heaven travel. I like that the sewing/class time is while at sea so you dont miss out on any port time. They provide the machines to use too. The projects look interesting to me and I find that if the project that is being taught would allow me to focus on techinuqe refinement and get feed back. In my mind ill alwats need feed back and practicing even the most basic concepts :)

I went on one a few years ago. It was fun and we did Electric Quilt and photography classes. So we brought laptops instead of sewing machines. I went alone and the organizer paired me with another single woman to share a cabin. It was fun and I would like to go again sometime. I went on shore excursions at each port - some by myself and some with people from class. The classes were held on days at sea.

Don't be afraid to travel by yourself! The past few years my husband hasn't had the good health to do much international travel, so I go by myself a lot. I have been to romania, Croatia, Cuba, Ireland, India and Bhutan without him, and have trips planned to Scotland, iceland, Mongolia and Burma. I do travel on small group trips (less than 20 people) and there are usually more solo travelers than couples! I like having a private room because at the end of the day I like my alone quiet time. You meet lots of interesting people and will have a great time. My last few cruises have been on small boat river cruises that have port excursions every day, so I forgot about the large ship "at sea" days. Go for it, you will have a great time.

I was dizzy the first 3 days of a 6 day cruise. Can't imagine trying to look down and concentrate on sewing. Although I'd go on the Bali batik cruise in a heartbeat. I think it would be better to take classes on land. Go to one of the big shows, Paducah or Houston and take a class from someone who you love their patterns. I felt sick and lost weight . Certainly didn't get to enjoy any of the good food in front of me.