Frequently Asked Questions
What special activities will the cruise offer?
We have so many amazing learning opportunities, parties, games, and activities lined up for you! We’re keeping some things under our hat, because we love surprises, but you can definitely expect:
- A welcome party and goodbye gathering
- Classes and Lectures with Xandy Peters, Amy Snell, and Karen Heitkamp*
- Opportunities to hang out and knit together
- Organized games, fun, and knitting hijinks
- Makers’ Showcase at Sea — an opportunity to show off your best work for your fellow knitters
- A trip-exclusive knitting pattern, themed to our Alaska cruise (and the opportunity to pre-order yarn to knit it in, in a trip-exclusive colorway from a Bay Area local hand-dyer)
- An amazing Swag Bag full of things to delight and inspire
- A guide to knitters’ points of interest in each port to help you plan.
*Each cruiser will have a guaranteed spot in Xandy’s and Amy’s lectures, a color craft class with Karen, and three half-day knitting classes. You’ll indicate your preferred knitting classes during signup.
Will I be guaranteed to get my preferred knitting classes?
While we’ll do our best to get everyone into the classes they want, we cannot guarantee that everyone will get their exact class preferences. Registering earlier improves your chances of getting into the classes you want.
When will I find out what classes I have?
You’ll be informed of your final class schedule a few weeks before the cruise, which should give you plenty of time to gather any needed supplies.
Will I have opportunities to interact with teachers outside of class?
Yes! We’ll have a number of gatherings where your instructors will be available for socializing – starting with our Welcome Party!
Is there a way to get to know fellow cruisers before sailaway?
Once you’ve registered, we invite you to join our Ravelry and Facebook groups to meet your fellow cruisers and share our excitement about the trip! These will be a great resource for finding roommates or making plans to explore our cruise ports together with new friends.
Can I bring a non-knitting companion?
Yes! You’re welcome to bring a non-knitting companion (or several)! During the registration process you’ll be an option to register your travel companion(s). Your non-knitting companion will pay a reduced rate and won’t have access to any of our special knitting events, classes, lectures, or swag, but will be welcome to join us in our designated dining area each night.
How do meals work?
Your meals in the main dining room, buffet, and several quick-service restaurants are included in your cruise fare.
We’ll have a dedicated space to dine together each night in one of the ship’s main dining rooms, which we hope you’ll choose to take advantage of. It’ll be great to gather with our fellow knitters, catch up, and share our experiences each night. However, if you want something quicker, you always have the option to grab dinner on your own in the buffet or a quick-serve restaurant. The ship offers many different options for breakfast and lunch, from table service to a quick cup of coffee and a pastry to go. We’re all free to choose our own breakfast and lunch each day.
What drinks are included?
Your cruise fare includes coffee, tea, lemonade, iced tea, and non-bottled water. Other soft drinks, cocktails, wine, beer, etc. can be purchased a la carte or by purchasing a beverage package with the cruise line.
How do I stay connected at sea?
While at sea your cell service generally won’t be operational (and if it is, it’s often quite expensive) If you need to be connected you can add a wi-fi package through the cruise line, either by the day or for the length of your cruise.
How do I book a cabin?
When booking opens on March 27 there will be a link to online booking on this website. A deposit of $250 is needed to secure each berth in a cabin. $100 of the $250 is non-refundable. $100 is refundable until April 30, 2025.
If you know who your roommate is going to be you can book at the same time. If you want to share but don’t have a roommate yet we will hold your reservation until December 2024 or you can pay the single supplement. We will have a Facebook group and Ravelry group for our trip where you might find a roommate. Final payment is due April 30, 2025.
Our Travel Agent, Susan Parr Travel, will arrange your reservation with Princess Cruises.
What are the health guidelines?
It’s our hope that everyone arrives healthy and remains healthy throughout the cruise, and we are doing what we can to support that goal. We will follow all health guidelines in effect at the time of the cruise by the county of San Francisco and Princess Cruise Lines. We support washing hands and wearing masks whenever you need to. And we ask the following to keep you and your fellow travelers as safe as possible:
- We request all cruisers be up to date on your Covid-19 vaccines to the extent practicable.
- Take a Covid-19 test the day prior to the cruise.
- If you have a contagious illness at the time of embarkation or have had a positive Covid test within the previous ten days, do not embark on the cruise, and please contact us as soon as possible. Princess Cruises will deny boarding to those with fever or flu-like symptoms.
Are there knitterly things to do in the ports?
There are plenty of yarn shops and other fiber-related things to explore in Alaska and British Columbia, if you wish. You’ll receive a Knitters’ Guide to the ports that highlights places of knitting interest to help you plan your port days.
What shore excursions are offered?
A bevy of optional shore excursions that range from whale watching to glacier visits to scenic seaplane rides can be booked directly through Princess Cruises once you’re registered for the cruise. You are also welcome to visit the ports on your own or book excursions through independent operators.
What will a typical day’s schedule look like?
While our days in port offer a variety of choices from exciting shore excursions through Princess Cruises to exploring on your own, our sea days will be dedicated to our knitterly endeavors. Most of them will look something like this:
Breakfast at your choice of the ship’s dining options
9am-noon: Half-day classes
12-1:30pm: Lunch at your choice of the ship’s dining options
1:30-3pm: A knitting lecture or other organized activity
Free time
Pre-Dinner: Optional time to gather and knit
Dinner: We’ll have a dedicated space to eat together in the Main Dining Room, or you can choose to eat on your own.
Evening: The ship will offer a variety of entertainment options we can take advantage of in groups or on our own.
What special activities will the cruise offer?
We have so many amazing learning opportunities, parties, games, and activities lined up for you! We’re keeping some things under our hat, because we love surprises, but you can definitely expect:
- A welcome party and goodbye gathering
- Classes and Lectures with Xandy Peters, Amy Snell, and Karen Heitkamp*
- Opportunities to hang out and knit together
- Organized games, fun, and knitting hijinks
- Makers’ Showcase at Sea — an opportunity to show off your best work for your fellow knitters
- A trip-exclusive knitting pattern, themed to our Alaska cruise (and the opportunity to pre-order yarn to knit it in, in a trip-exclusive colorway from a Bay Area local hand-dyer)
- An amazing Swag Bag full of things to delight and inspire
- A guide to knitters’ points of interest in each port to help you plan
*Each cruiser will have a guaranteed spot in Xandy’s and Amy’s lectures, a color craft class with Karen, and three half-day knitting classes. You’ll indicate your preferred knitting classes during signup.
Will I be guaranteed to get my preferred knitting classes?
While we’ll do our best to get everyone into the classes they want, we cannot guarantee that everyone will get their exact class preferences. Registering earlier improves your chances of getting into the classes you want.
When will I find out what classes I have?
You’ll be informed of your final class schedule a few weeks before the cruise, which should give you plenty of time to gather any needed supplies.
Will I have opportunities to interact with the teachers outside of class time?
Yes! We’ll have a number of gatherings where your instructors will be available for socializing — starting with our Welcome Party!
Is there a way to get to know fellow cruisers before sailaway?
Once you’ve registered, we invite you to join our Ravelry and Facebook groups to meet your fellow cruisers and share our excitement about the trip! These will be a great resource for finding roommates or making plans to explore our cruise ports together with new friends.
Can I bring a non-knitting companion?
Yes! You’re welcome to bring a non-knitting companion (or several)! During the registration process you’ll be an option to register your travel companion(s). Your non-knitting companion will pay a reduced rate and won’t have access to any of our special knitting events, classes, lectures, or swag, but will be welcome to join us in our designated dining area each night.
How do meals work?
Your meals in the main dining room, buffet, and several quick-service restaurants are included in your cruise fare.
We’ll have a dedicated space to dine together each night in one of the ship’s main dining rooms, which we hope you’ll choose to take advantage of. It’ll be great to gather with our fellow knitters, catch up, and share our experiences each night. However, if you want something quicker, you always have the option to grab dinner on your own in the buffet or a quick-serve restaurant.
The ship offers many different options for breakfast and lunch, from table service to a quick cup of coffee and a pastry to go. We’re all free to choose our own breakfast and lunch each day.
What drinks are included?
Your cruise fare includes coffee, tea, lemonade, iced tea, and non-bottled water. Other soft drinks, cocktails, wine, beer, etc. can be purchased a la carte or by purchasing a beverage package with the cruise line.
How do I stay connected while at sea?
While at sea your cell service generally won’t be operational (and if it is, it’s often quite expensive) If you need to be connected you can add a wi-fi package through the cruise line, either by the day or for the length of your cruise.
How do I book a cabin?
When booking opens on March 27 there will be a link to online booking on this website. A deposit of $250 is needed to secure each berth in a cabin. $100 of the $250 is non-refundable. $100 is refundable until April 30, 2025.
If you know who your roommate is going to be you can book at the same time. If you want to share but don’t have a roommate yet we will hold your reservation until December 2024 or you can pay the single supplement. We will have a Facebook group and Ravelry group for our trip where you might find a roommate. Final payment is due April 30, 2025.
Our Travel Agent, Susan Parr Travel, will arrange your reservation with Princess Cruises.
What are the Health Guidelines?
It’s our hope that everyone arrives healthy and remains healthy throughout the cruise, and we are doing what we can to support that goal. We will follow all health guidelines in effect at the time of the cruise by the county of San Francisco and Princess Cruise Lines. We support washing hands and wearing masks whenever you need to. And we ask the following to keep you and your fellow travelers as safe as possible:
- We request all cruisers be up to date on your Covid-19 vaccines to the extent practicable.
- Take a Covid-19 test the day prior to the cruise.
- If you have a contagious illness at the time of embarkation or have had a positive Covid test within the previous ten days, do not embark on the cruise, and please contact us as soon as possible. Princess Cruises will deny boarding to those with fever or flu-like symptoms.
Are there knitterly things to do at the ports?
There are plenty of yarn shops and other fiber-related things to explore in Alaska and British Columbia, if you wish. You’ll receive a Knitters’ Guide to the ports that highlights places of knitting interest to help you plan your port days.
What shore excursions are offered?
A bevy of optional shore excursions that range from whale watching to glacier visits to scenic seaplane rides can be booked directly through Princess Cruises once you’re registered for the cruise. You are also welcome to visit the ports on your own or book excursions through independent operators.
What will a typical day’s schedule look like?
While our days in port offer a variety of choices from exciting shore excursions through Princess Cruises to exploring on your own, our sea days will be dedicated to our knitterly endeavors. Most of them will look something like this:
Breakfast at your choice of the ship’s dining options
9am-noon: Half-day classes
12-1:30pm: Lunch at your choice of the ship’s dining options
1:30-3pm: A knitting lecture or other organized activity
Free time
Pre-Dinner: Optional time to gather and knit
Dinner: We’ll have a dedicated space to eat together in the Main Dining Room, or you can choose to eat on your own.
Evening: The ship will offer a variety of entertainment options we can take advantage of in groups or on our own.