Norwegian and Icelandic Fjords Cruise with Laura Nelkin and Mary Annarella

Holland America “Rotterdam” sailing from Reykjavik, Iceland

ALL INCLUSIVE

June 14 – 28, 2026

Join Laura Nelkin of Nelkin Designs and Mary Annarella aka Lyrical Knits as we knit our way through the spectacular Icelandic and Norwegian fjords with additional stopovers in Scotland. For two full weeks, we’ll knit exclusive patterns, as well as attend all the other classes with our talented designers. A few excursions to local yarns shops and castles are planned, as well as all the fun we’ll have on the ship.

Please contact us to be put on a waitlist. We’ll notify you that registration is open before we announce this to the public; you’ll have first dibs for space in the retreat! Registration will open to the public on or about the end of May.

Ocean View (Window) Cabin

$8035

All inclusive; see below for details.
Non-knitter companion $7048, all inclusive.
Price based on double occupancy
Single occupancy price $11,240, all inclusive.
Registration and payment at the bottom of page.
The option exists to split up your payments and pay over time.
Note that the prices found on the Cabin Pricing page of the HA cruise line’s website are for basic cabins in undesirable ship locations. Cruise prices are based upon double occupancy, so if you plan to go solo, expect to pay nearly twice the listed price on the HA cruise line’s suggested price.
Our cruise package was designed exclusively for our group, and our prices are guaranteed until we sell out our cabins.

Balcony (Veranda) Cabin

$8540

All inclusive; see below for details.
Non-knitter companion $7548, all inclusive.
Price based on double occupancy
Single occupancy price $12,240, all inclusive.
Registration and payment at the bottom of page.
The option exists to split up your payments and pay over time.
Note that the prices found on the Cabin Pricing page of the HA cruise line’s website are for basic cabins in undesirable ship locations. Cruise prices are based upon double occupancy, so if you plan to go solo, expect to pay nearly twice the listed price on the HA cruise line’s suggested price.
Our cruise package was designed exclusively for our group, and our prices are guaranteed until we sell out our cabins.

Included in your Reservation

Accommodations

Join us on this 12 day, magical, bucket list cruise, aboard Holland America’s newest ship, the Rotterdam. We’ve reserved beautiful mid-ship, upper deck cabins. In addition to your relaxing cabin which includes all port fees and taxes, all of your on-board meals, snacks, and desserts are included. All your classes and knitting/project instruction are also included!

The ship features amenities such as a theater, clubs, games, dancing, live music, shopping, a fitness center, and a resort deck pool. Entertainment is also included for you, so go ahead and enjoy an evening of theater, stand-up comedy, or live music! A daily cruise newsletter will allow you to plot your free time.

All classes and patterns, many of the tools and project materials, and extra instruction time is also included. Crew gratuities can be pre-paid during registration, or you may pay later, once you receive your booking confirmation number.

Spend your days in port walking around the town enjoying nature or the shops, or join an excursion if you prefer something more structured. This cruise offers many exciting excursions for all levels of activity. We will be offering one or two excursions, in Bergen and Aberdeen, tba.

In addition, we will post several excursions not associated with the cruise line, which might interest you. Port excursions are not included in the price of the retreat, unless otherwise noted.

To discuss hotel accommodations pre/post cruise, contact our travel agent, Janice, at 1(800)544-5140, or email her at Janice@captivatingescapes.com

*Please note that Janice does not handle plane reservations.

Meals

Holland America is noted for their award-winning dining, and meals on board ship are included in the cost of the retreat; there are several complimentary restaurants on board, plus cafes, juice bars, grills, late night snack venues – well, you get the idea. You will not be hungry!

One of the pleasures of being on vacation is room service, and 24/7 room service is complimentary!

In addition to all of the complimentary meal choices, there are several specialty restaurants, which require an extra fee, and are not included in the price of the retreat.

The cruise line is offering a “Have It All” bundle for $60/day, per person/per stateroom. This package includes a $200 shore excursion credit (with the cruise line), the Signature beverage package (sodas, specialty coffees, adult beverages, and the service charge for the bevvies), 2 evenings at a Specialty Dining restaurant, and their WiFi package. You may pre-pay this package during registration, or wait and pay through the app, once you receive your booking confirmation number.

We will have a daily dinner reserved in one of the Main Dining Rooms, with enough tables to accommodate the group; you are welcome to eat with the group in the Main Dining Room, or explore the other restaurants. Note that meals in port are not included in the price of the retreat.

On our first night on board, we will host our Welcome Party with a special knitting project, so we’d like to have everyone attend this first dinner together in the Main Dining Room. After that, it’s your vacation, and you are free to dine at your pleasure.

Classes

Click here to see the Cruise Itinerary

Classes are included on this cruise, with a mix of knitting technique and pattern classes. Each designer is working on a new pattern, to debut exclusively on this cruise!

Laura plans to teach fresh techniques using her favorite knitting tool, stitch saver (aka Barber Cord). She’ll also lead a workshop on using an i-cord tool for more than just knitting icord. Finally, we’ll all learn to knit a brand new beaded design, that will teach you at least three ways to incorporate beads into your knitting.

Mary will debut the Norway Adventure Mystery Cowl pattern, where you will choose each section of knitting, creating a cowl that’s as unique as you are. She has been having fun with double knit, and she’s going to show us great tips to knit this interesting technique. 3rd class tba.

Laura and Mary are also working on a combined talk about knit design. They will take questions from the group and will each share their unique perspectives. What a fun way for the cruisers to get to know them better, and get a glimpse into our design choices and what inspires them!

We’ve got other game and knitting plans up our sleeves for after dinner, so stay tuned!

On Day 11, we’ll gather together after dinner, to create an i-cord bracelet or necklace, and learn how to attach special pebbles/sea glass/ shells that you’ve found on your forays into Iceland, Norway, and Scotland.

Supply list: Closer to the retreat date, we’ll be sending you information about what yarn and tools you might want to bring from home.

Note that classes may change, due to creative activity happening in the brains of these wonderfully artistic instructors!

Yarn Market

Iceland, Scotland, and Norway are filled with fabulous yarn shops and knitted items in shops. We’ll email our guests a list of LYS’s found in our port town stops.

We are also planning to visit two yarn shops in Bergen, on our group excursion. Tentative plans include a ride (cost included) on the funicular to experience 360° views of the mountains, sea, and towns, then we’ll enjoy lunch (not included) on the way to the yarn shops, followed by a visit to two local yarn shops, after which we’ll walk back towards the ship with a stop in Bryygen, where you can peruse the artisan shops and arrive back on the ship at your leisure.

Final disembarkation happens in Rotterdam, and most flights fly out of Amsterdam. If you are planning on staying in Amsterdam through the 28th, join us with a visit to Stephen and Penelope’s yarn shop. We will take a quick train ride (cost not included) from Rotterdam to Amsterdam after disembarking. This excursion is optional. There are no meals, hotels, or transportation included, should you join us. More information will be forthcoming.

Each reservation also includes a Swag Bag, filled with special goodies selected by Susan, Laura, and Mary. We’ve been told that the Wild Onion Production Swag Bags are the best!

Activities and Ample Knitting Time

In addition to the classes, we’ve allowed for ample creative time outside of formal class time, whether on deck marveling at the Icelandic and Norwegian shoreline, or relaxing at one of the many indoor lounges, knitting together as a group. Wild Onion Production retreats always allow you to rev up your creative juices in class, then relax your buzzing brain with free time to enjoy your project, your surroundings, or your pillow.

If you want a break from knitting, there are lots of included activities on the ship for you to explore, including a fitness center, pickleball with complimentary lessons, movies, theater, and much more.

Janice, our travel agent, will put together a list of several excursions which are in addition to the cruise excursions. We’ll email those to you later.

Transportation Details

The price of the retreat includes your cruise, cabin, meals on board ship, taxes and port fees, all classes, extra instruction time, the patterns and many of the materials needed for class projects, and a Swag Bag. An additional excursion in Bergen is being planned, included in the cost of the retreat, and one excursion in Aberdeen, not included in the cost of the retreat, which will be announced soon.

Transportation to and from the “Rotterdam” is not included. While a stay in Reykjavik and Rotterdam and/or Amsterdam pre/post cruise is not included, it is highly recommended, to avoid any flight snafus!

Please note that the price of the retreat does not include any hotel, food, or transportation costs pre or post cruise.

In addition to hotel stays, Janice can help you with travel insurance. We require Travel Insurance for Cruises and International Travel. Your cruise booking information will be sent once we receive confirmation of your Travel Insurance Policy. Please note our Travel Insurance Policy. We have been purchasing a yearly subscription to Allianz Travel Insurance for ourselves, as we found that it is robust insurance at a great price. We have no affiliation with Allianz, nor are we responsible for their coverage, but if you plan to travel more than once in the coming year, check it out!

Holland America port addresses are: Skarfabakki, Korngarðar 3, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland

and

Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, Wilhelminakade 699, 3072 AP Rotterdam, Netherlands

Register

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN TOWARDS THE END OF MAY, 2025. Contact Us to be put on a notification list, and receive advance notice to book your spot!
Reservations must be placed by mid- January, 2026
Payment is accepted through Paypal (as a guest, if you don’t have an account) using your account or credit card; or Stripe, which is a Level 1 (highest level of security compliance) secure online credit card processor.
You may hold your spot with a non-refundable $500 deposit, after which you will receive invoices for 2 payments, 60% of the total due on September 15, 2025 and the balance less your $500 deposit due January 5, 2026 . Example Balcony Double $8540: Deposit $500; 1st payment $5124; 2nd payment $2916.
Reservations include a non-refundable $500 Service Fee per person (note: this fee will only be charged for a guest’s cancellation)
If you register between September 15, 2025 and December 29, 2025, and choose to pay in installments, your initial deposit payment will equal the $500 deposit plus the first payment installment.
If you register on or after December 29, 2025, payment in full is required.
Should you choose to pay in installments, your payments are refundable as per our terms and conditions. Once your cabin has been booked, your travel insurance will be needed to recover your cruise fare.
The option to pay in full is available at any time.
For cabins based on double occupancy, both roommates must submit payment within 7 days of the first order. After these 7 days, if all roommates have not submitted payment, you will be billed for a single occupancy cabin, or you may choose to cancel your reservation for a refund, excluding the $500 service fee.
ADA cabins are available. Check availability before registering.
Non-knitters are welcome! They will not attend the knitting or project classes, but they will be most welcome at meal-times and extra-curricular activities!
What is included: cabin; taxes/port fees; all on-board meals in the many complimentary restaurants, snacks; all classes, including extra class time; patterns; optional Bergen excursion, optional post-cruise visit to Stephen & Penelope’s yarn shop in Amsterdam, Swag bag, Cruise Handbook, Zoom meeting about a month prior to sailing, with Laura, Mary, and Susan.