When it comes to beautiful beaches and sparkling blue waters, the Caribbean is really in a league of its own! We begin our 7-night Batik Cruise through the Eastern Caribbean from beautiful Port Canaveral, Florida.  First stop, the secluded island of Coco Cay.  Reserved exclusively for Royal Caribbean® guests, don’t miss the opportunity to take an exhilarating ride in the skies on a parasailing adventure. Next stop, Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas.  While the beaches and ocean are beautiful, there is one thing that really sets St. Thomas apart – shopping!  Browse through the shop-lined streets of Charlotte Amalie for trinkets and bargains on everything from liquor to imported china and crystal. And finally, enjoy the uniqueness of Philipsburg, St. Maarten by touring the saltwater lagoons by kayak.  Or, discover the undersea world of coral reefs and exotic fish as you take a snorkeling expedition through Shipwreck Cove.  Oh, and you won’t want to miss out on the dazzling colors of hundreds of butterflies as you tour St. Maarten’s popular Butterfly Farm. There are countless adventures within reach on this cruise!!

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas is a masterpiece of naval engineering.   At 160,000 gross tonnage and 1,112 feet long, this ship is packed with spectacular features including; an ice-skating rink, full-size boxing ring, fitness center and day spa’s, a FlowRider® surf-park-at-sea water park, a rock-climbing wall with eleven routes and a central spire, 9-hole miniature golf course, cantilevered whirlpools, extensive WiFi capabilities and mobile phone connectivity, flat-screen TVs in every stateroom and so much more! Your experience onboard will be nothing short of incredible! 

Click here for a printable itinerary.

All instruction and classes will be held during our three "at sea" days. There will be three classes, each one lead by a popular "batik friendly" teacher. Don't worry, students will not have to rotate classrooms, the teachers will come to you!

Sail 'n Sew Fabric Packs: This pack will have all the fabrics you will need for each of the three classes offered. Our incredible Sail 'n Sew fabric packs include all of the fabrics for your projects and they are pre-cut so all you need to do is sit down and sew! All the fabrics for each project, contained within your Sail 'n Sew Fabric Pack, will be provided by Island Batik fabrics. Island Batik Fabrics, are the leaders in innovative batik design!

Order your Sail 'n Sew Fabric Pack and Supplies here.

If you do not purchase a Sail 'n Sew Fabric Pack, please remember to pack your own fabrics. Please note, we will not have fabrics available for purchase aboard the ship.

Also during our sewing classes, we will only be using Oliso® Pro Steam Irons. This ain’t your momma’s steam iron! This professional-grade steam iron features award-winning technology and was designed with quilters in mind. Some of the features included are a pointed detailer tip and flat pressing area, three-way steam, the ability to perform as a dry iron, and an extended auto shut-off. We love this iron and you will too! You can view the full line of Oliso Smart Irons online at www.oliso.com.

Brenda Henning
As a Quilt maker, teacher, lecturer, designer and owner of Bear Paw Productions, Brenda Henning’s goal in life is to spread the quilting bug as far and wide as possible! She love’s teaching and feels strongly that the classroom experience should be fun as well as informative. Individual attention is the cornerstone of her teaching style. Students often comment about the relaxed atmosphere of the classroom. Brenda calls herself a "compulsive quiltmaker" with a fondness for traditional design and a desire to incorporate today's speed-piecing techniques with yesterday's well-loved patterns.  Writing and self-publishing her work have been byproducts of teaching quilting.  Brenda is the author of numerous books and individual patterns available under the label Bear Paw Productions.  Brenda lives in Anchorage, Alaska, with her husband, Richard, and their three children, Beth, Christi and Joshua and two Rottweilers (Kaia and Jade). Brenda teaches shops and guilds throughout Alaska and the United States. You can read more about Brenda at her web site www.bearpawproductions.com.

Brenda's Project:
In this fun, laid-back class, you will create a quilted keepsake of your cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.  This workshop will teach all levels, from beginner to advanced quilters.  Students will learn how to make  “The Star of St. Maarten” using Brenda’s Stitch-Press-Trim approach to foundation paper piecing.

Carol Morrissey
Carol Morrissey has been quilting for nearly 25 years.  She loves quilts of all kinds, from antique to ultra-contemporary.   Because she is also a gardener and photographer, her quilts often reflect her love of flowers and nature.   In 2004 she started her own quilt pattern company, OCarol.  She enjoys visiting quilt guilds, giving programs and workshops, teaching various techniques such as free-motion machine quilting, using fabric inks and paints, fused flower projects, thread painting and teaching quilters how to create their own original designs.  Carol's quilts have been featured in many publications, including Quilters Newsletter, Quilting Arts and Fons & Porter Love of Quilting, as well as showcased in numerous, nationally and internationally juried shows.  She and her husband, Mike, live in Double Oak, Texas, just north of Dallas. See what else Carol is up to at www.ocaroldesigns.com.

Carol's Project:
This lovely assortment of tropical flowers will remind you of your visit to the Caribbean!   Anthurium, hibiscus, orchids, heliconia, bird of paradise-- the hot, tropical colors of these exotic blossoms will last year-round.  Arrange the assortment of fused applique flowers any way you want, or exactly as shown if you prefer.

Laurie Shifrin
Although Laurie enjoyed her former career as a professional violinist, this phase of Laurie Shifrin’s life has been the most creative and rewarding. She feels fortunate to live in the lush Pacific Northwest, where her love for colors and textures found in nature is constantly fed and nurtured. Being a published author of 3 popular quilting books - Batik Beauties, Batiks and Beyond (both from That Patchwork Place) and Batik Gems (C & T) - has opened up the world of international teaching. Laurie regularly travels around the United States and Canada to share her enthusiasm and love for batiks, as well as her many patterns she has designed for her pattern company - Laurie Shifrin Designs. Her appearance on the television show Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson is still shown in reruns. Laurie’s other quilting endeavors have led her to design the featured pattern for a batik kit from Timeless Treasures. Laurie’s quilts and quilt designs are regularly featured by Hoffman, Island Batik, and Princess Mirah Design at International Quilt Markets.

Laurie's Project:
Get ready for a fun day working with bright, festive batiks! You'll be amazed at how simply this striking quilt goes together. Quilters of all levels will enjoy learning Laurie's no-nonsense tips, her enthusiasm for batiks, and making this wonderful project using Laurie's easy machine piecing techniques.

$995*