16-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Panama Quilt Cruise 2024
Aboard Royal Caribbean's "Radiance of the Seas"
Los Angeles, CA
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Mazatlan, Mexico
Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Panama Canal
Colon, Panama
Cartagena, Columbia
George Town, Grand Cayman
Tampa, FL
Itinerary
Day 1 Los Angeles, California
Day 2 Quilting Classes
Day 3 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Day 4 Mazatlan, Mexico
Day 5 Quilting Classes
Day 6 Quilting Classes
Day 7 Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
Day 8 Quilting Classes
Day 9 Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Day 10 Quilting Classes
Day 11 Panama Canal
Day 12 Colon, Panama
Day 13 Cartagena, Columbia
Day 14 Quilting Classes
Day 15 George Town, Grand Cayman
Day 16 Quilting Classes
Day 17 Tampa, Florida
October 5-21, 2024
Embark on an extraordinary 16-night Caribbean Cruise with Stitchin' Heaven, where the perfect fusion of quilting and cruising awaits! Immerse yourself in the knowledge of quilting maestros Donna Thomas and Marilyn Foreman for an enriching experience at sea. Join us for a quilting adventure like never before, as we sail through the stunning Caribbean landscapes.
Overview
Ahoy, Quilting Enthusiasts!
Get ready to set sail on an incredible quilting adventure like no other - the "Panama Quilting Cruise" from October 5 to October 21, 2024! We're thrilled to invite you to join us for 16 amazing nights of fun, laughter, and creative quilting in some of the most stunning destinations in the world.
Enjoy port paradise: Our journey begins in sunny Los Angeles, CA, and then it's bon voyage to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the fiesta begins! We'll continue our quilting odyssey through Mazatlan, Mexico, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and even cruise through the engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal. After that, it's off to the colorful shores of Colon, Panama, Cartagena, Colombia, the tropical paradise of George Town, Grand Cayman, and finally, a grand quilting finale in Tampa, FL!
Brace yourselves for some quilting magic with our star instructors, Donna Thomas and Marilyn Foreman. They'll be onboard to share their quilting wisdom, spill the beans on secrets, and ignite your creative spirit.
This is not just any cruise; it's a celebration of our shared passion for quilting. Connect with fellow quilters, make friends, and explore the world, all while enjoying your beloved craft.
As part of the exciting trend of quilting cruises, the "Panama Quilting Cruise" promises to be a voyage of a lifetime for quilting enthusiasts who crave adventure, camaraderie, and creativity.
Don't be left on shore when the adventure of a lifetime is just a stitch away. Secure your spot and make October 5 to October 21, 2024, a year to remember!
Happy quilting!
- Deb Luttrell, Owner - Stitchin' Heaven
If you have never been on a quilting cruise you have missed a real treat! Since 2010 Stitchin' Heaven Travel has offered quilt-related cruises and motor coach tours to literally hundreds of satisfied guests. See reviews from our happy travelers here.
Quilting Instructors & Projects
Donna Thomas
Donna Lynn Thomas has been an avid sewer since the age of four and discovered her passion for quilting in 1975. With over 40 years of experience, she began teaching quilting in 1981 and has since taught at various guilds throughout the world, including a German quilt shop during her time as an Army wife living in Germany for four years. After leaving the Army, Donna and her husband settled in Kansas where she continues to teach nationally, sharing her love and expertise with others.
Donna is a prolific author, having written 14 titles with Martingale, one self-published book, and one with Kansas City Star. She has also contributed articles on various quilt-related subjects to numerous publications, showcasing her knowledge and passion for the craft. You can even see Donna on Craftsy and several QNN-TV episodes.
Believing that piecing quilts should be a pleasure, not a fight, Donna's focus is on skills mastery and techniques that enable her students to enjoy frustration-free sewing. She presents the essentials of these skills in her Craftsy class, Piece Like a Pro, and her two most recent books, Quiltmaking Essentials 1 and 2. Donna is also the talented designer of the Omnigrip On-Point Ruler™ and its companion ruler, the On-Point Square™, which allow quilters to produce squares, strips, rectangles, and half-square triangle units that measure neatly on the diagonal without any math.
In her spare time, Donna and her husband provide staff assistance to three cats and a sunny golden retriever. With her wealth of experience, passion for quilting, and focus on frustration-free sewing, Donna Lynn Thomas is truly a quilting expert to be admired.
Rainbow Radiance
Dive into a burst of vibrant colors and patterns with this exuberant quilt! Crafted from an exquisite selection of 20 unique blocks, each showcasing a different, dazzling, and eye-catching bright print, this quilt radiates joy and creativity in every stitch. Explore a kaleidoscope of lively patterns that dance together, creating a quilt that's as unique and spirited as your quilting journey. This quilt is a celebration of color, imagination, and the art of quilting itself.
Finished Size: 56½" × 66½"
4 yards of coordinated backing fabric will be needed.
NOTE: If you choose to provide your own fabric you will need the Rainbow Radiance pattern.
Marilyn Foreman
An avid quilter for over 20 years, Marilyn started her pattern company, Quilt Moments, in 2006, and lives in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota with her husband and three kids.
Marilyn has published over 50 patterns and a book titled “Kaleidoscope Symphony”. She also has a Craftsy online class, “Quilted Kaleidoscopes”, and has been published in several magazines. She enjoys teaching and sharing her love for designing quilts that look complicated yet include basic piecing techniques. With a background in analysis, she loves the challenge of making her pieced patterns as versatile as possible so her patterns always include a variety of sizes and fabric options. She uses lots of fabrics in her quilts and lets the fabric elements do the work to create stunning results. Whether it’s rotating simply block units made with batiks, including easy four-patch kaleidoscopes made from a large print in the block centers, creating unique ways to show off panels, or using the popular Twister tools (she’s co-owner at TwisterSistersDesigns.com, the new home of the Twister tools), all her techniques are addictive and fun! Learn more about Marilyn by visiting her websites and blog.
Whirlwind
Embark on a quilting adventure at sea with Whirlwind. This dynamic project is designed for you to create a whirlwind of flying geese on your quilting journey. Crafting this quilt will be a breeze, as you'll be working with a single block, playing with different fabric placements to achieve a mesmerizing and fun design. While cruising through your creative voyage, experiment with a delightful variety of fabrics for the main blocks, and keep the alternate blocks consistent to craft a stunning swirling effect that mirrors the exhilarating waves of the open sea.
Fabrics will match as closely as possible.
Finished Size: 68" × 68"
4.5 yards of coordinated backing fabric will be needed.
NOTE: If you choose to provide your own fabric you will need the Whirlwind pattern.
Optional Sail 'n Sew Fabric Pack
Our incredible Sail 'n Sew fabric pack includes all of the fabrics and patterns for your projects and they are pre-cut so all you need to do is sit down and sew! The price of the Sail ‘n Sew fabric pack is $389.90 and it includes precut fabric for the quilt top for both projects including the borders, binding and pattern.
If you are interested in only one of the kits, you can specify which one on the registration form when you sign up for the cruise. If you would like a Sail ‘n Sew pack, simply select both kits when you fill out the registration form and we'll have it waiting for you on the ship.
If you do not wish to purchase a Sail 'n Sew Fabric Pack, remember to pack your own fabrics. We will not have fabrics available for purchase aboard the ship. You will need to bring your fabric pre-cut and ready for class. You must also bring your pattern or book. You can purchase or download the patterns here: Rainbow Radiance and Whirlwind.
Note: View the preliminary 2024 Panama Quilting Cruise Supply List. A finalized supply list will also be sent to you 90 days prior to departure. We will not have a store onboard. Please bring all supplies you will need according to the supply list. We suggest you bring an extra project if you feel like you will finish the class projects and need extra sewing.
Click here to see our general quilting supplies recommendations.
Stateroom Pricing is as Follows:
| Room Type | Price |
| Interior Stateroom | $2,999* |
| Oceanview Stateroom | $3,299* |
| Oceanview w/Balcony Stateroom | $4,999* |
*Non-sewing guests will receive a $250 discount. Port charges, gratuities, taxes & fees of $779.55 are not included. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy.
There is a $350 per person deposit due at registration which will secure your price and availability.
This fee includes your cruise fare PLUS all fees to the teachers, a BERNINA sewing machine for the entire cruise, all associated class activities, and classroom support. You may purchase our precut Sail n Sew kit (supplies are limited) or you are welcome to bring your own precut fabric.
Group travel allows us to provide special touches that are not available on an individual reservation. And unfortunately, discounts from Royal Caribbean are not allowed through our group program. In order to take full benefit from everything Stitchin' Heaven offers on our cruises, you must register through Stitchin 'Heaven Travel. If you have questions or need assistance in changing your individual reservation to a group reservation through Stitchin' Heaven Travel, please let us know.
