A year ago, Oprah Winfrey, joined by her close friend and “chief officer” Gayle King and contributors from O, The Oprah Magazine, launched a highly anticipated girls’ getaway cruise. The event sold out in less than 24 hours. The three-day voyage aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam departed from Fort Lauderdale for the Bahamas and drew nearly 2,400 women (and 59 men). The celebration of Oprah’s 65th birthday offered a nonstop party at sea with talks, meditation and fitness classes, book club discussions, health and beauty sessions, fashion shows and shopping events—essentially a curated lineup of workshops and wellness activities designed to give women a restorative break from their busy lives.
Although Holland America has not confirmed a repeat, women who want a restorative escape from daily pressures have many cruise options. A girlfriends’ getaway—whether organized through a travel company or planned by the travelers themselves—lets women enjoy a luxurious retreat in the company of friends or female family members, without children or male companions.
Large-scale events like the Oprah cruise are uncommon, but several operators organize women-focused programs aboard regularly scheduled sailings. Stitchin’ Heaven, for example, runs a series of 4- to 11-night crafting getaways aimed at quilters and stitchers on Royal Caribbean ships out of various U.S. ports, including Miami, Galveston, Seattle and Cape Liberty, New Jersey. These cruises allow participants to visit destinations in the Caribbean, Central America, Canada or Alaska while taking part in stitching seminars led by experts. Quilters receive exclusive round-the-clock workspace access and Bernina sewing machines and can bring their own materials or purchase prepaid, precut quilt packages.
PHOTO: © CRUISE & CROP
Cruise & Crop provides similar small-group cruises ranging from three to ten days for travelers interested in a wide range of crafts—from scrapbooking to beading. Most of the nearly 30 cruises listed for 2020 sailed from Florida ports to the Caribbean, but their itineraries also included Alaska, Hawaiʻi, New England, Canada, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. U.S. departure points for these voyages included Tampa, Port Canaveral, Miami, Galveston, Honolulu, Seattle, Baltimore, Boston and Cape Liberty.
Most girlfriends’ getaways at sea are not designed around a single hobby; often a simple group of women booking together is all that’s needed. Working with a cruise-savvy travel agent can simplify logistics such as choosing the best staterooms, deciding on destinations, comparing prices and selecting a cruise line that fits expectations. Mega-ships typically offer the widest array of onboard activities—spas, retail shops, multiple pools, theatrical shows and varied dining options—so groups can spend time together or pursue individual interests, from quiet pampering to lively nights out. For groups that prioritize fitness, exploration or a more intimate experience, smaller ships often work better. Wilderness Women Expeditions, for instance, runs small all-women sailings with female skippers to destinations like Egypt, the Greek Isles, Desolation Sound in British Columbia and the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas. These trips usually host only six to eight participants, making for a highly personal and adventure-focused getaway.
Whether a getaway lasts a long weekend or a full week, a girlfriends’ cruise delivers a combination of freedom and camaraderie that’s hard to replicate on land. Ocean and river cruises provide resort-style amenities, curated activities and new surroundings, along with extended blocks of time for friends to reconnect, recharge and share meaningful experiences together.
Gals on Canals
Barge Lady Cruises runs tours on dozens of vessels across many European waterways, but for a girlfriends’ escape the most appealing options are the six-night itineraries that stop near medieval villages, châteaus and vineyards along the canals of the French countryside.
The 12-guest Luciole cruises the Canal du Nivernais in northern Burgundy and visits landmarks such as the church of Auxerre, noted for its stained-glass windows. The six-guest Magnolia sails the Canal de Bourgogne in southern Burgundy and includes experiences like truffle hunting and a dinner in a private French home.
The luxurious eight-guest C’est la Vie operates on the Canal de Bourgogne in northern Burgundy, highlighting the vineyards of Chablis, and also navigates the Canal de Briare in the Upper Loire region with stops that may include the Gien tableware factory and the Château de la Bussière, known for its angling-themed art collection.
Barge Lady Cruises
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