Crystal Cruise Lines "Serenity" Quilt

Marilyn Maddalena Withrow

Sewing label on back of "Sea of Serenity" Inaugural Cruise Quilt

It all began with a phone call. "This is Crystal Cruise Lines calling. Are you familiar with Crystal Cruises?" At this point I thought, "Not another telemarketer!" and considered hanging up. Fortunately I didn't. The lady said she was looking at my website and thought I was just the person she was looking for -- a quilter to travel with the new ship, "Crystal Serenity," on part of its Inaugural World Cruise, showing the passengers and crew how to create a quilt to commemorate the cruise, as well as give lectures about quilting. She wondered if I'd be interested. That was an understatement! I sank into my chair just listening to her, thinking this had to be a dream, it couldn't be happening to me. But it was no dream, it IS happening, and you bet I was interested!

This year started so beautifully with my wedding to Eugene Withrow on the beach at Napili Kai, Maui, Hawaii, in late January. We spent 10 days honeymooning there -- which of course had to include seeing some wonderful quilts, meeting Hawaiian quilters, and doing quilt research. Fortunately, Gene enjoys the beauty of quilts almost as much as I do.

Of course I accepted the cruising opportunity -- who wouldn't? Gene and I will meet the ship in Capetown, South Africa, in early April and cruise the Atlantic, up the east coast of South America, visiting Rio, the British Virgin Islands, and other wonderful places I've only dreamed of seeing. We dock in New York in early May, where we'll spend a few days before returning home on Mother's Day. Little did she know she was giving me a wonderful extended honeymoon -- of course I have to work for it, but that's perfectly all right with me! Quilting, talking about quilting, and being around quilts isn't work for me anyway. It is a privilege.

I'll be adding to this page as I travel, so if you'd like to vicariously travel with us on this wonderful adventure, come back here every so often and see where in the world Gene and I are now.

March 21st

We're counting down the days until we leave for South Africa. The quilt has been designed, fabrics purchased, new wardrobe acquired, visas and passports obtained, and a myriad of other things either done or on a list to be done before we leave for the cruise. Even with everything we've done, the arrangements we've made and people we've contacted, we still pinch ourselves every once in awhile just to be sure this is really happening. Our "to-do list" is getting shorter, the suitcases are getting full, and now it's time to finalize programs and tackle PowerPoint and the LCD projector. How time does fly! We'll add another chapter in a couple of weeks from somewhere in the Atlantic.

Friday, April 9, 2004 – off the coast of Africa, docked at Walvis Bay, Namibia: Where do I begin? Shall I tell you of the beauty of the ship “Serenity” and its luxury? Or perhaps the food, the wine, the wonderful people we have met on board -- the sights we’ve seen, the shopping? All have been wonderful and exciting and new adventures.
We have so many stories to share when we return home. Gene has been taking so many photos, and so have I – I guess we’re in competition to see who can take the most!

44 hours after we left Sacramento, CA, we came aboard the ship in Cape Town, South Africa, and began settling into our stateroom. Once we recuperated from no sleep and airline food, we were ready to go! It’s taken a few days to get the computer configured to send and receive e-mails, but we’re all ready now. Yesterday we met with guests and crew members who will be making the quilt blocks and got them started. What an exciting project this will be.

We were invited by the founder of Innovative Threads, an art quilt show in Cape Town, to visit her home and see her collection of art quilts. Her home is a 200-year-old Cape Dutch home set in the midst of a lovely vineyard. Unfortunately she had to leave town for a prior commitment the day before we arrived, but arranged for two lovely and charming quilters to give us a tour of her home and studio. The art quilts in her collection were stunning, creative, and beautiful – she allowed us to take photographs, so I’ll be able to share some of them with my fellow American quilters.

We located a fabric shop in Cape Town that afternoon, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. Obviously I had to have some of this and some of that and some of those, too – I can hardly wait to share with everyone the beautiful things I’ve been able to acquire.

Last night was the first Formal Night on the cruise. Those of us who know us personally might have a hard time recognizing us from the photographs – it’s amazing what a tuxedo and formal gown can do for one’s appearance!

So now we are off to explore Walvis Bay, then back sailing tonight. Next stop will be St. Helena – the island where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled. More updates to come………

April 17, 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Said to be the most beautiful port in the world – you won’t get an argument on that from me. This morning we stood on the deck to watch the sunrise over Rio while the ship docked. It is HOT and HUMID and SUNNY – what a treat. The Inaugural World Cruise Quilt is coming along fairly well – we were able to get some artistic people on board to sketch scenes on some of the blocks for us, and we are gathering signatures for some sections of the ship to be represented.

There are four Olympians on board – Cathy Rigby, Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci, and Debbie Meyer. There have been “Olympic Games” all week on board – I played miniature golf, beat my husband, but lost gloriously after that. He, however, went on to greater things – took a Gold Medal in men’s doubles shuffleboard. It’s been fun, we’ve met wonderful people from many countries, and have seen such interesting places. We toured St. Helena island in a rickety bus, one-way roads – meeting another bus was an interesting maneuver. Gene got part of the bus trip down the mountainside on our camcorder which he hung out the window, filming over the side, several hundred feet down – I may be able to look at the film, but I couldn’t look out the window of the bus.

The creativity of the people on board continues to amaze me. Some of the blocks are beautiful – others are lovely, with great workmanship – this quilt will be a sight to behold. They want it finished several days earlier than we had originally been told. Gene is becoming quite the quilter’s assistant – squaring up the blocks for me, contacting people for me, helping the ladies with their designs. He’s also begun learning conversational Japanese. Our friends may not know him when we return.

The internet/satellite is not reliable and I’ve been unable to make any contacts for several days. We’re spending today with the owners of a quilt shop just outside Rio, and plan a tour tomorrow up the mountain to see the Christ the Redeemer statue which we can see from our stateroom. We hope to visit a Samba club tonight…………… until next time, keep on quilting.

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 -- at sea between Ft. Lauderdale and New York – The Quilt Is Finished!! It was unveiled Saturday evening, two hours after I took the last stitch in it. Everyone seemed to like it, and I have to admit it does look spectacular hanging there in the Crystal Cove with the subdued lights shining on the beads and sparkles. The quilt will be the centerpiece of the big party tonight as the passengers and crew celebrate the World Cruise Countdown. Gene and I almost feel like we’ve given birth – we met almost nine months ago, and look what’s happened since!

We’ll arrive in New York Harbor tomorrow morning about 5:30 a.m., so probably won’t be able to see Lady Liberty too well as we arrive. We were told about www.kroooz-cam.com – a great website where you can watch as specific cruise ships travel around the world. Some of our friends and family will be watching as we arrive in New York. They may see more than we do! This will be my last update until we arrive home due to time constraints and all of New York to see in four days (right!) but I’ll do another update in a week or two, which will include photos of the quilt as well as photos of our adventures.

Quilting and Cruising – What a Concept! Quilting Around The World. Quilting in Many Lands….the ideas are running around in my head and I’m already writing my new program as I remember all the wonderful adventures we’ve had and the interesting sights we’ve seen on this trip. Most important of all, however, are the beautiful and friendly people we’ve met. What fun it will be to share these experiences with all of you. Until we are home again………..keep on quilting.