One week, a few months ago, the stars must have been in a perfect position for me.
First, my phone provider unexpectedly offered me a brand-new iPhone 13 for free to replace my old refurbished 11—an upgrade I hadn’t seen coming.
And then, in that very same week, an email arrived from Andrew Saridakis.
Andrew runs Hobbycruises, a company that organizes cruises built around shared passions. He invited me to teach a doll-making workshop during a new themed voyage called Dolls at Sea. I didn’t have to think long—what an extraordinary idea. I’ve never been on a cruise before.
Because this will be the very first doll-themed cruise he hosts, I’ve had the chance to help shape it from the very beginning. Together, we selected dates, mapped out routes, and searched for inspiring activities in the ports we’ll visit. As it stands now, we are planning two European cruises: a Mediterranean journey in March 2026 and a Northern Europe sailing in July 2026. Both cruises promise a wonderful blend of travel and creativity. In the ports we’ll explore all sorts of doll-, art-, and craft-related places: flea markets, vintage doll shops, museums, craft centers, doll hospitals, artists’ studios, and puppet makers. The full itineraries are available on the Hobbycruises website.
The spirit of the trip is simple: enjoy the voyage in the company of likeminded people while sharing a hobby we all love. Participants are free to join the workshop, or simply travel with the group and soak up the experience.
The workshop itself is suitable for all levels and takes about 15 hours over the course of the cruise. We’ll create a stump doll with a posable head and arms. The head, hands, and bodice are sculpted in air-dry clay—a straightforward concept with plenty of room for variation. For those who prefer to keep things simple, there’s even an alternative to hand-sculpting the hands; and for anyone who gets carried away (as often happens!), there’s endless opportunity for embellishment. My favorite part is seeing participants leave with a personalized piece they’ve truly made their own.
Guests are welcome to join on their own—after all, you immediately become part of the group—but friends and family are equally welcome. The more, the merrier.
Prices start at US$ 1800 including the doll-making workshop, or US$ 1500 without the class.
I hope to welcome you on board!
https://hobbycruises.com/
