Holland America Line Grand World Voyage Guests Knit for a Cause Ahead of National Make a Blanket Day

As Holland America Line’s Volendam cruises from port to port on its annual 133-day Grand World Voyage, a different kind of journey is unfolding on every sea day—one measured not in nautical miles, but in stitches and a shared purpose. Guests calling themselves “blanketeers” gather to knit and crochet blankets for Project Linus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing handmade blankets to children facing illness, trauma or crisis. The organization was named after the security blanket-toting character Linus from the Peanuts comic strip. 

National Make a Blanket Day is Feb. 21, 2026, and it’s a day that raises awareness for Project Linus, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in December 2025 and recently announced that it has delivered more than 10 million blankets to children in need. 

The Project Linus tradition has been part of Holland America Line’s world cruise experience for more than 20 years, transforming leisurely days at sea into a floating volunteer workshop. Experienced knitters work alongside beginners, sharing their skills and teaching simple knitting. Project Linus has grown in popularity so much that crew members also participate in the efforts when they have time. The result is hundreds of handmade blankets ready for donation once the ship returns to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the end of the journey. Each blanket is unique and takes several days to complete, all created with intention and compassion.

Guests Marty and Gail Gottlieb from Jacksonville, Florida, have been spearheading the Grand World Voyage efforts for the past seven world cruises, sourcing the yarn prior to departure and organizing the sessions on board. The Gottliebs boarded Volendam Jan. 4, 2026, with nearly one million yards of yarn in more than 30 colors that will be turned into a collection of hundreds of blankets over the four-month cruise. (Over the past three Grand World Voyages, guests produced a combined 1,600 blankets!) Each blanketeer is given a pouch with all necessary supplies.

After the Grand World Voyage concludes in May 2026, Holland America will ship the completed blankets to Project Linus where they will be washed, and a special label is attached to each blanket, which says “Made with Tender Loving Care for Project Linus.”