YOUR JOURNEY
TO CLARITY
WITH ALLISON K WILLIAMS, AMY COLLINS & CUNARD'S
WHITE STAR SERVICE FROM NEW YORK TO SOUTHAMPTON.
The voyage begins in...
for Memoir, Fiction & Nonfiction Writers in all genres
(SPOUSES, PARTNERS & FRIENDS WARMLY WELCOMED!)
THE REBIRTH DIFFERENCE
Seven days of uninterrupted focus on your writing craft
Not a cruise, but a transatlantic crossing aboard the greatest ocean liner in the world, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.
Take advantage of complimentary room service and relax in your stateroom, join writers and friends for a three-course dinner, or network with over lunchtime interest and genre tables.
Enjoy quiet nooks and relaxing lounges for writing; or cinema, theatre, lectures, swimming pools, cocktail bars, restaurants, and the largest library at sea to stimulate your creative mind. Above all, the luxury of doing as little or as much as you wish!
Our eastbound crossing ends with an awe-inspiring early-morning arrival into Southampton, just an hours train ride from London.
Inspiring Environment
Find your creative voice surrounded by the endless ocean, away from daily distractions. The Queen Mary 2 provides the perfect backdrop for literary inspiration.
Luxury Learning
Experience world-class education in world-class surroundings. From elegant staterooms to gourmet dining, every detail enhances your creative journey.
Our bespoke itinerary maximizes your learning, creating and communing, allowing you every opportunity to get the best out of your guides and the services & hospitality onboard.
Embark on an extraordinary literary adventure that combines the luxury of Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 with intensive, personalized writing instruction.
This isn’t just a cruise—it’s a transformative experience designed to elevate your writing to new heights.
Measurable Progress
Track your development through structured exercises, milestone reviews, and one-on-one sessions designed to move your writing forward with purpose and clarity.
Writing Community
Connect with fellow writers who share your passion. Build lasting relationships and join a supportive network that extends far beyond the voyage.
RebirthYourBook retreats and RebirthYourWriting intensives have helped over 1000 writers on their publishing journeys. Our alumni publish with Big Five and literary presses, successfully self-publish, and publish essays and short fiction in national and international media and literary journals.
Our exceptional team of writing industry experts bring deep knowledge of literary and commercial publishing, writing craft, book development, author platform, marketing, and literary citizenship.
Individual Attention
Receive personalized feedback and guidance tailored to your unique writing style and goals. Our small group setting ensures every participant gets the attention they deserve.
Expert Guidance
Learn from industry professionals who understand both the craft of writing and the business of publishing. Gain insights that go beyond technique to career strategy.
Travel Mate Pros Dave Williams and Karen Ballard bring the best airfare deals, cruise expertise, and all-around travel insight to make your voyage smooth from door-to-door.
Once you register for the event, your confirmation email will include next steps to organizing and booking your travel. Need to know more before you register? Contact karenballard@travelmation.net to schedule a call.
Karen & Dave will help you choose your stateroom, book hotel nights before and after the crossing, arrange air travel and airport transfers.
Travel Mate Pros are part of one of the largest umbrella agencies in the country, Travelmation, giving access to discounts and perks you won’t find anywhere else!
YOUR GUIDES
Two experts in literary, commercial and self-publishing
lead insightful panels and small-group craft workshops
Allison K Williams
WRITER | EDITOR | SPEAKER | COACH
Author, editor, and travel journalist who has written for National Public Radio, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and Travelers' Tales.
Allison Has edited and coached writers to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, Spencer Hill, and St. Martin's, as well as independent and literary presses. Guided essayists and memoirists to publications at the New Yorker, Time, the Guardian, the New York Times, McSweeney's, Refinery29, Hippocampus, Belladonna, and TED Talks and is the author of "Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book", winner of a 2021 Foreword INDIES award.
The Editor of the Brevity Blog, she is known as "The Unkind Editor" for her direct, effective coaching style and leader of the "Rebirth Your Book" & "RebirthYourwriting" retreats virtually and around the world.
Her combination of circus performance background, extensive publishing industry experience, and proven track record of helping writers achieve success makes her the ideal guide for your Journey to Clarity.
Amy Collins
LITERARY AGENT & INDUSTRY EXPERT
With over 30 years in publishing, Amy brings unparalleled industry expertise as both literary agent and business strategist.
Founder and President of New Shelves Books, one of the largest book sales and marketing companies in the US, she's a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author who has worked directly with major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Target, Costco, and Walmart.
Currently serving on the national advisory board for IngramSpark and as a featured columnist for Writers Digest, Amy specializes in science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and nonfiction.
She has successfully negotiated deals with major publishers and recently helped client Stacey McEwan secure a worldwide deal with Simon & Schuster.
DISCOVER THE QUEEN MARY
Queen Mary 2 with intensive, personalized writing instruction. This isn't just a cruise
—it's a transformative experience designed to elevate your writing to new heights.
THE JOURNEY
Queen Mary 2
New York - Southampton-
Register & pay your event fee
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With our travel coordinator, choose your Stateroom: Inside, Seaview or Balcony
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Take advantage of Cunard's discount on the airline of your choice (optional)
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Choose to add additional hotel nights in NYC or London (optional)
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Join the pre-event Zoom to get to know your fellow writers
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See you onboard!
Dinty's Doodles
Don't Take It From Us...
"From personal experience, staggering round a transatlantic liner in a dinner jacket with a martini is the normal, rational, reasonable way to cross the Atlantic. Heading for an airport and strapping yourself to a flimsy aluminium tube is an unfortunate and eccentric aberration."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
YOU PROBABLY HAVE A FEW
- Pay your Event Fee and register here.
- Contact our travel advisors, Karen Ballard and Dave Williams at Travel Mate Pros (fb.com/travelmatepros, karenballard@travelmation.net, 813.486.1575) to choose your stateroom ($1515-$2085 per person, based on double occupancy, includes port charges & taxes). They’ll help you choose inside, seaview or sheltered balcony and your location on the ship. They can also arrange your lodging before or after the voyage, any other additional add-ons either affiliated with the cruise or not, and book your airfare on the airline of your choice with Cunard’s discount or guide you for the best option for your airfare yourself.
- Email karenballard@travelmation.net, or complete the inquiry form with your legal name(s) and whether you prefer Inside, Seaview or Sheltered Balcony and she will reply with all the details for your consideration.
- You can also contact Karen and Dave at 813.486.1575.
- Event fee payments are due February 1st 2025; Cunard may sell out of cabins sooner.
We’ll discuss commercial and literary fiction, nonfiction, memoir and essays. If you’re writing a business book or self-help, writing craft is still relevant—and audience and platform even more so!
- You DON’T need a degree in writing (or anything else!).
- You DON’T need previous publication credits.
- You DON’T need a manuscript in progress (but bring it to work on if you have one!)
- We will do generative writing and work on existing pages if you have them.
- You’re not reading others’ work in advance, so the experience level of your fellow writers isn’t a big factor in your retreat.
A non-writing travel partner pays an event fee of $495 plus their cabin fare. They take part in our opening and closing parties, join us at group meals, and receive our group discount on cabin fare.
If your non-writing travel partner is coming to Literary London or Literary New York, please contact us for a special payment link.
To share a cabin with another writer, please register separately—there will be a place in the registration to give your roommate’s name.
Yes! Singles pay a bit more than double-occupancy. Cabin fares range from $2455-$3452.
Need a roommate? Let Allison know and she’ll invite you to our private Facebook group where you can share your bedtime/morning preferences and make a new writing friend.
No, definitely do not make this mistake!
In order to participate in our private writing events and special events you must book directly through Tom at Ahoy Vintage Cruises. You get the advantage of a special group booking rate for passage on the ship as well as our expert teachers for the week.
Yes! You can use the Contact Form below, or Email us to let us know your interest, and we’ll be in touch.
Unlike a typical “cruise,” the Queen Mary 2 makes a direct passage from Europe to America. There are no stops or ports, recalling bygone days before air travel took over.
While yes, you can find bingo, karaoke and a casino if you enjoy them, Cunard focuses on special guest lectures, dancing, live music, trivia quizzes, shipwide scavenger hunts, the Planetarium, and a relaxed, leisurely vibe.
Sorry, no wet t-shirt contest.
Nope! The ship carries up to 2,620 passengers so most people on the ship will be regular passengers, not part of our group. Consider them your future readers!
We have scheduled events from 9AM-12PM daily. A detailed schedule will be provided for your crossing. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the ship’s amenities, restaurants, activities, and entertainment with newfound writing friends—and of course, plenty of time to write.
One of our most popular activities, projecting pages on the screen as we discuss them gives writers a chance to see their work edited in real time. You’ll better understand the purpose and experience of editing, and become more able to identify issues in your own writing.
You can add a 30-minute one-on-one meeting to discuss your writing or writing career. Costs start from $125 and a limited number are available. You’ll see this option when you register for the event.
US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for the UK or European Union countries.
We strongly, strongly recommend you plan to arrive in the UK the day before your cruise, to allow for any flight delays, lost luggage, etc. You may also wish to explore London—you can book your own hotel, or book through Tom at Ahoy Vintage Cruises when you book your cabin.
You can fly out of New York on Disembarkation Day. Don’t book a flight before 1PM. Allow yourself at least 4 hours to disembark and travel to JFK/LGA/Newark. Disembarkation can be as early as 7AM if you carry your own luggage; otherwise you’ll disembark between 9-11AM.
Transfers to and from the ship can be booked at additional cost.
Participants who add on Literary London or Literary New York will have a ship transfer included.
If you prefer to take the train, book a bus ticket, or use Uber or a private car in the UK or New York, those are all pretty easy options! Ask Allison if you have questions about a particular type of transfer—she’s done them all.
Please check your passport expiration date. Your Passport must be valid for at least 6 months past your departure date for the last country you visit—so at least until mid-January 2025. If it’s sooner than that, start the renewal process now!
Yes! Travel Mate Pro’s can help you use the Cunard discount on most airlines. Whether you book through them or on your own, you can fly from home to London Heathrow or London Gatwick, then from New York JFK or LaGuardia to home.
Cunard prioritizes safety. Unlike hotels and regular public spaces, cruise ships have already had norovirus cleaning procedures in place for years. That already put the cruise industry far ahead of land-based public spaces in the protection against Covid-19.
Since the pandemic began, all guests and crew are required to follow enhanced health and well-being measures developed with guidance from global medical and public health experts and scientists and in close coordination with UK and US government agencies.
Safety protocols include:
- Every area of the ship is rigorously and regularly cleaned and disinfected
- Hand-sanitizing stations in all public spaces
- Enhanced on-board ventilation systems provide improved filtration and increased fresh air on board
- Everyone on board must follow the latest guidance regarding the use of face-coverings and social distancing (specifics to be determined nearer to the time of your scheduled crossing)
- Cunard uses pre-booking and boarding health screening, and approved standards for the service of food and drink, entertainment and experiences on board and on shore. Check the latest updates from Cunard.
Allison, Dinty and Jane are fully vaccinated. All participants must provide proof of COVID vaccination.
If Cunard deems it unsafe to travel, all cruise dates will be rescheduled and we will be in touch with you to coordinate the new date. Cunard generally offers a choice of a full refund or a Future Cruise Credit. The Future Cruise Credit may range from 100% to 125% of the value paid. The choice will be up to you.
The Queen Mary 2 is specifically designed to handle the potentially rough seas of the North Atlantic, but there can sometimes be some rolling. If you’re prone to motion sickness, bring medication to ensure a comfortable voyage (Dramamine, etc). If you forget to bring it and are feeling unwell, medication is available at the Purser’s desk in the main lobby.
We are strongly committed to accessible retreats, which is why we’re on a ship! Elevators, smooth floors, accessible rooms and space and entertainment for your partner or caregiver are all present. Staff are available to carry baggage. If you have mobility concerns, let us know.
Jane, Allison and Dinty have (between them) worked with writers who are d/Deaf, hearing-impaired, blind, visually-impaired, neuro-atypical and with physical disabilities. We want to work with you—let’s discuss how to make it an excellent experience!
Cunard will joyfully accommodate your dietary needs. Every menu includes vegan and vegetarian options; food ingredients like pork and shellfish are clearly labeled. The buffet has a separate gluten-free section. Please let Karen and Davis know when you book your cabin.
If you do have any disability or medical requirements, please let us know at the time of booking or as soon as the need is known via the online form on My Cunard.
Cunard ask that you complete and submit the online questionnaire as soon as possible and ideally, no later than 14 days before departure; this is to ensure there is sufficient time to be able to contact you should they need to discuss any of the information that has been provided.
There is a small range of over the counter medications available from the shops on board such as Paracetamol and Sea sickness tablets. Should you require more specific medication there is a medical centre located on board.
You are welcome to utilise the in-cabin refrigeration unit in order to store your medication if you should wish to do so.
Please let Karen and Davis know when you book your cabin.
Check out Cunard’s “what to pack” guide.
After crossing twice, Allison has found she’s comfortable in casual clothing during the day (yoga pants, easy linen pants, nice t-shirts or sweaters) and “smart dress” for dinner (dressy pants and top, cocktail dress, collared shirt with dress pants.) There will be passengers in shorts during the day and passengers in fancier dresses and suits at dinner. Cunard advises no ripped jeans, and no jeans/khakis at dinner.
During our Transatlantic crossing, there two Gala nights for the entire ship. The first is always a Black and White Ball and the second will be a regular formal night that may be a Masquerade or a 1920s theme. We’ll let you know well in advance! Evening dress on those nights ranges from cocktail dresses and suit and tie all the way to ballgowns with gloves and black or white tie. Find the level of formality that’s fun for YOU, and enjoy checking out your fellow passengers’ finery!
Staterooms have outlets for UK and US plugs.
You can bring a curling iron/flatiron. Your stateroom will have a blowdryer. Other heat-generating appliances are not recommended as they may overload and break.
There is a complimentary launderette (soap included!) on each passenger deck and those have a professional iron and ironing board. There is also a retractable clothesline in the shower, so you can steam your clothes with the hot shower water.
Onboard laundry and drycleaning services are available for an extra charge.
The internet is slow and inconsistent but you’ll be able to send and receive email, check social media, even watch YouTube. The mild inconvenience of ship-speed internet is just enough to remind us we’d rather be writing! Cunard’s internet package prices are here. If you’re sharing a room, you can both use the same package, just not at the same time unless you pay to add another device.
We strongly recommend you don’t use your phone. Even if you have reception through a marine satellite, it will be very expensive. Put your phone in Airplane mode when we sail away from Southampton.
Heck yeah! The maximum number on a team is 6, so we’ll have a few teams!
INCLUDED
- Morning talks & panels
- Small-group breakout sessions
- Opening cocktail/mocktail party
- Reading night
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, room service
- Gym
- Laundry facilities
- Port charges & taxes
NOT INCLUDED
- Alcohol/drinks packages
- Specialty restaurants
- Spa services
- Laundry/dry-cleaning services
- Cunard standard gratuities ($101)
- Airport transfers
- Airfare from your home to the UK and New York to your home.
If you’re new to cruising, you will be delighted to learn that all of the meals in the main dining room (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as well as the buffet and room service are completely included in your booking. Cunard’s afternoon tea, lectures, shows, and many other activities are also included.
On the ship, you will also have the opportunity to visit the specialty restaurants, spas, casino, and other activities and services, which will be clearly noted if they have an extra charge. You are under no obligation to spend any additional money beyond your booking.
Cunard charges a per-person, per-day gratuities fee that is divided among the crew. If you wish to reward exemplary service from your cabin steward or waiters feel free to tip them in cash.
Travel Mate Pro’s can also arrange your transfer to the ship, and additional hotel nights before or after the voyage.
Please note that your primary booking does not include tours or events before or after the crossing unless you add on Literary London or Literary New York.
Literary London & Literary New York
INCLUDED
- 3 nights accomodation
- Tours
- Show tickets
- 2 dinners
- 1 lunch or afternoon tea
- Tips for drivers and guides
- Transportation to & between tours/events
- Transportation from London to the ship OR from the ship to our hotel in New York
- (NYC only) Agent pitch workshop
NOT INCLUDED
- Alcohol/cocktails
- Additional meals
- Laundry services
- Airport transfers
- Airfare from your home to the UK and New York to your home.
Rebirth Your Book accepts Venmo, Zelle, Canadian e-transfers, US cheques, PayPal and credit cards via PayPal. Paying your event fee reserves your place.
Travel Mate Pro’s accept credit cards. The charge will show as Cunard on your statement. You’ll pay a deposit upon booking and they will familiarize you with Cunard’s payment schedule.
Rebirth Your Book/Rebirth Your Writing does not offer scholarships. We’re happy to accommodate a longer payment plan, or write supporting documentation for a grant application in your home region.
Dinty and Allison love teaching, and we do quite a bit of it throughout the year. As we collaborate, we engage with even more potential students. Very often, students ask to be added to the waitlist for the next retreat, sometimes regardless of location! When a new retreat is announced, we tell the waitlist first, and retreats often sell out before they’re publicly announced. We can’t guarantee you a place, but if you sign up for The A-List, you will get first notice of waitlists and open registrations for upcoming retreats.
Your best bet is to be on the mailing list for when we announce future retreats. We often start a waitlist before the dates are set, and you’ll be able to join that in advance (and then decide whether or not the retreat is for you). Join The A-List here
For your ship fare, a passenger cancellation, or a single name change, can be made outside of the penalty period. Once the penalty period comes into effect, there are penalties for cancelations and name changes. The cancellation schedule will be provided before you make your deposit. Travel Cancellation/Medical insurance can be purchased to cover such fees to protect the passenger from monetary loss—ask Travel Mate Pro’s when you book.
If we can fill your place from the waiting list, your event fee can be transferred to another Rebirth Your Book retreat or event, after a $350 administrative fee.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
