Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This was a meeting to introduce and promote the Health Optimization Cruise, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise scheduled for January 17-24, 2024. Mike and Denise, the organizers, presented the event's focus on combining the six pillars of lifestyle medicine with healthy vegan food, emphasizing that the cruise provides an all-inclusive plant-based experience aboard Celebrity Cruises' newest ship, the Edge. They introduced several presenters who will speak at the cruise, including Nicole Fogelman (nurse anesthetist), Janet Pearson (author of "Janet's Healthy Kitchen"), Angela Crawford (psychologist), and Sally (yoga instructor and founder of Plant Based Pittsburgh). Bo from Celebrity Cruises detailed the ship's amenities, dining options, and accommodations, while Liz from Escape to Sea Travel explained booking details including a current $100 on-board credit promotion for veranda and higher categories booked by July 30th. The conversation ended with a Q&A session where participants asked about booking non-vegan family members, room availability for singles, and pricing details. Next steps Liz (Escape to Sea Travel) Work with Mike to start planning the 2028 cruise. Share details about the special private tour on one of the islands (sightseeing with farm visit and culinary experience) with interested attendees. Mike Connect Janet Ashworth with the recommended doctor in Florida after the meeting. Collaboration All attendees: Register for the Health Optimization Cruise on Eventbrite within 8 days to receive the special discount code. All attendees: Book the cruise through Liz (Escape to Sea Travel) by calling the number on the website (healthoptimizationcruise.org) to take advantage of the $100 onboard credit offer for Veranda and above categories, valid until July 30th. Attendees interested in the 2028 cruise: Follow on Eventbrite (veganevents.info or plantbasedevents.info) to receive updates when the 2028 cruise is available for booking. Summary Health Optimization Cruise Introduction Mike and Denise introduced the Health Optimization Cruise, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from January 17-24, 2025, focusing on plant-based lifestyle medicine and healthy vegan food. The event will feature dedicated dining areas, private meetings, group fitness, and all-inclusive meals and activities on the Celebrity ship. Liz from Scape to Sea Travel detailed the cruise itinerary and amenities, including accommodations, meals, entertainment, and wellness activities. The organizers emphasized that the event is a grassroots volunteer effort aimed at helping participants adopt healthy habits to prevent chronic illness. Health Optimization Cruise Speaker Introduction Nicole Fogelman, a board-certified nurse anesthetist from Richmond, Virginia, introduced herself as a returning participant of the Health Optimization Cruise and announced she would be speaking at the event for the third time. She explained her professional background in pain management and plant-based nutrition, mentioning that she leads a support group called "Foods That Fight Pain" and will discuss Dr. Greger's new book "How Not to Hurt" during the cruise. Nicole also mentioned she would offer free consultations including blood testing for food sensitivities and gut health panels to cruise guests. Health Optimization Cruise Presentation Janet Pearson, a committee member who runs Janet's Healthy Kitchen in Chicago, presented on the Health Optimization Cruise, sharing her experience and plans for an upcoming presentation focused on helping people bring a plant-based lifestyle into their home kitchen. She discussed how the cruise provides a supportive environment for learning and making connections, noting that it had inspired her to write a book she had been considering for years. The presentation highlighted how the cruise offers gourmet plant-based meals, allows participants to focus on their health without cooking responsibilities, and provides opportunities for both learning new recipes and building lasting friendships with like-minded individuals. Plant-Based Diet Psychological Transition Angela, a psychologist from Binghamton, discussed the psychological aspects of transitioning to a plant-based diet, emphasizing the importance of strong motivation and social support to maintain the lifestyle change. She highlighted how plant-based eating can benefit both physical health and emotional well-being, drawing from her experience and research in the field. Mike explained that the upcoming cruise is a 100% vegan event focused on plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine, and he assured attendees that the ship meets high health and safety standards. Plant-Based Health and Wellness Journey Sally shared her journey of transitioning to a whole food plant-based lifestyle after being diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer 20 years ago, which led to her complete remission.
This was a meeting to introduce and promote the Health Optimization Cruise, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise scheduled for January 17-24, 2024. Mike and Denise, the organizers, presented the event's focus on combining the six pillars of lifestyle medicine with healthy vegan food, emphasizing that the cruise provides an all-inclusive plant-based experience aboard Celebrity Cruises' newest ship, the Edge. They introduced several presenters who will speak at the cruise, including Nicole Fogelman (nurse anesthetist), Janet Pearson (author of "Janet's Healthy Kitchen"), Angela Crawford (psychologist), and Sally (yoga instructor and founder of Plant Based Pittsburgh). Bo from Celebrity Cruises detailed the ship's amenities, dining options, and accommodations, while Liz from Escape to Sea Travel explained booking details including a current $100 on-board credit promotion for veranda and higher categories booked by July 30th. The conversation ended with a Q&A session where participants asked about booking non-vegan family members, room availability for singles, and pricing details. Next steps Liz (Escape to Sea Travel) Work with Mike to start planning the 2028 cruise. Share details about the special private tour on one of the islands (sightseeing with farm visit and culinary experience) with interested attendees. Mike Connect Janet Ashworth with the recommended doctor in Florida after the meeting. Collaboration All attendees: Register for the Health Optimization Cruise on Eventbrite within 8 days to receive the special discount code. All attendees: Book the cruise through Liz (Escape to Sea Travel) by calling the number on the website (healthoptimizationcruise.org) to take advantage of the $100 onboard credit offer for Veranda and above categories, valid until July 30th. Attendees interested in the 2028 cruise: Follow on Eventbrite (veganevents.info or plantbasedevents.info) to receive updates when the 2028 cruise is available for booking. Summary Health Optimization Cruise Introduction Mike and Denise introduced the Health Optimization Cruise, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from January 17-24, 2025, focusing on plant-based lifestyle medicine and healthy vegan food. The event will feature dedicated dining areas, private meetings, group fitness, and all-inclusive meals and activities on the Celebrity ship. Liz from Scape to Sea Travel detailed the cruise itinerary and amenities, including accommodations, meals, entertainment, and wellness activities. The organizers emphasized that the event is a grassroots volunteer effort aimed at helping participants adopt healthy habits to prevent chronic illness. Health Optimization Cruise Speaker Introduction Nicole Fogelman, a board-certified nurse anesthetist from Richmond, Virginia, introduced herself as a returning participant of the Health Optimization Cruise and announced she would be speaking at the event for the third time. She explained her professional background in pain management and plant-based nutrition, mentioning that she leads a support group called "Foods That Fight Pain" and will discuss Dr. Greger's new book "How Not to Hurt" during the cruise. Nicole also mentioned she would offer free consultations including blood testing for food sensitivities and gut health panels to cruise guests. Health Optimization Cruise Presentation Janet Pearson, a committee member who runs Janet's Healthy Kitchen in Chicago, presented on the Health Optimization Cruise, sharing her experience and plans for an upcoming presentation focused on helping people bring a plant-based lifestyle into their home kitchen. She discussed how the cruise provides a supportive environment for learning and making connections, noting that it had inspired her to write a book she had been considering for years. The presentation highlighted how the cruise offers gourmet plant-based meals, allows participants to focus on their health without cooking responsibilities, and provides opportunities for both learning new recipes and building lasting friendships with like-minded individuals. Plant-Based Diet Psychological Transition Angela, a psychologist from Binghamton, discussed the psychological aspects of transitioning to a plant-based diet, emphasizing the importance of strong motivation and social support to maintain the lifestyle change. She highlighted how plant-based eating can benefit both physical health and emotional well-being, drawing from her experience and research in the field. Mike explained that the upcoming cruise is a 100% vegan event focused on plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine, and he assured attendees that the ship meets high health and safety standards. Plant-Based Health and Wellness Journey Sally shared her journey of transitioning to a whole food plant-based lifestyle after being diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer 20 years ago, which led to her complete remission.
