Nine years ago, Sandy Pukel decided to take veganism and macrobiotics on the high seas.  Since then, every spring, a huge cruise ship hauls just under a thousand of us pasty health food freaks out into the sunshine of the Caribbean.  If you've never been, I can't recommend it enough.

Next Spring, the ship is leaving Fort Lauderdale on March 3rd and cruising until the 10th.  An early booking discount is still available until October 20th.  Click here to get registration details:

Here are the five reasons you should go:

1.  The Food.  Commandeered by Mark Hanna  (total genius, cookbook author and my ex-next door neighbor) and his crew, every meal is a multi-course, plant-based mouthgasm.  AND if you're not feeling particularly virtuous, you can still order from the regular ship's menu, even from our groovy dining room.  But that rarely happens.  The food is REALLY good.

Because the food is so good, and so healthy, instead of gaining weight and feeling like a weeble  by Thursday, you actually begin to feel fantastic come mid-week.  Smiles become spontaneous, steps lighten and skin glows throughout our half of the ship.

2.  The Classes.  This cruise is not just about the food, or the Caribbean.  All day, every day, there are classes given by some of the greatest holistic and plant-based thinkers in the world.  Dr. Neal Barnard (Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine) Dr. Colin Campbell, (The China Study, Forks over Knives) and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn are the headliners with lots of heavy-hitting macro teachers and Yogi Amrit Desai to keep us all calm.  The cooking classes will be taught by the inimitable Christina Pirello, and yours truly.  All this amazing information, in the form of lectures, workshops and cooking classes, is a kind of mental and spiritual food that is deeply nourishing.  One walks around the ship thinking "I'm so glad I'm here!!"

3.  The People.  I try to sit with new people at every meal.  The stories that come out of them are mindblowing.  Recoveries from cancer.  Families just trying it out.  Longtime vegans with a passion for the planet.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone is interesting.  And everyone cares.

4.  The Ship.  MSC is a lovely Italian cruise line.  In the spirit of La Dolce Vita, they go OVER THE TOP in many ways.  The design of the ship itself is romantic and colorful.  There are lots of pools, bars, a spa and even a Japanese restaurant on board!  Check out the ship by clicking here.  

5.  The Caribbean.  Oh yeah.  I forgot.  Did I mention that you're floating around on the bluest sea, stopping at ports of call throughout the region?   I know it seems crazy to mention it last, but the other stuff really–amazingly–trumps even mother Nature.  The Caribbean just becomes a breathtaking backdrop to a fantastic experience.  You can get off the ship and explore the islands as much as you want.  Or stay on the ship and take a class.  No pressure.  YOU'RE ON VACATION!

If you know me personally, you know that I am a horrible salesperson.  I'm usually like "uh… I mean if you want to try this thing… I mean, you don't have to… it's not a big deal…. really, don't do it".  I'm usually sort of an anti-salesman, having been trained by Canadian culture to never step on any toe, real or imagined.  But the cruise is different.  It is 100% unadulterated, healthy, silly fun.  I recommend it to all my friends, veggie or otherwise.  You won't regret it.

And the prices?  Very reasonable, considering everything you get.  Check it out.  And tell them I sent ya!  I'll see you in March!

Jessica

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