Wine, Friends, Pastries and a River Cruise

The new term in vacation is river cruising and it’s the new way to travel in five star luxury while ambling along on a gently floating river. Members of the community gathered on Monday March 24 to listen to a presentation given by AMAWaterways about their river cruise options. The Dregs in Redlands provided the space for the presentation and guests were served wine and pastries throughout the night while gathered around the bar or seated at tables listening to the information given on a power point slide by Regional Sales Director, Steve Avalos. He was very enthusiastic and asked everyone, “Who’s been on a river cruise before?” to start the presentation off. Teri and Roger Kelly came to learn more about the cruises and to take a cooking class after the presentation was over next door at the Cooking Block. The Kelly’s have done their fair share of traveling and did a, “bus tour of Great Britain, and just got back from Princess Cruise in February”, where they traveled to the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Teri said, “We had a friend, who did a river cruise and she really enjoyed it, they say once you take a river cruise, you won’t go back to a regular cruise.” They enjoy traveling and have a Mediterranean cruise lined up in the summer. Teri found out about the AMA Waterways presentation through John Rivera from the Cooking Block mailing list she is signed up on. She said, “We’re looking forward to the information, it sounds like a new adventure.” AMAWaterways offers cruises to destinations across the world including; Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia, Africa, and even a chocolate, wine and knitting themed cruise. Avalos talked about Internet access and wi-fi, a fitness room and sauna on some boats, a hair salon, a heated whirlpool or swimming pool with swim-up bar and live entertainment that are just some examples of the amenities offered on board. He said the average age is 55-60 and there is something for everyone offered depending on their preferences such as; active walkers, late risers, and gentle walkers when tours are given in the cities and bicycle tours are available as well. After the presentation, radio host Jan Fowler was on hand to promote guests about her upcoming Tulip Time Cruise where she will be on board and interview senior citizens for her radio program, “Senior Living at its Best with Jan Fowler” . She invited everyone to come and join her on a trip to Europe in the spring where they will receive copies of her book, Hot Chocolate for Seniors. Celia Becker came with her two friends and stated, “Laurel is my travel agent and because I travel a lot and write about travel in my blog, After Orange County, I’m looking forward to another river cruise. A lot of my readers are interested in travel and live vicariously through me.” People travel for different reasons and Becker shares, I think of traveling as, “broadening myself as a human being and making yourself more interesting. I enjoy talking with other people about my experiences.” Laurel Leidner is a travel agent with Connection To Cruise and helped host the event, she said, “we have been in the travel business in Redlands for fifteen years and we just see the value and opportunity to [get] people into river cruising, it’s such a great way to see destinations across the world without having to pack and unpack”. Lucinda Swain came with Celia Becker and Laurel Leidner and all know each other from a book club stated, “Traveling brings a commonality, takes down barriers and brings people together. Everyone’s heart is the same color, but really there are so many similarities and traveling brings that out.” [END] The new term in vacation is river cruising and it is a new way to travel in five star luxury while ambling along on a gently flowing river. Members of the community gathered on Monday, March 24 to listen to a presentation given by AMAWaterways about their river cruise options. Regional Sales Director, Steve Avalos, presented an informational PowerPoint slide show about the river cruises at The Dregs wine bar in Redlands. He began his presentation with the enthusiastic question asking, “Who’s been on a river cruise before?” Guests were served wine and parties while seated around the bar and at table while they watched the presentation. Teri and Roger Kelley came to learn more about the cruises take a cooking class next door at Cooking Block after the presentation. The Kelly’s have done their fair share of traveling and went on a, “bus tour of Great Britain, and just got back from Princess Cruise in February," on which they traveled to the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Teri said, “We had a friend, who did a river cruise and she really enjoyed it. They say once you take a river cruise, you won’t go back to a regular cruise.” They enjoy traveling and have a Mediterranean cruise lined up for this summer. Teri found out about the AMA Waterways presentation through John Rivera from the Cooking Block mailing list. She said, “We’re looking forward to the information, it sounds like a new adventure.” AMAWaterways offers cruises to destinations across the world including Europe, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa. They also offer specialty cruises with themes like chocolate, wine and knitting. Avalos elaborated about the amenities available on the cruises like wi-fi, fitness rooms, saunas, hair salons, heated whirlpools, swimming pools with swim-up bars, and live entertainment. He said the average age of patrons is 55-60 and there is something for everyone. On guided tours of cites there are options available for active walkers, late risers, and gentle walkers and the even offer bicycle tours. After the presentation, radio host Jan Fowler was on hand to promote the Tulip Time Cruise. Fowler will accompany guests on the voyage on which she will interview senior citizens for her radio program, “Senior Living at its Best with Jan Fowler." She also invited everyone to join her on a trip to Europe in the spring on which each guest will receive a copy of her book, "Hot Chocolate for Seniors." Celia Becker came to the presentation with her two friends from a book club, Laruel Leidner and Lucinda Swain. Becker stated, "Laurel is my travel agent and because I travel a lot and write about travel in my blog, 'After Orange County.' I’m looking forward to another river cruise. A lot of my readers are interested in travel and live vicariously through me.” People travel for different reasons and Becker shares, "I think of traveling as broadening myself as a human being and making yourself more interesting. I enjoy talking with other people about my experiences." Laurel Leidner, a travel agent with Connection To Cruise, helped host the event. She said, “we have been in the travel business in Redlands for fifteen years and we just see the value and opportunity to [get] people into river cruising, it’s such a great way to see destinations across the world without having to pack and unpack." Swain says that, "Traveling brings a commonality, takes down barriers and brings people together. Everyone’s heart is the same color, but really there are so many similarities and traveling brings that out.” AMA Europe River Cruise presentation Date: Monday, March 24, 2014 Time: 5:30 p.m. Event Location: Cooking Block Address: 721 Nevada St Redlands CA 92373 Description: You're invited to a special AMA Europe River Cruise presentation! Monday, March 24th 5:30pm - 6:30 WHERE: Cooking Block in Redlands, CA Space is limited . . . Please reserve seat. Questions? 909 255-1410 Light snacks & wine will be served! CONTACT INFO Phone: 909 255-1410