2009 Spirit of the West Cruise Diary and Photos
Our 2009 cruise diary is now complete
Below is some information on where our 2009 Spirit of the West Cruise and Conference
went. There's also a diary complete with photos as we travelled to Mexico, Central
America, the Panama Canal, and Jamaica. There was lots of sun, lots of great food,
heaps of fun, and tons of great company.
We sailed on the Island Princess - here's what she looks like on the outside.
Below you'll find our basic itinerary and a map of where
we went. Go to the Itinerary below (or scroll down).
Diary, Spirit of the West Cruise, 2009
We're back home!! We updated this page as often as possible while on the cruise
so hopefully you were able to follow along - if not you can now see the whole trip
diary. You can also see the diary on Mark and Kathy's web site at
www.meadowsprings.com. The photos there will be different than the ones
on this page. Photos will all enlarge if you click on them.
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January 2nd & 3rd
Tonight we're in two different groups - some of us are in LA and some of us are
in Mexico - either way both groups are now on holiday and are having fun!!
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One group having dinner at the Marriott in LA |
Our plane in Acapulco (note the fancy terminal) |
Boarding the Island Princess (Shorty Horn got the wheel chair access) |
Jim Bell of Cruise Vacations Winnipeg giving instructions at the sail
away cocktail reception |
January 4th Hugh opens the first conference session with the 1st slide show |
Andrew Raphael of Meyers Norris Penny (the bronze sponsor) speaks first. |
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January 4th
The first of two Spirit of the West Conference sessions, the first formal night
dinner, and the first pool side sing-a-long with Spirit of the West Cruise Band.
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Kathy McMillan was the second conference speaker |
Jim & Karen Bell at the Spirit of the West info desk |
Karen and Jim dressed for formal night |
Larry and Linda Morrill of Morand Ind. (Platinum cruise sponsor) |
Billie and Hugh after a fabulous dinner in the dining room |
Ed Peake on guitar with the Spirit of the West Band |
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January 4th & 5th
The first pool side sing-a-long, a couple of photos from Antigua, Guatemala,
and Billie's leg of lamb dinner.
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Andrew on harmonica with Hugh in the middle on vocals and guitar |
The group piano player, Bev Felker, plays the keyboard |
The Spirit of the West Band with one of the pools in the foreground |
(L to R) Gary & Marilyn Pinder, Mark & Kathy McMillan in Antigua |
A beautiful Guatemalan sunset to finish up a beautiful day |
Billie's leg of lamb in the dinning room of the Island Princess |
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January 6th, & 7th
Tuesday, January 6th we stopped in Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua. This evening
was the second poolside sing-a-long. Wednesday, January 7th was our Spirit of
the West
Group tour in Costa Rica. If anyone thought that they
could do this cruise on their own (without booking through the Spirit of the
West) and have the same experience they're wrong - real wrong!!
We had a super day. We did a
bus tour where we saw a lot of incredible country - the first stop was
the "wet mill" at the Doka Coffee plantation - a place that is not normally
open to the public. From there we headed to the main plantation. By seeing
the two places we really saw the whole picture as to where that morning cup
of coffee comes from.
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Hugh leads the Spirit of the West band on the poolside stage |
A couple of the tractors at the coffee plantation |
The end of the "wet mill" line - drying the coffee beans |
Billie and Hugh pose in front of our Mercedes bus |
Hugh tries a cup of coffee - as close to it's point of origin as possible |
The whole group of us were served an awesome lunch - Costa Rican style. |
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January 7th
After the coffee plantation we then traveled to Nosavar where we got an up front
view of a Brahma cattle operation - another example of the
value of booking with the Spirit of the West. All in all a super
day - a day that no one else would have had the opportunity to experience! -
including the flat tire on the bus which was handled extremely well.
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A rider brings some of their Brahma bulls up for us to view |
An example of a "living fence" found all over the area. |
Part of the Brahma x Charolais cattle herd brought in for viewing |
Hugh records as Rodrigo VargasRuiz (Manager) answers a question of Kathy's |
Hugh and Rodrigo chat about the Nosavar Ranch for a future show |
Our day ended a little on the bumpy side, but we got to the ship in time |
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January 8th & 9th
A full day at sea with part two of the slide show and the second Spirit of the
West Conference day ... some
pool time, and an afternoon sing-a-long in the Wheelhouse bar - plus tons of
good food, good service, and excellent company! January 9th we entered the Panama
Canal
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Andrew presents Hugh with a MNP vest (for being named Cowboy of the Year) |
Hugh ran a DVD for Morand Industries on their cattle handling equipment |
Jim Bell did a presentation called "Where in the World Can You Cruise - next" |
A 6 year reunion - they were all on a S of the W cruise 6 years ago |
Hugh interviews Lance Dyck for a future radio show |
We had to wait until 5:30 am to get a photo entering the Panama Canal |
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January 9th
The pilot boarded the Island Princess at 4:15 am. At about 7:00 am we passed under
the Bridge of Americas and entered Minaflores Locks. We were through the Gatun
Locks (the last set) by 4:00 pm.
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Entering the Minaflores Locks |
One of the locomotives that guides (secures) us through the locks. |
The difference in water height between the lock gates |
Leaving Minaflores Locks and passing into Culebra Cut |
In the Gatun Locks where we were lowered 85 feet to the Caribbean Sea |
Freighters waiting in Limon Bay for their turn at Gatun Locks |
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January 9th (continued)
The big day for the group photo when everyone wore their new 2009 Spirit of the
West T-shirts. Folks were also able to get their photo taken with Billie and Hugh.
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Everyone getting ready for the group photo |
Try to get 120 people all to smile at the same time |
Jim & Karen Bell with Billie and Hugh |
B & H with Jackie and Jim Anderson of Frost Free Nose Pumps Ltd |
Long time S of the W cruisers Lorne & Bev Reay with Billie and Hugh |
One of the many couples that had their photo taken in the Panama Canal |
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January 10th & 11th
Another jam session - in the afternoon in the Wheelhouse Lounge - just about
everyone was there! The second formal night followed and boy did the Spirit
of the West crew look sharp. January 11th we stopped in Jamaica for the day
and enjoyed a beautiful beach and some more great weather.
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A fellow passenger joins in on the Jam session (helping with the words) |
A great crowd takes in, and really enjoys, the final jam session |
Our second, and last formal night - this is our table group |
Bill and Erna (Bill built Billie and Hugh's new house) with Billie and Hugh |
The Island Princess as seen from the beach in Ocho Rios, Jamaica |
One of the beautiful beaches at Ocho Rios - there were a few to choose from |
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January 11th
Different folks went in different directions and enjoyed some great excursions ...
Kathy and Mark took a horse back tour where they rode in the ocean - fun!! and
then some. Hugh mentioned on one show that you might get to see a photo of Mark
in a swim suit - here it is.
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Swimming horses in the Carbbean Sea was one of the available excursions |
The Spirit of the West Support crew - Mark & Kathy swimming their horses |
A sign posted at the horse ride store - to treat your horse |
Many of our group enjoy another spectacular meal |
Larry (Platinum Sponsor Morand Industries) with plates of crab legs |
Billie and Hugh wrap up the evening dancing in one of the lounges |
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January 12th
Today the sponsors and organizers had a "review, critique, and plan" meeting.
Plans were made to help improve on next year's cruise (hard to do in my eyes).
This took place at lunch in the dining room ... another super and fun meal.
Then it was pool time, sun time, and the last time :-( till next year anyway.
The farewell party in the Explorer Lounge was great with almost everyone there.
The prizes were handed out from the sponsors and some folks went home really
happy!
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L to R - Jim, Karen, Andrew, Louisa, Billie, Hugh, Larry, and Linda |
Jim, Hugh, and Billie make some plans for next year |
Pools, lounge, chairs, sun - it doesn't get much better than this |
Morand Industries gave out five $1000 gift certificates |
Meyers Norris Penny gave away a coat and a vest |
Jim and Karen gave out three $250 vouchers for the next cruise |
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January 12th & 13th
Two last meals on board the Island Princess - dinner on the 12th and breakfast on
the 13th. We disembarked right after breakfast and headed for the airport - with
everyone talking about how wonderful next year's cruise sounded. Check out the
Cruise page for details.
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Francisco serves us Baked Alaska for our final evening meal |
Billie's dream ship sitting at Fort Lauderdale - the Queen Mary 2 |
The Island Princes taking on a load of fuel - ready to go again |
Hugh works on next week's show in the Fort Lauderdale Airport |
Unfortunately - our ride home awaits us at the Fort Lauderdale Airport |
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Our Itinerary!
Top of Page
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Day 1 |
- January 2nd - fly to Acapulco, Mexico. Overnight.
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Day 2 |
- January 3rd - Acapulco, Mexico - Board the
Island Princess starting early afternoon and have a buffet lunch. "Sail Away"
Cocktail Reception 4:30 to 5:30 with the Hosts, Billie and Hugh, in the Wheel
House Lounge. Sail at 8:00 pm.
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Day 3 |
- January 4th - At Sea. 9:00 am official welcome by Billie and Hugh and
part one of a slide show of fellow passengers. The first conference sessions;
Andrew Raphael speaking on "Cruising For Insights: What the Heck is Going On!?",
coffee break, and Kathy McMillan speaking on "Cattle Industry Standards - New
Initiatives - What's in it For Me?". 9:00 to 10:00 pm concert and sing-a-long
poolside. under the stars (weather permitting).
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Day 4 |
- January 5th - Arrive at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala 9:00 am. Depart at 6:00pm.
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Day 5 |
- January 6th - Arrive at Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua 6:30 am. Depart at
4:00pm. 9:00 to 10:00 pm concert and sing-a-long poolside. under the stars (weather
permitting).
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Day 6 |
- January 7th - Arrive at Puntarenas, Costa Rica 8:00 am. This is the day
of our private tour. We meet at 8:15 am and get a private bus to Doka where we will
get a tour of an operating coffee plantation and lunch. We leave about 1:30 and head
to Nosavar where we will visit a large cattle farm that raises Brahmin cattle
(a cow calf operation with 20 bulls). Depart at 8:00pm.
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Day 7 |
- January 8th - At sea. 9:00 am Part 2 of the slide show of fellow
passengers and then the 2nd conference session. Presentations by Andrew -
"Cruising For Insights: The Future Ain't What It Used To Be". Larry Morrill
on "Morand Industries
Cattle Handling Equipment", and Jim Bell on "Where in the World Can I Go Next?".
2:20 to 3:30 sing-a-long / jam session / meet the hosts in the Wheel House Lounge.
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Day 8 |
January 9th - Arrive at Panama Canal, Panama 7:00 am. Today
is the day we pass through the Panama Canal!
We depart the Canal at about 4:30 pm.
This is the day that we will all get together, late afternoon, for a group photo -
all of us wearing our Spirit of the West T-shirts. Arrive at Colon, Panama about
5:00 pm and depart at 8:00 pm.
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Day 9 |
- January 10th - At sea. A pool day on the ship with a sing-a-long /
jam session / meet the hosts in the Wheel House Lounge between 2:30 and 3:30.
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Day 10 |
- January 11th - Arrive at Ocho Rios, Jamaica 8:00 am. Depart 4:00 pm.
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Day 11 |
- January 12th - At sea. Another pool day on the ship. 4:00 to 5:00 pm
there will be a Farewell Reception in the Explorers Lounge. This is when the 2010
Spirit of the West Cruise destination & ship will be announced.
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Day 12 |
- January 13th - Arrive Ft Lauderdale, Florida 7:00 am.
Fly back to Vancouver via Montreal 3:00pm. Overnight in Vancouver.
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