2011 Spirit of the West Cruise Diary and Photos

Diary, Spirit of the West Cruise, 2011

You can also see a diary on our support crew, Mark and Kathy McMillan's, web site at www.meadowsprings.com. The diary and photos on their web site will be different than the ones on this page.

The following photos will all enlarge if you click on them.

January 4th, 2011

1. Here's our support crew's submission for the 2011 cruise Tee-shirt art work idea competition ...
2. Hugh with Marg and Armond Cordonier, Lorraine and Dean Miller, and Kathy McMillan in Vancouver airport
3. The first glimps of the Sapphire Princess
4. Billie and Hugh getting off the bus to board the ship
5. Hugh at the welcoming reception
6. Jim letting everyone know where and when to go for dinner

January 8th, 2011

We having a super time. Yesterday the weather warmed up nicely and the pool became the spot to be!
1. The first night in the dining room Karen and Jim Bell purchased a bottle of wine for our table - a price tag of 3 digits!
2. Bev and Lorne Reay were recognised for having been on the most past S of the W cruises (8) at the official welcoming party and conference session.
3. Hugh and Mark work on setting up the slide show and conference session as Billie supervises.
4. The conference session was very well attended and I think was enjoyed by all.
5. The main Spirit of the West Band - (L to R) Bev Felker, Hugh, Don Howard, and Ed Peake.
6. Bev Felker on keyboard ... and this year it never "ran away"!
7. A little help from Vivia Oliver and Bill Lamport went over well.
8. The most dancers of any past cruise hit the dance floor this year.
9. Marg Cordonier said she's never leaving the pool.
10. Happy hour at the McLennan Ranch with Irene Hanson, Billie, Ted & Stella Ziekle, Kathy McMillan, Hugh, and Ron Hanson.
11. Billie showing off her incredible lamb dinner!

January 8th & 9th, 2011


1. Flat Stanley tours Mexico for Reed McLennan (age 7, grade 2)
2. we sort of took over the bottom of the atrium for the group photo
3. most wore the pink tee-shirts proudly as Jim & Karen donated to the cancer society
4. Irene Hanson visits with Lucille Glaister at the photo shoot
5. Stan & Donna Johnson with Lorne & Bev Reay
6. Barb Fyten (right) with Hugh and daughters Laura and Jennifer
7. Barb & Kim Bamber with Hugh
8. Marilyn & Gary Pinder
9. Betty Petersen - Happy Birthday Betty!
10. Gerald Poffenroth - Happy Birthday Gerry!
11. Peggy Robinson, Donna Johnson and Billie singing at the pool side
12. Billie and Irene Trost at the sing along

January 8th & 9th, 2011 (continuded)


1. Lorraine Miller & Marg Cordonier take in the poolside entertaiment (S of the W band)
2. Even more dancers tonight
3. Acapulco, Mexico
4. some of the armed guards that watched over us
5. nice - Kathy enjoys the almost empty deck as others had gone ashore
6. Don Petersen, Ron Hanson, their Mexican guide, and Betty Petersen in the Museo Historico de Acapulco - Fuerte de San Diego

January 9th & 10th, 2011


1. the waiter tries out Hugh's hat
2. Billie with Cindy Jacobsen at dinner
3. The Spirit of the West armed guard ...
4. Landing at Las Gatas
5. Billie didn't have to go shopping - it came to her
6. Hugh after some snorkeling
7. ah ... now this is the life!
8. and this too ....
9. the Sapphire Princess in the background
10. more guards as we return to the ship
11. hard to replace good boots (this is Dave)
12. back on board ... ah sooo nice!

January 11th, 2011 - news release!

Where is the Spirit of the West cruise going next - in 2012? So it's now out - Lyn & Erna (and others that can't wait to find out) ... here it is ... Hawaii for a 14 day cruise on the Golden Princess ... watch for updates soon!

January 11th, 2011


1. the meeting as to when to let out the secret ... (see above)
2. Linda Morrill, Lori Dyck, & Billie at dinner
3. Larry Morrill sneaks back for a visit (his wife Linda in the foreground)
4. Don't !! take my picture anymore! I always look terrible in photos!
5. Zihuatanejo - with Flat Stanley & the Sapphire Princess in the background
6. Karen on the zipline ... "this is enough"!
7. Jim ... give me more ... faster!!! ... and longer!!!
8. Laura Mussfeld, Lance Dyck, Irene Hanson, Jennifer Rabie, and Jace Jacobsen all had a super time on the zipline tour
9. and then they all enjoyed the tequilla!
10. except maybe Karen
11. meanwhile Billie and Hugh stopped for a beer with Don Howard - thanks Don!
12. and in the dining room the stories were flying - Steve Quinn, Bill Lamport, & Dave Rogers.

January 12th, 2011
Mazatlan - today we had our group shore excursion on Stone Island - an awesome day with horseback riding, wagon rides, banana boats, and snorkeling day! Quite a few of the group even went Parasailing.


1. Marilyn and Gary Pinder - on the water taxi tour before Stone Island
2. Flat Stanley visits with Billie, Mark and a couple of Iquanas on Stone Island
3. Kim Bamber - one of the first to get on a horse
4. a group of us horseback on the beach
5. Billie and Hugh on their ponies on the beach
6. Jace and Cindy Jacobsen on the back of a "taxi"
7. Ed Peake parasailing
8. Larry Morrill coming in for a smooth landing
9. Canadian Cowboy Country being read on the beach
10. Billie and Hugh (in his swim suit) with Steve & Lorna Quinn
11. Marlene Bily and Lorry Myatt on the taxi ride home (the Sapphire Princess)
12. Peggy and Bob Robinson in the Italian Restaurant back on the ship

January 13th, 2011
Cabo San Lucas - last formal night and last sing-a-long


1. Mark, Kathy, Alan Lawrence, Tiffany (not part of the S of the W group)and Laura Mussfeld at the pool after swimming with the dolphins
2. Kathy and Mark in the pool with the dolphins
3. Mark, Kathy, Alan Lawrence, & Laura Mussfeld watching the dolphins
4. Formal night - H & B with Irene & Gordon Trost
5. Formal night - H & B with Lucille Glaister
6. Formal night - H & B with Bev & Lorne Reay
7. Formal night - H & B with Lorna & Warren Laycraft
8. Formal night - H & B with Lynn & Bill Craig
9. Formal night - H & B with Bev Michalezki
10. B & H - Hugh put down the guitar to get one dance in
11. Nancy & Doug Baird
12. Hugh with Bev Felker on keyboard, Ed Peak on fiddle, and Bill Lamport on guitar

January 14th, 2011
at sea, farewell party, and last dinner


1. The last jam session ... the band took over the wedding chapel
   Every year the prizes are given out by drawing names
   the first two won a $1500 gift certificate from Morand Industries
2. Larry Morrill presents the prize to Bill Craig
3. Larry Morrill presents the prize to Jay Goin
4. Now Billie draws a name for $250 discount coupons for next year's cruise
5. Billie presents Ron Hanson with the gift certificate
6. Billie presents Don Howard (the fiddle player) with the gift certificate
7. Billie presents Marlene Bily with the gift certificate
8. Billie presents Richard Preston with the gift certificate
9. Billie and Hugh surrounded by the Dawson Creek Gang
10. John & Marie Dafoe with Billie & Hugh
11. Everyone is socializing and talking about how much fun they had
12. Alex & Jackie Reshney and Regene & Ed Doucet
13. A birthday kiss for John Dafoe (his name tag says Mary, but honest, this is John)
14. A birthday kiss for Barb Bamber
15. A birthday kiss for Lorne Reay
16. Our last desert ... the Baked Alaska parade
17. Steve Quinn & Charlotte Preston say their goodbyes to Karen and Jim
18. Flat Stanley gets a ride on Hugh's rabbit at the last dinner

With thanks to our Sponsor, Morand Industries - www.morandindustries.com
Morand Industries will sponsor next year's cruise to Hawaii, too! See the Cruise Page!

Our Itinerary!         Top of Page

Day before

• January 3rd - Happy New Year everyone! We fly to Vancouver and spend the night there.

Day 1

• January 4th - fly from Vancouver to LA and overnight in the Marriott Airport Hotel, Los Angeles, California.

Day 2

• January 5th - spend the day in LA and board the Sapphire Princess between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. 4:40 to 5:30 pm is the Spirit of the West Welcome Reception in the Explorers Lounge. We set sail at 5:00 pm.

Day 3

• January 6th - At Sea. From 9:00 till 11:00 am we'll be in the Sky Walker's Lounge for an official welcome and possibly the Slide Show of all of our group photos ... maybe even a presentation ... ?? 9:00 to 10:00 pm will be the first under the stars Sing-a-Long - beside the Outrigger Bar.

Day 4

• January 7th - At Sea.

Day 5

• January 8th - At Sea. 9:00 to 10:00 pm will be the second under the stars Sing-a-Long - beside the Outrigger Bar.

Day 6

• January 9th - Arrive at Acapulco, Mexico at 10:00 am and depart at 11:00 pm.

Day 7

• January 10th - Arrive at Zihuatanejo / Ixtapa, Mexico at 10:00 am. Tender to shore for the day. Depart at 6:00 pm.

Day 8

• January 11th - Arrive at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at 10:00 am and depart at 6:00 pm.

Day 9

• January 12th - Arrive at Mazatlan, Mexico at 7:00 am. Our group will meet at 9:00 am for our group shore excursion (included for all Spirit of the West passengers) on Stone Island. This will be our horseback ride day! We then depart at 5:00 pm.

Day 10

• January 13th - Arrive at Cabo San Lucas at 7:00 am tender to shore till we depart at 2:00 pm. Formal night and third under the stars Sing-a-Long by the pool.

Day 11

• January 14th - At sea. 5:00 till 6:00 pm will be the farewell reception in the Explorers Lounge. This will include the announcement of where the 2012 Spirit of the West Cruise will be headed.

Day 12

• January 15th - Arrive at LA California at 7:00 am ... transfer to airport and fly home at 2:30. Arrive Vancouver at 5:30 pm and spend the night.

Day 13

• January 16th - fly back home to the sunny Kamloops!

Top of Page

Here's a route map showing all six of our stops.
The number on the map refers to the day in the itinerary. Click to enlarge.

Check out our other diary of the 2011 Spirit of the West Cruise
on our support crew, Mark and Kathy McMillan's, web site at www.meadowsprings.com..

Top of Page