Colleen and Norma Wicks left Speers March 12 for their trip to Hawaii, flying from Saskatoon to Denver, then on to San Diego where they spent the night. They left San Diego the next day on the Holland America ship Vaandam. The ship held 1,400 passengers and 600 crew members. The weather, when they left on their cruise, was +16 and sunny. They were on the ocean for four and a half days and five nights before arriving at Hilo, Hawaii. While on board ship they had delicious food, excellent service and lots of entertainment.
In Hilo they went ashore and did a bit of shopping. The next day they had a helicoptor ride over the island, then back to the ship. They left for Honolulu, Oaho, where they took a Little Circle Island Tour by bus and saw beautiful scenery. In the afternoon they went to a luau. Here they enjoyed a pig roast feast, hulu dancers and other activities and a beautiful sunset. Setting sail again, March 21, they arrived in Lahaina, Maui. First thing on the agenda was a bus tour called From Valley to Ocean. This was a great tour of the countryside. They also saw whales in the ocean.
They stopped at Maui Ocean Center Aquarium to see the many tropical Hawaiian fish and other sea creatures. They said it was spectacular.
Two people that were on the cruise with Norm and Colleen celebrated birthdays during the trip. Art Flath celebrated at the luau on March 20 and Doreen Flath (both from Borden) celebrated March 25 on board ship. The restaurant staff served a special birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday in the Philippino language. Arden Body entertained with his cowboy poetry and later they took in a dessert extravaganza, which was mostly chocolate.
Other entertainment on the ship included: the Vaandam Sngers and Dancers; Justin Miller who sang and played his custom-made guitar; Lee Bayless, comedian; Sean O'Shea, impersonator; three women from Australia called Maske who played a violin and cello concert; Olympic gymnast Lance Ringwald, with his amazing acrobatics; and Annie Francis, an Australian singer.
In the evening March 21, they left for San Diego. On the return voyage home, they stopped in Ensenada, Mexico for the evening March 26. They went ashore to enjoy a Mexican fiesta with dancers, a Mexican band and other entertainment. Returning to the ship, they carried on to San Diego, then flew back to Saskatoon via Denver. Their son and daughter-in-law Clinton and Kerrie Thomas met them at the airport and Colleen and Norman stayed overnight, arriving home in Speers, March 28.
Those that were on the tour with Colleen and Norman Wicks of Speers from our area were Art and Doreen Flath and Ed and Florence Neufeldt from Borden, Gus and Darlene Kindt of Radisson, Arden and Irene Body and Marv and Marj Thume of Luseland. Everyone enjoyed their Hawaiian cruise very much.
