Senior Travel

 “Viajar es vivir” is a Hispanic dicho or proverb. It means “to travel is to live.” I can’t think of any philosophy of life more appropriate for seniors.

 Stella and I recently made a fourteen day cruise to Hawaii with 2598 other passengers. At least 90 percent of them could be called seniors. There were about fifteen teenagers; very few kids that I could tell; and the rest were young adults or middle aged.

 Discounting the food, which the seniors gobbled down with an amazing alacrity, they participated in a myriad of activities. They certainly utilized the exercise facilities.

 The several dance floors were filled with them. They even took dance lessons from ballroom to line dancing. Since we were going to Hawaii, the hula was a favorite for lessons.

 Ukulele lessons? You betcha. They even put on a recital composed of hula dancers, singers and ukulele players. Another group of volunteer singers put on a concert in the piazza.

 One thing, above all other activities, that seniors participated in was reading. Every senior seamed to have a book in hand.

 All cruise ships have extensive libraries. Why else but for seniors? From serious books to romance and mystery, they (we) are always reading.

 They dress up, attend all shows, get their pictures taken, watch movies and football games. The Golden Princess has a huge outdoor screen, so there was a constant screening of movies and sporting events.

 They make leis, learn how to fold napkins, play bingo, gamble at the casino, go to the art auction, shop ‘till they drop-on land and on the ship-attend AA, service clubs, Bible studies, single groups, keep the bars busy and sing at karaoke.

 The biggest attractions for everyone are the Las Vegas type shows, lectures and performances by entertainers.

 Of the fourteen days at sea, rough weather characterized ten of them. The storms were so bad that we could not dock at Kawai: 40-45 mile an hour winds and 15-20 feet high waves. We also could not dock at Maui. The floods were so bad all streets were covered with mud and no electricity on the island. Weather is unpredictable everywhere.

 There were several highlights for me. First, we had a handicapped room twice the size of a regular room; a large balcony, a king sized bed, doors big enough for a walker or wheelchair or scooter; and best of all, a bath room and shower four times the size of the usual ones. Wow!!

 Second, the lectures by Dr. Sharron Faff were outstanding. She lives on the Big Island and is a Naturalist and Geologist. She really knows the islands. They are three to four million years old: their historical development since the Polynesian invasion; their take-over by Christian missionaries and descendants and the natural disasters. She covered all of them.

 Joshua Seth is a lecturer on hypnotism and mentalism. He’s also an outstanding entertainer. Every performance was greeted by a packed out house. He thrilled the audience with his knowledge.

 Third, and most impressive for me, a retired minister, were the worship services (2) conducted by the cruise director, David Bradshawe. A former actor and Anglican Churchwarden, he has been with Princess for many years. He even provided copies of the services for the worshipers.

 Perhaps the best thing about a cruise is the many new friends you meet. Too many to mention, but you know who you are.

 I cannot think of a better way to have a vacation than by taking a cruise-anywhere.

Amen. Selah. So be it.

WORDS TO THINK ABOUT

G. W. Abersold Ph.D.