Solo on the Grandeur - Semi-live

[maureencruiser]

You may have noticed, in the shot of Stewart's cake, RC had left me a gift. Here is a better picture.

 

 

It is very good quality, nice, thick paper.

 

 

Since I don't have any cruise plans for 2014, I decided to open it to my birthday month, September, and see if the calendar would tell me where I should be.

 

 

 

 

Oasis! OK!!

 

Then, I noticed they had highlighted my birthday! This really was a collector's edition!!

 

 

 

 

Then, I flipped to the back and realized it was Rosh Hashanah. :o

 

 

It has some really nice pictures - I have been on two of these ships.

 

 

 

 

Oasis and Allure.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Another tadalafil commercial.

 

 

 

 

Hmmm, it looks like if I say it generically, it might get by the censors at CC. As a side note, let me add that in the pharmacy, we enjoy the TADA of this medication. Look, Honey, I took a pill----TADA!!

 

 

After that was the Walk for Wishes, by then, it was downright cold and windy. Congrats to those that walked. I went up there to take a few pics and I was freezing in my sundress, but, I was on a cruise and I was determined to wear it.

 

 

 

This man picked up a small child to try and stay warm.

 

 

 

Even the crew got in on it.

 

 

 

 

Most creative use of a t-shirt. Look at Santa in the shorts, it's not cold to him.

 

 

 

Back in the Centrum, it was the final rehearsal for the Thriller dance. These people worked hard all week to get it right and we on the sidelines could see them improving every day.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the way, the floor wasn't really wet, it was covered in cake frosting.

 

 

 

 

Next up was the World's Sexiest Man contest - you know I had a front row seat.

 

 

First up, my friend from Wisconsin.

 

 

 

 

Looking sharp!

 

 

 

 

That's how they do it in Wisconsin.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Ladies and gentlemen, we got us a bad boy!

 

 

 

 

Oh, yeah!

 

 

 

 

Who's enjoying this more, the judges or Darryl? Look at judge #2's face!

 

 

 

 

Yeah, that's right, smile for Mama.

 

 

 

 

A few more contestants, my mind was already made up.

 

 

 

 

This is the man who did the split last night, but, I didn't recognize him or I would have been ready with the camera.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Don't count Grandpa out, he's in good shape!

 

 

 

 

One armed pushups!!

 

 

 

 

Hamming it up for the judges then he did the split.

 

 

 

 

This guy, Darryl seemed to be coaching him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working it for the judges.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

The Drink of the Day - I don't know what it was, but, I got to keep the glass.

 

 

 

 

Another contestant, I thought I knew this guy from my roll call, so, I took a ton of pictures. Turns out, it wasn't him, so, this guy probably thinks I have a cane fetish.

 

 

 

This guy had three $100 bills tucked into his belt for the judges. And yes, he did make them give it back.

 

 

 

 

This guy looked sweet going in, kind of like Tim Conway.

 

 

 

 

Then, this happened. He got judge #2 so excited, her shoes flew off! I think he had jingle bells sewn onto his underwear, but, I'm not sure.

 

 

 

 

Waiting for the first elimination.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

 

 

The next round, do ten push ups. First up was the bad boy, Angel. I think he is more of a devil!

 

 

He got judge #3 involved. That looks hard, doing pushups with your legs up in the air.

 

 

 

 

Yup, looks hard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sigh!

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Now, the $100 bills were tucked behind him.

 

 

 

 

He knew how to work the judges.

 

 

 

 

This guy, again. He's got a bit of a belly on him, but, he'll be all right.

 

 

 

 

He's doing it!

 

 

 

Struggling a little towards the end.

 

 

 

 

Now, he can't get up!

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Luckily, one of the judges was a nurse.

 

 

 

 

Checking to see if his heart was still beating.

 

 

 

 

Next up was muscle inspection.

 

 

Dreads was more wiry than muscular.

 

 

 

 

Somehow, all three judges found time to inspect Angel.

 

 

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Next up, the interview portion. I like this picture with all the people on the staircase.

 

 

 

Oh, and because Angel's in it, too.

 

 

 

 

Angel makes all the ladies smile.

 

 

 

 

Dreads.

 

 

 

 

He's alive!

 

 

 

 

The guy I thought I knew.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

The final cut.

 

 

 

 

Work it, work it!

 

 

 

Now, I know it looks like those barriers were put up to keep the ladies off the men, but, they were put up to keep the people off the cake and they just didn't take them down yet.

 

Angel, posing for me. Damn barriers, get out of the way.

 

 

 

 

 

You're blocking all the good parts!

 

 

 

 

I hope you ladies appreciate all the hard work I do on these cruises. It isn't easy taking pics of good looking men and making life size posters out of them when I get home.

 

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

The guy I thought I knew.

 

 

 

 

Working that cane.

 

 

 

 

The final two, cane guy wiping away a tear.

 

 

 

 

Angel, getting choked up at the thought that he may be the World's Sexiest Man (he gets my vote, for sure).

 

 

 

Both contestants are nervous now.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

The winner!

 

 

 

Gratuitous hug.

 

 

 

 

She better get off my man!

 

 

But, there are no losers on the Lady G, everyone gets a towel and a key chain!

 

[maureencruiser]

Wow! Who knew they had birthday parties. I wonder when the other ships' birthdays are

 

Google is your friend! I never had a birthday party for a ship before, either.

 

Maureen, Your pics of Quest really made me laugh. I hope the new cruisers realize after they've viewed your photos, they must gouge out their eyes, sew their lips shut and never reveal what they've seen!

 

Oh yes, I knew I was taking quite a risk in revealing anything. I still may have to go into the Witness Protection Program. This was probably the mildest Quest I've ever been at, though. While I'm thinking about it, a shout out is in order for Turtle, who attended karaoke before Quest and got us those awesome seats. (She's cool like that!) :D

[Yorkvillain]

I can't believe I just looked at every picture of the sexiest man contest. I am going to go back and look at the girls on the beach in bikinis and santa hats because....well, just because.

[maureencruiser]

I can't believe I just looked at every picture of the sexiest man contest. I am going to go back and look at the girls on the beach in bikinis and santa hats because....well, just because.

 

 

You don't have to prove your manhood to me! You can appreciate a good looking man. :)

[maureencruiser]

For Vorkvillain.

 

 

 

[Yorkvillain]

For Vorkvillain.

 

 

 

 

For Yorkvillain:

 

 

[WetToes]

I see they're taken someone off the ship for a medical emergency. Sad.

[cruise pup]

Enjoying this report. You even reminded me that I have an unused Universal Studios Orlando pass which I bought years ago. I contacted them and they said it was still valid so I'll book the transfer ($35. r/t isn't bad). The ticket is a 2-day pass but I paid the same price you'd pay for a 1-day pass now, so it works out fine. So thank you. I would never have remembered about it if you didn't post. Just too bad I get there the day after the xmas stuff is over.:(

[A&L_Ont]

Andrew, You always say the nicest things! Thank You!!

 

Thanks Maureen.:)

 

I just finished all 15 pages of your review. Wonderful so far and it looks like there is more to come. You know, they should combine the butterfly conservation location with the cats from Hemmingway's. It would be rather interesting but it wouldn't be combined for long. The cats would win. I would like to be there the first day it opens though.:D

 

On a personal note have a wonderful Christmas Maureen. Best wishes for the New Year and may it be filled with lots of cruises!

 

Andrew

[cruise pup]

For Vorkvillain.

 

 

 

 

They're on the Allure, not the Grandeur. Right? Don't try this at home. I tried and now my downstairs neighbor can see into my apartment.

Edited December 24, 2013 by cruise pup

[maureencruiser]

You know, they should combine the butterfly conservation location with the cats from Hemmingway's. It would be rather interesting but it wouldn't be combined for long. The cats would win. I would like to be there the first day it opens though.Andrew

 

For anyone interested, here is a picture of Andrew. This should explain why he wants them combined. :p

 

 

 

God Bless You, Andrew, more next year than this! :)

 

 

They're on the Allure, not the Grandeur. Right? Don't try this at home. I tried and now my downstairs neighbor can see into my apartment.

 

Yes, (sigh) My boyfriends are on the Allure. :D

[wrp96]

Maureen, as always thank you for sacrificing your time to get all the pictures for us. I'm sure it was quite the hardship and a burden but you are truly a humanitarian on our behalf.:D

[maureencruiser]

Maureen, as always thank you for sacrificing your time to get all the pictures for us. I'm sure it was quite the hardship and a burden but you are truly a humanitarian on our behalf.:D

 

It was exhausting, I'm glad you appreciated it. :D