Photo TR: A "Scare-ibbean" October with TPR '11

[BeemerBoy]

Joe, I heard they had a specific design picked out for that plate, but the Marlin stole it and put it on their new uniforms.

 

Ross - Thanks.

 

Chuck - Will do. Although, it's Mexico, so I might be in search of the "singing bush" instead.

 

Good to see you're about as mature as Robb would be with those same stickers!

 

For all of you drooling over this report, start saving up and getting the time off for 2013 when we're going to do another awesome TPR Cruise!

In my defense, I was given the sticker, and did not specifically ask for it (although that doesn't really help my case any).

 

TPR Cruise 2013?! Does that mean we'll be traveling on Carnival's newest ship?

(credit: Maureen and ginzo)

 

 

 

Mayan Ruins coming soon....

Edited November 23, 2011 by BeemerBoy

[ginzo]

^Love it.

[moinab]

^^

[BeemerBoy]

It's finally time to step through that Mexican vortex and into the world of the Mayans, who believe it or not, actually still have many descendants living in the region. Throughout the following collection of pictures, I'll try and relate as much factual information about the ruins as I was able to retain........which is very little, but I'll do my best.

This is where Mel Gibson sacrificed Jews.

"Harrison Ford's a quarter Jewish....not too shabby."

The coconuts that fall from these trees can cure cancer. I'm told Mexicans are too lazy to harvest them. Therefore, I blame Mexico for cancer.

This is the first footer for their 2012 attraction. Robb, why was this not covered at IAAAAAPPAAAA?

See those coconuts? Yeah, blame Mexico.

What struck me the most is the forward thinking of their civilization. Case in point: these wonderful walkways.

Jim Morrison.

"Please don't listen to my husband."

"Listen to me instead. Feed me your first born....and some Skittles."

Plenty of room for expansion.

PVC? Yep, the Mayans.

Let's play "Find the Iguanas." Go...

An early game concept for The Price is Right. The contestant who picked the correct hole it climbed into won a Bob Barker stool sample.

"Seriously, please tell me you're not still listening to him."

Nickelback played this stage last week. Sorry, Mexico.

The thing on the wall is where it was predicted that George Lopez would be funny.

 

 

Nobody's perfect.

"The report's almost over.....right?

Same as it ever was.

Chuck, this didn't lead us to El Guapo. Perhaps it's one of those laughing plants with a taste for human blood?

The next several pictures or so will contain generic factual information.

The corner of this building means something because it has a face carved into it.

Here's a better look at it. You can see the facial features, including closed eyes.

Whereas, on the opposing corner, the eyes are depicted as open. I'm sorry though, I have absolutely no idea what that means.

I believe the figure on the bottom left depicts childbirth, with the baby holding onto the umbilical cord. This is as factual as it's gonna get, folks.

There's a form of hieroglyphics on this slab of stone....according to our guide, anyway.

"Your ignorance and poor retention of my nation's historical facts has brought about the clouds of death, which will be preceded by an invisible swarm of flesh eating mosquitoes. Guess you should have bought that Mexican OFF! huh, champ?....muahahaha."

"Save me, Tom Cruise!!"

We avoided death by heading to la playa.

"Whew, that was close."

Seriously, this beach was amazing.

"The iguana and I both agree."

This shows you how close to the cliff the main temple is.

The aforementioned temple.

And the view back behind it.

I set my backpack down for one second, and this guy tried to jump in it. I was not willing to smuggle any illegal aliens though. The price wasn't right.

Mega Iguana vs. __________

"Dad, I need that for school." "Sorry, son. I'm heading to Mexico on a Carnival cruise, and I need John Cena to protect my belongings."

A box lunch was provided on the bus ride back to the ferry.

I guess too many punks have tried to steal his Mexican Xbox. ("MexBox"?)

This picture makes me nauseous.

There is absolutely nothing stereotypical about this picture.

Yay!

Credit #3 of 5 for the trip. That'll do.

Hey, it's Renee....caked in mud from the ATV tour!

Norwegian has some of the ugliest ships on the sea.

Is Freedom of the Seas huge, you ask?

Towel Monkey!

Goodbye perfect Mexican beach and ruins.

Anyway, thanks for joining us at the Ruins. We'll be finishing up the cruise in our next segment of the show. =(

 

Until then, feel free to comment!

Edited November 23, 2011 by BeemerBoy

[moinab]

As if I didn't already love you as the brother I should have had, Talking Heads FTW!!!!!

[BeemerBoy]

^

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU

[moinab]

 

For the record, I was all set to lavish my praise upon the Skittles-loving iguana, before I saw the Talking Heads sign.

 

This report is so full of win, it's actually making up for the less-than-spectacular time we had, trapped in the room with various sleeping children!

 

 

By the way, don't know if you saw this when I posted it on my fb page, a while back. http://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/

[BeemerBoy]

^ No, I must have missed that link. Thanks for posting it!

 

 

Okay, so anyway, time to pull this bad boy into port. The following pictures are pretty much a potpourri of the last day at sea. Enjoy?

First of all, thanks to whoever snapped this one on Thursday (Dan or Hanno?). I appreciate it!

Same goes for this one (I'm guessing Robb got this?).

Okay, now it's time for the final day of the cruise.

Strawberry is good.

"I'm here to warn you that the lounge singer butchers everything. Seriously. Run."

Mosaics are cool. Bad captions aren't. Deal with it.

They should just ditch the master blasters and various water slides. Instead, I wanna see a ship install a speed river around an entire deck.

This may be the creepiest character I've ever seen in person.

And now for the segment, "Shannon tries THE salad."

"So many choices..."

"I'll have the monkey brains, please."

"Um, ma'am, are you sure??"

"One monkey brain salad coming right up. Enjoy!"

"I love monkey brains, Dr. Jones!"

They served penguin and polar bear for dessert.

No.

Hi, Joe!

That night, we all converged on this place for 2nd dinner. Or was it third? Fourth? I can't remember.

Joey and Amy rock!

Big Mike and Megan paper!

This is exactly how I imagined the soda fountains and diners of the 50's......run by a crew of Filipinos dancing to the sounds of the Bee Gees. It's like right out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Yep. This happened.

Psst, guys, we're all within earshot. There's really no need to text each other.

Shannon's hair? It was not windy out. It's the new style.

 

 

Four and three and two and one, and when I'm on the mic the suckers run....

Pimpin' ain't easy.

Caption contest. Go....

Yay, homelessness!

I like this picture, and I'm not sure why.

"Everyone say, 'bye bye'."

[ParkTrips]

and suddenly I don't miss being on the cruise.

 

Chanukah song ftw though

[Joe Cool]

I have finally caught up with all your updates, and hell yeah for the other Beastie Boys quote. Awesome pictures and captions. That slide of death at Margaritaville looks amazing. Looks like you guys had an awesome time!!

[BigDipper 80]

Oh how I want to go on another cruise. Even more so with Ohio winter weather coming up.

 

Also those photos of the Mexican ruins were cool. Though they were lacking in monorails. Alas.

[disneyfan1313]

It's so tough to look at the cruise trip reports!!! It makes me miss it sooooooooo much! I think we might have to do the ruins next time we hit Cozumel.. even with the scary boat ride..

[BeemerBoy]

^ I hear ya, Reed! We can't wait to be back at sea.

 

- Thanks, Joe (both of you)!

 

Also those photos of the Mexican ruins were cool. Though they were lacking in monorails. Alas.

A wise man once said, "We ain't goin' out like that." Well, I'm not either. I've got some Disney goodness that I skipped earlier in the report. And really, did you think I'd miss a chance to post at least one more monorail picture? Of course not!

 

First of all, here's a total report recap:

 

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Downtown Disney Marketplace

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Wilderness Lodge

Discovery Cove

Halloween Horror Nights 21 review

Aquatica

First day at sea

Labadee, Haiti

Montego Bay, Jamaica & the Margaritaville "slide of death"

Cozumel, Mayan Ruins, Margaritaville

Final Day at Sea

 

 

The story behind these pictures is simple. I'm a night owl. I also like night photography. Put 'em together, what a fine looking Jew. But seriously, I decided to go out late one night and try my hand at some cool shots around a couple of the resorts. I think some turned out okay, and many others will never see the light of day. The following are some of the "better" ones.....I think. Enjoy, and feel free to critique!

The best late night fuel there is. In fact, it's so good it can't be captured in a clear picture!

If you hadn't figured it out yet, we're at the Polynesian.

TRUE STORY: I was walking along the dock when this owl thought it would be funny to scare the everliving sh*t out of me. It jumped off the beach and flew up to that light post right in front of me. I'm pretty certain those are real laser beam eyes too.

Bay Lake Tower "Hidden Mickey"?

They run the monorail at 150mph after 12:30am.

See ya real soon.

Edited November 27, 2011 by BeemerBoy

[Meteornotes]

This has been an epic of epicness. Ice Bat & I approve.

 

dt

[ernierocker]

Pirates are in this year.

 

+1

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d3FMmxBoQo

Edited November 28, 2011 by ernierocker

[Hilltopper39]

Nickelback played this stage Thanksgiving Day. Sorry, Detroit.

 

Fixed

[Pirouettes907]

Scott, I've very much enjoyed reading through your trip report! Your pictures are very good (including the night shots in this last segment), but what I've liked most of all is that it feels like I'm reliving the cruise (and it's giving me ideas for the future--those Mayan ruins and adjoining beach are a MUST). It was wonderful meeting you and Shannon and I especially enjoyed talking with you each night at dinner!

 

Here's hoping we're all able to do this again someday!

[jray21]

What a horrible report! I can't believe I missed the entire thing. Sooooo depressing seeing it, but it was such an incredibly fun time. I can't wait for the next one. I'll sell a kidney if I have to. Great pictures!

[BeemerBoy]

^ Thanks, Joey!

 

it was such an incredibly fun time. I can't wait for the next one. I'll sell a kidney if I have to.

Well said, my friend. Well said.

 

This has been an epic of epicness. Ice Bat & I approve.

And I epically appreciate it!

 

Scott, I've very much enjoyed reading through your trip report! Your pictures are very good (including the night shots in this last segment), but what I've liked most of all is that it feels like I'm reliving the cruise (and it's giving me ideas for the future--those Mayan ruins and adjoining beach are a MUST). It was wonderful meeting you and Shannon and I especially enjoyed talking with you each night at dinner!

 

Here's hoping we're all able to do this again someday!

Thanks so much, Megan. It was wonderful meeting and talking to you each night as well. And hey, we were the lucky ones at dinner....we got the window, while Hector and Ginny got the creepy picture!

 

Those last two are probably my favorite monorail shots I've ever taken. And since you mentioned it, the tour we did was the "Tulum Beach Express Tour" booked through the ship, just in case anyone's interested in the future (definitely recommended by us).

 

 

Thanks again for all the great comments, folks!

[gisco]

I'm gone 1 week and you post 3 updates! Did you not check my schedule? I just spent the last half hour at work getting caught up.

 

I love reading these cruise updates. Some of those pictures are absolutely stunning. One of these days I will finally go on a cruise.

 

ratio approved!

[Chroniq]

Mr.Brooks, thank you for finally taking a photo of the ghost monorail. Thanks for this awesome trip report.

[BeemerBoy]

Bob and Chris - Thanks, guys. Hope to see you both on a cruise in the future!

[Coaster Palooza]

HOLY CRAP! What a trip, and Trip Report. Thanks for putting all the time into it and making this so entertaining Scott.

 

We love Halloween, it is my favorite Holiday. I know it doesn't excite you, but I love the time of year.

 

I have never been on a cruise yet and it looks like a good time when you're with good friends. Thanks for the tips about Discovery Cove too. I don't know when we'll get to Orlando again, but it is something to look into. You and Shannon have made me "comfortable" with water parks.

 

Wish we could have been there! Great job again

[nay]

This is one of my favorite trip reports ever. I miss the cruise and everyone!

[cfc]

You inspired me to finally finish my TR last night (after my post-Thanksgiving food coma had dissipated. The ruins looked particularly cool (have to check those out the next time I'm in Cozumel).