Gifts that "hint" of Cruise

[jmcancruise]

DH's birthday in next Saturday. I haven't booked a cruise, but have put enough money aside to do it. So, for his birthday I have made up a scrapbook page with an announcement of plans for a cruise and a request for him to help me choose one to book. I know he would figure out presents like sunscreen, bonine etc. pretty much immediatly. My biggest problem is waiting till next Saturday. I am so excited.

[rjeffler]

We did a surprise cruise one January and I gave everyone matching shirts for Christmas. Of course, the kids were teenagers at the time and they were horrified, but I made them wear them to get on the boat! They were actually really cute Hawaiian shirts that I still have to this day (almost 10 years later). Anyway, they opened the matching shirts and those had the cruise info in the pockets. Quite a surprise for all! We were also known as the 'Shirt Family' for the entire cruise. They still talk about that trip and smile so I know they enjoyed it and the memories!

[HisWife1908]

This probably isn't what you had in mind, but we gave our kids a cruise for Christmas. We had personalized M&Ms made up like you see for weddings. We picked four colors that were various shades of blueish green (like the ocean). On them, we had printed "we are going"..."on a cruise"...August 6, 2011" and on the fourth color we had a ship printed on it. The idea turned out better than we thought. Each got a bag and they all opened them at once. The apprehension of waiting to see who would pick up on the wording first was excruciating for my wife and I, but in a good way. For days after, every time one of them grabbed a few M&Ms, it brought up excited discussions about the cruise.

 

Good luck, whatever you choose to do!

r

 

That is an absolutely awesome idea!

[crusinpsychRN]

Change the phone ring tone to the ship horn!

 

My son just called me and we were talking about the guy in the mexican jail when he suddenly made the "doink" when you board. He sounded just like that.

[Bimmie Girl]

I did this for my husbands 60th birthday to suprise him.

 

the first gift he opened was an under water camera. (for swimming with the dolphins in Caymans)

 

the next gift, was a new pair of flip flops. (for the beach in Cozumel)

 

the next was suntan lotion and bug spray. (for the zip line in Jamaica)

 

He did not have a clue after he opened all 3 so i gave him the main gift in a shirt box: I made a note book with his passport, luggage tags, and all the information about our cruise including the excursions i had booked, spa treatment, wine package, and reservations at the Point. Everything was paid for, which for him was the main gift, LOL He was totally shocked!!!

[shook]

We had cruised with Carnival before and I had one of those souvenir plastic tall glasses with "Fun Ships" logo on it. When I took him out for his birthday dinner, I slipped the glass to the bartender. My husband ordered a beer but they brought him a Caesar (like a bloody mary) in the glass. It was agony waiting for him to see the logo on the glass. I finally turned it towards him when he went to the washroom and he noticed after he had finished the drink. Took a while for him to clue in but it was fun!

[MiamiSpartan]

A Lanyard???

:D

[o-state girl]

The Lanyard is to hold your ship key/onboard credit card. I would also suggest getting him an insulated mug with some sort of tropical design on it. The little cups provided for tea and lemonade are just never big enough, and I get tired of going back for refills:)

[BURNS1]

there are a few wines that would hint of the beach. One I can think of right now is Flip Flop. I'm sure there are others.

[JSCruiser]

A shoe organizer to hang over the bathroom door to keep toiletries organized? A bungee cord for a balcony cabin?

The Poseidon Adventure DVD

 

What are your ports of call? If Cozumel is one of your ports, buy something from the Mexican aisle at the grocery store...Our store has a lot of Mexican sodas in tropical sounding flavors for about a dollar a bottle.

San Juan-Bacardi Rum.

[KentuckyKat]

All great ideas. I ordered a set of love boat DVDs and today I got a four DVD set of Oceans 11 movies (for the name, not the plot). Also found out that Casino Royale was filmed in Nassau, but we saw that recently so probably won't buy it.

 

Ports are key west, Nassau and Freeport. I got key lime pie flavored gum to go with the salt water taffy and life savers.

 

I used to have a fun ship glass, but can't find it! But I am getting close to finishing a list of 40 gifts, just a couple more!!

 

Thanks for sharing all the great ideas!!

[Meyer2]

All great ideas. I ordered a set of love boat DVDs and today I got a four DVD set of Oceans 11 movies (for the name, not the plot). Also found out that Casino Royale was filmed in Nassau, but we saw that recently so probably won't buy it.

 

Ports are key west, Nassau and Freeport. I got key lime pie flavored gum to go with the salt water taffy and life savers.

 

I used to have a fun ship glass, but can't find it! But I am getting close to finishing a list of 40 gifts, just a couple more!!

 

Thanks for sharing all the great ideas!!

 

Can't wait to hear how it goes when he opens them all! :)

 

We decided that as part of the gifts we give to the kids to reveal the family cruise, we would give them each an item to sort of relate to the port. Our youngest is totally into monkeys, so we will get him a new monkey for his collection (Isla Roatan), for our daughter, fish earings and/or necklace (Belize), and our oldest son, loves Taco Bell, LOL, so figured a little gift card from there. (Cozumel)

 

Still working on a few more things, can't wait!

[KentuckyKat]

In case anyone else is looking for ideas, I thought I'd post the final 40-gift list we came up with (from all your great ideas) for my DH's 40th b-day. The gifts are all inexpensive or something we would have bought anyway and all have something to do with his "real" gift - a cruise for just the 2 of us on Fantasy to Key West, Nassau, Freeport - and they are supposed to be in a progression from more subtle to more obvious:

 

1. sushi (we love sushi and haven't cruised since CCL opened sushi bars)

2. itunes gift card with a "summer" music list compiled from posts on CC

3. double-walled insulated glass from Starbucks

4. Dick's gift card (he will assume for golf, but can use for snorkel stuff)

5. sunglasses (a kiddie pair that he can "trade-in" for the real thing)

6. binoculars ($20 - Walmart - he can return and get better pair if he wants)

7. Jimmy Buffet CD ($5)

8. 4-movie DVD set of Oceans 11, 12, etc. movies ($10)

9. softside insulated 12-pack cooler (free from local bank)

10. t-shirt that says "Everything is good on the water" ($5) (really a fishing shirt so he will not automatically think cruise)

11. Love Boat DVD set

12. magazines or magazine subscription (to represent reading material)

13. 2 bottles sunscreen (a staple in our house)

14. wind-up water-proof flashlight ($5)

15. Key Lime Pie

16. stack of $1 bills

17. 2 margarita glasses

18. UK Lanyard (could be for his work ID)

19. small travel tools (total $5)

20. single white towel (this will really confuse him:confused:)

21. SPF lip balm

22. mounds bars (coconut)

23. heart-shaped box of candy with a picture of an iguana on the front (Crazy find! Represents romance and our first ever cruise port (Belize) where we took picture of huge iguana on sidewalk;))

24. tums

25. dive sticks (kids can take to pool this summer)

26. Cracker Barrel gift card and free Cracker Barrel travel map (b/c we will drive to the port)

27. deck of cards with beach scene

28. key lime flavored gum

29. cheap beach towel (w/ 3 kids can't have too many beach towels)

30. travel air fresheners in ocean/beach scents

31. box of "room stuff" - three outlet plug, highlighters for Fun Times, little magnet hooks for hanging lanyard (:confused: saw suggestion on CC packing list)

32. beach bag ($1 or $2 at Cracker Barrel)

33. water shoes

34. box of travel bath stuff (contact solution, etc.)

35. little drink umbrellas and coconut cup from party supply store

36. sea salt and _____ ???? (old bay seasoning or shrimp or salmon??)

37. small plastic fish and sea shells (DD's contribution;))

38. beach/pool toys (shovel, floaties . . .)

39. underwater disposable camera

40. bonine (this is the first thing that he will see as definitely CRUISE related instead of summer or beach or general travel)

and one to grow on . . .

41. piece of paper with pictures and information outlining details of the cruise:D

 

Now I just have to pick up a few more things on the list and get them all wrapped. Can't wait!!!!

[cruzin lady]

I don't believe anyone has mentioned the waterproof pouches for going to the beach or pool. I'm not sure where to get them--maybe online in travel supply companies, perhaps at a drug store, maybe at the big

discount stores.

Have fun; such a great idea!:D

[Meyer2]

In case anyone else is looking for ideas, I thought I'd post the final 40-gift list we came up with (from all your great ideas) for my DH's 40th b-day. The gifts are all inexpensive or something we would have bought anyway and all have something to do with his "real" gift - a cruise for just the 2 of us on Fantasy to Key West, Nassau, Freeport - and they are supposed to be in a progression from more subtle to more obvious:

 

1. sushi (we love sushi and haven't cruised since CCL opened sushi bars)

2. itunes gift card with a "summer" music list compiled from posts on CC

3. double-walled insulated glass from Starbucks

4. Dick's gift card (he will assume for golf, but can use for snorkel stuff)

5. sunglasses (a kiddie pair that he can "trade-in" for the real thing)

6. binoculars ($20 - Walmart - he can return and get better pair if he wants)

7. Jimmy Buffet CD ($5)

8. 4-movie DVD set of Oceans 11, 12, etc. movies ($10)

9. softside insulated 12-pack cooler (free from local bank)

10. t-shirt that says "Everything is good on the water" ($5) (really a fishing shirt so he will not automatically think cruise)

11. Love Boat DVD set

12. magazines or magazine subscription (to represent reading material)

13. 2 bottles sunscreen (a staple in our house)

14. wind-up water-proof flashlight ($5)

15. Key Lime Pie

16. stack of $1 bills

17. 2 margarita glasses

18. UK Lanyard (could be for his work ID)

19. small travel tools (total $5)

20. single white towel (this will really confuse him:confused:)

21. SPF lip balm

22. mounds bars (coconut)

23. heart-shaped box of candy with a picture of an iguana on the front (Crazy find! Represents romance and our first ever cruise port (Belize) where we took picture of huge iguana on sidewalk;))

24. tums

25. dive sticks (kids can take to pool this summer)

26. Cracker Barrel gift card and free Cracker Barrel travel map (b/c we will drive to the port)

27. deck of cards with beach scene

28. key lime flavored gum

29. cheap beach towel (w/ 3 kids can't have too many beach towels)

30. travel air fresheners in ocean/beach scents

31. box of "room stuff" - three outlet plug, highlighters for Fun Times, little magnet hooks for hanging lanyard (:confused: saw suggestion on CC packing list)

32. beach bag ($1 or $2 at Cracker Barrel)

33. water shoes

34. box of travel bath stuff (contact solution, etc.)

35. little drink umbrellas and coconut cup from party supply store

36. sea salt and _____ ???? (old bay seasoning or shrimp or salmon??)

37. small plastic fish and sea shells (DD's contribution;))

38. beach/pool toys (shovel, floaties . . .)

39. underwater disposable camera

40. bonine (this is the first thing that he will see as definitely CRUISE related instead of summer or beach or general travel)

and one to grow on . . .

41. piece of paper with pictures and information outlining details of the cruise:D

 

Now I just have to pick up a few more things on the list and get them all wrapped. Can't wait!!!!

 

Great job!

[footballbabe3]

I just kinda did the same thing. I big beach towel with a palm tree, suntain lotion+ I also purchased the sports bag from Carnival and cut out the picture and taped it to the inside of his card. That way he can use all these things on our cruise. It was easy for me because our cruise is soon.

Have Fun With It!!

[KentuckyKat]

Hey everyone - DH's birthday was last week and he opened his 40 gifts Friday night! I ended up having each of our 4 children give him 10 gifts each. It was really neat!

 

When he saw all the gifts, he thought they were all age-related gag gifts. Then when he opened the first few and they were real gifts he was shocked, after about 10 he got a "summer" theme, and after 20 he saw the "travel" theme, then after about 30 he realized a lot of them were "cruise" related, but he just assumed it was all related to our family cruise we have booked for the fall (will be our first cruise w/ the kids). He NEVER thought of the possibility that I had booked a cruise just for the two of us. Even when he opened the last present (a piece of paper with details of the b-day cruise) he was still confused! Then he was soooooo excited when he realized it was a totally separate cruise just for the two of us!

 

Really, it went better than I could have hoped and I am soooooo proud of myself for keeping it a secret since February! Now he has 3 months to plan excursions, etc. because we don't sail until July. Perfect timing! He is already doing research on the CC port boards!

 

Thanks for all the great ideas! (And for keeping me company during the secret!) And good luck to everyone else who is sitting on a surprise cruise!

[MadMark]

Yeah, Yeah, she got me, end of story!

 

LOL! What a great gift from a GREAT wife! Thanks Sweetie!!

[Meyer2]

Yay! Glad to hear how it went! Enjoy!

[jules1121]

My DH has the Carnival theme song as his ringtone :rolleyes:

 

Glad the suprise went great and happy birthday to your DH!!! :)

 

I think these are great ideas here! I would love to do something like that for DH's birthday but I am not ready to leave our younger child yet for the length of a cruise. So for now all cruises are family cruises and I can't afford a family cruise for his bday but I have thought long and hard about it.:p