Surprise Birthday cruise

[Baddabing]

Just wondering, I very recently book a short quick 4 day cruise. It's less than 2 weeks away and I have not told my wife yet. I know my wife and she will be thrilled.  Just not sure when I should let her know that we are not going on a casino boat but a short cruise ship. I figured she just needs a couple of days notice. Am I wrong? Caveat: we are not newly weds, we have been marry many years.

[Shaded Lady]

You know your wife best of all... if she's the type of person who needs to prepare for a cruise, surprising her at the dock is not a good idea... maybe you could take her out to a nice dinner a few days before your cruise and surprise her then?

[May1cruiser]

How quickly can she be ready and packed? The ultimate would be the morning of. 

And you can have room decorated, etc...

[Baddabing]

49 minutes ago, Shaded Lady said:

You know your wife best of all... if she's the type of person who needs to prepare for a cruise, surprising her at the dock is not a good idea... maybe you could take her out to a nice dinner a few days before your cruise and surprise her then?

I wouldn't wait until we are at the dock. It's 11 days away just trying to get an idea as to when it would be to short notice.

[gatour]

By casino boat, I imagine you are talking a day type trip.

 

For a cruise, I would give her a heads up at least in general terms. 

 

For our 7 day honeymoon cruise, I told her several months in advance, pack for seven days for a warm weather place.  Including clothes for two formal nights.  Plus have her passport.  I suspect she figured that most likely it would be a cruise, but there was a chance flying to a Caribbean Island.   After the reception, while driving down to Cocoa Beach for our pre cruise hotel stay I told her that we are doing a cruise.  The cruise was leaving out of Ft Lauderdale the next day.

 

Lo and behold, the one thing she forgot to "pack" was her passport.  Mind you this was 20 years ago.  She used her cell phone to contact her sister who had a key to my now wife's house.  SIL found the passport and started to drive south, while we drove north.  We met up with the SIL at a still existing Exxon/Burger King in Daytona Beach.  Let's just say I was not happy as we drove down to Ft Lauderdale, with my fingers crossed that we didn't encounter traffic issues.  We made it.

[ZoeyVictoria]

I would be very happy to be surprised with a cruise, but I would absolutely want enough time to get my nails done (and possibly my hair) and pack in a leisurely manner.  I suggest a week’s notice.

[PhillyFan33579]

Every relationship is different, but if I did that to my wife of 31 years not sure I would make it to 32 years 😊. 

[Baddabing]

1 hour ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I would be very happy to be surprised with a cruise, but I would absolutely want enough time to get my nails done (and possibly my hair) and pack in a leisurely manner.  I suggest a week’s notice.

She just did her nails yesterday so that should not be a problem. I'm thinking 6 days notice should be enough. It's only a 4 night cruise. 

[Baddabing]

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Every relationship is different, but if I did that to my wife of 31 years not sure I would make it to 32 years 😊. 

Well 8 years ago I surprised her for our 30th and said we were going to NY. I took her to Vegas the New York New York casino hotel. Then from there 2  weeks in the Islands of Hawaii. She was in tears (of joy). She needs another good surprise. 

[clo]

1 hour ago, Baddabing said:

Well 8 years ago I surprised her for our 30th and said we were going to NY. I took her to Vegas the New York New York casino hotel. Then from there 2  weeks in the Islands of Hawaii. She was in tears (of joy). She needs another good surprise. 

I'd rather be in the REAL NYC but to each his/her own.

[ldubs]

6 hours ago, Baddabing said:

Just wondering, I very recently book a short quick 4 day cruise. It's less than 2 weeks away and I have not told my wife yet. I know my wife and she will be thrilled.  Just not sure when I should let her know that we are not going on a casino boat but a short cruise ship. I figured she just needs a couple of days notice. Am I wrong? Caveat: we are not newly weds, we have been marry many years.

 

I have no idea how many days, but think it terrific you are doing this surprise.   

 

[janetz]

Tell her the morning before so she can prepare 😊

 

[cabin4three]

I would need at least a month's notice to arrange childcare and time off work, if I didn't need to do that then about 7 day's notice would be ok. 

 

[TX Cruise Girl]

If it were my husband I would like  4-5 days notice.  Great gift!  She's very lucky.

[Cruiser_1977]

You seem to be a thoughtful husband 🙂

 

I'm going to assume you are leaving on a Friday? Does she work? If so, that means if you tell her Thursday morning she won't have a full day to run errands/pack. I'd tell her Wednesday morning (again, assuming Friday embarkation). Maybe have a card with a picture of the ship inside.

 

If it were me (and I have the vacation time) I can be ready for a week away in about 30 minutes, you could tell me Friday morning upon waking. I may have to swap some things that were packed for the casino trip but it wouldn't be a big change!

[DarrenM]

really surprise her, go without her.

[ldubs]

1 minute ago, DarrenM said:

really surprise her, go without her.

 

Just don't plan on coming back home!  Hahah

[shipgeeks]

If it were me, I would absolutely hate not knowing as far ahead as possible.  Half the joy is the pre-planning/fantasizing/reading my roll call.

But I guess some people like surprises.  

[puppycanducruise]

You know your wife, we don't.

Hope you both have a great time.

[cb at sea]

Yes...she will want advance notice, I'm sure.  If hubby were to spring a cruise on me, and HE packed for ME.....good intentions can have bad outcomes.

 

Tell her several days ahead of time, so she can prepare!

[clo]

12 hours ago, cabin4three said:

if I didn't need to do that then about 7 day's notice would be ok. 

A week's notice for a four day trip?  If no work or child care issues?  A four day trip requires almost nothing of me.  What would you be doing? 🙂  

[Baddabing]

53 minutes ago, cb at sea said:

Yes...she will want advance notice, I'm sure.  If hubby were to spring a cruise on me, and HE packed for ME.....good intentions can have bad outcomes.

 

Tell her several days ahead of time, so she can prepare!

I would never do her packing. And yes, I will tell her a few days before. 

[Baddabing]

2 minutes ago, clo said:

A week's notice for a four day trip?  If no work or child care issues?  A four day trip requires almost nothing of me.  What would you be doing? 🙂  

Your exactly correct. If I tell her to soon she will start going bonkers for no big reason. I feel this is just like a weekend getaway. Don't need that much notice. Last time we did a big cruise and trip was a month and to west coast (San Francisco,  Seattle and then Alaska). For that we both took moths to prepare. 

[back to the islands]

For my 50th birthday my husband surprised me with our first cruise- to HA. The cruise was after my bday, but the presentation was wonderful. I woke up and he had tiki torches around the bed, tiki lights, a basket with cruise info and a layout of the ship, and a couple of Hawaiian things he'd gotten at a party store. It was the BEST surprise! Do something like that a few days before the cruise and I bet she will love it!

 

[DarrenM]

That sounds like bloody hard work.

 

And just think how disappointed she will be next year when its back to socks. And cheap bottle of wine.

 

Don't do it. You will never ever live up to the expectations.