Need ideas for fun group cruise

[Florida_cruisers]

I am planning a group cruise for our family and a few friends. So far we have 17 people coming with us on an 11 night cruise next year on the Jewel of the Seas.

 

What can I do on the ship to make it memorable and fun for us as a group? I know the cruise itself will be a blast and just having all of us together at once (which NEVER happens. The last time it happened was 7 years ago at my wedding), but I wanted to see what I can do/plan to make it extra special.

 

I am thinking of printing sheets with everyone's cabins so that we all know where the rest of the group is, though we are on the same deck.

 

Is there anything you can think of that I can do during dinner one night to mark our special event? it is not anyone's birthday though....

 

Need ideas.

[Iris5383]

What I think of right away is get matching shirts with a cool saying on them, like "The Smith Family Cruise" or "Barbados or Bust" or "Connors' from Colorado", something that fits your group. Or maybe just matching Hawaiian-print shirts. Just something cool to wear that shows you are all together.

 

Have a great time. This is something I would like to do with my family & friends. All that's stopping us is time and money. :)

Laura

[FLKerry]

I am kind of doing the same thing - have friends we met last year on a cruise flying in from all over the country (and some other friends). I am making each couple a small bag which contains(all bought at $ store): a highlighter, travel size tissues, travel size hand sanitizer, tide stick and I printed up a fact sheet on each port we are going to. I am also considering making bottle koozies for everyone. I found a site that I can make them customized for the group! Also, we are doing a group photo on formal night. No one has to purchase it, but they have that chance if they want to.

[notentirelynormal]

I always do up newsletters and send them out periodically keeping everyone jazzed about what's going on. If some one has asked a question that I think others might want to know that's in there too. I research shore excursions and let people know the ones that are available and which ones I think they might like. I also keep track of who signs up for what so that if "A" says he wants to go but "B" doesn't then "A" can maybe go with "C" and "B" can do something with "D" and everyone is happy. We try to do at least one excursion together.

 

We also do group t-shirts that every wears the day we get on the ship. Sometimes I do other things. Right now I'm drinking water out of a personalized cruise coffee mug, but I've done hats too. I also put together at least one private party - two if the cruise is longer - where everyone wear's their shirts and we all get together and talk and talk and talk. Always fun. Everyone chips in for their self. I make business cards that list everyone's name, their cabin and how to dial them. Believe me, you forget who's in what cabin, even if its next door when you go to dial that number.

 

If everyone is coming from one location I arrange transportation to and from the airport. Believe it or not, hiring a 54 person bus (even for 18 people) can be cheaper and much less hassle then doing it on your own. Plus there's room for all the luggage and everyone is together.

[punkmuse]

how about a mini-golf tournament?

i know all (?) the RCCL ships have the free little mini golf thing on the top of the boat. you could have like a tournament or something?

 

i wouldnt plan too many activities just as withthat many people and so much to do on the ship it might get crazy but maybe a speciality resteraunt dinner all together?

 

have a great time!

[cb at sea]

You can order a cake--it doesn't have to be for a birthday!!!

IMO, the cruise itself is the "special" thing!

[afcruiser]

Plan a slot tournament in the casino. Everybody chips in a designated amount, $10.00 or $20.00. You pick one machine, a dollar machine is the funest. Play max credits for each persons turn. Example, If max bet is $5.00 and everyone puts in $20.00 each, then each person spin 4 times, let the winnings accumulate. Everybody is cheering on whoever is playing. You play all the money that was initially put in and split the winnings amongst all who entered. 15 people at $20.00 a pop is $300.00 your putting in a dollar machine. Everyone will most likely more than break even, but it is a ton of fun while everyone is playing.

 

Plan ahead with the casino and they may even throw in a few prizes as well.

Assuming everyone is of gambling age.

 

If kids are involved, do a pajama party on the deck. How fun to hang out in jammies all relaxed having a few cocktails or eating ice cream, plenty of that for free on the ship. Have a prize for cutest pj's, outragous pj's, ugliest pj's, etc.

 

Hope you have fun.

[KreinKrunker]

.

 

What can I do on the ship to make it memorable and fun for us as a group?

 

Have a 'Cabin Crawl', like a pub crawl, but in different cabins.

[Roadtripster]

Scavenger Hunt is always a blast.

 

You can record things a couple of days before hand of what you want everyone to search for. Take notes while you are exploring the ship EX: The pricelist for the spa, or a picture posing with a crew member by the pool, etc..

 

Or you can make up a list before hand of maybe simple little things or hard things and designate a point system. Hard items get say 4 points, while easy ones get 1 point.

EX: a ship cup = 1 pt, a penny = 1 point, a picture of a man wearing red swim trunks is 4points.

 

Then at dinner, you can figure out who is the winner. Maybe make the prize like a $5 pull in the casino.

[michmike]

One of our favorite cruise pics is a picture of our roll call group from a few trips back where we brought groucho glasses for everyone. Made arrangements for a photographer to meet allof us in the dining room after dinner on formal nite and take a picture of us winding up the staircase w/ our groucho glasses on. Never fails to prompt a smile and a remembrance of a fun group of people.

 

We also take rubber chickens along with us (2 couples). How can you NOT have fun w/ rubber chickens??? Offer a prize for the best dressed chicken (the outfits at build a bear work or if you have any seamstresses in the group the sky is the limit.

 

You can find the glasses and the chickens at any novelty shop in a large metropolitan area, or online at http://www.stupid.com

 

And if you REALLY want to go over the top, there is always screaming, flying monkeys. For info on those, e-mail me at tohoku at cablespeed dot com in the usual format.

 

Pics of the chickens and monkeys below. Also a pic of one of our waiters from our recent Westerdam trip in the groucho glasses.