First Cruise

Hello there,

I am planning a surprise cruise for my Dad's birthday next year. For as long as I can remember he has always always wanted to go on a cruise. My mum is dead against cruises as she doesn't like boats and gets incredibly bad motion sickness.

Next year Dad will be turning 55 and I'll turn 25, so I've decided to celebrate this with a cruise for just him and I (some people have told me this is weird, but I don't mind). Dad is a big fan of the Royal Caribbean and the Carnival lines and I know he would prefer a balcony if the prices is right. He has sleep apnea so needs a machine - I haven't seen this to be an issue on board.

Any help with the planning stages, especially choosing a ship would be amazing! We would probably be leaving from either Brisbane or Sydney ports and are hoping to do 7 days as the shortest and 12 at the longest.

Pretty sure Royal don't cruise from Brisbane.

Didn't think Carnival did either (but nah be wrong about them)

I've met several father's and daughters on cruises so don't think you are the only one😀

Cruise ships are not like ferrys or smaller boats so unless it is really rough you hardly feel any motion at all. 😀

First you need to decide where you want to cruise, the Caribbean is typically cheaper than anywhere else and has the most options.

Next decide the time of year. If you don't want to be swamped by kids & college students, you need to go when most schools are in session.

This should start you off.

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I've met several father's and daughters on cruises so don't think you are the only one😀

 

Cruise ships are not like ferrys or smaller boats so unless it is really rough you hardly feel any motion at all. 😀

 

First you need to decide where you want to cruise, the Caribbean is typically cheaper than anywhere else and has the most options.

 

Next decide the time of year. If you don't want to be swamped by kids & college students, you need to go when most schools are in session.

 

This should start you off.

 

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Not sure the Carribean will be very cheap out of Brissy.

Pretty sure Royal don't cruise from Brisbane.

 

 

 

Didn't think Carnival did either (but nah be wrong about them)

Happy to leave out of Sydney as well. Would fly down the day before and stay overnight to be safe

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So I spent this afternoon researching and have already put a deposit down for a cruise next year! RCI had a 7 night Pacific Island cruise leaving Sydney for a very very good price, even included a balcony for Dad!

226 days till it departs and I can't wait to surprise him! Now comes all the fun planning trips, figuring out shore excursions and what to pack!

So I spent this afternoon researching and have already put a deposit down for a cruise next year! RCI had a 7 night Pacific Island cruise leaving Sydney for a very very good price, even included a balcony for Dad!

 

226 days till it departs and I can't wait to surprise him! Now comes all the fun planning trips, figuring out shore excursions and what to pack!

Great news. What ship and itinerary?

I'm sure the Aus NZ cruiser sub forum will have lots of advice if you need it.

Great news. What ship and itinerary?

 

 

 

I'm sure the Aus NZ cruiser sub forum will have lots of advice if you need it.

The Voyager of the Seas. Looks really cool. Lots of stuff for us both to do (together and separately). It's a 7 night cruise. Has two stops - Dad has some health issues so wanted to keep him as comfortable as possible yet still exploring!

I didn't realise there was a sub forum, thank you so much!

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The Voyager of the Seas. Looks really cool. Lots of stuff for us both to do (together and separately). It's a 7 night cruise. Has two stops - Dad has some health issues so wanted to keep him as comfortable as possible yet still exploring!

 

I didn't realise there was a sub forum, thank you so much!

 

 

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I'm glad you stated this as many problems arise on vacations when people think they are bound at the hip and need to do everything together. Make sure you do the things you want to do onboard and you Dad gets to the things he'd like. Have a wonderful time!

You may want to submit a request form for your dad's sleep apnea machine.

https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/allaboutcruising/guestSpecialNeeds.do

Voyager Class is my favorite....big enough to have lots of space, but not so big that you're overwhelmed and have to schedule your entire day! Enjoy!

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

The cruise you have booked for your father and you sounds wonderful.

I'm glad you stated this as many problems arise on vacations when people think they are bound at the hip and need to do everything together. Make sure you do the things you want to do onboard and you Dad gets to the things he'd like. Have a wonderful time!

Exactly! I plan to go to the gym and the rock climbing wall etc while my dad would prefer to lounge on the deck or watch the folks in the casino. I know we'd do Putt Putt and the shows together though!

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I must say I think it is lovely of you to take dad on a cruise. I hope you have a wonderful time.

One warning to me the biggest problem with sharing a cabin with anyone other than Mrs Gut, is the bathroom space. Now I AM a BIG boy, with some physical problems, but I do have trouble getting dressed in the confined space of the bathroom, so usually dry off and then step into the cabin to dress.

When Miss Gut travels with us I always time my shower for when she is not there, usually tell her to "take a hike".

Make sure to take an extension cord and a multiple plug as sometimes the electric outlet is on the other side of the cabin.

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I must say I think it is lovely of you to take dad on a cruise. I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

 

 

One warning to me the biggest problem with sharing a cabin with anyone other than Mrs Gut, is the bathroom space. Now I AM a BIG boy, with some physical problems, but I do have trouble getting dressed in the confined space of the bathroom, so usually dry off and then step into the cabin to dress.

 

 

 

When Miss Gut travels with us I always time my shower for when she is not there, usually tell her to "take a hike".

Good point!! I've shared with mum and dad in a hotel last year (cutting costs at Disney) and it was so hard! I'm a quick in and out to go explore while Dad likes to take forever and then shave! So he can shower while I hit the gym and then he can get a coffee while I shower.

We had the rule that if you have to use the bathroom, the other person goes explore! Worked well [emoji4]

Hoping the wardrobe (it mentioned a walk in style one) has a door I can shut as I can get dressed in there for some privacy.

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Good point!! I've shared with mum and dad in a hotel last year (cutting costs at Disney) and it was so hard! I'm a quick in and out to go explore while Dad likes to take forever and then shave! So he can shower while I hit the gym and then he can get a coffee while I shower.

We had the rule that if you have to use the bathroom, the other person goes explore! Worked well [emoji4]

 

Hoping the wardrobe (it mentioned a walk in style one) has a door I can shut as I can get dressed in there for some privacy.

 

 

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I'm not familiar with that ship. But I've never been on one that has a door on the "walk in" type robe.

Ohh and when I say Miss Gut, she is older than you.

The shower and changing room in the gym/spa makes a great second restroom.

The closet probably does not have a door. However, a few magnetic hooks and a dark shower curtain make a great door or divider.

I hope you and your father have an excellent time!!!

So I spent this afternoon researching and have already put a deposit down for a cruise next year! RCI had a 7 night Pacific Island cruise leaving Sydney for a very very good price, even included a balcony for Dad!

 

226 days till it departs and I can't wait to surprise him! Now comes all the fun planning trips, figuring out shore excursions and what to pack!

Have you thought about how you are going to surprise dad yet???? I am surprising my sister for her 45th birthday with a cruise. I have been working on it for 9 months now. This is what I am doing to surprise her with the cruise.

This is year she will be celebrating her 45th Christmas. So what I did was had a poster made telling here the cruise ship, dates and ports of call on it...this is the 46th Christmas present because it is really her birthday present. Gifts 1-45 are things that she will need on the cruise...like sun block, flip flops, and so on. Each item has a poem with it also. I put each thing with the poem that it belongs to and wrapped it up. And that will be her Christmas presents and the last one she opens is her birthday present telling her she is going on a cruise for her birthday in February.

Good luck with the surprise with your dad.

The shower and changing room in the gym/spa makes a great second restroom.

The closet probably does not have a door. However, a few magnetic hooks and a dark shower curtain make a great door or divider.

 

I hope you and your father have an excellent time!!!

Great suggestion on the gym! Workout, shower and be ready to explore. Love it [emoji4]

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Have you thought about how you are going to surprise dad yet???? I am surprising my sister for her 45th birthday with a cruise. I have been working on it for 9 months now. This is what I am doing to surprise her with the cruise.

 

This is year she will be celebrating her 45th Christmas. So what I did was had a poster made telling here the cruise ship, dates and ports of call on it...this is the 46th Christmas present because it is really her birthday present. Gifts 1-45 are things that she will need on the cruise...like sun block, flip flops, and so on. Each item has a poem with it also. I put each thing with the poem that it belongs to and wrapped it up. And that will be her Christmas presents and the last one she opens is her birthday present telling her she is going on a cruise for her birthday in February.

 

Good luck with the surprise with your dad.

I hadn't really thought about that to be honest. I was going to wait until Christmas but I also want him to have input on the shore excursions and if he wants to do any specialty dining or spa treatments.

I was thinking about gifting him a backpack full of cruise items for Father's Day and tell him about it then. I could include sunblock, a hat, sunglasses, a pack of cards, a map of the ship etc.

Or I could buy him a little floating boat for their bath!

I hadn't really thought about that to be honest. I was going to wait until Christmas but I also want him to have input on the shore excursions and if he wants to do any specialty dining or spa treatments.

 

I was thinking about gifting him a backpack full of cruise items for Father's Day and tell him about it then. I could include sunblock, a hat, sunglasses, a pack of cards, a map of the ship etc.

 

 

 

Or I could buy him a little floating boat for their bath!

You can still give it to him for Christmas and have his input on the shore excursions and such. Because mine is for my sisters birthday I will give her all the information on the ports and excursions after she finds out about it on Christmas morning.

For Father's Day you could do a count down to Christmas counter and on each number tease him about a big surprise for Christmas. That way you get the fun of two holidays surprising him.

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The shower and changing room in the gym/spa makes a great second restroom.

The closet probably does not have a door. However, a few magnetic hooks and a dark shower curtain make a great door or divider.

 

I hope you and your father have an excellent time!!!

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