Making cruise goodie bags... Need help

[lani3450a]

Hello all! I am taking my family on a 5night cruise in June. We are planning a cruise planning party and I would like help with ideas of what to put in the goodie bags.... This is what I have so far:

Personalized lanyards

Highliters (for cruise daily newsletter)

Sticky notes

Pens

Marker

Suntan lotion

 

What else do you recommend that they can use on the cruise?

 

Thank you so much!!!!!

Karen

 

Hi Karen. I too am going on a cruise in May. Can I ask where you are getting your personalised lanyards from? Thanks Leanne

[defregoso]

I just put together some bags for our group and I added a nightlight, loofah and a 3 way outlet. Many experienced cruisers suggested the outlet and nightlight. Enjoy!

 

 

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[Ehpride]

I would add something fun like a funky pair of sunglasses for towel animals or Mardi gras beads.

 

Hand sanitizer would be useful.

I always use baggies on a cruise. It's a great way to store receipts, little trinkets I pick up, etc...

For the kids, maybe one of those sealed activity packets for the plane, waiting to board, at dinner or any other time when they might need something to do.

 

 

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[mrsd912]

How many goodie bags are you making?

Since it sounds like you already have the stuff you mentioned I would use it. Some may find the items useful, others may not.

Then if I were you, I would include a list of "suggested" items. The reason I say the list is because what people find useful on a cruise will vary greatly person to person. Also, goodie bags are suppose to have a few items in them, are very thoughtful, and shouldn't break the bank.

As a first time cruiser I'd love to get the bag you already mentioned, and a list of other things to pack.

[panoramaofthepast]

OBC - a "gift" of spending money on the cruise

[Sue Do-Over]

Make each bag different -- and then have a game so that each person gets one bag.

 

Example, I'd never wear cheap flip-flops, and you'd have a tough time finding a pair for everyone in your group. You'll go broke buying a sunscreen for every person, too!

 

So, skip them and do theme bags (the fun is mixing usable stuff with simply silly stuff) Part of your game might be requiring the winner to use or wear the items some time during the trip -- or encourage trading.

 

My aunt once brought a whole bag of trinkets (gumball machine type stuff) -- any time we played cards or scrabble we 'won' a prize. Toward the end, we were down to temporary tattoos -- and the loser had to apply one, and the winner got to say where. Sister and I had shamrocks on our foreheads!

 

Beach - sunscreen, aloe, sand toys, silly sunglasses

Rainy day -- rain ponchos, rubber duck

Casino -- deck of cards, dice/yatzee score pad, play money

Stuck at the airport -- activity books like word-search, crossword

Munchies - snacks, m&ms

Boo Boo - first aid kit, ace bandage

Bad Decisions - temporary tattoos, advil, barf bag from the airplane

Tour Day - guide book or map, toy compass, black socks (to wear with sandals!)

Pirate - hat, eye patch, bandanna

Sea captain/swabbie - hat, fake name badge

Seasick - Sea bands, bonine/dramamine, gatoraid/propel drink mix

Celebrate Something - door decorations (especially for a holiday that you are NOT celebrating, like St. Patty's day in June) -- it's a great landmark!

[2red4u]

Something fun and no cost is making a scavenger hunt card for each member. Have odd funny things on it like photo of socks with sandals or getting someone's autograph. Also if you have enough time get post cards(or make them) to be sent from a port.

[4x4bob]

A small bottle of Purell Advanced (70% Alcohol) hand sanitizer.

 

Bob

[Athankfulheart]

We "took" a group of 21 on a cruise this past January. Our immediate family and a bunch of friends. I think we were 8 cabins total in the end and only 3 of those were not new to cruising. We had a lot of fun planning together on a facebook group. A week before departure we had a party. I planned games and gave prizes and goody bags. Because it was a few days after Christmas, I undecorated my tree and redecorated it with the prizes. Some of those prizes were an assortment of sunglasses from Ebay. I figured those were better chose than gotten in a goody bag.

The goody bags were mostly for teens and adults but I made a few changes for a few younger ones. For the most part they contained :

 

A basic lanyard

 

A Cheap spiral wrist lanyard (these were definitely the more popular choice)http://www.amazon.com/Coil-Bracelet-Keychains-different-colors/dp/B00443T6RC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1393879793&sr=8-3&keywords=spiral+keychain

 

Packets of EmergenC

 

Individually wrapped hand sanitizer packets ( Dollar Tree)

 

Small metal LED flashlight ( Dollar Tree)

 

Individual pack facial ( under $1 at Walmart) - for the ladies

 

Listerine strips

 

Sunscreen for lips (bulk on Ebay)

 

Mini highlighter

 

Post-its ( Bought Dollar store packs, opened each and divided one per pers)

 

One adult in each cabin got a small box of $ store brand : Immodium, Tylenol, Seasick pills, small first aid kit.

 

 

Kids got some of the above plus $1 play packs ( coloring etc), glow stick jewelry,

 

 

I wish my memory would work better today, or that I hadn't deleted the list off my computer.

 

Prizes on the tree included sunglasses, cruise themed sticker sheets, wrinkle release spray, dollar store laundry bags, lint rollers, travel toothbrushes, and I forget :o

[Cruisin' Chick]

How many goodie bags are you making?

Since it sounds like you already have the stuff you mentioned I would use it. Some may find the items useful, others may not.

Then if I were you, I would include a list of "suggested" items. The reason I say the list is because what people find useful on a cruise will vary greatly person to person. Also, goodie bags are suppose to have a few items in them, are very thoughtful, and shouldn't break the bank.

As a first time cruiser I'd love to get the bag you already mentioned, and a list of other things to pack.

 

and, there may be things that some in the group may just "leave" back in their cabin on disembarkation day, rather than take up space in their luggage.

 

And as I said before, some things such as seasickness remedies and medications may work for some but not others (or maybe someone can't take certain meds).

 

So more useful will be if you prepare a good packing list, list of ideas of what to do in port (hopefully everyone won't feel you all have to stay together all of the time), etc. Instead of running around trying to find travel sizes of items to put in goody bags (maybe just put a few things in those ones sold for kids' parties, if you are really set on this), get regular sizes of a good sunscreen along with standard aspirin, tylenol, cough drops, throat spray, the kind of thing and have an emergency bag in your cabin. Let everyone know if they need bug repellent, for example, and they forgot to bring it, just stop by your cabin -- as long as the do not disturb sign is in the slot -- and they can get a spritz.

[CheckersMidwest]

Goody bags would be fun ! Good for you going the extra step to put them together ! I have done this for the football team, basketball team , cheer squad, etc. Yes, they are pricey, but a one time deal & I'm happy to do it.

 

I like the mini binocular idea. Monoculars would work too and both can be purchased for a reasonable price. We used ours to watch whales and look at ships. Keep them in our small bag we carry around so they're up on deck when we are. (Not sure where a previous poster paid $200 for binoculars, but they got ripped off. Even really good full sized ones don't have to cost that much ! We have nice hunting ones as well as a pair for football games.)

 

Not sure of the ages....but I just ordered a tie with anchors on it for my son from ebay. They also have cufflinks that are a ship wheel and an anchor.

 

Origami Owl has charms for their necklace lockets ($5 from them, about $3 ebay) that are an anchor, tropical drink, palm tree, starfish, sand dollar, and a ships wheel.

 

Also ordered a CHEAP anchor ring from ebay for my daughter. A whole 99 cents - available in silver, gold, black, etc. I am sure it will turn her finger green but will be fun and will be worth the $1 for a week's cruise.

 

Yes to the highlighter. We have one in both cabins -use it on the funtimes.

 

On a separate note.....in case you weren't aware, you can preorder things from Bon Voyage on the Carnival website (may be able to for other cruise lines as well). They have 3-D candy bars shaped like the ship and other things that would be fun waiting in the cabins.

 

Myxer dot com has a cruise ship horn ringtone. Just a fun tidbit of info you could pass along to your fellow guests.

 

Cafepress dot com has all kinds of cruise stuff.....tshirts, mugs, key chains.

[CrabbyQ]

I did this on a recent cruise. We were a group of 19 and our cabins were scattered. I made wallet-size cards that listed everyone's cabin number (and deck number) Everyone told me it was extremely useful. I kept one with me and one next to the phone.

[Athankfulheart]

I did this on a recent cruise. We were a group of 19 and our cabins were scattered. I made wallet-size cards that listed everyone's cabin number (and deck number) Everyone told me it was extremely useful. I kept one with me and one next to the phone.

 

That's what I did too ! But, mine were not wallet sized - more of a postcard size. I think that they were useful for all that remembered to bring them. Next time ( I actually doubt that I will lead a group cruise again) I would give the goody bags ON the ship rather than at the precruise party.

 

I forgot to mention that I ordered 2 of these things each for their luggage tags to go into. I printed all their tags ( I had access to their booking numbers) and hung them from streamers as part of the party decorations. Let me see if I can find the link to order these cheaply.

 

Here are the clear pouches http://www.specialistid.com/Clear_Cruise_Tag_Badge_Holder_3_3_8_X_6_1_4_p/306-357.htm

 

and the worms http://www.specialistid.com/Clear_9_Plastic_Loop_Straps_p/2410-2100.htm

 

Much cheaper than buying " Cruise luggage tag holders" and these are exactly what they are. We used these for carnival. You may need a different size depending on which line you sail.

[runner2013]

Hello all! I am taking my family on a 5night cruise in June. We are planning a cruise planning party and I would like help with ideas of what to put in the goodie bags.... This is what I have so far:

Personalized lanyards

Highliters (for cruise daily newsletter)

Sticky notes

Pens

Marker

Suntan lotion

 

What else do you recommend that they can use on the cruise?

 

Thank you so much!!!!!

Karen

How about safety pins, band aids, bobby pins, nail files, those small sticks to stop bleeding for men when they shave.

And my favorite, lots of aspirin :}

[sarafinadh]

Sea-bands for sea sickness, Buscopan or alike for upset tummy.....(and I am itching to say condoms, but I won't say it)

Laughing at the condom request... there MUST be a way to order them with the ship's name and the cruise date printed on them!!

; -D

 

If you don't want to do mal de mer meds maybe Ginger Chews instead? If they get seasick they are a natural remedy that works for many and can harm none. If they don't need them for that they are good just to suck on!

[Cruisin' Chick]

Laughing at the condom request... there MUST be a way to order them with the ship's name and the cruise date printed on them!!

; -D

 

If you don't want to do mal de mer meds maybe Ginger Chews instead? If they get seasick they are a natural remedy that works for many and can harm none. If they don't need them for that they are good just to suck on!

 

Actually ginger is contraindicated for people on blood thinners. So it works for some, but can harm those who are not to take them.

[Andrianna]

I'm going to use this idea for my small group. I'm going to put in the bags: maps of the ship, a highlighter ( left over from school supply shopping) the itinerary and list of excursions, a packing list, a small pkg of Tylenol, and trying to decide on what else. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

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[sherilyn70]

Actually ginger is contraindicated for people on blood thinners. So it works for some' date=' but can harm those who are not to take them.[/quote']

I had never heard or read that before. I was on lovenox for about a year. Do you know what the specific reason is? I've had a filter put in to prevent a clot from traveling to my lungs now since low platelets and bleeding out was a major concern.

 

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[Cruisin' Chick]

I had never heard or read that before. I was on lovenox for about a year. Do you know what the specific reason is? I've had a filter put in to prevent a clot from traveling to my lungs now since low platelets and bleeding out was a major concern.

 

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I don't know the reason, but I've seen many postings from nurses who have warned about this. I've having a hard enough time finding allergy meds that aren't contraindicated for glaucoma.

[A2Mich]

Well, I;m glad that someone mentioned the duct tape. Don't recall seeing the bungee cords, cell phone booster, crock pot, full Craftsman tool set, electric fan, portable clothes washing machine, angle grinder, and all of the other "essentials" I so commonly see mentioned.:D

 

I would actually make them a little brochure (have done this before), and maybe a little bit of money and keep it simple. Like others have said, with all of the other things that are "necessary", your group will be bringing full trunks with them for all of the "just in case" and "what if" items. Of what has been mentioned, I would say that the little sewing kit might be useful, the sunscreen (but that can be a somewhat personal thing), what I would highly suggest is maybe a small travel sized first aid kit, as even minor injuries can be expensive onboard. I always bring seasickness meds, Immodium/Pepto, ibuprofen/aspirin/Aleve, etc, but that kind of thing can also be very personal in nature. I would guess that most people don't care what brand of bandage or medical tape they use if needed enough!

[train460]

disposable cameras, that everyone has to give back at cruise end for you to have developed. See what everyones ideas of "pics" would be.

michael