Need help in surprising someone with a cruise!

[Bgem75]

I need creative minds to help!

My husband and I are surprising our niece with a cruise for her college graduation.

Now her mom and dad are paying for her flights..(of course half of the surprise)

But I need help in coming up with a creative way to surprise her..

We know we want to have two envelopes one with her flight itinerary and the other with the cruise...

But I am trying to think of how to do it.

I thought I might get her a beach cover up, sunscreen etc... But DH thought that might seem trite.

And some how having either clues written up or a rhyming poem to surprise her...

We are booked on the Carnival Conquest on Sept 20th.

But I am having a mental block...lol

Please help!!!!

I want this to be a surprise to remember!!!

Thank you in advance for any ideas!!!!!!!

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

I did this once a few years back, and actually my DS doesn't know we are cruising in Aug. Haven't decided when I plan to tell him, or how.

 

The last time I did it, I ordered a bunch of stuff from Amazon that is cruise-related, a Love Boat DVD, boat shirts, boat hats, anything Boat-ish, put it all into a basket, with a clue.

 

The clue then led to a scavenger hunt around the house, and at the end of the hunt, the last clue was the actual cruise booking, back when Royal used to send them in the mail in a nice notebook.:rolleyes:

 

It worked out quite well.:D

[aaron3219]

Don't really have any good suggestions. But that is an awesome gift. I wish someone would of gave me a cruise for a graduation present. I got a watch that broke!

 

Anyway, back years ago a girl I was dating at Christmas time was wanting to go to a concert. Her family bought her the tickets and they had this huge box wrapped. Side the tissue paper was another box, then another box, then another box, then an envelope and inside was the tickets.

 

She was laughing at the joke, then started crying when she seen the tickets.

 

I still talk to this girl and 15 years later she still remembers it.

[lovermonkey]

I am thinking of a few ideas. One idea you could do is not tell her until you actually get there. You tell her that you two are taking her to some place that she might like to go (around the port) and leave little clues as you go to where you are actually going. I would also get with her parents and have them put all her stuff passport etc, suite etc into a care package or gift package and have them tell her to give this too you as a present. Just make up an event. Try to not open it until you get to the port or close by. When you open it with her close by, you could say why did my "brother or sister" give me these things for a present? When she notices that it is her things, that is when you spring it on her.;)

[YB Nrml]

What a great gift! Has she ever cruised before? Could you tell her you're going on the ship to attend a wedding and then SURPRISE!!!!!

[Miller_KC]

Build a surprise inside a surprise. Surprise her with a trip to Florida and stay the night before in a hotel near the port. There would not be a good beach or that good of a view from the hotels there. Promise that you will check out and find a better place to stay in the morning. The cruise ships will be in by the time you need to check out. They are an impressive site Arrange with the taxi driver to take you to the ship, but play it up with her that you want to see them up close, then play it up like you just want to see if you can get a last minute room on board.

 

Of course it will take a lot of will power to pull all of that off without spilling the beans ahead of time.

[asalligo]

Build a surprise inside a surprise. Surprise her with a trip to Florida and stay the night before in a hotel near the port. There would not be a good beach or that good of a view from the hotels there. Promise that you will check out and find a better place to stay in the morning. The cruise ships will be in by the time you need to check out. They are an impressive site Arrange with the taxi driver to take you to the ship, but play it up with her that you want to see them up close, then play it up like you just want to see if you can get a last minute room on board.

 

Of course it will take a lot of will power to pull all of that off without spilling the beans ahead of time.

 

LOL, this could backfire, in my family I am the only one who truly loves cruising, the rest just do not mind it. If I did this, they would all be disappointed that I took them away from Florida and onto the ship.

[janetz]

Build a surprise inside a surprise. Surprise her with a trip to Florida and stay the night before in a hotel near the port. There would not be a good beach or that good of a view from the hotels there. Promise that you will check out and find a better place to stay in the morning. The cruise ships will be in by the time you need to check out. They are an impressive site Arrange with the taxi driver to take you to the ship, but play it up with her that you want to see them up close, then play it up like you just want to see if you can get a last minute room on board.

 

Of course it will take a lot of will power to pull all of that off without spilling the beans ahead of time.

 

 

Exactly what I was thinking. At least get her to Florida and tell her there..:)

[Bgem75]

I am thinking of a few ideas. One idea you could do is not tell her until you actually get there. You tell her that you two are taking her to some place that she might like to go (around the port) and leave little clues as you go to where you are actually going. I would also get with her parents and have them put all her stuff passport etc, suite etc into a care package or gift package and have them tell her to give this too you as a present. Just make up an event. Try to not open it until you get to the port or close by. When you open it with her close by, you could say why did my "brother or sister" give me these things for a present? When she notices that it is her things, that is when you spring it on her.;)

 

We do have to tell her to make sure sure she will have vacation time off from her job. Plus...we are taking our other niece(her sister) along as well!!

Plus I don't think any of us could keep the secret that long...lol

We are having trouble waiting until May 17th..her graduation day!

We (my sister and brother in law, Dh and myself) are bursting at the seams to tell her. I don't know who is more excited !! Lol

 

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[MaryZ]

Although I think surprise gifts are fun, what's your plan if her job as a new found college graduate doesn't allow her to have vacation time?

[Bgem75]

Although I think surprise gifts are fun, what's your plan if her job as a new found college graduate doesn't allow her to have vacation time?

 

The job she currently has she can take vacation time for. She will be working there in conjunction with an internship fingers crossed (unpaid internship).

So it won't be a problem since I know her boss (whom I also worked with) and can call and talk to if need be.

 

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[Miller_KC]

LOL, this could backfire, in my family I am the only one who truly loves cruising, the rest just do not mind it. If I did this, they would all be disappointed that I took them away from Florida and onto the ship.

 

I have heard of that happening. A man posted on CC that he surprised his wife and daughter this way only to have them complain the whole trip how small the room was and all the shopping they were missing in Miami.

[mishka422]

Scavenger hunts are always a fun way to spring a gift on someone. The clues to the next clue can be cruise related or not. If you aren't keen on that then I would suggest maybe setting up a family game of pictionary. Use the normal game but after a few rounds, use a clue not from the box that you made up together with her family and keep going until she guesses it.

 

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[Boozebabe]

How about a series of clues about your ports of call? Each in a seperate envelope. With a final creatively created boarding pass that you could print on the computer? Maybe some food porn pictures, a ships captain, a sandy beach, etc. You could think of lots of thngs.

[MaryZ]

The job she currently has she can take vacation time for. She will be working there in conjunction with an internship fingers crossed (unpaid internship).

So it won't be a problem since I know her boss (whom I also worked with) and can call and talk to if need be.

 

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Well I guess that is good. It must be one of those small town things to do something like that.

Have a great time on your vacation! Happy Graduation to your niece!

[afreetdragon]

I'm surprising my daughters next week with a cruise. They think we are going 2 hours away for an overnight stay at an amusement park. They are cruisaholics (10 & 13 year old) We aren't telling them until we are hours into the drive and they start wondering. Plus John Heald promised my older daughter a surprise in the room because of her obsession with Carnival. She picks 1 ship at night before bed to read about and quiz herself on. Crazy girl but its funny she knows things I have no clue about.

[loxley]

Here is an idea. Hand her two envelopes and say we are so proud of you.

 

Wouldn't what is in the envelopes be the surprise?

 

You don't think she would remember in 50 years she was given a cruise for collage graduation?

 

I agree with the person who asked if she was 12.

[dljones]

I need creative minds to help!

My husband and I are surprising our niece with a cruise for her college graduation.

Now her mom and dad are paying for her flights..(of course half of the surprise)

But I need help in coming up with a creative way to surprise her..

We know we want to have two envelopes one with her flight itinerary and the other with the cruise...

But I am trying to think of how to do it.

I thought I might get her a beach cover up, sunscreen etc... But DH thought that might seem trite.

And some how having either clues written up or a rhyming poem to surprise her...

We are booked on the Carnival Conquest on Sept 20th.

But I am having a mental block...lol

Please help!!!!

I want this to be a surprise to remember!!!

Thank you in advance for any ideas!!!!!!!

 

Now hold on a minute, I'm not so sure that this is a bad idea!

 

I'm thinking, if she doesn't know where she is going beforehand she won't know what to pack. That is a big deal for girls is it not? I mean, that is half the fun, yes? :eek:

 

Maybe send her a card with a ship on it (doesn't matter what kind) and some sort of gift card as her "graduation present." Make sure this is a congratulation on your graduation type card. She will be thinking, well, that's it and it may throw her off the scent for a while. That will be the first clue.

 

Maybe make out a packing list for her of "suggested items" and send it with a cruise "basket" like you are thinking - beach cover up, sunscreen, plus something whimsical and fun... a beach ball for example. Just tell her some bogus story that you saw these things and you thought of her. That will be the next clue. If she asks, just tell her she will need them to go to the beach when she arrives, like a day trip if you don't live near the beach.

 

Have M&D send her passport etc. to you separately but make sure they use something traceable to mail it. Don't want to lose that. M&D should play clueless. They have no idea what is going on.

 

When she arrives, make sure she has everything she needs for cruise, surreptitiously of course. Maybe, go out shopping for a sun dress, sun glasses or something like that, anything she may have missed. Just have some quality girl fun time...

 

Then, the day before the cruise, do a scavenger hunt for the "real reason" you wanted her to pack all those things! Maybe, hide some cruise related items around the house, a camera, a bathing suit, a sun hat, some cruise brochures or maybe even a copy of the Carnival Fun Times or picture of a towel animal. Send her on a wild goose chase. You are obviously creative!

 

You are such a dear to do this for her. It is very thoughtful and will always be remembered. God rest the soul of my dear aunt who made everything an adventure. And lastly may I say, I graduated with my doctorate in December of 2000. Could you please buy me a surprise cruise? :D

[justusfour2014]

This kinda applies:

 

At Christmas my MIL bought for her two children's family (total of 8) all day passes to a waterpark. Now, she cut up pieces of paper and wrote on each "I got one!" on sealed them each in an envelope. She handed all us our envelopes and then asked the oldest (my hubby) to open his and read it out loud. He did, then I opened mine, and so on until my nephew (age 4) opened and read his. As we all sat there wondering what we all got, my MIL and FIL were having an absolute blast just watching us. Then the guessing game began. By the time we figured it out, we all were laughing. I personally was very overwhelmed how much thought she put into it, I almost cried. It was Christmas, and a very thoughtful gift, neither I nor the rest of us will ever forget.

 

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[Name Of The Game]

Great gift but I wouldn't make it a last minute surprise. What 22 year old girl wouldn't want to go shopping for a swimsuit, shoes, etc.? :D

[jenndun]

I made my daughter a coupon book with crazy coupons. In the middle is the luggage tag. I'm going to give it to her the day before we leave.

[Bgem75]

How about a series of clues about your ports of call? Each in a seperate envelope. With a final creatively created boarding pass that you could print on the computer? Maybe some food porn pictures, a ships captain, a sandy beach, etc. You could think of lots of thngs.

 

That is an awesome idea!!

 

 

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[Bgem75]

Great gift but I wouldn't make it a last minute surprise. What 22 year old girl wouldn't want to go shopping for a swimsuit, shoes, etc.? :D

 

Yes we have to tell her in advance.

We are telling her on her graduation day after Graduation.

Plus we have to have a girls day a few days before to get pedicures and manicures!!!

Telling her in less than two weeks... That gives her plenty of time to prepare.

 

 

 

 

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[Bgem75]

Well I guess that is good. It must be one of those small town things to do something like that.

Have a great time on your vacation! Happy Graduation to your niece!

 

I am lucky. She works for a retail chain that I (as well as my husband..he actually is still there just in another location) worked at for almost 20 years. So I still have a lot of people that he and I have contact...and pull with..lol

 

 

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[Bgem75]

What a great gift! Has she ever cruised before? Could you tell her you're going on the ship to attend a wedding and then SURPRISE!!!!!

 

Yes she has been on one cruise before but has always wanted to come with us.

So........we are taking her and her younger sister!!!

I am so exited!!

 

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