Cruise Surprises!

[printingchick]

I would count myself among those here who label themselves cruise addicts. When I began dating my SO nearly 6 years ago, his teenage daughter said to me, "You'll NEVER get my dad on a cruise ship." Hmmmm....

 

Fast forward a year and a half. Thinking no one could actually REFUSE a vacation GIFT, I gave him a cruise as a vacation gift. Unlike the OP, I presented the gift nearly 10 months in advance of embarkation day. Planning the cruise is part of the fun and I wanted him to be involved the port excursion decisions. I'd booked a very port intensive, southern Caribbean cruise which included 5 ports of call. Additionally, my SO needed to renew his passport prior to sail date.

 

I had a coupon for a free photo book from an on-line photo company and I used it to make a hard cover book titled, "Cruise Reservation Holder Owner's Manual." In it was photos of our ship and ports, details about our itinerary, our over-night stay in San Juan the night before embarkation, etc. I had decorated the dining room with a tropical theme, played reggae music and made a birthday cake featuring edible hibiscus flowers.

 

And what about his daughter's negative prediction. Her dad LOVED the cruise. We debarked with two NextCruise certificates in hand. Our next voyage is January 2016.

[Rolla4fun]

I had upgraded us to a Jr. Suite on a Christmas and New Years cruise. My hubby thought we had an Oceanview stateroom. We were headed to the check in lines at the port and you had to show the agent your set sail pass. I said that we were Diamond members and that we must go in the Diamond line. He said "no, you belong in the suites line!" Hubby said "we're not in a suite." They both looked at me and I said "Surprise and Merry Christmas!" I also ordered a Christmas tree to be delivered to our jr suite. That was a fantastic cruise and my hubby loved his Christmas surprise!

[Aussie FF]

We were booked into our usual FOV. As a surprise for my DMIL's 80th birthday, I did a secret upgrade to our first RFS.

I had to reveal the secret that I kept for 6 months, from my whole family, when we decided to take my mother with us.

I refused to take any money from her, and she surprised me with a lovely pair of Emerald earings, from the cruise, for Christmas.

It was her last cruise, before she passed away.

Great family cruise, all together.

 

Now 5 RFS' later, with RCI's price rises, be are going back to OV.:eek:

And other cruise lines.:eek:

Edited May 29, 2015 by Aussie FF

[rjrice1]

We are raising two grands...

This past Christmas we told them we are going to San Juan for a week and staying some place on the "water" (not a lie)

Told them we had a day pass on the "Adventure of the Sea" from an old friend had this cruise plan for 8 months too.

When we check in for our sea passes told the agent what I was doing and they both jumped into the 'secret" lol

We finally decided while eating lunch at the Windjammer.. when they ask with their sad faces... "what time do they make us leave" can we please be stow aways.

When we did tell them they freaked out.. very nice.

On the ship we booked another cruise for Jan. 2016 and told them.. they said we wished you surprised again.

Well I am got them all New England Pat's vs Miami tickets the day before their cruise with all new Pat's gear..

[TheGinBoy]

Some lovely stories here! :)

[cyntil8ing]

My kids (9 and 12) have been on 7 Carnival and 3 Celebrity cruises. We've stayed in inside, outside and balcony cabins about equally. We've never booked a suite because Carnival has no suite perks to speak of and Celebrity suites are out of our price range.

 

They know we're going on RCCL this summer and are very excited to try something new, but they don't know we've booked a GS. When they asked what cabin we had, I just said that we will have a balcony. They didn't pick up my careful wording.

 

My friend nearly spilled the beans the other day, because she thought we had already gone rather than it still being a few months away. Luckily, the kids weren't paying attention.

[ZoeyVictoria]

I accepted an upsell from a cheap interior to an aft wrap balcony for $130 pp for a cruise 2 weeks ago and didn't tell my SO. I sneaked into the garage to change the luggage tags after he loaded the car. He didn't notice when he added his carryon the next morning, or when he removed the luggage from the trunk at offsite parking. I thought I had pulled off the surprise until we were walking towards the porter and he suddenly came to a stop and kept looking from one piece of luggage to the other. I had to tell him about the surprise while we were waiting to board.

[Hawaii697]

I have two great stories, although they are on another cruise line.

 

The first was I surprised my DH with a suite on our 10th Anniversary cruise. It was also a time when you the cruiseline was accepting outside deliveries for your cabin. I found a great vendor who delivered some of our favorite alcoholic beverages to the room. The look on his face was priceless.

 

The second and best surpirse was for my daughter who was 11 at the time. She always asked when we would take her on a cruise and we kept putting it off. I received a great offer from the cruiseline for a weekend cruise from MIA. It worked out because her school was closed for the County Fair that Friday so she would only miss one day of school. I told her we were going on a girls weekend in Miami. We were going to South Beach. My brother was also working in Miami at the time so he was in on the surprise. We caught the first flight out of DC and arrived in MIA at 8:00 am.

 

I get awesome discounts on car rentals, so I decided to rent a small car for a couple of hours. We drove to iHop for surprise #1. Meeting my brother for breakfast. I told her we were staying with my brother for the weekend but while he was at work we were going to the beach. She fell for it hook line and sinker. We actually drove to the beach first and we had to pass the ships. She says, "mom, when are you going to take me on a cruise"? I rolled my eyes and said, it maybe sooner than you think. Once we got to South Beach (I had to kill some time) I told her I forgot my bathing suit.

 

So off to the Dolphin Outlet Mall. I chose that mall because it was close to the airport. I needed to return the car rental and catch a shuttle to the pier. She's a bit disappointed but she goes with the flow. I purchase my suit. Meanwhile, my brother knew to call me and act like he was calling from the car rental agency. I told my daughter the call was from the car agency and that I need to return the car.

 

I told her we can catch a shuttle from the agency to my brother's hotel (he's a project manager), since he's working a half day. We'll head back to the beach when we meet up with my brother. Well, she was about done, I could see her disappointment, but again she went with the flow. Once on the shuttle bus, she sat with her back to the window on the left hand side. It was about 1:00 at this time, she hot, tired and hungry. I'm trying to talk to her but she's playing with her hand held game.

 

As we approach the pier, I said to her, remember when you asked when will I take you on a cruise . . . she kind of glared at me and I had to laugh, I said turn around and look at your home for the next three days. She did . . . it was another priceless look. She couldn't believe it and I sighed with relief, thankful that I was able to surprise her. I got the Best Mom in the World Award that day! :D

 

Next year for her high school graduation, she sails on her 4th cruise!

[cruiselife4me]

When I met my husband, I had been on numerous cruises and had taken him on one. Our son (My husband's..I adopted him...he was 15 lol!) had a birthday coming up and had never been on a huge family vacation. We booked Liberty of the Seas in the forward most cabin (pretty affordable) with cool curved window looking forward.

 

Now how to tell Jake?

 

We were able to get him a nice refurbished laptop and so I put a scavenger hunt with clues on his computer with a "start here" folder on the desktop for him to start his search. It was amazing how excited he got looking for each clue until he finally said, "it's a cruise? WE'RE GOING ON A CRUISE?????

 

We really had to scrimp that summer to pay for the cruise. But Jakes face on the plane was priceless and made it all worthwhile! (By the way, he's 22 now....)

 

 

I hope someday someone surprises me with a cruise but it was the very best feeling to surprise him.

Edited May 29, 2015 by silver_cloud

[Cindy]

I upgraded us from a GS to one of the Deck 9 Aqua Theater Suites last year on Oasis, and I didn't tell my husband. I managed to keep the secret, and even went so far as to slip a note to the check-in agent to not say anything about our cabin! He found out when we were leaving the suite lounge to go to our cabin on boarding day! It was a sweet, suite surprise!:)

Edited May 29, 2015 by Cindy

[Paulette3028]

I made the acquaintance of a business associate who had connections within Royal. He knew we were going on a cruise, and said if we needed anything to call him. I asked him if he could just let me know how to make sure we did not get a table for two in the dining room. My DH and I don't like to sit by ourselves at dinner on a cruise. Our philosophy is we have dinner with EACH OTHER plenty at home...and we like the cross conversation when cruising.

 

I told this business associate, that I would call whomever he said or I would send an email....NOT expecting him to do it, just direct me. He said....don't worry, I'll take care of it. Then I got an email from a department at Royal letting me know, our table number and confirmed that it was a table for 8.

 

I sent my "Thank you" to my contact and thought nothing more about it.

 

UNTIL we get on the ship. Lovely fruit basket in our cabin when we return from Muster Drill, compliments of Hotel Manager. The Maitre D' comes over with a special invitation for us for a specialty restaurant compliments of my acquaintance and the Executive Chef on board the ship. Note back in cabin that they are looking forward to meeting at the Captains Reception (which of course now we must go to). Next day, special cheese and fruit platter in our cabin when we return from our shore excursion with bottle of champaign.

 

I wanted to throw my hands up and say "You had me at HELLO"....we had been on 15 prior cruises on Royal already.

 

I will say it was fun....but never expected it....I was happy being assured we had company at our table for dinner.

[awhfy]

We are raising two grands...

 

This past Christmas we told them we are going to San Juan for a week and staying some place on the "water" (not a lie)

 

Told them we had a day pass on the "Adventure of the Sea" from an old friend had this cruise plan for 8 months too.

 

When we check in for our sea passes told the agent what I was doing and they both jumped into the 'secret" lol

 

We finally decided while eating lunch at the Windjammer.. when they ask with their sad faces... "what time do they make us leave" can we please be stow aways.

 

When we did tell them they freaked out.. very nice.

 

On the ship we booked another cruise for Jan. 2016 and told them.. they said we wished you surprised again.

 

Well I am got them all New England Pat's vs Miami tickets the day before their cruise with all new Pat's gear..

 

 

Need another grand? What a great, great gift. Go Pats!

[2nsmom]

We took our twins on a cruise for their 8th grade graduation. We booked room for 4 and then I realized it was cheaper to book two rooms of 2 instead, so we changed it to 2 rooms side by side, but didn't tell them. They didn't find out they had their own room until we dropped them off at their room and dh and I went into our room. It was so great to have 2 of everything and a little privacy ;)

[jc24cruiser]

I got an amazing upgrade for free AND a refund....(some how!) and I was meant to keep it a secret, I lasted 3 hours!

 

My biggest secret involving a cruise is that a cruise my partner knew about was not just an ordinary holiday, it was a honeymoon. I planned the whole wedding as a surprise (thanks to a lovely loop hole even my partner did not know until the day!).

 

We went on the cruise a few days later as honeymooners :)

 

I was meant to be keeping the itinerary of our next cruise a secret but only lasted a couple of months before I blabbed!

[abhb]

Back a few years ago, I booked a cruise for DH's 50th birthday without telling him. About a week before his birthday (and the cruise) I asked him where he would like to go for dinner for his birthday. He named a few local places. I asked him if he wanted to go to Chops for his birthday. He looked a little confused and said they are only on ships. I just smiled and he figured it out:D

[TheInnocentAge]

I upgraded us from a GS to one of the Deck 9 Aqua Theater Suites last year on Oasis, and I didn't tell my husband. I managed to keep the secret, and even went so far as to slip a note to the check-in agent to not say anything about our cabin! He found out when we were leaving the suite lounge to go to our cabin on boarding day! It was a sweet, suite surprise!:)

 

I know this thread is a few months old, but I just now came across it while looking for this topic...

 

I'm working on a similar surprise as Cindy (above). We will be on Oasis at the end of October, and my girlfriend thinks we have a D2 like we did on Allure a couple of years ago, but I actually booked an OS. I'm thinking the surprise will unravel at some point, especially once we get to check in. In a perfect scenario it would be a secret up until we enter the cabin, but that's unlikely.

 

She doesn't log into the My Cruises area of the RC website, and she doesn't read Cruise Critic, so no worries there, but I'm sure there are other things that may tip her off. Just trying to cover all the bases.

 

Cindy (if you happen to see this), once you gave the agent the note, did he hand you both Sea Pass cards? I figure the different color card will be a dead giveaway. Also, if the luggage tags have the cabin number and cabin type, how did you get around that?

 

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[papcx]

It's been a couple of tough years for our family. Lost my FIL in 2013 and my dad last year.

 

This year we took our mums on a Rome 3 nighter and 10 night med cruise. Rome was great, but the surprise was onboard.

 

I'd upgraded us from insides to balconies. I told DW in the que for check-in so she could watch the reaction. My mum actually cried! She'd been worried about possibly been claustrophobic, but hadn't wanted to make a fuss.

 

Worth every penny.

[TheInnocentAge]

It's been a couple of tough years for our family. Lost my FIL in 2013 and my dad last year.

 

This year we took our mums on a Rome 3 nighter and 10 night med cruise. Rome was great, but the surprise was onboard.

 

I'd upgraded us from insides to balconies. I told DW in the que for check-in so she could watch the reaction. My mum actually cried! She'd been worried about possibly been claustrophobic, but hadn't wanted to make a fuss.

 

Worth every penny.

 

Great story, thanks for sharing.

 

And yes, the point of check-in is where I can see my upcoming planned surprise becoming evident, though I hope to keep my GF distracted enough during that process that she may not realize we have a suite. We always get priority check-in and priority boarding as a perk through our TA (which we won't actually need this time because of the suite boarding), so I'll just tell her the Suite boarding line is what we've been told to use. I still need to somehow keep her from noticing the luggage tags, Sea Pass cards, and whatever other tell-tale signs that I'm forgetting...

[sbbquilter]

While I had always wanted to cruise Alaska, DH wasn't as keen. So I figured he couldn't refuse it if it was for our 30th anniversary and booked it just prior to a business meeting that was being held in Vancouver. That Saturday morning we were sitting in the CL at the Marriott overlooking Canada Place and calmly told him we would be here again next year - he was confused until I explained we would be boarding the Serenade that day. The other part of the surprise was that DS's were also going in an interior across the hall - got to keep that until he started to bug me about inviting them along. Fabulous time as a family.

[irishgal432]

My high school best friend was turning 50 and had never gone on a cruise. We lived in different parts of the country and didn't see each other too much. She had always heard me talk about cruising and Grand Suites.

It was easy to get through check-in becasue she had no clue about anything. She had never been away from her girls for any length of time. She was planning a big Girl Scout trip for them to Europe and didn't have any extra money so I told her lets just get an inside room on a 3 day.

 

I upgraded to a GS without telling her. On the way to the room, there were some doors open to inside rooms. We looked in one and you could see her thinking, my this is small. We got to the GS and I said let's look in this one to see it. I said Happy Birthday! She started crying and was flabbergasted. The whole trip was wonderful.

[Desert Cruizers]

I could surprise my husband with an upgrade since he has no idea how to get to RCCL web site let alone log into our cruises. I do all the planning and booking of our cruises and let him know when he needs to begin packing, beyond that he doesn't wish to know the details.:D

[textbookcase]

This past March, I took my daughters on the Oasis. They thought we had a Jr Suite, but I had booked the Royal Loft Suite. I had almost pulled off the surprise until we got to the doors where they look at your documentation. When the guy saw that we had the Royal Loft Suite, he got on his walkie talkie and said that VIP guests had arrived and we would need an escort. I had no idea that would happen or I would have asked him not to! I had just managed to get the girls away from the luggage so I could put on the luggage tags without them seeing, and that was quite a process! They still didn't know which suite it was, bit they knew it had to be nice if we were getting an escort.

[TheInnocentAge]

This past March, I took my daughters on the Oasis. They thought we had a Jr Suite, but I had booked the Royal Loft Suite. I had almost pulled off the surprise until we got to the doors where they look at your documentation. When the guy saw that we had the Royal Loft Suite, he got on his walkie talkie and said that VIP guests had arrived and we would need an escort. I had no idea that would happen or I would have asked him not to! I had just managed to get the girls away from the luggage so I could put on the luggage tags without them seeing, and that was quite a process! They still didn't know which suite it was, bit they knew it had to be nice if we were getting an escort.

 

OK, that's good to know, and I hadn't thought of that. I wonder at what level of suites do they call an escort for... Frequesnt suite guests, can you chime in?

 

Thanks!

[newbiecruiser09]

I am surprising my three teenage daughters with a cruise on Indy that sails 150 days from today! I reserved it last July and have been very successful so far in keeping the secret. Two of them haven't been on a "real" vacation since they were quite young and the third has never been on a "real" vacation. They have all been begging to be taken to the beach. I think this will fit their requirements!

 

I'm still working on the reveal and I can't wait to see their reactions when I tell them. I had initially decided to tell them as we were leaving for the airport but that would mean I would have to pack for all of us. I have now decided to tell them a week or two before we leave so they can help with their packing.

 

Aren't surprises great?!

 

You're leaving out of FLA right? I'd tell them a week or so before about the "vacation to FLA" and that you plan on some nice dinners out so pack nice (i.e. formal like) dresses. Then make sure you tell your transportation from airport to port that it's a surprise--I've had drivers ruin it before asking if they are excited to cruise! When they pull up to the cruise ship it will be an amazing surprise!

[Chipmoose]

we told our kids last year we were staying at an "all inclusive resort" vacation in Baltimore (they don't travel much so they didn't know) and going on a dinner cruise. They didn't realize it was a cruise because we managed to get the customs agents and all the check in people into the story. As we walked onto the ship we told them we were going to the Bahamas. I've never seen my kids so excited.. at least until we showed them the aft Royal Family Suite.

 

That's funny! On our last cruise we shared a shuttle from the hotel in Tampa with a group of people that told one man in their group (perhaps celebrating something special) that they we were all headed for the port because they had chartered a day fishing trip. As we pulled up next to the Brilliance, he figured things out!