Need some ideas please

[MikeNKim]

I am cruising in April with a bunch of friends. 5 couples as it stands now.

 

2 couples have never cruised before and 3 of us have, however, 1 couple has only cruised once before.

 

I am trying to find ideas to make it fun in the time leading up to the cruise. (not things to do on the ship)

 

4 of us couples live close so I am planning a few dinners as we are the common link and the others don't know each other.

 

Also was thinking of little loot bags, with over the door shoe holders, tips, example packing lists, beads for embarkson day.

 

Anyone have any ideas of fun things to do or any ideas of things to put in the loot bags.

 

Thank you.

[UPCrawfish]

Any birthdays or anniversaries that would occur while on board that could be worked into the plans ?

 

One in our group of 10 had a birthday the same day as another in the group and she brought a bunch of party stuff on board, hooked up with our waiter and they set the table on formal night with all the hats / beads / noise makers before we went to dinner..

[pmfan]

Print out a copy of the Compass for your itinerary (if you can find one) and include a highlighter. Show them why they need the highlighter. :D

[rjdunn]

You could very easily make a calendar in Publisher starting in September and going through to the start of the cruise. Then just print out the copies and mail them to the group.

 

You could list everyone that will be going with their email addresses, and then fill in birthdays, as well as the various holidays of the countries you will be visiting. Also, you could put little planning tips like by December 15th "Have you applied for your passport". In the beginning there might not be a lot of information, but as the date gets closer, there will be a lot of information you can list. This would be a HUGE help to the newbie cruisers.

 

You could also add nice beaded lanyards (more for the women) to the loot bag. This way the women have a fashionable way to carry their Sign and Sail cards.

[HulaGirl@Heart]

Design a group t-shirt. If you do not want to have them professionally printed, you can always print on transfer paper and iron it on yourself.

 

Funny custom luggage tags (also printed from your color printer and laminated at your local office supply store). Use a hole punch and add a colorful ribbon. Get creative! I made some that said "Our home on the Carnival Ecstasy the week of ..." and listed our cabin numbers. We attached them to EVERYTHING (camera bag, kid's totes, etc), just in case something got lost or left behind it would be easier for it to find it's way back to us.

[KCcruisin07]

For the ones who haven't cruised before, you could show them Cruise Critic and give a prize for the ones who find the most informative and funniest entries. (Bring to the next party.)

 

You could give travel guides, such as Rick Steves' guide or DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to the area you're visiting or pocket maps (e.g. I think Knopf) as prizes. You can buy the travel guides through Alibris Books or Amazon and the maps through Amazon.com.

[BroncosFan2010]

Here is an idea...

A week before your party, let each couple know that you are having a Cruise Scavenger hunt. Tell each group member to bring as many items from the "list" (that you create) as they can. The couple who has the most items wins a prize (something cruise related or that you need on a cruise).

A list could include something like this:

1. Sunglasses

2. Suntan Lotion

3. Beads/flower lai

4. Cruise Video (maybe from a TA)

5. Souviner Glass

6. Snorkel and Fins

 

 

You get the idea.

This also helps them pack things they might need!