Booked surprise cruise for wife - How should I tell her?

[gilmore]

I just booked a surprise cruise for my wife - our first. I was hoping I could get some ideas from you all on how to "break" the news to her. Thanks.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I just booked a surprise cruise for my wife - our first. I was hoping I could get some ideas from you all on how to "break" the news to her. Thanks.

Wow! I can't believe nobody has responded to this yet. How long until you leave? How long can you keep a secret?

I like the whole pack for her and drive/fly her there and then she'll get it. Or, tell her you are going somewhere, so she can pack herself, and then take her. (one of the reasons I like the later, is I'd like to wrap up loose ends before I leave, and packing my own clothes is a big one.)

Can you record a you tube video? Aaargh! The possibilities are endless! Do you have kids that can help break the news? Flowers delivered to her at work with note and co-worker video taping?

You need to give us details of what she likes or doesn't like. There are graphics that people have made that simulate a cruise ticket. You could put it in a chocolate bar (large of course....lol) like Willy Wonka.

etc etc etc. Give us some details and see if we can be of more help.

 

[4Goofys4Dis]

DH surprised me with a trip to Vegas last year. He had the kids make me a big poster and inside there was the big "Vegas" sign with the dates (which happened to be the next day). Then he said, "we are leaving in 45 minutes to drpo the kids at my moms house". I have to say, it was sweet and romantic, but I then went NUTS trying to pack, clean and go thru DIRTY laundry to find stuff to wear!

I like the PP ideas and I love the idea of the chocolate bar with a Willy Wonka type "Golden Ticket"...BTW ToysRUs actually sells those big Wonka bars!!

Some DWs (like me) like to shop for cruises and make sure we have the right clothes, accessories, etc...some people may disagree but a couple days notice may help her out. I LOVE surprises but like planning too....poor DH just can't win!

 

[mmouse37]

Is it before or after the holidays? ....we surprised our kids on Christmas morning for our cruise on the Maiden Voyage of the Disney Magic.

I had bought DCL t-shirts at the preview center (all they had were XL) at WDW a year before and held on to them to wrap and have them open. I also made up "certificates" that were in the box as well announcing the dates we would be going.

You could get a DCL t-shirt or Christmas ornament or put a series of DCL graphics together to present to her as a gift with an explanation!

This pic was from 1997....

And some years later....

Good luck with the surprise!!!! I would love if my family surprised me with a cruise!!!

MJ

 

[tjbaggott]

I've made up this graphic for others to use to surprise their family members. I have the one for the Wonder too. I'd be happy to make one for you or give you the blank to do up yourself if you want it.

[/IMG]

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Wow! Love the graphic. I wish I was that talented. I think I need to go take some graphic design classes.

I guess how you surprise her really will depend on when the trip is. For me, just telling me would be exciting. And I love to plan and get on these boards and meet people. But, if she is not a planner, wait until the last minute, pack the bag and take her away. How special!!!

My husband surprised me with a long weekend at Disney. I found out at the airport where I thought I was dropping my son off to go with my parents. Surprised to find a boarding pass and suitcase already packed for me. I was a bit worried about what he packed. He did well, I would have packed a bit differently, but hey, I was going to Disney. Who cares!

 

[poohs4me]

I have to agree it depends on the type of person your DW is - for me planning is part of the fun, but I would not complain about being told last minute either.

Have you thought of a little scavenger hunt, or maybe a clue a day. You could write the clue somewhere she would see everyday for X number of days - like the mirror in the bathroom or place it in the breakfast cereal. That way she has some anticipation as well.

 

[natale1980]

I would love to get one of those surprises where you think your driving someone else to the airport but really it's you going on vacation. BUT I would be so stressed if that meant my DH packed my bags!

Good luck!! Keeping a surprise isn't easy! I made it six months and then left the Dis open!! He read my post and figured it out. We were leaving in two weeks - so it was still a surprise and he was happy to know about it ahead of time.

-nat

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Op, what a great hubby you are!
Personally, I'd want to pack for myself. Esp if this is your 1st cruise, she may want to do some shopping.

I surprised my dh for a big bday for him and told him the week before. His bday is same as Dr. Seuss's so I wrote a little poem and put it in a card. I'm at work now but can post it later if you want some ideas.

Good luck!

 

[tea for girls]

My husband got a bracelet box from my favorite jewelry store (empty of course) and put our cruise tickets in the box. He then wrapped it up and gave it to me on Valentine's Day.

 

[bevtoy]

We made a cruise countdown chain, wrapped it up in Disney paper and put it under the tree with a tag "From Mickey" for my husband...he loved it!
We put it in the garage and made him play "Hot and Cold" to find it.
Oh yes we put reservation papers on top of chain for him to read wow was he a happy camper!

 

[genmasjoy]

I suggest you buy a small toy ship, gift wrap it, and then when she opens it, tell her the real surprse. If it were me, I'd like enought advance notice to pack and maybe buy some new clothes for the trip, so I wouldn't want it sprung on me at the last minute.

 

[bevtoy]

I suggest you buy a small toy ship, gift wrap it, and then when she opens it, tell her the real surprse. If it were me, I'd like enought advance notice to pack and maybe buy some new clothes for the trip, so I wouldn't want it sprung on me at the last minute.

Knowing in advance would be better planning is a great part of the fun!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I suggest you buy a small toy ship, gift wrap it, and then when she opens it, tell her the real surprse. If it were me, I'd like enought advance notice to pack and maybe buy some new clothes for the trip, so I wouldn't want it sprung on me at the last minute.

My DH did this for me at Christmas. It was a clipper ship (any ship would do) and he got like $1,000 in 1's and put them in rolls and and stuffed them in my stocking. It was kind of funny, 'cause we had talked about it, but the subject was dropped. It took me a minute to figure out what the clipper ship meant.

 

[croppincolburn]

One of the Disney commercials came to mind. The one where the family is at a nice restaurant. Looking rather bored. The father opens and envelope and fireworks go off. Or what ever it really was. Not easy to do in real life. Dinner and a nice card containing the announcement sound fun.

 

[gilmore]

Here's some quick info - I wanted to wait until Christmas, but need to do it soon so that we can apply for and get passports before we leave. We're doing the 4 night Bahamas cruise so I was thinking something Bahama-themed?? Our kids are only 8 & 5 so they may not be able to keep a secret well. She's really into scrapbooking and crafting, etc. Does anyone know if DCL has their own scrapbook? I know she bought one @ WDW. Thanks for all the ideas - keep 'em coming!

 

[tjbaggott]

Here's some quick info - I wanted to wait until Christmas, but need to do it soon so that we can apply for and get passports before we leave. We're doing the 4 night Bahamas cruise so I was thinking something Bahama-themed?? Our kids are only 8 & 5 so they may not be able to keep a secret well. She's really into scrapbooking and crafting, etc. Does anyone know if DCL has their own scrapbook? I know she bought one @ WDW. Thanks for all the ideas - keep 'em coming!

Yes, DCL has their own scrapbook, at least I've seen them in the gift shop on board. Don't know if you can order it ahead of time though if thats what you planned. Let us know how you end up surprising her! Does she know about these boards?

 

[clten]

I wanted to wait until Christmas, but need to do it soon so that we can apply for and get passports before we leave.

You know you don't need passports for the Bahamas cruises right? (They are nice to have but not absolutely necessary.) I'd wait until Christmas and wrap something up. Might give you a chance to get a DCL scrapbook (either order through merchandising or have someone here on the boards pick one up for you and mail it to you. I'd do it for you but we don't get back until Dec 12th). Page one of the scrapbook, I'd put together a page that lets her know that she's going on the cruise and the dates. Not only would that be a great surprise, she'd have the opening page of her scrapbook already done!

 

[iloverags2]

You cannot purchase the scrapbook through the 1-800 merchandising number (I tried this a few weeks ago!). I'll be heading off on the Wonder next Thursday and would be happy to pick up a scrapbook for you though. PM me if you would like.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

To make it easy on yourself, you could just go to a local scrapbooking store and get Disney paper. You or a friend of hers could do something up and you could just put it in a box for her to unwrap. Let her see the book for herself. I have one, but the paper on board is really cool. The book was just so so. If you want a picture, I can show you.

If you want pictures of the ship and/or of characters, we all have those. Mickey can hold a sign saying "Can't wait to see you ......"