Cruise as kids Christmas gift

[jmet]

We are set to be on the 1/15 Wonder and plan to make this a major part of our kids Christmas gift. I would love to hear any stories if you have done this before - or any thoughts on how to make it really special since they won't be getting much else this year! This will be their first cruise and our 2nd (if you count our honeymoon 18 years ago)!! I have already picked up little things that I plan to put in their stockings like bubbles for the sail away party, disposable camera's, playing cards and other small things to do on the plane, but I really want to think of a fun way to "tell" them on Christmas - so if you have any fun, creative idea's let me know! Thanks
Jamie

 

[Rence]

Hate to rain on the parade, but keep in mind that as of right now everyone sailing after 12/31/05 will need passports. So you will need to come up with a sneaky way of getting passports ahead of time (you won't have enough time between Christmas and 1/15).

Some ideas that were toss out - Tell the kids that passports are good security if a child goes missing, just like getting current photos and fingerprints, having a passport is a wise protection. Or tell them that you are thinking of a vacation to Canada or Mexico next year and just want to get it out of the way.

Take the kids to get passports and then just don't bring it up. You could include the passports as part of the Christmas present

 

[krhardy]

we have surprised our children at Christmas time with trips several times. Once, we didn't even tell them until we were there where we were going...we just said we were going on a trip to see some friends. Unfortunately, they are older now, and wouldn't fall for that. Another time, we had them unwrap their tickets...I was able to get Disney to send them to me early...of course, now with everything online, you can just print them down! And yet another time when we went to England with friends, we had the friends come over on CHristmas Eve. We photoshopped a map of England with our kids faces on it, then glued it on a premade puzzle from Michaels. Each child had a different piece, and they had to work together to figure it out. That year, I also had to get passports without them knowing about it. Fortunately, my post office does passports and pictures. It was right after Thanksgiving, and they had just put up the Christmas tree, so I had the lady tell them that she was putting pictures of all the children in the post office on the tree. It worked. Unfortunately, it's getting harder and harder to surprise them these days! Good luck!

 

[jmet]

Forgot to mention that we are planning to trick the kids into thinking we are going to visit friends in Canada next spring - which is how we will explain the need for passports.

The puzzle idea sounds fun - I'm not too crafty though, so not sure if I could pull that off or not (but I did think of making a "photo puzzle" out of a picture of the Wonder or something like that)...

Keep the idea's coming I really appreciate your respones!


Jamie

 

[Mommyjamiex4]

This is exactly what we have started doing for our 4 kids ages 1,3,6,and 9. Last year it was a cruise and this year it will be a week in Disney followed by a 3 nt. cruise. My older girls know about it and are so excited. For last year we put the cruise tickets on the table with a letter from Santa telling us to have a good time and to send him a postcard. The kids were awestruck!

 

[myboysmom]

Our Spring Break/Anniversary Trip will also be a Christmas present. We did that for our Spring Break 2004 trip. The boys liked being included on the planning, so we are doing it this way again. That way everyone can have a say on what we want to do in port.

So far I have a very large Christmas Mickey (picked up last Christmas from Toys R Us), and the planning DVD. I like the other ideas as well. I might just pick up on the puzzle thing as my youngest just loves puzzles.

 

[Masonpips]

Here's what we did last Christmas:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=657808

The kids loved it but there was some shock. DS just looked at us saying "we're going on a Disney cruise?" in disbelief. He didn't jump up and down and run around like I expected but by the time we left (next day) they were fired up!

 

[gydell]

I also am giving a Jan cruise for a Christmas present. I got the dvd from the cruise line and I also called and bought everyone a beachtowel since I heard that you need them for CC. For the 4 year old boy I got a buzz ligthyear towel with his name on it from Disney. I am planning to pick up a raft and a couple of other beach toys when they go on sell at the end of the summer. Almost forgot, at the Disney store I picked up beach bags and sunglasses. If you have any more ideas let me know. It's a present from grandma to daughter and son.

 

[jfis1020]

Our surprise at Christmas was our DCL trip but included a trip to DL and some pro baseball games. We did three clue envelopes with a package to match. Each child read an envelope, then opened the package to see where we were going. I got a stuffed Disney Magic with characters off E-Bay (it was brand new still in packaging ~ $40 value for $25) to represent our cruise. Our kids were elated!

 

[neenermom]

...but I guess you could tweak it somehow and make it work for you.

We were on the June 4th WCC. I had a girlfriend on the cruise last fall. I asked her to pick up some small DCL logo items from the gift shop for me. Starting January 4th of this year (six months) and continuing every 4th of the month, "TinkerBell" came by our house and left a small DCL gift for my kids, 10 and 4 (i.e. DCL pencils, DCL playing cards, DCL crayons, etc.) I, um, "TinkerBell" wrote them a note each month (using a "frilly" font on the computer) and printed it up on a lovely shade of green paper, which had "pixie dust" on it (was lightly sprayed with craft adhesive and had glitter). The notes were personal, she'd mention something about a report card to my DS, or hope my DD was felling better after a cold, and get the kids excited about the trip in a few months. You could do something similar with a character of your choice, and use the items that you've bought for the trip as gifts left for them.

BTW, I got two pillowcases signed on my cruise by the characters (thanks DIS boards)! Those were given out this past weekend when "TinkerBell" made her final appearance at my house. I swear even the ten year old thinks she might be real!

Lorena

 

[jmet]

WOW! What GREAT idea's - the wheels are starting to turn a little faster now... keep 'em coming - I just love hearing everyone's idea's! Thanks for all the great responses - very fun.
Jamie

 

[Mommyuf3]

What we did, was have one of our friends pick up the Mickey Ears-with their names on them-and I put them all over the Christmas tree, along with a large Mickey and Minnie holding the DVD from the cruise line! They were floored. Then-as mentioned previously-we had cameras, travel games, carry ons as other gifts! Good luck!!

 

[becky7953]

I did that 2 Christmas' ago. I packed each child (ages 2 and 4 at the time) a suit case ( just used ones we had not a new one) with a stuffed Mickey or Minnie and other little goodies. Also I made a countdown til our Disney trip.

I like the ideas about the mickey ears on the tree Also the DVD is great idea!

 

[Barbmouse63]

I also am giving a Jan cruise for a Christmas present. I got the dvd from the cruise line and I also called and bought everyone a beachtowel since I heard that you need them for CC. For the 4 year old boy I got a buzz ligthyear towel with his name on it from Disney. I am planning to pick up a raft and a couple of other beach toys when they go on sell at the end of the summer. Almost forgot, at the Disney store I picked up beach bags and sunglasses. If you have any more ideas let me know. It's a present from grandma to daughter and son.

This is exactly what I was thinking too. I would also find some snorkel equpment on sale to include in it.( I can't stand the thought of using the rental ones that have been in other peple's mouths..UGH!) Our local Belk has thick, nice beach towels on sale for 60% off now. You could include a bathing suit for the dks.. Put them in a cute, cheap beach bag/bucket and maybe include a picture or postcard of the DCL! Have fun!!

 

[we6clarks]

Hi Jamie,
We also will be on the Jan 15th Wonder. It is nice to meet you. There is a thread on the cruise meets if you want to check that out. We also have children who will be DS 6, DD 4, DD 2, and DD 2 when we sail. What ages are your kids?
Michele

 

[jmet]

Hi Michele - Thanks for responding - it's nice to finally hear of someone else who will be on our cruise! I did check out the cruise meet board - but that was quite awhile ago now. I have two boys - 13 and 7 (at the time of cruise). It would be SO great if the little ones could meet - especially because my younger one is pretty slow to warm up to new situations - unless he's got a friend! It's tough because since we are surprising them with the cruise for Christmas I won't have as much lead time as I'd like to sort of "prep" him for the kids clubs. I think he will have a blast - IF he can talk himself into staying - LOL! Maybe your DS6 could help me out !
Jamie

 

[we6clarks]

Hi Jamie,
You don't know how happy I am right now!! Our sons sound a lot a like. Mine is also slow to warm up to new situations. I have been hoping I could find someone his age on the cruise so he would enjoy being in the club too.
Michele

 

[jmet]

Michele -
We are definately doing the happy dance TOGETHER!!!! Sounds like they could be fast friends if we play our cards right - WHOO HOO!

Please stay in touch - Now I'm even MORE excited about the cruise!
Jamie

 

[jmet]

Love to hear even more Christmas surprise stories/idea's - thanks again for sharing!
Jamie

 

[we6clarks]

Hi Jamie,
I'll definately keep in touch. I read you bought playing cards for your boys for the trip. What kind of card games do they like? DS likes to play war. He is also gotten into YuGiOh card game lately. I am more excited about the cruise now too.
Michele