Do you have or find ways to pixie-dust yourself?

[Frozen Canuck]

I have read a number of posts where people put a lot of thought and effort into making the cruise special for others...either for those they are traveling with and/or for others through the use of FE gifts or random pixie-dusting. What I am wondering is that if you ARE that person...that giving person for your group (and there is a good likelihood that nobody else will step up and do the same for you), what do you do to "surprise" yourself and make your vacation extra-special as well?

I have lots of ideas for surprises and gifts that I can do for my family, but I am at a loss for simple things that I can do to enhance my own vacation. In the past, I have held off reading a book that I was sure that I would enjoy during our cruise, but that is about it. Not very creative or overly inspiring, but it was something to look forward to. However, a couple of days ago, I read a post about someone who had purchased the Frozen State Room Experience for themselves, which I thought was a great way to surprise oneself, so to speak. Even though you know you are going to receive it, it is still fun to walk into your stateroom and have it there.

Any other ideas, especially simple and inexpensive ones? Are there items you bring along to "gift" yourself that you use only on your cruise? Do you plan to treat yourself during the cruise with a special unique purchase...even something as basic as a new app to play or a few music downloads? Have you found a way to surprise yourself by sending items ahead in a "Welcome to your Cruise!" care package to yourself? Please share your creative suggestions with me!

 

[jlynch924]

I'm the "gifter" in our family. I try to surprise my DH and DD in various ways throughout the trip, plus we participate in the FE (with myself being the primary planner on the FE gifts). My little treat to myself is getting the pass for the Rainforest Room for a couple of days on the cruise. Not terribly creative, but it works for me!

 

[jdb in AZ]

A visit to the ship's gift shops works for me.

 

[thumpie's mom]

While I always make sure my family is my first priority and plan special surprises for them, the one thing I do for myself is the Alone Time at the spa. It is wonderful to have a hour and a half to simply relax and get a little pampering. I budget ahead of time for it and it is something I truly look forward to.

 

[asamklove]

Gift shop. No guilt.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

Having a fun, relaxing vacation is all the pixie dust I need. But I will typically buy myself some type of souvenir too--a hoodie or a mug or something.

 

[MagicMe]

For me it's budgeting for a special trip to the gift shop and for some bingo time!

 

[lisadam]

I make sure I get some alone time - I've found little spots on the ship to curl up with a book (being on deck is nice - but it's the air-conditioned lounges by a big window that I really love). I will also take a walk around a deck I'm not living on - just to see the artwork or small differences from deck to deck. I plan on doing a hidden mickey hunt with my camera. I don't need lavish - just little "just for me" things. and naps... and a souvenir or two ...

 

[budamacdvcr]

One of the best parts for me is planning the pixie dust stuff for the family and seeing them enjoy the cruise so much. Pixie Dust for me is the little things like a cigar and nice beverage treat at Meridians, a souvenir or just sitting on veranda enjoying the view while others are getting ready for dinner.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Typically, my gift to myself is a massage and getting up early, grabbing some coffee and doing yoga and tai chi at an empty Sattelite Falls.

However, for our upcoming cruise on the Wonder I've upgraded our room to a verandah on deck 8 instead of an inside on deck 6. My wife and kids don't know. We've never been in a verandah so I'm super excited.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

First drink on ship- Captain's Mai-Tai and a toast to me for getting us all there; all the planning etc. Gift shop or outpost on Castaway for a 5K t-shirt swag-reward

 

[jtba]

i bought some extra rainforest room passes and invited some new friends i met at our cruise meet along. the time to spend with them just chatting about this and that was fun and rewarding for me. plus this way i wouldn't have to go alone, as DH was not interested at all.

 

[NeverSayNever]

I do the planning and Gifting of surprises and that in and of itself fulfills some fun for me. But I also get some other simple pleasures, alone time here and there - even in the morning once everyone goes to breakfast to have the cabin to myself to get dressed.

And, I guess, the big splurge which is really for me is we purchase the photo package and do lots of pictures. Drink tastings are fun and that gives us alone time so that is mutually rewarding. I also enjoy one on one time with each of my children and somehow they always find a special way to make me laugh or we do something fun, the arcade or chess and with my daughter the tradition of sticking our feet in the pool for a selfie and shopping trips.

Enjoy!

 

[ludari]

As a solo traveler/cruiser just being able to go on a Disney Cruise is my pixie dust.

 

[Mickey4me!]

I'm the planner of our trips and I love creating surprises! That in and of itself is my fun but that's only because it's appreciated by everyone! If it was not, then I would just plan for me! On one cruise, DH, DD and her fiancé bought me a pretty DCL necklace and gave it to me a couple of nights before the end of the cruise and 2 yrs ago DH surprised me with a gorgeous Rebecca Hook necklace from the trunk show she was having. It was a total surprise as I didn't even know he knew there were shops on board! I don't expect a gift (although it do accept them!) but it's really nice when it happens. I do always try to book some spa time for me. The Alone Time is my favorite spa service and I have it booked for our Nov. cruise. We will be sailing on DH's 60 birthday and I am flying our daughter in to sail the first leg of our B2B with us as a surprise. She and her dad are very close so he will be blown away. He has no idea but he does know i've been up past midnight a couple of nights making sure I got all our activities booked. He told me the other night "Now make sure you schedule something at the spa for yourself". Little did he know that was #3 on my "to book" list and had already been done

 

[Plaid Princess]

Whenever we cruise with friends who are first timers, I make them a FE and sign them up to join in. Then I just include their names on whatever gifts I am making, and they get surprises throughout the cruise! (And I get to make multiple Fish Extenders!)

 

[diznymom]

I'm the planner in our family. For myself.....alone time w/ DH - Rainforest passes, brunch at Palo. And this year.....Concierge level for the very first time (DH doesn't know about this yet).

 

[cgolf]

For me the pixie dust is no internet/email , cell phone, news or work

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone! You have given me a number of ideas for things to check out. I appreciate all of the responses.

 

[MarleneP]

As a lot of the previous posters, I am usually the gift giver. For our Christmas cruise I surprised my kids with the xmas cabin decorations. I usually treat myself to gift shop purchases....tshirts, magnets, post cards, etc.
I have a sweet story that I think is nice to share on this post. As said I am always the surprise planner and my kids are always appreciative. However, on our xmas cruise my DS(13) received a disney gift card for his birthday the week before from a friend that knew he was going on a cruise. On xmas morning we all woke up to a few unexpected gifts under our tiny tree, my DS took his little brother to the gift shop and used his gift card to purchase my DH and I gifts for Xmas. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!