Fish extender question

[CT Yankee]

We are sailing B2B cruises on the Dream beginning August 15th. My 14 year-old just yesterday discovered the whole concept of the fish extender gift exchange. I told her it was too late to join a fish extender group and that it is a pretty involved process to participate in one (at least I think it is). She just really likes the idea of making a fish extender and having something to hang outside the door. She also found some videos on YouTube about this - one person said that sometimes random guests will put things in your fish extender, or that the crew members do this sometimes too. I told her that was very nice of them to do, but the only way we have to reciprocate or "pay it forward" is to put some gifts in random fish extenders but we will have no idea who gave her gifts. I'm ok with just giving out random gifts but I am totally new to this and have no idea if this is ok. Is it bad form to hang up a fish extender if you are not part of a group?

For the record, I plan to have some gifts and treats ready to put in there for her so she will get something.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are sailing B2B cruises on the Dream beginning August 15th. My 14 year-old just yesterday discovered the whole concept of the fish extender gift exchange. I told her it was too late to join a fish extender group and that it is a pretty involved process to participate in one (at least I think it is). She just really likes the idea of making a fish extender and having something to hang outside the door. She also found some videos on YouTube about this - one person said that sometimes random guests will put things in your fish extender, or that the crew members do this sometimes too. I told her that was very nice of them to do, but the only way we have to reciprocate or "pay it forward" is to put some gifts in random fish extenders but we will have no idea who gave her gifts. I'm ok with just giving out random gifts but I am totally new to this and have no idea if this is ok. Is it bad form to hang up a fish extender if you are not part of a group?

For the record, I plan to have some gifts and treats ready to put in there for her so she will get something.

Not at all. As long as you do so being aware that you may not get anything. Placing gifts in random Fish Extenders not on your already set up group list is called "pixie dusting". Some people do it. I'd suggest, if you do go ahead with the plan, that you (mom) stash a few small, easy to slip into FE pocket, gifts to be put in your son's pocket.

It's totally OK for you to pixie dust other FEs, if you wish. I've never really heard of the CMs putting things in the FEs, but, as I said, some people in other FE groups do (not a lot). And, if your room isn't really in a more traveled area, there may not be enough traffic for random people to drop off stuff.

 

[traveln4fun]

Find your cruise group and see if they have a last minute list for pixie dusting, most do. This is just a group of late comers who want to join in on the fun and other FE participants who may make extra gifts just for "pixie dust".

 

[cmsb]

On our recent cruise I brought a couple of extra Frozen activity books that I had at home. With only boys, they would never get used. The boys looked for fish extenders with girls' names that had not been part of our group and we passed them out. The downside is that we have no idea what the girls' ages were, so hopefully they were not too old for the books. So, it does happen, but it may not be perfect.

 

[thumpie's mom]

We do the fish extender's, but we have never joined a group. We make some items at home and then when the ship is in Port and most people are off the ship, we just go up and down the decks and "pixie dust" random FE's. We really enjoy looking at people's door decorations and different FE's. If we see someone is celebrating a special event,we make sure we put something in their pocket...it is a lot of fun and we really enjoy it. Making the little gifts before we go gives us something "cruisey" to do before we leave. Have a great cruise!

 

[belac]

I have done what PrincessShmoo suggested on the last 2 cruises. I have had the FE hanging and had small gifts for DS (pins, Tsum Tsum mini plushies, candy, and even something for DH, made it seem more real for DS, 9 at the time). Pick small things your daughter will like lip gloss, pins, small stuff that you slip in when you come in from swimming, before she wakes up etc...I also had glow sticks, candy, stickers, smaller magnets so DS could hand out as pixie dusting to others. You won't know who Pixie dusts you but that is OK, you are paying it forward.
BTW, DS and DH had no idea it was me

 

[CT Yankee]

Thank you so much everyone for the excellent suggestions!! I knew I could count on you! I posted a message on the FE group for my cruise to see if we can join the Pixie Dust list but I think that closed in June. In any event, it is good to know that we can do something. My daughter says she does not really care about getting gifts - she just loves doing these DIY crafty things.

 

[amwhitaker]

Hang one up, you never know what will happen! I have had extra gifts and have left them in a random FE not on my list.