gift for parents

[ganurse]

My parents are graciously taking me, dh, my sister and her dh and 3 kids on 7 day trip in less than 2 months. Can anyone give me any ideas to do something to thank them. maybe something in the stateroom..Any ideas would be great!

 

[captaincrash]

That's kind of tough....

.... I would assume a personal gesture is what's in the cards and only YOU might know what would be appropriate. I think they don't necessarily need anything expensive as they have suffuicient financial resources to bring you all as guests... and it's worth 2-5K per cabin depending on catagory and when it was booked. So money is not going to impress anyone.

So why not flowers at sailaway? I've heard you can have a local florist deliver to the ship - and that's cheaper than buying from the ship. Or how about picking up a few family portraits taken while on the ship? Those are only $20 and if you pick them up BEFORE they see them it can be a bit of a surprise even though they may have been in them or observed you taking them.

But that sort of stuff is sort of predictible. On the off beat side... how about organizing pirate costumes for your whole family and furnishing them the day before the pirate nite (gift wrapped?). And everyone show up fer dinner dreessed as pirates and for the top side party at nite? That may not cost too much if you kept it simple OR you could buy Jack Sparrow costumes from disney outlet.com - they're now on sale at $49.99 but sizes are limited.

Another off beat thing is ... telling them on the cruise that you're expectin'. NOW I did say this would be off beat... and it WOULD make for a nice announcement of sorts. BUT it's not the usual thank you thing for getting a cruise as a gift. AND just prior to a cruise we took with my in-laws we announced we were expectin' our 1st child... and my in-laws were sailing with us .... but we were all travelin' on our own nickles.

OK... enuf of that....

If I think of anything really appropriate and memorable... I'll return and post it! I honestly tried to come up with valid ideas!

 

[WDWLVR]

My parents are graciously taking me, dh, my sister and her dh and 3 kids on 7 day trip in less than 2 months. Can anyone give me any ideas to do something to thank them. maybe something in the stateroom..Any ideas would be great!

For an in stateroom gift I would look at sending them a basket from Shirley at the Perfect Gift. She did a great one for us for my MIL. Put a bottle of their favorite wine in it with some glasses and snacks. Very nice. The Perfect Gift click on the link to get to her website. Shirley is a dear and a good friend of the DIS.

Another suggestion is to have some group shots done and present an 8 x 10 to your parents in one of the presentation folders (if you buy it this way it ususally comes with a 2nd 8 x 10 of the ship on the other side).

If you are crafty an after the cruise gift might be doing up a scrapbook for your parents. Keeps all the navigators etc that you get on the cruise (extras are always available at guest services) and add lots of family photos. They will love it. A good tip is to always have a camera handy - even at meals. You never know when a great photo op will come along.

 

[Enna]

How about taking a picture mat to guest services for the characters to sign, and buying the embarkation picture of the group (or other group photo) to put in that as a lasting memory of the trip? Cost will vary on the mat selected and the frame, plus the cost of the photo.

 

[Enna]

Or, you could arrange for a spa service, like the cabana massage or spa villa for your parents.

Remember, it's the thought that counts.

 

[Evans Family]

When my parents have cruised with us in the past we have sent them something through Disney to be in their stateroom upon arrival.

Last time we sent a tray of desserts and a bottle of champagne.

 

[ganurse]

Evans family, where in Atlanta are you?
Those are some good ideas...As far as telling them we are expecting..We have been trying for kids for a long while, dont think that will change in 6 weeks!

 

[we4blairs]

I second The Perfect Gift - they are great to work with!
Or - are they wine drinkers? - you could get them that package?
Purchase an excursion for them they wouldn't do for themselves?

 

[repeatcruiser]

We were fortunate enough to be able to take both sets of grand parents (my parents and inlaws) with us on our first cruise. We did not expect to receive any gifts, and I truly believe that most givers don't either. Seeing their enjoyment on the cruise (and that of our kids who loved having all 4 grandparents with them) was ample reward for us. What we did receive was a very nice card with a very heart felt and personal message from each set of parents. That was all that was necessary for us.

Obviously your parents have the financial resources to fund this wonderful trip, so I second the comment above about not needing to do anything expensive - something personal would likely be most appreciated. Since this is you and your sister with your parents, maybe an old photo from a memorable family vacation you all took together when you were kids - put this in a nice double opening frame and put a group photo from boarding in the other - (a photographer will take a group photo right before you board) this photo will be ready in Shutters before dinner - you could buy it and put it in the frame and present it to them at dinner the first night. This along with a nice card talking about the fun times you've had togother as a family - then and now ...

 

[slindamood]

My DM has taken her 20 family members (her four children, grandchildren, spouses, and great- grandchild) on three cruises now. The best thank-you gifts for her are not things. Her favorite part of cruising is all boarding together and getting that photo taken when we board - the smiles and happiness of being together - each family group coming from a different part of the country - are amazing. She keeps the photos on her refrigerator.

Someone always does matching t-shirts (or polar fleece vests for Alaska) and we wear them when boarding. We always eat dinner together and each day sit at different places so different grandchildren get to sit next to Grandma. Invite Grandma to lunch in the dining room with only a few people so you can talk. Flowers in the room for embarkation are appreciated. Then, after the cruise, each person writes and tells about their favorite times together - some send a top ten list. And send photos. Everyone so enjoyed this past Thanksgiving on the Wonder that she immediately booked another Thanksgiving for us all.

 

[ganurse]

Wonderful ideas disboarders...thanks, any others?

 

[captaincrash]

That's kind of tough....

..... On the off beat side... how about .....

Another off beat thing is ... telling them on the cruise that you're expectin'. NOW I did say this would be off beat... and it WOULD make for a nice announcement of sorts. BUT it's not the usual thank you thing for getting a cruise as a gift. .....

OK... enuf of that....

I thought FOR SURE someone was going to say something about my suggesting you give your parents the "gift" of a new grand child??!??

​

 

[TheWog]

I thought FOR SURE someone was going to say something about my suggesting you give your parents the "gift" of a new grand child??!??

​

I think she did.

Those are some good ideas...As far as telling them we are expecting..We have been trying for kids for a long while, dont think that will change in 6 weeks!

 

[ganurse]

bump

great ideas

 

[ganurse]

Can anyone suggest anything else or what I can ask shirley to put in the basket?

 

[we4blairs]

Can anyone suggest anything else or what I can ask shirley to put in the basket?

Shirley and her husband are great. They will guide you in making the baskets. I ordered one for my two DS and they asked a lot of questions, guiding them to what to put into the gift. Just call them - I'm sure you will be pleased.

 

[ganurse]

bump bump

 

[txaggie94gigem]

i think the family portrair idea is a good one....you could even take the pics without them knowing and surprise them with them at breakfast on the last day....

also, if you are flying in, you could upgrade your transportation to a limo...that would be fun!

shirley will also have some great ideas about what you could put in a basket, such as their favorite wine, etc. you could also bring something special for their room steward to put in their room each night....

you could buy stateroom credit for them or treat them to a night at Palo....

what kinds of things do your parents like?

 

[jackiejackson]

We took our DS and DDIL with us on our last cruise. They had arranged for a cake, decorations, crackers, cheese and fruit platter for the stateroom when we boarded. A nice surprise and not expected at all. We felt that was more than enough but then some time after the cruise they presented us with a gift. They had taken our embarcation group photo and had one of the crystal lighted glass "photos" made up that you see being done on the ship. I have it in my family room as a constant reminder of the great time we all had. That was a very special suprise.

 

[ganurse]

My parents? they are very laid back..very humble..They could stay on the ship aand relax..Dad likes to explore..Hes the best.I appreciate him so much more than I did before. Dad Is not one to lay out for hours in the fun. He wants to make sure we all have a good time. HE is a businessman but knows how to relax..there will be a total of 9 of us on the trip..hope this helps