Keeping cruise secret?

[Carlnne]

I just booked a 3-day cruise thru AAA as a surprise for DH. We are going to Disney for a week with DD and DS but he doesnt know about the 3-day cruise. Do you think it would be difficult to hide the secret? Does DCL mail anything or have a reason to call that would ruin the surprise? I did tell my TA not to talk to anyone but me but am more concerned about others spoiling it.

 

[clh2]

From what I understand, the cruise docs will go to AAA. And, I think other cruisers have mentioned that AAA doesn't like to mail them out - they prefer to have the docs picked up at their offices.

 

[KyBuckeye]

Funny, I booked our first disney cruise for Oct 9, 04. Included are dh, ds, and dd. I kept it secret for a few weeks but my cover was blown. Not by any documents coming to the house, but I'd decided to get the children passports beforehand. I realize I don't really need them, but would like to have them just the same. I didn't realize dh has to go along to the passport office to sign off on our minor children. Guess they are worried about parents stealing children off to foreign countries. So I had to fess up to dh. Kids still don't have a clue and I plan to keep it that way. I really don't want to hear the 10 million questions between now and Oct and the whining about "how much longer" .

Heidi

 

[hsteacher]

Have never been able to keep it from DH as the incredible amount of $ paid out would def. be seen but have def. kept it a total secret from my DS last year and so far this year. We didn't tell him until we were actually at the airport last year (long story but it worked) and this year we are sending him a post card that he'll get the day before we leave. My DS would also be asking "how much longer" and would be a bit too unfocused at school if he knew. Our first cruise he knew about and that was what he did so now he doesn't find out. This year he thinks we don't have enough $ since his sister is in college. haha -- wait until this Friday Good luck with your secret.

 

[MARSDM]

yes AAA will normally call you to advise that your docs are in. they usually require a signature in order for you to take possession, so i think you have this part covered.

I too, am keeping our upcoming june land/sea trip a surpirse from ds 7 and ds 4. As we get closer i might feed them a little about the land part, and i think i will tell them about the crusie part ontop of the contemporary as we are watching the fireworks the night before our 3 day cruise...

 

[walczak4]

I am also surprising hubby and kids with 7 nt Western cruise 02/26/05. My hubby will turn 40 while on the cruise, hence, the reason for the surprise! I plan on giving hubby the cruise & airline tickets either at Christmas or Valentine's Day so he will have SOME notice! Our kids are young (DD will be 5 and DS will be 2 at time of cruise) so I'll probably tell DD the week before we go. Can't wait!!

 

[debm]

But isn't the waiting/apprehension part of the fun????

 

[christinou]

We told the kids 3 weeks before we went, we rebooked on board for 2005, and they were with me, so we will see how they do. I am the one who keeps asking how much longer not the kids anyway

 

[logan1_2000]

The cruise was for DW's 40th. Because DW's B'day is Xmas week, we tend to do celebrations, usually just a nice dinner, a couple weeks later, after the holiday hoopla has died down. Didn't want to miss seeing family by travelling and so booked the cruise for January, 18 days after B'day. On DW's birthday, I presented her with a three ring binder I had assembled that had the completed cruise documents, all the literature, color printouts of the Navigators and the Menus for our Itinerary that I got from links from this Boards, even some reviews of the cruise and some of the excursions from the Board or elsewhere.

I had booked the cruise while on board a 4-day seven months earlier--while passing the sales table we glanced at the 7 day itineraries, and DW said "It would be nice to go on 7 day someday." So I asked which looked better, she said Eastern, and then I had to excuse myself from the dinner table that evening and what I was really doing was signing up.

DW had the holidays and a couple weeks to look forward to the cruise, as did DS (6 at the time), and I had already spoken w/ DW's boss and DS's 1st grade teacher. Everyone was in on it except DW and DS. Can't imagine having tried to keep it secret longer than that--DW is too particular about what to pack and whom to trust to watch our dogs. There was a thread around that time where people spoke of keeping their DCL trips secret from children until arriving at the Port--doing the packing for them and everything.

Good luck to all who hope to surprise someone with a Disney Cruise--fun to plan and fun to go on.

 

[christinou]

We told the kids 3 weeks before we went, we rebooked on board for 2005, and they were with me, so we will see how they do. I am the one who keeps asking how much longer not the kids anyway

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

For our first cruise DS's were 6 and 9. We did not tell them anything. We packed and put the suitcases in the car while they were sleeping. They thought they were going to school in the morning and we got in the car and drove to the airport. Even then they thought they were going to DisneyWorld. We did not tell them until we reached the ship.

 

[Katdb]

... but it was the best surprise I've had in my life, and I want to share it you

A little background info: When I was nin, my Dad (DD) was posted across Canada. The move was scehduled for after school ended (and consequently after my birthday) and since at that point I had severe motion sickness in the car, I was to fly to my Nana's and stay with her until my DD and DM arrived.

So three days before my birthday, my Mom wakes me up rather early saying that there has been a change in plans and that I was going to my Nana's early. My suitcase had been packed, I was way to groggy to question and off we went to the airport. Then she said that her and Dad were allowed to fly with me the first leg as I was a minor, but the long stretch I would be flying by myself. Halfway through our first stretch, I began to cry, now realizing that I hadn't said goodbye to any of my friends.

The story had to be changed.... Now it was that DD had business in Anaheim, and that DD and I were going along to do some shopping and swim in the pool etc... for a weekend of relaxation. I calmed down (I was going to see my friends again to say goodbye) and all was well in my world.

Next, we get on our flight from Vancouver to California, and partway through, the stewardess comes around asking if any of the children would like to visit the captain. While talking to the captain, he asked if anyone was going to DL? So when I came back to my parents, I asked if we were going to DL and my mom said, "No, we're goign to Anaheim, DL is another hour away." You can imagine how crushed I was, especially as I had assumed that she meant an hours flying, not driving.

We arrive at the California airport, and we get in line for our shuttle bus.... ***this is the best part*** Our bus pulls up and says ANAHEIM/DISNEY LAND, I was SOOOOO excited, I bounced up the bus stairs and all the way to the hotel.

It was one of the most amazing trips I have been on (even though it was a heat wave at DL, one of the hottest on record) and on my 10th birthday, we had a character breakfast at the DisneyLand Hotel. It was my first time having Mickey Mouse Waffles and they actually had edible CANDY CONFETTI on the tables (let's just say I could outbounce Tigger for the rest of the day).

Having my birthday a surprise like that, made it so much more special and I will always always. always remember it. Just wanted to share that with everyone.

Here are two links to a couple of pics that I could find (and even though I look like I'm crying when Jafar is at the table, I'm really having a blast!!!) You might have to paste them into your browser, I think they're too big to post here.

http://www.angeltowns.com/town/tiggerkatdb/DisneyLandPics.jpg
http://www.angeltowns.com/town/tiggerkatdb/DisneyLandPics (3).jpg