Looking for suggestions to help with a surprise!!!

[megh315]

My best friend and I have had our cruise for the 10/29 sailing on the Magic booked for almost a year as a joint 30th birthday present to each other and ourselves. A few months ago two of our other really good friends (also turning 30 this year) decided, since they were already planning to do the same cruise next year, that it would be fun for us all to go together this year. I helped them book everything and I arranged for my friend and I to grab the empty room next to theirs (same category so it was an easy switch) and I changed our seating at dinner to be with them as well. We've even managed to orchestrate a group costume which was really hard because MY BEST FRIEND HAS NO IDEA THEY'RE COMING!! We'd really love to surprise her with them and are trying to think of the best way.

We've considered everything from avoiding each other until dinner so that they can surprise her at the table (but didn't think this would work if we run into each other at muster), to me luring her past the Atrium as they board so that she can hear their names called, to just sneaking them into our room while she's in the bathroom and having them jump out of the closet.

I'm not sure if anyone has ever surprised someone with friends or family but if anyone has any suggestions we'd love to hear them!!

 

[dcassetta]

My best friend and I have had our cruise for the 10/29 sailing on the Magic booked for almost a year as a joint 30th birthday present to each other and ourselves. A few months ago two of our other really good friends (also turning 30 this year) decided, since they were already planning to do the same cruise next year, that it would be fun for us all to go together this year. I helped them book everything and I arranged for my friend and I to grab the empty room next to theirs (same category so it was an easy switch) and I changed our seating at dinner to be with them as well. We've even managed to orchestrate a group costume which was really hard because MY BEST FRIEND HAS NO IDEA THEY'RE COMING!! We'd really love to surprise her with them and are trying to think of the best way.

We've considered everything from avoiding each other until dinner so that they can surprise her at the table (but didn't think this would work if we run into each other at muster), to me luring her past the Atrium as they board so that she can hear their names called, to just sneaking them into our room while she's in the bathroom and having them jump out of the closet.

I'm not sure if anyone has ever surprised someone with friends or family but if anyone has any suggestions we'd love to hear them!!

I really like that Atrium idea. You could board first and then hang out taking pictures and admiring the decor until your friends board. You would have to be careful not to see them in the terminal.

Maybe could do a lunch surprise. This would be easier if you go to the MDR rather than Cabanas. Once you are seated, excuse yourself to "go to the restroom" and let the restaurant manager know friends will be joining you. If possible, have your BF sit where they cannot see the entrance to the restaurant.

 

[ThinkTink1]

Yeah!! I love surprises!! Are you all supposed to arriving at the port at similar times??? If you are all going to be onboard the ship before 1:30pm when they open the staterooms up you could run the risk of bumping into them.... maybe something as easy as you make sure you two are in board first and go to eat in Cabanas and excuse yourself like you are going to get food and be able to bring them to the table from the opposite way she is sitting and have them ask if there is anymore room at her table.... then you guys have the whole rest of your cruise to start enjoying rather then play the avoiding game!!! Excited to hear what you do and how it goes over !!! Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

 

[Dug720]

I would not count on hiding out until dinner. With staterooms next to each other you will almost for sure be at the same muster station - and that is serious time, not jump up and down and scream time.

I’d say either in the terminal or atrium (if they text you when they are checking in, you could say “Hey, let’s go watch people boarding!” And voila!

Or the lunch thing.

 

[gotomu212]

The only problem with the atrium idea is that you really need to be listening to catch anyone’s names. We were knowingly waiting for our family and completely missed the announcement because it really does become a background drone as they read out family after family. She might not even catch on to their name being called if she’s not expecting it.

My sister surprised my mom by knocking on her door and asking if she had any glasses she could borrow for their champagne.

 

[megh315]

I really like that Atrium idea. You could board first and then hang out taking pictures and admiring the decor until your friends board. You would have to be careful not to see them in the terminal.

Maybe could do a lunch surprise. This would be easier if you go to the MDR rather than Cabanas. Once you are seated, excuse yourself to "go to the restroom" and let the restaurant manager know friends will be joining you. If possible, have your BF sit where they cannot see the entrance to the restaurant.

We are boarding first, around 12:30 (she loves being early for everything), and they're boarding an hour later. We figured this would also ensure the rooms would be open in case they need to hide out for a bit while we figure out the best way to surprise her.

I like the lunch idea a lot, I might excuse myself when they arrive that way as they walk over to the table I can get it on video. Most of our other family and friends know about the surprise so they all want to see her reaction!

Thanks so much for the suggestion!

Yeah!! I love surprises!! Are you all supposed to arriving at the port at similar times??? If you are all going to be onboard the ship before 1:30pm when they open the staterooms up you could run the risk of bumping into them.... maybe something as easy as you make sure you two are in board first and go to eat in Cabanas and excuse yourself like you are going to get food and be able to bring them to the table from the opposite way she is sitting and have them ask if there is anymore room at her table.... then you guys have the whole rest of your cruise to start enjoying rather then play the avoiding game!!! Excited to hear what you do and how it goes over !!! Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

I'm really loving these lunch suggestions! I'll definitely post afterwards, maybe even with a picture or two if I can manage to get it on video. Thanks so much!!

I would not count on hiding out until dinner. With staterooms next to each other you will almost for sure be at the same muster station - and that is serious time, not jump up and down and scream time.

I’d say either in the terminal or atrium (if they text you when they are checking in, you could say “Hey, let’s go watch people boarding!” And voila!

Or the lunch thing.

Yeah, we figured out right away that muster would be a bad place to have the surprise. And since we don't know where our muster is going to be yet we're not sure about the logistics of keeping them hidden. It's definitely going to be before muster so that we can all enjoy the Sail Away party together without me freaking out every time we turn a corner that we're gonna bump into them.

The only problem with the atrium idea is that you really need to be listening to catch anyone’s names. We were knowingly waiting for our family and completely missed the announcement because it really does become a background drone as they read out family after family. She might not even catch on to their name being called if she’s not expecting it.

My sister surprised my mom by knocking on her door and asking if she had any glasses she could borrow for their champagne.

I didn't even think of that, that it would be hard to hear the names being called. Thanks for bringing that up!!

We thought about just having them knock on the door but if she wants to go explore the ship I didn't want to have to make up a reason for keeping us in the room and raising her suspicions. We have an inside cabin so we don't even have the benefit of a balcony to watch the comings and goings to distract her.

 

[Sunshine2U]

How are you getting to port? If private vehicle I'd opt for them to be in the vehicle when you are picked up. The earlier the better as far as I'm concerned!

 

[megh315]

How are you getting to port? If private vehicle I'd opt for them to be in the vehicle when you are picked up. The earlier the better as far as I'm concerned!

We’re coming from two different parts of New York, us from Manhattan and them from Queens and my best friend lives really close to the port so the private car would be really impractical and very suspicious. But that would’ve been really fun to do! Thanks for the suggestion!!

 

[mevelandry]

If it was me... I probably would not wait until dinner.

I would make sure our PAT is different and the other friends arrive later. I would bring my friend to have lunch with me... Have the other friends post fake pictures of them having lunch somewhere on Social Media (like, having lunch in another part of town) as they are about to board and make sure my friend sees it (and remain clueless)...

...and then, as the friends are about to be announced, have them text me so I would find a pretext to go to the lobby (Guest services?) so she can see them being announced!

 

[Quellman]

We've considered everything from avoiding each other until dinner so that they can surprise her at the table (but didn't think this would work if we run into each other at muster), to me luring her past the Atrium as they board so that she can hear their names called, to just sneaking them into our room while she's in the bathroom and having them jump out of the closet.

I'm not sure if anyone has ever surprised someone with friends or family but if anyone has any suggestions we'd love to hear them!!

We did something similar. We surprised my in-laws on an October VGT rate. Well, our room was literally like 6 doors down from them. We originally wanted to wait until the sail away party when we said we would be watching them on the sail away camera. Then sneak up behind them when we knew where they were. But we too were concerned about muster drills and other points you mentioned (easy enough to give a fake name or decline being announced). So what we did was just walk down the hall to the room and have my at the time 14 month old knock on the door while we stood out of view. It was a great surprise. My MIL thought we had for some reason come to say good bye! When she figured out we were coming it was a wonderful.

 

[megh315]

If it was me... I probably would not wait until dinner.

I would make sure our PAT is different and the other friends arrive later. I would bring my friend to have lunch with me... Have the other friends post fake pictures of them having lunch somewhere on Social Media (like, having lunch in another part of town) as they are about to board and make sure my friend sees it (and remain clueless)...

...and then, as the friends are about to be announced, have them text me so I would find a pretext to go to the lobby (Guest services?) so she can see them being announced!

Since we're leaving on a Monday in the middle of the day the fake picture thing wouldn't work since they'd supposedly be at their respective jobs at the time, but they COULD send like a fake "Bon Voyage" text to us, just to throw her off a little more...

We did something similar. We surprised my in-laws on an October VGT rate. Well, our room was literally like 6 doors down from them. We originally wanted to wait until the sail away party when we said we would be watching them on the sail away camera. Then sneak up behind them when we knew where they were. But we too were concerned about muster drills and other points you mentioned (easy enough to give a fake name or decline being announced). So what we did was just walk down the hall to the room and have my at the time 14 month old knock on the door while we stood out of view. It was a great surprise. My MIL thought we had for some reason come to say good bye! When she figured out we were coming it was a wonderful.

OH MAN, THAT'S ADORABLE. Our initial plan was kind of similar to that. Since we're doing a group costume (I'm Lock, she's Shock, and our friends are gonna be Barrel and Oogie Boogie!) I was going to text them to wait like 20 seconds and then knock on the door and I'd say to my friend "isn't it a shame we couldn't do a full group costume?" and then they'd knock and she'd answer the door and they'd be wearing their masks but that would only work if I could find a reasonable excuse for us both to go back to the room for a few minutes after they get to their rooms to pull it off!

 

[mevelandry]

Since we're leaving on a Monday in the middle of the day the fake picture thing wouldn't work since they'd supposedly be at their respective jobs at the time, but they COULD send like a fake "Bon Voyage" text to us, just to throw her off a little more...

Or a picture taken from the job... Anything that would lead your friend to think that your friends are not at the port.

A "Bon voyage" text could also be a secret signal.

 

[Dug720]

We did something similar. We surprised my in-laws on an October VGT rate. Well, our room was literally like 6 doors down from them. We originally wanted to wait until the sail away party when we said we would be watching them on the sail away camera. Then sneak up behind them when we knew where they were. But we too were concerned about muster drills and other points you mentioned (easy enough to give a fake name or decline being announced). So what we did was just walk down the hall to the room and have my at the time 14 month old knock on the door while we stood out of view. It was a great surprise. My MIL thought we had for some reason come to say good bye! When she figured out we were coming it was a wonderful.

I would be cautious about surprising people at the rail. Yes, they are high, but...

Since we're leaving on a Monday in the middle of the day the fake picture thing wouldn't work since they'd supposedly be at their respective jobs at the time, but they COULD send like a fake "Bon Voyage" text to us, just to throw her off a little more...



OH MAN, THAT'S ADORABLE. Our initial plan was kind of similar to that. Since we're doing a group costume (I'm Lock, she's Shock, and our friends are gonna be Barrel and Oogie Boogie!) I was going to text them to wait like 20 seconds and then knock on the door and I'd say to my friend "isn't it a shame we couldn't do a full group costume?" and then they'd knock and she'd answer the door and they'd be wearing their masks but that would only work if I could find a reasonable excuse for us both to go back to the room for a few minutes after they get to their rooms to pull it off!

Are masks allowed on the ship? I know they are not in the parks...

 

[megh315]

I would be cautious about surprising people at the rail. Yes, they are high, but...



Are masks allowed on the ship? I know they are not in the parks...

They're allowed on the ship for Halloween on the High Seas cruises, butyou can only wear them while you're standing still for photos, if you're walking around you have to hold them.

 

[Dug720]

They're allowed on the ship for Halloween on the High Seas cruises, butyou can only wear them while you're standing still for photos, if you're walking around you have to hold them.

Gotcha. I cannot cruise during Halloween because I teach so I did not know. Did not want you to be disappointed if you couldn't

 

[megh315]

UPDATE!!

We returned home from our cruise today and we WERE able to keep the secret and the surprise!!! My friend and I boarded first and kept to one area of the ship while I stayed in touch with our other two friends. I checked with someone on staff and found out that our muster station was going to be out on deck so I knew we had to surprise her before then and I couldn’t talk her into lunch so we had to do an “in-room surprise.” They let me know when they were in their room and I suggested she and I go down to see if our bags had arrived. By a stroke of luck mine had arrived and hers hadn’t so when I texted them to come over and they knocked, I said it was probably her bag! She was TOTALLY SURPRISED!!! AND I GOT IT ALL ON VIDEO!!! I can’t share it here unfortunately because in her shock she used just a little bit of profanity. XD

The four of us had an amazing time and met some lovely people and had some EXCELLENT food. We had a couple of unfortunate incidents (a scratched cornea, a nastily sliced toe, some bad weather on the return that tossed the boat and our tummies) but overall we had many amazing moments (a successful group costume, multiple wins at trivia, two beautiful days in Bermuda, getting to see The Nutcracker before anyone else) so this trip will always be something to look back on with joy and it all started with that great surprise!!

Thanks to everyone who helped and offered suggestions!!

 

[mmouse37]

So glad you were able to pull off the surprise!!! I am heading out on the Magic this coming Saturday!!!

MJ

 

[CM Dad]

I surprised my wife on a cruise for her 60th birthday. She didn't know that our 4 adult kids and their families (including 6 grandkids at the time) were joining us for a cruise out of Miami. She would have been a nervous wreck if she had known. The youngest granddaughter was just over 12 weeks old when we sailed. This cruise was booked before they increased the minimum ago. Another daughter was almost 24 weeks pregnant. I had our kids text me after they had gotten to the port so that they could be waiting for us in the terminal when we arrived. I also surprised her by booking the Walt suite for us. The rest of the rooms were non-concierge. They cast members at the port left the family wait for us in the concierge waiting area, and when we arrived, the grandkids surprised her with a happy birthday banner.

 

[ForMyBoys]

I surprised my wife on a cruise for her 60th birthday. She didn't know that our 4 adult kids and their families (including 6 grandkids at the time) were joining us for a cruise out of Miami. She would have been a nervous wreck if she had known. The youngest granddaughter was just over 12 weeks old when we sailed. This cruise was booked before they increased the minimum ago. Another daughter was almost 24 weeks pregnant. I had our kids text me after they had gotten to the port so that they could be waiting for us in the terminal when we arrived. I also surprised her by booking the Walt suite for us. The rest of the rooms were non-concierge. They cast members at the port left the family wait for us in the concierge waiting area, and when we arrived, the grandkids surprised her with a happy birthday banner.

Best. Husband. Ever!

Opp I'm so glad you had a nice trip!!