Past Cruisers -- Special Ideas for Young Crusiers

[TheGlensideGregorys]

Hello there fellow DISers!

DW and myself are preparing for our first DCL cruise (1/24/2003 7-Day Eastern). We have a DS (4). I am relatively new to DISboards, and have been reading several posts/threads about every topic you can imagine over the last 2 - 3 weeks (Verandah Man's posts really put us in the mood for crusing!!); and I wanted to get some feedback in one place about ideas from past cruisers regarding the "extra touches" and surprises that we may want to think about for my "First mate"!

What special surprises or touches have you guys done to make the trip even more MAGICal?

(By the way, DW will be celebrating her B-Day while we are at sea... Can I arrange for special things like a cake/etc. at dinner??)

 

[ohiominnie]

How fun!

Yes, you can get a cake/celebration at one of your dinners. Just call DCL and remind them it's your wife's birthday (they probably know based on information you had to give them) but remind them you'd like to celebrate.

Shriley at the Perfect Gift can make up an awesome basket for your ds and it will be waiting in the room when you get there! You can ask for just about anything (based on things your ds would like) and she'll do her best to get it! Her website is www.perfectgift.cc We did this for our kids' first cruise and signed it "love, Mickey, Minnie and the gang" Kids still think Mickey and Minnie sent it (only snaffu, they spelled Minnie "MINI." Luckily it went over dd's head)

About 30 days out from any Disney or cruise vacation we make paper chain links and hang those under a sign that says "days until (hidden Mickey symbol)" Then once a day the kids rip off a link and it's a good visual for them to see how much longer until we leave. We never get "how much loooonnnnngggeeerrrr????" It's also a good visual for us that we need to get our butts in gear and pack. This trip (we leave tonight) we didn't do that b/c it's a surprise for the kids. I did try to talk them into making paper chains to count down to grandma's cruise, but they weren't into that! They just don't know that grandma's cruise is OUR cruise too!
HTH