Planning a surprise cruise

[CamColt]

The morning of the cruise you will also receive the health questionnaire to fill out. I believe that comes via email and a notification from the app, but someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The morning of the cruise you will also receive the health questionnaire to fill out. I believe that comes via email and a notification from the app, but someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

It definitely comes by email on the morning of the cruise.

 

[chris31997]

I have found that Disney is very helpful when it comes to planning surprises. Sometimes there are snags, after all cast members are human, but most truly want to help you pull off a surprise.

You will be able to check in, upload pictures, and do the heath screening for your wife. I am the one who does it all for everyone, cause I am usually pulling off a surprise of my own.

 

[gammo]

Update. All info entered (passport, emergency contact, ESTA, photos, payment details for onboard purchases, and PAT printed off) - only thing I'm waiting for now is for it all to be approved (states pending review).

Is there anything else/other documentation that I need to submit (apart from the health questionnaire on the morning of embarkation)?

And yes, I've STILL managed to keep it a secret (so far)

 

[Mommb]

Update. All info entered (passport, emergency contact, ESTA, photos, payment details for onboard purchases, and PAT printed off) - only thing I'm waiting for now is for it all to be approved (states pending review).

Is there anything else/other documentation that I need to submit (apart from the health questionnaire on the morning of embarkation)?

And yes, I've STILL managed to keep it a secret (so far)

You should be all set. Just make sure the passports are easily accessible (not in checked luggage) at the port.

Approval can take several days or even weeks. In the unlikely event you're still not approved by embarkation day, you'll just need to get photos taken at the port -- not a big deal.

 

[gammo]

You should be all set. Just make sure the passports are easily accessible (not in checked luggage) at the port.

Approval can take several days or even weeks. In the unlikely event you're still not approved by embarkation day, you'll just need to get photos taken at the port -- not a big deal.

Thank you. I've printed off two PATs just in case and the passports will be ready to come with us along with the ESTAs.

I think I've gone a little OTT with this so I just hope DW, DS, and DD all love the surprise

 

[Flossbolna]

Thank you. I've printed off two PATs just in case and the passports will be ready to come with us along with the ESTAs.

I think I've gone a little OTT with this so I just hope DW, DS, and DD all love the surprise

Yes, they want to see print outs of the ESTA. I would always advise to also have proof of your journey out of the USA after the cruise available (printout of airline reservations or similar).

 

[gammo]

We are staying onsite with Disney before and after the cruise (will be in Florida for 3 weeks with the cruise sandwiched in the middle) and being transferred to/from the cruise via Disney Cruise line transfer.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Is this trip soon? Please let us know how it all turns out. I hope your family loves their surprise.

 

[gammo]

Is this trip soon? Please let us know how it all turns out. I hope your family loves their surprise.

Yeah - about 4 weeks away now (can't believe how quickly it has come around)

 

[gammo]

You should be all set. Just make sure the passports are easily accessible (not in checked luggage) at the port.

Approval can take several days or even weeks. In the unlikely event you're still not approved by embarkation day, you'll just need to get photos taken at the port -- not a big deal.

In the event of it not approving before the embarkation, where do we have to go/what do we have to do?

 

[lanejudy]

In the event of it not approving before the embarkation, where do we have to go/what do we have to do?

It will just take a few minutes longer to check-in at the terminal.

 

[RedHead0186]

In the event of it not approving before the embarkation, where do we have to go/what do we have to do?

They'll direct you. It's pretty rare that things aren't approved before embarkation day. But if it does happen, they'll let you know at check in and direct you where you need to go.

 

[gammo]

So, I am finally managing to get the time to update on how things went.

Firstly, thank you to everyone that commented on how to do things etc as they really did help (usually its the DW that sorted this kind of thing out but obviously she couldn't support this time ).

The reveal was fantastic. I went with the 'fake' reveal using the pieces of paper first that spelt out that we were in the 'US' and that we were going to 'NASA' (put together and they spelt NASSAU)

Then came the real reveal. I had been giving her a Mickey shaped tab that had a number/letter on the reverse every week for 50 weeks that, once put in order, revealed that we were all going on the Disney Wish the following morning - tears flowed, disbelief ensued. All was done down at Disney Springs, which was extra special as the visitor centre has got a scale model of the Wish - I was able to point out exactly which cabin we were staying in !!!!

One funny story, though. The night before I did the reveal, we got chatting to a lovely lady sitting on a bench at MK. She told us that she had flown down from Boston to surprise her grandchildren, which I naturally thought she meant in MK. When I asked her this, she replied, 'Oh, no....we've (her and her DS) booked a surprise cruise, on the Disney Wish sailing on Friday 22nd (August)'. I couldn't believe what this random lady, on a random bench, in MK, had just said My DW, DD, and DS all knew I'd got a surprise lined up for Friday 22nd but luckily, I'd lied about its duration by saying we were away for just one night (phew). Disaster averted

So, Donna from Boston, if you're in these boards, thank you for the heart attack but also thank you for the added memory for our Disney cruise