Planning a Girl's Cruise Getaway... need help

[cruisejunkie5]

I'm currently planning a girl's weekend cruise. Our group has grown to 8 ladies that are already booked and 6 possibly booking soon. Most of us have families, careers and a lot of responsibilities in our lives. I would like to make this mini vacation as memorable and fun as possible. Any ideas?

[firefly333]

Ideas about what ... sorry Im missing the question exactly. What ship, what ports, are you making them individual baskets? How about planning a cocktail party just for them, I think you have enough for the $11.44 cocktail hour, what age, are you asking about excursions?

[cruisejunkie5]

The ladies range between 29 through 44 and we are sailing ouy of LA Port on the Paradise for the Baja cruise.

 

I hadnt thought about baskets but I like the idea. What is the $11.44 cocktail hour? I have heard of it.

[firefly333]

You arrange the cocktail hour thru Carnival, and everyone has to pay in the group. It has to be paid for ahead of time, so someone has to collect money.

 

Someone had a thread about doing baskets, tiny bottles of shampoo, lotion, sample sizes for the cruise, 200 ml bottle of wine, little things from the dollar store and they had those necklaces that light up in the dark sounded like fun in the basket.

[cruisejunkie5]

I will definately look into the cocktail hour...Thats sound like something perfect to arrange on formal night.

 

I really do like the gift basket but my only concern would be that they could get bulky to get on the ship...unless this is something I give out before the cruise.

[Kaboochi]

You arrange the cocktail hour thru Carnival, and everyone has to pay in the group. It has to be paid for ahead of time, so someone has to collect money.

 

Someone had a thread about doing baskets, tiny bottles of shampoo, lotion, sample sizes for the cruise, 200 ml bottle of wine, little things from the dollar store and they had those necklaces that light up in the dark sounded like fun in the basket.

Sounds like a nice idea, but too much work to do before a cruise, especially if you have a DH and kids you need to have meals, etc for while you are away. A cruise is supposed to be a stressfree get-away. Don't stress yourself out before you board. Set a time for all of you to meet at an on deck bar for sail-away. Just my opinion

[cruisejunkie5]

You are right stress free is what we need. The baskets sound nice but I dont know how practical they are.

 

I had already planned to have all the ladies meet for a bon voyage drink at pool side.

 

I welcome any ideas that can be fun yet economical.

[DaDivaMom]

Instead of a basket use tote bags and hand them out when you arrive at the port. Pretty simple and not really a hassle to assemble. You can pick up inexpensive canvas or denim bags at a craft store and then iron on a decal so you all match. Fill it with trinkets like lotion, sunscreen, chapstick...dollar store stuff. adding get each person a funky pair of sunglasses with crazy colors or styles!

 

If you enjoy wine have each lady pick up a special bottle and share one each afternoon or at dinner each night. Something you normally wouldn't try but you're on a cruise! Each person can bring one on.

 

The cocktail hour also sounds really fun.

 

We did a cabin crawl and played progressive poker one evening. It was great fun but did take a bit of organizing.

 

Above all Have fun!

[A&Jfamily]

You are right stress free is what we need. The baskets sound nice but I dont know how practical they are.

 

I had already planned to have all the ladies meet for a bon voyage drink at pool side.

 

I welcome any ideas that can be fun yet economical.

 

You can have a tray of snacks delivered from the bon voyage department or something like chocolate covered strawberries put in each room.

 

You could get couple of those plastic handled totes from Dollar Tree for each room and fill them with trashy novels, $1 flip-flops, lip gloss, lcandy otion, nail polish etc - all from the dollar tree and done in 30 minutes or less.

[Mommyof1]

I don't know about you, but just coming up with the money for a cruise is enough for me. I wouldn't want to spend more money on gifts for my friends (as must as I love them).

 

A cheaper alternative would be just to decorate their stateroom doors. If you do a search for "door decorations", if you will find lots of ideas.

 

You can get cheap beach themed decorations from the dollar store and attach them to their stateroom doors using repositionable tape (regular scotch tape may damage the doors).

 

I'm not very computer savvy, but if you're creative, you can make a personalized sign.

 

Here's one I had made for an upcoming cruise..

 

 

 

 

You could even include the first names of the guests in each room.

 

If you're interested, I can share the website of the person who made it. She does it for free, but accepts donations for her time.

 

Jennifer

[Kaboochi]

I agree with Mommyof1 about decorating the doors - but keep it simple. How about finding Hawaiian leis at a party store for all of you to wear, Keep it simple. Remember, you don't want to be running around precruise finding all of this "stuff" while everyone else has the time to pack at a leisurely pace.

[okwriter]

Before the "girls cruise" I went on last month, I went to a local $ store and happened to find small sheets of stickers for scrapbooking. They were beach themed: palm trees, flip flops, cute sayings (beach bums), etc. You could use those to decorate your door with---they don't take up much room and they only cost a buck! :D

 

Enjoy---there is nothing so sweet as leaving the world behind for "girl" time!

[dobiemom]

Or how about a door decorating contest? :)

[cruisejunkie5]

Here's one I had made for an upcoming cruise..

 

 

 

 

You could even include the first names of the guests in each room.

 

If you're interested, I can share the website of the person who made it. She does it for free, but accepts donations for her time.

 

Jennifer

 

Hi Jennifer,

 

I love the sign you had made up. I would appreciate the website. I never thought of door signs those would be a great surprise for them.

[cruisejunkie5]

I agree with Mommyof1 about decorating the doors - but keep it simple. How about finding Hawaiian leis at a party store for all of you to wear, Keep it simple. Remember, you don't want to be running around precruise finding all of this "stuff" while everyone else has the time to pack at a leisurely pace.

 

I like the leis idea but was wondering if you they would say more Hawaii than Ensenada. ;) How do you feel about party beads???

[bonniemari]

We do a girls cruise once (or twice) a year. We have amassed a large collection of feather boas in every color you can imagine. We pick one night and we all wear our feather boas, distributed according to what color best matches our outfit for the evening. We take plenty of pics. Last cruise we decided that we would order a drink that matched the color of the boa we were wearing. Sounds corny as I type it but it was actually kind of fun.

[cruisejunkie5]

I really like that idea but unfortunately I'm not sure I could convince a couple of girls to go along with that.

 

Have you ever had some girls not want to participate in the fun stuff?

[sassy0930]

I think the best idea was the wine idea!! Have each person bring a wine and then each day share it with everyone.

 

Don't bother with totes or gifts or anything. It's a nice gesture, but why waste the time and money?? If it was a shower or wedding thing maybe, but just for a group of friends? nope.

 

I wouldn't really try to force activities. Try to make sure all the bookings are linked so you have dinner close to each other every night and talk about what went on during the day. The great thing about a cruise is that there is something for everyone. If some ladies are sun worshippers they can sit by the pool. If others are activity driven they can participate in trivia and he on-deck contests and stuff. The casino will draw some and others will want to find a bar and hang out people watching. The key is to enjoy the cruise together but not try to spend every minute together.

[tiger belle]

do make sure you get at least one group photo :)

 

I agree with others about the time, money and hassle of doing gift bags or baskets for that many girlfriends

 

you could design a special t-shirt that all could wear on embarkation...there are web sites that offer those, and Carnival has a way to do that on-line through their web site

 

also, someone on cruisecritic started a thread to build a list of scavenger hunt items (including photos to collect)...the list was quite innovative and had lots of items on the list...you could devise your own group scavenger hunt idea, even forming teams of 2 ladies each...then you could have a prize for the winner(s)

[CanWeGoYet?]

my .02, just have your own drinks party for everyone in your group who wants to do it, but I wouldn't try to organize a lot of activities. If it is a weekend cruise, it will go so fast and it's nice to simply relax, or be spontaneous & do what seems like fun for each person.

I know from helping to set up a drinks hour for some on my roll call, that it takes a minimum of 20 for the 11.44 open bar.

[caesar68]

I think the best idea was the wine idea!! Have each person bring a wine and then each day share it with everyone.

 

Don't bother with totes or gifts or anything. It's a nice gesture, but why waste the time and money?? If it was a shower or wedding thing maybe, but just for a group of friends? nope.

 

I wouldn't really try to force activities. Try to make sure all the bookings are linked so you have dinner close to each other every night and talk about what went on during the day. The great thing about a cruise is that there is something for everyone. If some ladies are sun worshippers they can sit by the pool. If others are activity driven they can participate in trivia and he on-deck contests and stuff. The casino will draw some and others will want to find a bar and hang out people watching. The key is to enjoy the cruise together but not try to spend every minute together.

 

could not agree more. You are putting a lot of WORK into your vacation.

If you are still looking for ideas what about doing something after the cruise. Take a lot of pictures...a small photo book is always nice when you return or just one in a frame. It could be of a your friends or different pictures for each as something or somewhere special. Picture collages are always fun too....I do them with a computer program that I have. One more in the idea of photos, most chain pharmacies also have picture gift ideas....mouse pads, mugs etc....most under 10.00.

The key to a good girlfriend get away is laughing....be sure to laugh stuff off (as mishaps will come up) , laugh at each other and laugh at yourself....memories will just happen from the laughter. When they do ...take pictures!!!

[beerman2]

I always get sunglassses for our group. (shadesoffun.com) Maybe a few of you could split the cost. A great conversation piece. SOOO Many to choose from. The responses we get are great and where did you get them? Check it out!

[caesar68]

I always get sunglassses for our group. (shadesoffun.com) Maybe a few of you could split the cost. A great conversation piece. SOOO Many to choose from. The responses we get are great and where did you get them? Check it out!

 

very cute idea

[DB2VA]

Arrange to have a group picture taken. Have tee shirts made up with Girls' Cruise theme. Enjoy!

[Fat Boy]

I set up my wife's girls cruise on the Fascination (just got back on Thursday). We had t-shirts made... Hot pink with yellow print "Bahama Mama's Girls Cruise 2010". They said it was great because when they got separated in port, they were easy to spot from blocks away.

 

We also did a booking party and a document completion party, each with Carnival-style drinks and some cruise trivia.

 

I also set them up with hotel rooms near the beach in Jacksonville and some booze to get the party started.