Can we check our bags an hour or so before we board? We want to surprise the kids.

[scrapulous]

First time cruisers here. We are leaving TOMORROW!!!! YAY!!!

 

Anyway, we want to surprise the kids. Every time we go to Galveston we watch the cruise ship depart. The kids LOVE it. They've often said they wish they could be on the ship. So, ideally we want to be able just to walk up to the ship with the cruise documents in my purse, and say, "Hey, let's get on this ship!" They'd be STUNNED. But in order to do that my husband would have to drop us off to "shop" nearby, go to Lighthouse parking and park, get all the bags checked, then walk over to us and act like he had just parked the car somewhere.

 

Will Carnival let him do that if he has all four funpasses and passports with him? Or do you have to board the ship at the same time as your bags?

[mail-girl]

We dropped our bags off & then parked the car.

[cruisinlarge]

You'll be fine as you unload the luggage and then go into the terminal to check in. My wife and / or friends usually just wait around for me.

[KimberleyFL]

I haven't cruised out of Galveston, but at all the ports I've cruised from, you just drive to the curb by the ship and give your luggage to a porter then go park your car. The whole family does not need to be there and I don't believe we've had to show documentation at that point.

 

What a great surprise for the kids!

[mrsbean1990]

What a great surprise! Have fun!:D

[lindasuej]

How many kids? Wow, if you can pull this off it will be amazing. You must let us know how this turns out.

Linda

[Dirkgun]

We also haven't cruised out of Galveston before, but have been able to drop off bags with the porter for check-in and then parked or able to do something else before checking in to board the ship. Have a great time. We surprised our kids once by driving past the destination they thought we were going to, and it was a great vacation. Your kids should love it. Enjoy & Happy Cruisin!!!:)

[CruiseLover824]

That is sooo cool!!! And like the others have said, at other ports we just dropped the luggage off with the porter. They didn't check docs til we got inside the terminal!

 

Have an awesome cruise! And please do let us know if you pulled of the surprise!:D

[chasinraynbowz]

Wow how fun for your kids!!! You really need to come back and let us know how it went.

 

A friend and I did something similar for another friend who was going thru a really rough time. She'd always wanted to see the Blue Man Group, so we got tickets... but didn't tell her. Took her out to breakfast that morning.. and just kept driving... LOL. To make a long story short, when we walked into the theater she was freaking out because she didn't know we had tickets... she thought we were "trespassing or something".. her words. When I handed the person at the door our tickets she burst into tears... LOL.

 

Do please come back and share! I LOVE surprises!!

[scrapulous]

Oh yay!! Thank you guys SO much. I'm super excited now. The kids are 8 and 10. It has been SO hard to plan and shop for this trip without their knowledge! I'm just really glad they already have passports so I didn't have to try to figure out how to explain that one to them. :D Since we live in Houston and go to Galveston a lot, they will not be suspicious at all.

 

I'll be sure to check back in here when we get back!

[Hockey Addict]

I just wanted to say that is very cool! I know you guys will have a blast!! hmmmm are you thinking of recording their surprise as you tell them?? :D

[Peaceful]

What a great surprise. I hope it is as much fun for you to give as it will be for your children to receive. Have a wonderful family vacation. They will tell the story of their surprise cruise forever.

[INCHARGE]

Have a great cruise. What makes this even more special is the fact that your kids enjoy going to watch the ship depart. They will be so happy when you tell them that they will be getting on this time. Oh, I would love to see their little faces. How sweet this is going to be. :)

[Smiling Cruiser]

What a great surprise for the children. If your still reading, dont forget to throw their bathing suits into a large purse so you can carry them on. I'm assuming carry on suitcases will spoil the surprise. Have a wonderful sailing.

[nanuak]

WOW, you sound like amazing parents!

I hope ya'll have a fabulous time, and be sure to come back, and tell us all about your surprise cruise (pictures please) :D

[Jevsy]

I really filled up reading this! Have a fantastic time and eager for your stories afterwards!

[Jevsy]

I really filled up reading this! Have a fantastic time and eager for your stories afterwards!

[TexasCruiser52]

That is so COOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cantwait2cruize]

I really filled up reading this! Have a fantastic time and eager for your stories afterwards!

 

It made me cry too!!!!:o I can't wait for the OP to return.

[slkmbz]

You should have NO problems doing this in Galveston!

 

It's the easiest terminal! Just have your husband drop you off down the street, he can drop off the luggage (and tip), drop off the car in parking and then meet you!

 

I want to hear how this turns out for everyone!

[PittsburghGirlee]

WOW, that is super great that you are doing this for your kids.

Please post back when you return and give us all the details.:D:D

[cathyoo]

Wow, it makes me wish my children were little again so we could do something like this. Well they were little and we had the money and time we have now.

 

I am so excited for you and can't wait to read your review.

[cal24sail]

:):):)

[Megnolia]

I'm amazed that she was able to keep the cruise a surprise up to the day before!~ I could never do that :)

 

I can't wait to hear how they enjoyed themselves. Maybe they are even boarding right now!

[Jevsy]

It made me cry too!!!!:o I can't wait for the OP to return.

 

Glad I'm not the only soft one! So bad I posted it twice :-)