It is very easy to make t-shirts for the group, maybe as CHristmas gifts? Find a cruisy photo, use a digital camera to snap a copy, then print out on iron-on transfer paper. I got some at Wal Mart! Just honor copyrights when picking the photo. If you can't find one, I have tons of actual cruise pic's and I'm sure others do too.
Let me know if want some pic's.
Marty
Go for an excursion that has a "party" within it, mainly a beach and alcohol. It will give you all a chance to relax, have a few beers, and get to know each other better.
Agree to meet as soon as you get on board. Look at the ship layout on-line and pick a spot. The Lido buffet is open as soon as you get on, but be more specific, since everyone will be at the buffet.
Actually, the t-short idea was partly so you can find each other once you board.
Marty
Carnival's website offers some neat t-shirts you can customize and order on-line.
The last thing you want to do on a group cruise is to be "joined at the hip" for alll events. Make free time for each couple and each individual every day and plan a few times together on the ship and in port. Dinner together in the dining room is an event in itself, so be sure that your dinner reservations are cross referenced so you get the same dinner table and time. That is a great time to sit down, relax and talk about how you spent your day and your plans for the next day. You can also plan to see some shows together or meet at the piano bar at the end of the evening. We also like to attend the mid-afternoon Tea Time on board when we can. The pastries are marvelous and we just take a few minutes to relax and unwind.
Use sticky notes and the cabin telephone message center to let each other know where you are in case someone wants to catch up with you.
__________________
Been there - done that:
2003 Holiday
2004 Fantasy
2005 Holiday, Sensation, Conquest,
2006 Conquest, Celebration, Holiday,
2007 Freedom Grand Med, Holiday
2008 Fantasy & Sensation,
2009 Fantasy, Holiday & Dream Grand Med
2010 Fantasy and B2B Elation
2011 Monarch of the Seas
2012 Booked - Breeze from Barcelona 12 days
Yes we definatley don't want to be joinned at the hip and have made that clear, that we all have different interests and will meet for dinner each night.
I was trying to think of pre-cruise stuff. I was also going to do little loot bags so to speak more for the 2 who have never cruised before with little tips in it, maybe a over the door shoe holder, beads (for embarkson day) etc.
Since everyone hasn't met yet, maybe you could plan a little get together for drinks or dinner and have a few decorations related to the ports you will visit. You could even all dress in your "cruise wear." We had a huge group meet on board once and we all wore Mardi Gras beads. DH and I even wore the Mardi Gras Masks! We've boarded wearing Lei's, Tiaras, matching shirts, etc. But do plan on meeting as soon as possible after boarding. Grab a Carnival caper when you board (at the pursers' desk or from you cabin), and see what is going on for the rest of the day to make plans for a get together later on in the evening. Take a minute to confirm the dining arrangements at the first meeting. If you need to ask the dining room to make a change in seating arrangements, they now have a designated time to go to the dining room the first afternoon to to this.
The loot bags sound great. For the ones who have not cruised before, a sample packing list and a list of "things you must have" would be nice. You could also go online and print out a list of available excursions for the ports you will visit and all of you could decide if there are any you want to do as a group.
__________________
Been there - done that:
2003 Holiday
2004 Fantasy
2005 Holiday, Sensation, Conquest,
2006 Conquest, Celebration, Holiday,
2007 Freedom Grand Med, Holiday
2008 Fantasy & Sensation,
2009 Fantasy, Holiday & Dream Grand Med
2010 Fantasy and B2B Elation
2011 Monarch of the Seas
2012 Booked - Breeze from Barcelona 12 days
That was to be my suggestion, a goody bag. The dollar store can be a great place to get the bags and fill with travel sizes of suntan lotion, Hi~lighters for the Capers, hand gel, little sewing emergency kits etc...A puzzle book, koozie, anything tropical, would be fun to hand out at your first meeting. Have fun planning!
__________________
Trip, with her book & tea!
Chat Hostess & Board Moderator
Carnival's website offers some neat t-shirts you can customize and order on-line.
The last thing you want to do on a group cruise is to be "joined at the hip" for alll events. Make free time for each couple and each individual every day and plan a few times together on the ship and in port. Dinner together in the dining room is an event in itself, so be sure that your dinner reservations are cross referenced so you get the same dinner table and time. That is a great time to sit down, relax and talk about how you spent your day and your plans for the next day. You can also plan to see some shows together or meet at the piano bar at the end of the evening. We also like to attend the mid-afternoon Tea Time on board when we can. The pastries are marvelous and we just take a few minutes to relax and unwind.
Use sticky notes and the cabin telephone message center to let each other know where you are in case someone wants to catch up with you.
That is so funny I looked up the website for the t-shirts from Carnival great minds think alike. http://carnival.victorydyo.com/
You can do a slot pull, everyone donations a certain amount of money and everyone gets a pull the money is spilt between everyone. We even had a side pot for the person who pulled the most money.
__________________ One part age; three parts liquor!
Freedom of the Seas 2012
Carnival Splendor 2010
Carnival Freedom 2008
Carnival Elation 2007
Celebrity Infinity 2006
Carnival Ecstasy 2005
Carnival Paradise 2004
Star Princess 2002
Viking Serenade 1994
We did this in 2007 and again in 2008: We had a conference call with everyone that was going on our cruise... mose of whom were in Chicago while I was in NJ and another friend in Texas. I haven't upgraded to a webcam but it was still fun!
Also, do a humorous Pollyanna or maybe put together a little biography book about each of the couples going. Also, are you all doing the same excursions or different ones. Are some of you shoppers, swimmers, nonswimmers....Don't wait until the cruise to book your excursions...
what stops are on your itinerary....the best excursion we took for getting to know each other and was a hoot was kayaking in Grand Cayman....you knew who had passed gym and who hadn't but it was a lot of fun!
__________________
Theresa and Dave
"Tragedy plus time equals humor. You'll end up laughing about it later."
We enjoyed the company of our tablemates so much on our first cruise that we spent a lot of time with them during the cruise. Keep in mind we had all just met each other but we hit it off right away. This may seem a little silly to you, but we checked out board games from the ship and found an area to sit and play them. It was a lot of fun. Just like having a game night at home with friends but on a cruise ship. We did this at least 3 or 4 times during the cruise. There's no cost to check out the games and they had a wide variety to choose from.
may do alittle online research and find out what each port of call is famous for exporting (coffee, spices etc.) and then identify a senior citizens center in each of your hometowns...while you are on your cruise and visit your ports..purchase a little gift bag from each port and take a picture of the group at your place of purchase to place in the bag and when you get home present the center with the gift and sign it from all of your couples
I LOVE the board game idea you can mix and match couples on teams and have sooooooo much fun on a sea day
may do alittle online research and find out what each port of call is famous for exporting (coffee, spices etc.) and then identify a senior citizens center in each of your hometowns...while you are on your cruise and visit your ports..purchase a little gift bag from each port and take a picture of the group at your place of purchase to place in the bag and when you get home present the center with the gift and sign it from all of your couples
I LOVE the board game idea you can mix and match couples on teams and have sooooooo much fun on a sea day
may do alittle online research and find out what each port of call is famous for exporting (coffee, spices etc.) and then identify a senior citizens center in each of your hometowns...while you are on your cruise and visit your ports..purchase a little gift bag from each port and take a picture of the group at your place of purchase to place in the bag and when you get home present the center with the gift and sign it from all of your couples
I LOVE the board game idea you can mix and match couples on teams and have sooooooo much fun on a sea day
I love the idea of bringing something back to the sernior citizens center. All of us addicted cruisers know what cruising means to us and we all have our favorite ports of call and great memories of each cruise. These seniors may have cruised when they were younger and been to those same ports. This would be a great way for them to identify with their own happy memories. Always try to give something back, or as the book/movie said "pay it forward!"
__________________
Been there - done that:
2003 Holiday
2004 Fantasy
2005 Holiday, Sensation, Conquest,
2006 Conquest, Celebration, Holiday,
2007 Freedom Grand Med, Holiday
2008 Fantasy & Sensation,
2009 Fantasy, Holiday & Dream Grand Med
2010 Fantasy and B2B Elation
2011 Monarch of the Seas
2012 Booked - Breeze from Barcelona 12 days
We would go in the back tables of the buffet area (far from the food area) in the afternoons and played cards and dominos (mexican train) for several hours. It was cool (a/c), relaxing, and a lot of fun ... there were about 8 or 9 of us. we had access to drinks and snacks too
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Fun ideas for cruising with friends???
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