Planning a surprise cruise

[gammo]

Next summer, we are going to Florida for 3 weeks to celebrate DW 50th birthday but whilst there I want to add a surprise 3 night cruise on the Wish.

I'm not too concerned about having a hotel still booked whilst on the cruise (keeps things easier to leave the booking as it is to keep the surprise a secret), but what do I need to make the cruise 'a go'?

As we are from the UK, passports will already be with us but what other documentation would I need to board the ship? I read yesterday about more identification being required (birth certificste) - is that for US citizens or will UK passengers/bookings need them too?

Any help greatly appreciated.

ps - we've done a staycation UK cruise a couple of years ago so know what to expect on the ship but my DW sorted all that out so I can't go to her this time (hopefully she's not a member on this forum )

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not too concerned about having a hotel still booked whilst on the cruise (keeps things easier to leave the booking as it is to keep the surprise a secret), but what do I need to make the cruise 'a go'?

As we are from the UK, passports will already be with us but what other documentation would I need to board the ship? I read yesterday about more identification being required (birth certificste) - is that for US citizens or will UK passengers/bookings need them too?

It's really hard to keep a cruise a surprise. You need to complete the check in on line which will require passport info and a picture. So DW will know something is up.

The birth certificate thing is just for US citizens who don't have a passport and are going on a closed loop cruise. Your passport and your boarding documents (which you get when you do the online checkin) are all you'll need to board.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Americans giving advice dont know about ESTA. As part of the online check in process you will need a photo of the ESTA Confirmed page for all passengers. This will be an extra field that appears for international passengers on a cruise departing America.

Also, while the staycation cruises gave an idea of what the Disney ships and cruise experience are like, the normal regular cruises are very different. Ive been on 3 Disney cruises which all had a large % of UK passengers who had been on staycation cruises. They found a huge difference in everything from the amount of passengers, to the onboard activities and the size of the ship.

As you have previously cruised, you will be Silver Castaway Club members. There are some important dates you need to know about

• 90 days before departure at 5am UK time, your activity booking will open. This is things like adult extra charge dining, spa treatments, port excursions, alcohol tastings
• 33 days before departure at 5am UK time, your online check in will open. You will need a head shot photo, passport and ESTA information for all passengers. You will also need contact details for next of kin, and other information. When you do your online check in you can select your Port Arrival time. You will be then assigned a Boarding group number. You will need your Port Arrival Form at the port on embarkation day
• Embarkation Day an online Health Questionnaire will appear on the App for all passengers.

 

[gammo]

Americans giving advice dont know about ESTA. As part of the online check in process you will need a photo of the ESTA Confirmed page for all passengers. This will be an extra field that appears for international passengers on a cruise departing America.

Also, while the staycation cruises gave an idea of what the Disney ships and cruise experience are like, the normal regular cruises are very different. Ive been on 3 Disney cruises which all had a large % of UK passengers who had been on staycation cruises. They found a huge difference in everything from the amount of passengers, to the onboard activities and the size of the ship.

As you have previously cruised, you will be Silver Castaway Club members. There are some important dates you need to know about

• 90 days before departure at 5am UK time, your activity booking will open. This is things like adult extra charge dining, spa treatments, port excursions, alcohol tastings
• 33 days before departure at 5am UK time, your online check in will open. You will need a head shot photo, passport and ESTA information for all passengers. You will also need contact details for next of kin, and other information. When you do your online check in you can select your Port Arrival time. You will be then assigned a Boarding group number. You will need your Port Arrival Form at the port on embarkation day
• Embarkation Day an online Health Questionnaire will appear on the App for all passengers.

Yeah the Silver level is something DW mentioned when looking at booking another staycation for the summer just gone - problem is that the previous time we cruised she was the lead passenger, so I feel that if I mention that anywhere there's a possibility that it will generate a message or notification to her in someway

The adult extra charge dining, alcohol tasting, spa treatments aren't something we'd be particularly looking to do anyway - it would be more about the whole experience and port visits to Nassau & Castaway Cay as the last time we literally just sailed up & down the English channel Are the headshots something that I can do myself or do they need to be professionally taken like passport photos? If I can do them, I can make something up (doing them for a collage or something ).

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Yeah the Silver level is something DW mentioned when looking at booking another staycation for the summer just gone - problem is that the previous time we cruised she was the lead passenger, so I feel that if I mention that anywhere there's a possibility that it will generate a message or notification to her in someway

The adult extra charge dining, alcohol tasting, spa treatments aren't something we'd be particularly looking to do anyway - it would be more about the whole experience and port visits to Nassau & Castaway Cay as the last time we literally just sailed up & down the English channel Are the headshots something that I can do myself or do they need to be professionally taken like passport photos? If I can do them, I can make something up (doing them for a collage or something ).

Cast Away Club level is per passenger, not just tied to the lead person, so you are Silver and can access the benefits without your DW knowing. You just need to set up your own Disney Cruise Line account and then phone them and get your Castaway Club number linked to the account. Then you can book the cruise and do any activity booking and online check in without your DW knowing.

The headshots are very similar to passport photos, a head and shoulders of the person. They have to be different to the photo in the passport. Some people have issues with getting their kids take a good photo and use photos on their phone they have taken for other reasons. The phone I use is a selfie I took against a door in my house. You also need a photo of the passports as well as the passport information. Most people prepare all the items in advance and have them saved on their phone or laptop.

 

[Carohs]

A surprise cruise is a great idea! Especially tagged with a vacay already planned so she's already packed and ready to go.
I don't see getting a pic of a passport or your DW to be all that of an obstacle if you have it saved ahead of time. You probably already have pics of your DW that you can crop and save as a usable cruise ID. You can say you need the passport pic for the airline check in or some other excuse.
When I book for us, DH is not notified of the booking. I have to actually provide him with the confirmation # before he can add it to his reservations page. Confirmed because to this day he is unaware I booked and subsequently canceled a cruise a few months later when we decided to do something else. You will need her CC number for convenience, but if you can't get it she will be assigned and you can merge the two accounts later. That caused issues for me so I recommend having the CC number so she gets CC credit for the booking. Do you have her pw or access to a device that has her saved pw? Or even easier may be your previous cruise booking confirmation should have it.
What may be more difficult is the activity and check in windows. It's harder to explain why you have to be on your device at precisely 12am EST without seeming suspicious, unless you can be more flexible.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

What may be more difficult is the activity and check in windows. It's harder to explain why you have to be on your device at precisely 12am EST without seeming suspicious, unless you can be more flexible.

Just a correction about this. The OP is in UK so its 5am UK time that the activity booking and online check in open.

 

[sponica]

ou will need her CC number for convenience, but if you can't get it she will be assigned and you can merge the two accounts later.

I don't know my husband's number and I just enter his name and check off that he's sailed before. There was some wonky thing behind the scenes when I booked our Wish cruise where his account was duplicated at some point in time, because I couldn't link his cruise profile (full first name) to his profile on my MDE (nickname), but it was an easy thing to fix once I pointed out what I was trying to do.

 

[gammo]

Cast Away Club level is per passenger, not just tied to the lead person, so you are Silver and can access the benefits without your DW knowing. You just need to set up your own Disney Cruise Line account and then phone them and get your Castaway Club number linked to the account. Then you can book the cruise and do any activity booking and online check in without your DW knowing.

The headshots are very similar to passport photos, a head and shoulders of the person. They have to be different to the photo in the passport. Some people have issues with getting their kids take a good photo and use photos on their phone they have taken for other reasons. The phone I use is a selfie I took against a door in my house. You also need a photo of the passports as well as the passport information. Most people prepare all the items in advance and have them saved on their phone or laptop.

Awesome, thank you

 

[gammo]

Just a correction about this. The OP is in UK so its 5am UK time that the activity booking and online check in open.

Yeah I'm UK but that won't be a problem as I'm up at 0300 every morning for work anyway

 

[gammo]

Update.
So, finally managed to book (deposit paid) and funds to pay off the balance are sorted too (not paying just yet in case of unforseen situations arising).

I had/have the opportunity to add ground transfers but when I go to the link, it seems as if the only option is from airport to port. Is there a way of booking and indicating that I'm at a WDW resort and need the transfer from there? And whilst on the point of ground transfer, as we are being picked up from the resort, is ut true we can board earlier than the PAT?

I've got pictures of everyone's ESTA, face/headshot, and passport - is there anything else I need prior to the check in opening up?

Lastly, the announcement during the week that the Disney Cruise VPP no longer applies for bookings for non US residents, is there a suitable/similar version to explore?

Many thanks in advance

Chris

 

[Mommb]

If you can't book ground transfers online, you will need to call Disney Cruise and book over the phone, assuming you booked yourself and not through a travel agent. (If you used an agent, the agent needs to book any transfers.)

If you are using Disney transportation from a Walt Disney World resort, you will automatically get a port arrival time and boarding group, which will probably be earlier than you could select yourself.

For check-in, you will also need to indicate the payment method (such as a credit card number) each person is using. If you're planning to pay for everyone's onboard expenses, you can enter your information and simply indicate that the others are using the same method.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

Update.
So, finally managed to book (deposit paid) and funds to pay off the balance are sorted too (not paying just yet in case of unforseen situations arising).

I had/have the opportunity to add ground transfers but when I go to the link, it seems as if the only option is from airport to port. Is there a way of booking and indicating that I'm at a WDW resort and need the transfer from there? And whilst on the point of ground transfer, as we are being picked up from the resort, is ut true we can board earlier than the PAT?

I've got pictures of everyone's ESTA, face/headshot, and passport - is there anything else I need prior to the check in opening up?

Lastly, the announcement during the week that the Disney Cruise VPP no longer applies for bookings for non US residents, is there a suitable/similar version to explore?

Many thanks in advance

Chris

So, sorry, no advice but I am dying to know if you have managed to keep it a secret still?? and if so how do you plan to break it to her? Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[gammo]

So, sorry, no advice but I am dying to know if you have managed to keep it a secret still?? and if so how do you plan to break it to her? Enquiring minds want to know!

Yep, so far so good

The 'false' plan is for her to turn over six pieces of A4 paper, each having a letter on them. The first two will be 'where are we?' So that'll be 'US' and then the next four will say we are going to 'NASA' which she said she would like to go to one day but not during this holiday.

Here's the 'false' part. All of those letters actually spell NASSAU which is obviously one of the stop offs on the cruise In plain sight all along....sort of

The real plan is that every Friday, for 50 weeks, she will have randomly been revealing letters which, when laid out, tell her about the cruise. She'll get the last letter on the final Friday morning....if it's still a secret on that Friday, it'll be a miracle

 

[gammo]

If you can't book ground transfers online, you will need to call Disney Cruise and book over the phone, assuming you booked yourself and not through a travel agent. (If you used an agent, the agent needs to book any transfers.)

If you are using Disney transportation from a Walt Disney World resort, you will automatically get a port arrival time and boarding group, which will probably be earlier than you could select yourself.

For check-in, you will also need to indicate the payment method (such as a credit card number) each person is using. If you're planning to pay for everyone's onboard expenses, you can enter your information and simply indicate that the others are using the same method.

Thank you.

I've booked it via Disney Cruises so I'll give them a call to add it.

It looks as though I'll have to contact the resort prior to checking in so that they don't reveal anything on the check in day nor leaving anything in the room on the night before, indicating/reminding of the pick up time.

The only thing that is out of my control is the documentation coming to our home address - I'm usually home first but you can guarantee it'll turn up on a Saturday whilst I'm working and she's day off

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

Yep, so far so good

The 'false' plan is for her to turn over six pieces of A4 paper, each having a letter on them. The first two will be 'where are we?' So that'll be 'US' and then the next four will say we are going to 'NASA' which she said she would like to go to one day but not during this holiday.

Here's the 'false' part. All of those letters actually spell NASSAU which is obviously one of the stop offs on the cruise In plain sight all along....sort of

The real plan is that every Friday, for 50 weeks, she will have randomly been revealing letters which, when laid out, tell her about the cruise. She'll get the last letter on the final Friday morning....if it's still a secret on that Friday, it'll be a miracle

Dang you are more creative than I am....a couple of years ago for Christmas I gave my family a cruise (a first for my sons). I gave my two adult children and wife a suitcase each, and hid a printout of the cruise booking in a pocket in each. I got a strange look for the suitcases, but my wife knew me enough to start searching through it... surprise!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Just a correction about this. The OP is in UK so its 5am UK time that the activity booking and online check in open.

Saying 12am EST (Eastern Standard Time) isn't incorrect.
It only means a reader from any other time zone besides EST needs to adjust for what that means for their own time zone. There are 4 time zones in the Continental US. Most Americans can quickly calculate their own time when presented with a time from a zone other than their own.

I would assume it's the same in Europe, that Brits could look at a start time in Rome and adjust it an hour earlier for the UK.

Sorry to nitpick, but @Carohs did give accurate information.


OP, I really hope you pull this off! What a great idea!
I once surprised dh with a 3-nt quickie on the Dream when it first entered service. I told him I booked a getway in Ft. Lauderdale for 4 nts. Once we started driving to the airport, I told him we were sailing on new Dream, less than 2 months after her MV. He was way happier to be on the Dream!
He never received any emails regarding any of it.

If you plan to get off the ship in Nassau, I would recommend you book any excursions through DCL vs. going off on your own. It's a high poverty, high crime area. When DCL used to print out paper Navigators (daily cruise activity guide) it was the only port that had stern warnings on the front of the Navigator to: not carry expensive cameras, jewelry, etc. Don't carry a lot of cash and don't reveal any cash in public areas. Don't wander down side streets alone, etc.
A lot of passengers stay onboard when the ship is in Nassau. That said, I took our 2 kids to the Atlantis Waterpark when they were little and dh stayed onboard. We had a blast and were glad we went.

 

[helengrad]

Next summer, we are going to Florida for 3 weeks to celebrate DW 50th birthday but whilst there I want to add a surprise 3 night cruise on the Wish.

I'm not too concerned about having a hotel still booked whilst on the cruise (keeps things easier to leave the booking as it is to keep the surprise a secret), but what do I need to make the cruise 'a go'?

As we are from the UK, passports will already be with us but what other documentation would I need to board the ship? I read yesterday about more identification being required (birth certificste) - is that for US citizens or will UK passengers/bookings need them too?

Any help greatly appreciated.

ps - we've done a staycation UK cruise a couple of years ago so know what to expect on the ship but my DW sorted all that out so I can't go to her this time (hopefully she's not a member on this forum )

that would be perfect surprise