Caribbean Cruise Themed Party

A fun idea for any occasion is a Caribbean cruise or tropical party theme. It's perfect for anything from a children's celebration to an adult event. People think I'm a bit obsessive, but when I'm not actually cruising or vacationing, I always want to celebrate it! Tropical décor, food, and drinks always get people in the mood to celebrate. From having many tropical, cruise, and travel themed parties over the years, I've included my unique ideas and party tips below.

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Decorations

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• Highlight the gorgeous blue and teal colors of the Caribbean in a tropical party theme décor 
• Go pure nautical with navy blue and white stripes
• Less expensive option with an upscale look: Find palm tree or coconut patterned fabric on-line or at a fabric store. Use as tablecloths, cut squares for napkins or basket liners
• Create seating cards in the shape of cruise ships
• Buy fish netting to use under floral centerpieces on tables and decorate with gummy fish

If you are assigning tables, designate cruise lines, cruise ships or ports. For decorations, use life preserver rings as a sign-in board or as the base of table centerpieces. Sisal rope is ideal to attach on anything to create a nautical or beach look. Use the rope as a border around a navy blue frame and then glue on shells or beachy ornaments to easily make themed table cards. 

Photo Credit: SK Photography

Photo Credit: SK Photography

Photo Credit: SK Photography

Photo Credit: SK Photography

​A pool party screams out cruise or tropical theme, so find inflatable cruise ships or beach balls to throw around. One of my favorite party stores that has a great selection either for themes and colors is Oriental Trading Company.

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Food and Drinks

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Tailor your tropical drinks around traditional Caribbean cocktails; feature Malibu Coconut Rum or Blue Curacao in specialty drinks for adults. Serve in cocktail glasses and decorate with tropical fruit speared on fun toothpicks. For the kids, anything brightly colored and/or sipped with a colorful straw is always a favorite. Here's one of my popular non-alcoholic drinks that our guests always love:

​Sparkling Cranberry Punch ​

The perfect holiday drink for the whole family, this non-alcoholic punch only takes minutes to prepare.
 
2 quarts Cranberry Juice
1 (6 oz) can Frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate, thawed
1 quart Sparkling Water 
 
In a large container, combine the cranberry juice and the thawed pink lemonade concentrate. Stir in the sparkling water and enjoy!

For a tropical party theme or cruise theme meal suggestions, serve kabobs, jerk chicken, seafood, or anything with pineapple or coconut to keep with the tropical décor. Plate on wicker platters covered with artificial palm fronds. ​

Simply use bright flavors and colors for a vacation feel

Beef Kabobs inspired by our travels to Bermuda

And, of course, the CAKE! Don't forget a cake to highlight your theme. This always makes it special and doubles as a great centerpiece for the buffet. 

"Under the Sea" Cake

Even cruise port cities can have fun travel themes by highlighting the foods and decor they are known for. We loved having our local Graul's Bakery create a cake for our Maryland Crabs theme (below) and Under the Sea theme (above.)

"Maryland Crabs" Theme Cake

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Entertainment

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A Caribbean cruise themed party needs Caribbean music! If you can, bring in a calypso band to entertain or at least make sure the DJ plays a Bob Marley song.

Get your guests inspired for the Caribbean! Ask guests to dress in tropical clothing or even don cocktail attire with flip flops. 

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Thank You For Coming

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​​Whether hosting an event at in a hotel, restaurant, or in my home, I LOVE to provide party favors for each guest to take home. It's so easy to make these yourself. 

​Here are a few of my favorite ideas for cruise or tropical theme thank you party favors:

• Cookie Cutters. Find cruise ship shaped cookie cutters and tie with a navy blue and white striped ribbon. Attach a thank you note by punching a hole in a heavy stock card and threading the ribbon through.
• Chocolate. Purchase chocolate molds with an anchor or shell design. Melt high-quality chocolate and carefully fill the molds. Then cool, wrap in cellophane bags, and tie with Caribbean colored ribbon.
• Luggage Tags. The travel accessory that everyone needs. Look for decorative tags with a clear plastic insert and use this spot to slide in a personalized thank you card.

These are perfect ideas to leave on each place as party favors for each of your guests. If you want to provide a take-home tropical or cruise themed party favor, purchase tote bags in bright colors and fill with your favorite tropical party favors, fun candy or sweets, then stuff with crumpled cellophane or tissue paper. Depending on your budget, you may consider including personalized towels, hats, or extra large t-shirts (think beach cover-ups and no sizing needed!), sunglasses, sunscreen or other beachy accessories.

​Your guests will definitely leave happy and ready to cruise! ​