How a workplace kidnapping turned into a sunset cruise proposal

Matt and Deb are now a married couple of fanatic cruisers. So fanatic that they have a YouTube channel and website devoted to documenting their adventures. However, it wasn’t always that way.

Back when they were dating, or “skinny, happy and in love” as Matt puts it, Deb was already a cruise tragic, but Matt had never stepped foot on a ship. As Matt felt ready to pop the question, he devised an elaborate plan to sweep Deb off her feet.

One afternoon, Matt was texting Deb about how his day at work was so awful he had to just get out of the office, but it was all a ruse.

The kidnapping

Deb tells the story: “So he actually turned up to work and I was not expecting him whatsoever it was in the middle of the day and he walked in.

“He walked in and was like ‘Right you’re coming with me’ and I was like ‘No, no I’ve got to work’ and next thing, a staff member came in to replace me, this one had masterminded so much.

“I was blindfolded, he put me in a car and then drove me around for about 45 minutes.”

Deb was left blindfolded, with no idea what was coming. At this point, Matt had never stepped on a cruise ship or expressed much interest in Deb’s beloved favourite holiday, meaning she didn’t suspect a thing.

“At this point, I actually thought I might have been at the airport, I really didn’t know I was at Portside in Brisbane. The blindfold was bloody good I couldn’t see a thing. 

“Matt started walking me around and we had people cheering, saying ‘Yeah you’re going to love it!’, as we’re walking to the embarkation.”

Matt’s planning had gone far beyond just covering Deb’s work responsibilities, also getting the cruise staff in on the fun.

Getting onboard for the cruise proposal

Matt says: “At this point because she’s got to sign in and everything, I’ve got to let her know. But there was a whole line of staff and all the staff came running to sort of jump in front of her and say ‘surprise’.

Even onboard Pacific Dawn, the misdirects kept coming.

Deb says: “When we were in the cabins and unpacking our stuff, Matt turned to me and said ‘Look just because it’s Valentine’s Day weekend, this doesn’t mean I’m going to propose, I’m not that cliche, this is just a cruise because I love you’.

“It was very forceful it was don’t expect anything.”

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Scouting the ship for the cruise proposal

Matt had done his research and heard that deck 11 at sunset was the place to be. However, at this point he had never been on a cruise ship before and Deb had experienced a few outings on Pacific Dawn.

“Once we got on the ship I was like ‘I want you to show me around the ship, you’re the cruise expert’. I said I needed to find deck 11 and that I had been told my work colleagues, a sunset on deck 11 would be great.”

The couple took some selfies but in reality Matt was scheming, taking selfies so he could show his assistant the exact spot he’d propose in later on, meaning his assistant would be in position for the perfect snaps.

The big moment

As the sun was setting, Matt was building up to the moment, whirling a few lines such as “this sunset’s beautiful but not as beautiful as you” and then got down on one knee. The couple say Deb was so taken aback, that Matt couldn’t even get a word in amongst the “oh my god’s”. 

Matt managed to get the words out, and Deb responded with a resounding “yes”.

The surprises didn’t stop there. Not only had Matt organised for some friends of the couple to be onboard as well, taking photos and celebrating, but the cruise line instantly brought out special champagne to commemorate the occasion.

Matt’s tips for a cruise proposal

• Plan, plan, plan: While Matt doesn’t directly instruct it, it’s clear that this proposal ran so smoothly due to an abundance of time and effort in the planning process, making sure that everyone from Deb’s work to the ship knew what was happening.
• Get the staff involved: Matt says don’t hesitate to let the cruise line what you’re up to and they’ll surely pull out all the stops for you.
• Check out what packages are on offer: Even for a cruise that doesn’t involve a proposal, many cruise lines offer specalised ‘romance’ packages. Furthermore, seeing what’s on offer in the spa, or with specialty dining or other luxuries can add an extra edge to the proposal.
• Be mindful of the weather: While Matt and Deb were lucky to not experience anything beyond some slightly harsh breeze, it’s crucial to make sure the weather will allow for your proposal. It’s also smart to have an indoor backup planned in case mother nature isn’t on your side that day.
• Don’t be afraid to do something crazy: Matt says: Don’t be afraid to do something crazy, show the person you love that you do love them, with something unique. Take the cliche of getting engaged on a cruise ship, but add some fun to it.”

Follow along with the couple’s cruise adventures here