Faster to the Fun?

hi everyone,

and yes i know i will probably still have fun without it BUT this is my first time cruising and i missed the sale (carnival liberty, jan 4-11). All i hear about are the amazing perks with it. I am truly TRULY bummed out. Is there a HUGE difference between having it or not? i am kind of worried that my honeymoon will not have any special perks because i do not have this FTTF perk and will have to wait in long lines or be considered last for stuff.

 

can someone help me feel better about not having this card lol and also willing to sell me theirs :p....seriously??

We had it on the Liberty 2 weeks ago. You will be fine without it. It's not said you get free messages every night in your stateroom, or access to secret clubs. I loved it because I hate standing in line. It just makes the boarding process faster, it makes tenders faster and it makes trips to guest services faster. Your cruise will not be a let down without it.

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We had it on the Freedom back in July.

I didnt think it was worth the $50.

Upcoming cruise in January-we will not get FTTF.

We were like the first on the ship..Big deal since we were there early anyway.

We had No line at guest service...Big deal...How often do you use it.

My parents bought this for their cruise a month ago and was on the ship right around 11 am. they were able to go straight to their cabins and drop their stuff off. we bought it for our cruise in june. now I wont have to carry my pop & water around.

My parents bought this for their cruise a month ago and was on the ship right around 11 am. they were able to go straight to their cabins and drop their stuff off. we bought it for our cruise in june. now I wont have to carry my pop & water around.

We are very thrifty -- if we weren't Platinum, we'd buy it in a heartbeat. DW doesn't relax until we're unpacked.

Last month on the Conquest we were fully unpacked and relaxing by 12:45 :D

So we purchased FTTF for our March cruise and then we had a couple friends of our children find out that they could also go with us so we booked another cabin. Since there are 4 young people under the age of 18 we had to split up(for reservation purposes) and have DH and the boys in one cabin and me and two girls in another. Now to the question. FTTF was sold out once I booked the second room so I've been checking daily for it to open up again but with no luck thus far. Do you think I should be concerned about half the group having it and half not? I would like for us all to be able to board together. We can throw our things in the cabin that has FTTF when we board. As far as tenders it isn't a big deal really and if we need guest services my husband has FTTF and he can go make inquiries there.

Off Freedom last week with FTTF. Got to wait for an hour or so in priority waiting room and was among the first 500 to get on ship. Room was available on boarding and luggage arrived between 1-2pm. Went to Guest Services 3 times and in each case if I would have stood in the regular line I would have been serviced first. After this kind of service we didn't bother with priority tenders but went direct and walked right on, no waiting. Debarkation we were in no hurry but used luggage express which I found to be much more valuable than FTTF. Next year I have no plan for FTTF and will use that $50 for better wine at dinner.

I have bought this for our late December Cruise on the Magic and have some questions on how it works?

• Do you bring it?
  
• How do they know you have it?
  
• On embarkation do you just go to the (which line) ??
  
• Is your luggage tag marked? As when you check it on the dock how is it set up to deliver fast?
  
• Is your room made ready sooner automatically?
  
• I understand how it works at ports but what about wnen you are getting off at the disembarkation final port?
  

I have bought this for our late December Cruise on the Magic and have some questions on how it works?

 

 

• Do you bring it?
  
• How do they know you have it?
  
• On embarkation do you just go to the (which line) ??
  
• Is your luggage tag marked? As when you check it on the dock how is it set up to deliver fast?
  
• Is your room made ready sooner automatically?
  
• I understand how it works at ports but what about wnen you are getting off at the disembarkation final port?
  

It will show up on your boarding pass for all in the room. At Port Everglades the luggage was marked with orange tags. When we entered they checked boarding passes and directed us to the right line and noted our cabin number. At disembarkation FTTF were given zone 1 luggage tags.

Relax and get on Island Time folks. The entire journey is fun from planning to anticipation. FTTF is an aberration to getting the Hurried world we are attempting to leave.

Just got back from 5 days on Ecstasy. Had FTTF. Will definitely purchase on future cruises! Getting on ship and in room earlier and more easily were worth it but the few times we needed Guest Services, using the "special" lane was awesome! The special delivery to the tender was great!! And disembarking was easy and fast! I highly recommend it but get it asap as there are limited numbers available. :)

Relax and get on Island Time folks. The entire journey is fun from planning to anticipation. FTTF is an aberration to getting the Hurried world we are attempting to leave.

Sorry but standing in long lines waiting to board and trying to get something to eat while lugging around carryon drinks and bags is not fun or relaxing to me. Getting your luggage in time to be unpacked before muster drill to me IS getting to relax earlier. I don't feel like I am on vacation until everything is unpacked and put away. I can't wait to try FTTF on my May cruise on the Dream.

Relax and get on Island Time folks. The entire journey is fun from planning to anticipation. FTTF is an aberration to getting the Hurried world we are attempting to leave.

Have you personally tried it?:cool:

IMO, it is the opposite of what you portray -- it is a great way to make the best use of my time so I CAN enjoy my vacation more fully!!

We just had it on our Legend cruise and it was terrific!

We were able to avoid most of the line to board, to set carry-ons down in the cabin immediately, and to unpack checked bags all before 12:30! So we could then concentrate on relaxing! The three times we went to Guest Services we avoided standing in line behind 6 or 7 people, and stepped right up to the "fast lane". In Grand Cayman, we were able to avoid the cattle call that is tendering, and took a nice leisurely ride to shore first thing, so we could enjoy the port!

Can you have a wonderful cruise without FTTF? Of course you can! But FTTF is a little nicety that can enhance the experience. Don't be so disparaging until you know whereof you speak!:rolleyes:

I had it on the Carnival Pride this summer and loved it. Best $50 I ever spent. I have already purchased it again for my CP cruise in January.

I know I am in the minority on this but I do not think it is worth it. On our recent Pride cruise we arrived at the port early (10:30AM), checked in right away at the counter and sat adjacent to the Platinum and FTTF groups. We boarded right behind those groups(11:30) , our room was ready when we boarded, we were on the second tender to HMC, never needed service desk help and were among the first 25 folks off the ship due to an early flight. It would have been a waste of $50, IMHO.

Perhaps I got lucky with the room being ready. Our luggage came up fairly quickly as well, before 1PM....

I have bought this for our late December Cruise on the Magic and have some questions on how it works?

 

 

• Do you bring it?
  
• How do they know you have it?
  
• On embarkation do you just go to the (which line) ??
  
• Is your luggage tag marked? As when you check it on the dock how is it set up to deliver fast?
  
• Is your room made ready sooner automatically?
  
• I understand how it works at ports but what about wnen you are getting off at the disembarkation final port?
  

1) Not sure what you are asking here

2) It is on your boarding pass

3) Yes. It all goes to the same porters, they just expedite yours

4) Yes

5) You get your disembarkation tags and instructions. FTTF is zone 1 for disembarking.

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Have you personally tried it?:cool:

 

IMO, it is the opposite of what you portray -- it is a great way to make the best use of my time so I CAN enjoy my vacation more fully!!

 

We just had it on our Legend cruise and it was terrific!

We were able to avoid most of the line to board, to set carry-ons down in the cabin immediately, and to unpack checked bags all before 12:30! So we could then concentrate on relaxing! The three times we went to Guest Services we avoided standing in line behind 6 or 7 people, and stepped right up to the "fast lane". In Grand Cayman, we were able to avoid the cattle call that is tendering, and took a nice leisurely ride to shore first thing, so we could enjoy the port!

 

Can you have a wonderful cruise without FTTF? Of course you can! But FTTF is a little nicety that can enhance the experience. Don't be so disparaging until you know whereof you speak!:rolleyes:

Go roll your eyes again I get that you have no concept of Island Time. You really don't get 'it'. But that doesn't bother me. I never had to 'Concentrate' on relaxing. My point was more directed at peoples need to hurry hurry and not slow down. A cruise doesn't seem the best vacation to avoid crowds and lines. To each their own. I'm not paying to check in ahead of the other plebeians... I'm happy to be one if them.

You board right after the Platinum guests.

This is functionally incorrect.

Platinum Guests board whenever they want throughout the day. There is no line for Platinum, they are checked in inside the private "Captain's Lounge" where there are refreshments and comfortable furniture.

Have you personally tried it?:cool:

 

IMO, it is the opposite of what you portray -- it is a great way to make the best use of my time so I CAN enjoy my vacation more fully!!

 

We just had it on our Legend cruise and it was terrific!

We were able to avoid most of the line to board, to set carry-ons down in the cabin immediately, and to unpack checked bags all before 12:30! So we could then concentrate on relaxing! The three times we went to Guest Services we avoided standing in line behind 6 or 7 people, and stepped right up to the "fast lane". In Grand Cayman, we were able to avoid the cattle call that is tendering, and took a nice leisurely ride to shore first thing, so we could enjoy the port!

 

Can you have a wonderful cruise without FTTF? Of course you can! But FTTF is a little nicety that can enhance the experience. Don't be so disparaging until you know whereof you speak!:rolleyes:

The irony of your reasoning is the best way to avoid lines and enjoy your vacation is to slow down, relax by the pool of your hotel or take a walk on the beach and leisurely show up at the port between 1:30-2:00 and there are no lines at all!

Problem solved.

Trying to get FTTF on our cruise out of San Juan in Feb. 2014.

Currently sold out. Is there a chance that it may open again?

Thanks

Trying to get FTTF on our cruise out of San Juan in Feb. 2014.

 

Currently sold out. Is there a chance that it may open again?

 

Thanks

Yes. People may cancel or they may release more. Keep on the look out!

We are arriving in San Juan early around 2pm and using Carnival transportation. Ship leaves at 10pm. Does anyone think that its worth it for this port?

Final call isn't until 830pm. There was a slight rush when I checked in but nothing major. There are no tender ports. The only advantage is really you get off the boat first, and if you need to visit guest services you can go to the front of the line.

If we were in the position that we needed it, we would purchase FTTF. Years ago, they had a program we bought into before we achieved platinum to enable us to go to the VIP lounge and also offered priority tendering. It was the Carnival Vacation Club. There were supposed other perks involved such as free land based vacations that never came to fruition due to everything seeming to be blacked out at any time of the year we tried to book. But I digress.

The main reason we bought into the program was my husbands mobility issues. He simply could not stand for long periods of time in the regular lines, and he was at an age that he was too "proud" to be assisted in a wheelchair, and even if he needed that service, back then it wasn't as simple as calling the special needs department. It was something that had to be secured after arrival which might or might not happen. (Amazing the difference 20 plus years make , right?) But believe me, back then it wasn't cheap. $50 per room is a basement bargain compared to what we paid. At the time we paid for two separate packages until we reached our 10th cruise that would allow us to go to the VIP check in, which was the only reason we made the purchase in the first place.

When I think about being able to get the FTTF perks for a mere $50 per room, it makes me feel our money was squandered, though at the time it was the only offer that met our needs.

We no longer need FTTF, but if we did, you bet, we would happily pay the $50. And in addition to the perks we received, you also get your luggage prioritized and can go to you room immediately upon boarding. Those were perks not available on the Carnival Vacation Club plan at 5x the price. Thankfully, because of this program, we are able to get the same perks you are paying for today at no additional fee.

$50 bucks to cut lines?

I dont care if were 2nd on the ship or 2000th.... What is the rush?

FTTF =Not worth it!

$50 bucks to cut lines?

 

I dont care if were 2nd on the ship or 2000th.... What is the rush?

 

FTTF =Not worth it!

We just got off the Fantasy last week and had FTTF. We thought it was VERY worth it. We walked on the ship where a crew member noticed our sticker, and escorted us right to the closed door going to our hallway with our cabin. He said our cabin would be ready, and it was. Our luggage had beat us there. We dropped our carry on's off, and went directly to Lido for lunch. It was worth the $50 not to have to drag our carry ons around. So, I guess different strokes for different folks, but we will always purchase FTTF from now on.