Is FTTF worth it?

[Newbie41]

Hi,

I was reading about FTTF, and it sounds like a good idea. Our ship leaves at 4 PM, but I would like to get on it as early as possible. I've also heard that boarding in Miami is a nightmare, so anything that would make it easier would be great. If I purchase FTTF am I really guaranteed early entry to the ship.

[wdazew]

Yes after diamond plantium and suites. You will have immediate access to your room and can one of the first off. Is it worth it? Only you can decide that

[anwick]

Hi !

I went on a girls cruise at the beginning of the month, and the 6 of us agree: FTF is worth every penny! We were at the dock at 10:30, breezed thru customs and check in via a special line, no waiting. We were on the boat by a little after 11am. Our rooms were ready for us so we could drop off our carry on bags before lunch, and our bags were already there too! I think we were part of a group of only about 20 people on board for the first 1/2 hour or so. The halls were blocked off to everyone else as the stewards were setting up the other cabins, but the signs said "closed except for FTF"!

 

After a quick lunch, we changed into our suits and lounged on an upper deck with our books for some O & R ("observe and relax") The lines for the buffet grew longer and longer, and we watched, while sipping our first cocktails of the trip. All afternoon, people were boarding in long pants and wearing boots, dragging suitcases behind them - while we felt we had an extra day at sea! That experience alone was worth the $25 each.

 

There are some perks as far as excursions, tenders and a special line at customer service but we didn't need any of those extras for our trip.

 

The other perk was that we got priority un-boarding as well. We had zone 1 blue luggage tags. Half our group did self-assist and they were off the ship very early (had an early flight so that was good for them). The other half checked our bags and even after a nice breakfast in the MDR, we too were off the ship with the first wave of passengers and our bags came thru immediately with no waiting.

 

We rented a car at Port of Miami to be returned to the Ft Lauderdale airport. Drove up to FTL and spent the day riding the water taxi, which was a great way to wrap up the trip and then caught our 5:30pm flight back to NH. Where it was 22 degrees. But we are used to that!

 

So the day we disembarked and the day we returned to port were both lovely vacation days for us, rather than hectic travel days. We all agree: FTF is the way to go!

Have fun on your cruise!

[jlb1484]

Was worth every penny on our Jan 6th Magic cruise. Flew right by all the lines. Boarding had already started so we didn't have to wait for the priority boarders. I can't remember what time we got on the ship but it did feel like a ghost town. Our bags showed up right away and our cabin was about 90% ready. If available we will definitely be doing it on future cruses.

[Pellaz]

I'd say it's worth it, too.

We booked F2F for our Liberty sailing last October. If one of your primary reasons is to get onboard quickly and relax, then it should certainly meet your needs. When my sister and I got to the security check-in, the lady there saw our F2F boarding passes and got us through the TSA checkpoint in no time (one of the checkpoints had no line).

 

VIPs and (I assume) earlier-arriving F2F people had just boarded.

After entering the terminal proper, the next Carnival employee saw our F2F boarding passes and immediately directed us to the VIP/F2F check-in kiosk, as there was no line. They already had our S&S cards ready in an envelope and we were on our way in 5 minutes -- would have been quicker but my sister put a cash deposit down for her S&S account.

 

We'd been given a Priority boarding placard, so the lady 'guarding' the escalators waved us through with a smile and after dodging the embark photogs, we were on the ship within ten minutes of our arrival curbside. :cool:

Edited January 18, 2013 by Pellaz

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Nope!

[coops]

Nope!

 

Have you tried it? And what about it was not worth it.

[elklemi]

We used it in December and would do it again for sure. Got right on the ship and the best part was being sure of an early tender for HMC.

[gtalum]

FTTF is 100% absolutely worth every single penny.

 

We were the first on and first off of Imagination a few weeks back. That process alone makes it worthwhile. The priority guest services line and priority tenders are just icing on the cake.

Edited January 18, 2013 by gtalum

[kelkel2]

I think you also have to look at your cruise. IF you have tender ports it becomes more worth in IMHO because you get priority after platinum people on tenders also. If you have an early excursion it could be really worth it. I booked it for our cruise next week and I think it is worth it, but only you can answer that. If you have the extra $50 and you can afford to spend it on FTTF then do it!

[laxlove6]

what customs do you go through before boarding?

[gtalum]

I just looked up what FTTF is.

I cannot believe they have come up with something that tacky.

And to top it off call it something as cheesy as "Faster to the Fun"..

I now remember why I don't even check consider Carnival anymore when booking cruises..

 

Yes, Carnival is awful. AWFUL I say! Stay AWAY!!!!!!!

[slugo]

Not worth it!!!!

[serene56]

I guess it would depend.

 

If I go by my pass cruises then no it is not worth it.

 

I have always arrived early to the pier. To the point that the ship is still unloading from the previous week.

 

I was always in Zone 1. Ok- I have to keep my carry on with me until the cabin opened up at 1:30.

 

Head to the lido to eat-- i pack light so that carry on was not a problem.

--

cruised the Pride- arrived the same day as the cruise. Arrived at 1pm and did regular check in-- was checked through-- got to my cabin, dropped off my stuff. went to Lido, grab something to eat and the time was 2:10

how much quicker did I need be??

 

--

i am sure if I was arriving to the pier later in the day it would be worth it.

 

For me-- 50 bucks could be spend on something else.

[tootsiebit]

I purchased it for our Triumph cruise leaving tomorrow and can't wait to go straight to my cabin. Everyone looks at things differently...Thank God.... and to some, cruising without a balcony is just horrible, where others, like us really enjoy the dark insides, some people love to be on the Lido, while others stay on the inside of the ship and enjoy all they have to offer, others feel that $50 is well worth a little extra time in the cabin before muster, especially when like me, I take a med at noon that makes me a little dizzy for about 30 minutes and now I can lay down for a bit in the comfort of my cabin and not have to be somewhere in public, so every one is of a different opinion as to whether it is worth it, but the majority of people really like it, and really the ones who don't, most are platinum or whatever it is when you do nothing but sail all the time, and feel like they are being mistreated or something.

[grumpyjr88]

Does everyone in the cabin need to purchase FTTF?

[Havingfun2010]

I just looked up what FTTF is.

 

I cannot believe they have come up with something that tacky.

 

And to top it off call it something as cheesy as "Faster to the Fun"..

 

I now remember why I don't even check consider Carnival anymore when booking cruises..

 

LOL - think the same thing. My last cruise, I had FTTF for free on a different line. Got to the port at 10:15, on the ship at 11:00 and my carry on was a backpack, so was no hassle to carry. Ate in the buffet at 11:20, and although I did not have my room until 1:00, did not care, since most days, I spend hours away from it anyway! Oh ye, the ship had over 6000 passengers. Can you name it?

[Athankfulheart]

Does everyone in the cabin need to purchase FTTF?

 

 

Only one person per cabin buys this and it covers everyone.

[acruisingcouple]

LOL - think the same thing. My last cruise, I had FTTF for free on a different line. Got to the port at 10:15, on the ship at 11:00 and my carry on was a backpack, so was no hassle to carry. Ate in the buffet at 11:20, and although I did not have my room until 1:00, did not care, since most days, I spend hours away from it anyway! Oh ye, the ship had over 6000 passengers. Can you name it?

 

Yes, but how more does it cost to sail on that ship than it costs to sail on Carnival? I don't think it's $49.95.

 

It all comes down to individual choice. Some feel it's worth a lot more for a week to cruise on another line just like some Carnival cruisers wouldn't purchase FTTF as they would rather put the money towards activities, drinks, casino....etc.

 

I have booked FTTF because of the benefits included, however, I can only make a decision on whether it is worth it for me once I have tried it.

[paule123]

what customs do you go through before boarding?

 

There's no "customs" getting on the ship, but there's an ID checker and an airport style metal detector and x-ray belt. FTTF people get directed to a special line where there's 2 or 3 "VIP" ID checkers and go to the front of the line for the metal detector/x-ray. Then upstairs, you get directed past everybody else waiting in the snake lines and right up to the check in desk where your keys are pre-printed and waiting.

 

I started the boarding process at noon, and was in my room by 12:15 - 12:20. Luggage delivered by 1 - 1:30.

 

Getting off the ship I was group 1, got on the elevator at 6:55 am for my 7:00 am departure time, walked straight off the ship, and the customs hall had like 6 US CBP agents standing there twiddling their thumbs, no line at all for the passport check. I was outside at the taxi stand by 7:05.

Edited January 18, 2013 by paule123

[LadyVolFan]

We didn't purchase FTTF and boarded in Zone 1 on the Liberty earlier this month. Our rooms were ready by noon. It would not have been worth it for us.

[Havingfun2010]

Yes, but how more does it cost to sail on that ship than it costs to sail on Carnival? I don't think it's $49.95.

 

It all comes down to individual choice. Some feel it's worth a lot more for a week to cruise on another line just like some Carnival cruisers wouldn't purchase FTTF as they would rather put the money towards activities, drinks, casino....etc.

 

I have booked FTTF because of the benefits included, however, I can only make a decision on whether it is worth it for me once I have tried it.

 

My point was simple. You are paying for something and getting nothing sometimes.

 

The other thing many don't realize. When you look at Carnival and other cruise lines, Carnival starts low, but by the time you finish booking, and paying all the small amounts for different things, the price is about the same in many cases.

 

The program is called faster to the fun. The real question is, do you really need to pay to get "faster to the fun" or is it just a perceivd product that you will and others won't. That is the real question, and so far, with my experience with Carnival, and other cruise lines, it really doesn't do anything.

[navybaby1113]

We just booked it for our Liberty cruise and I'm looking forward to it.

[MrsJoshuaRanoni]

I purchased it for my Ecstasy cruise mainly so our room would be ready and luggage would be delivered early. This was great, but the main advantage was the VIP line at Guest Services.

 

My last night I walked into my room to find 2 cases of liquor waiting for me. Well I didnt order these and found my room steward and asked where they came from. He advised me to go check my sign and sail card and there I found a $100 charge for this liquor. I went to Guest Services to get it straightened out and there was about 35 people waiting in line (with only 2 employees working the counter). Lucikly I could walk right up to the counter using the VIP lane and only waited maybe 2 minutes. Def worth the money!!!

[grumpyjr88]

Only one person per cabin buys this and it covers everyone.

 

Thanks. :)