FTTF not selling out.

[JKAMAM]

It's still sold out on my December Dream cruise. [emoji26]

 

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[Taytravels]

They usually open them up later. When I booked that Triumph cruise - I only booked it 8 weeks prior & FTTF was available. However for our current Oct cruise on another ship it says sold out but I usually snag it a few weeks before. Ive heard that sold out isn't truly sold out.

[BlerkOne]

how is that even possible? the workers ask where are you going didnt they?

 

Nope. And apparently didn't look at the luggage tags or they would have seen Carnival and not Royal Caribbean. I had walked with luggage from where I parked the car and was looking for any porter who would help me. I guess they were looking for anyone who would tip them.

 

When I finally realized my check in was in an adjacent terminal I rushed back to try to get my luggage but it was already gone and perhaps through security. It was interesting to see how many union bosses had to get involved to get luggage to move the wrong way against traffic, but it finally happened.

 

Obviously it took another tip to get my luggage out of jail, and them for someone to cart it to next door.

[Duwayne]

There were 300 slots sold for FTTF on our cruise on Triumph 2 weeks ago.

 

How do you tell how many slots are open or sold for that matter? I couldn't find anywhere that was listed. Thanks.

[NoDayButToday]

As soon as they announced that increase my husband and I decided it's no longer worth it. We like getting to go to our room as soon as we get on the ship, but not $90 worth of like. We can either go to the ship a little later, or lighten the load we bring with us when we get on the ship. We will enjoy our last FTTF cruise this October for sure though.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

It looks like Carnival might have reached the tipping point with the $90 FTTF price. It had been sold out on the Glory for our May sailing but it opened up again last week and is still open. $90 is a lot of money for what you get so I'm thinking they might have pushed it a little too far. I won't do it again at that price. The last time we did it (in Oct last year it had gone up to $70 and had to think hard about that before doing it. Ah well, such is the corporate mentality. It was good while it lasted.

 

It opened up again because the number of Ds and Ps booked is lower than usual at this time and this has caused the FTTF ratio planning program to kick out a recommendation that more FTTF tickets be released for sale. And those that have been released will sell out again. There are always people that will be willing to pay reasonable prices for some kinds if priority. Another case in point is how Southwest sells Boarding Section A seats, at an additional cost, to people who want to get on the plane first and get their preferred seats. Tell me I am wrong.

Edited April 11, 2018 by Retired_to_Cruise

[Taytravels]

Not sure the set # of slots are ever revealed. We were told the 300 # upon arriving & after security. The employees told us where to sit ( in the roped off FTTF section ) & it definitely was huge! Largest number ever. They then told us " we have 300 FTTF this time so there are lots of people in this section. It was crazy .

[Taytravels]

Exactly. That's what we heard years ago. It depends on how many platinum & diamonds are on cruise. They wait until after they know & then they open up more FTTF slots.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

Nope. And apparently didn't look at the luggage tags or they would have seen Carnival and not Royal Caribbean. I had walked with luggage from where I parked the car and was looking for any porter who would help me. I guess they were looking for anyone who would tip them.

 

When I finally realized my check in was in an adjacent terminal I rushed back to try to get my luggage but it was already gone and perhaps through security. It was interesting to see how many union bosses had to get involved to get luggage to move the wrong way against traffic, but it finally happened.

 

Obviously it took another tip to get my luggage out of jail, and them for someone to cart it to next door.

 

So it was your mistake, not either of the cruise lines fault.

[watermelonqueen99]

When we first started cruising, we paid $39.95 for FTTF. There's NO WAY we'd pay $90, especially with staggered check-in now. Thankfully, we'll be Platinum in a couple cruises and we wouldn't need it anyway. But I can certainly understand why people would stop buying it at that pricce.

[riclop]

It looks like Carnival might have reached the tipping point with the $90 FTTF price. It had been sold out on the Glory for our May sailing but it opened up again last week and is still open. $90 is a lot of money for what you get so I'm thinking they might have pushed it a little too far. I won't do it again at that price. The last time we did it (in Oct last year it had gone up to $70 and had to think hard about that before doing it. Ah well, such is the corporate mentality. It was good while it lasted.

They are a bunch of crooks. $90 keep it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BlerkOne]

So it was your mistake, not either of the cruise lines fault.

 

It wasn't a cruise line fault, but the original porter certainly shared some blame + whoever trained him. Since the luggage made it into a restricted area, someone else must have screwed up as well. It boggles the mind how long it would have take someone to notice, if I had not. No, I am not innocent.

 

If someone asks if they can help with my luggage, I didn't realize I had to verify their credentials and vet them.

[ray98]

The key is if they sell out before sailing, not right now.

[SRQbeachgirl]

I've been stalking Carnival's website for weeks, hoping slots open up for our July cruise. We don't care if it costs $90, we'd pay more than that to be able to take our bags straight to our cabin, unpack everything, and then go enjoy a nice lunch without having to drag our carry-on bags around with us.

[Ehpride]

I was iffy buying it next cruise for 50.00. There's no way I'm spending 100. I'll chill on lido with my funship special until 1:30.

[SRQbeachgirl]

I was iffy buying it next cruise for 50.00. There's no way I'm spending 100. I'll chill on lido with my funship special until 1:30.

 

On our last cruise on the Paradise, there were a lot of people who didn't get access to their cabins until just before dinner. We never heard what the holdup was, but it made us very happy that our cabin was ready when we got on the ship at 11:30am.

[Organized Chaos]

We got FTTF for the first time for our June cruise. Originally booked with another family and wanted to be able to stow our luggage right away. They're not going anymore, but we decided to keep it and see how we like it. But we got it at the old price. If we do end up liking it, we'd have to give it more thought before paying the new price.

 

For my 4 day liberty in July it's 70 and sold out right now. My check in time is 1130 I just don't need to bring any sodas. This cruise we are going with a lot of newbies and I can't leave them they may get on the wrong ship.:')

How can they get on the wrong ship if they're standing there with you in the terminal? Oh, you lead them to the wrong terminal, now I get it.

Funny thing about us "newbies," we can look down our noses at you just as easily as you do us.

[AmberTeka]

Thank you so much for making this post. I have been checking my sailing at the end of June every day since February. I went to the Carnival Site as soon as I read it, and there was ONE Left. I bought it!!!

 

We are Platinum, but our daughter, son-in-law and grandchild usually sail us. with us now that we are older. We will be able to board at least close together.

Edited April 11, 2018 by AmberTeka

[schazzy]

We got FTTF for the first time for our June cruise. Originally booked with another family and wanted to be able to stow our luggage right away. They're not going anymore, but we decided to keep it and see how we like it. But we got it at the old price. If we do end up liking it, we'd have to give it more thought before paying the new price.

 

Same here, got it for the first time for our May cruise, mostly for the sake of my MIL. I got it at the old price, will have to see if it's really worth it for when it's just the 2 of us in the future to pay the new price.

[pacruise804]

On our last cruise on the Paradise, there were a lot of people who didn't get access to their cabins until just before dinner. We never heard what the holdup was, but it made us very happy that our cabin was ready when we got on the ship at 11:30am.

 

I can't imagine this happens often (muster drill would be a nightmare), but we do like the option of being able to access our room right away.

 

We purchased for our next cruise just before the price went up. On our last cruise it contributed to a more relaxing vacation and was worth the cost - to us. At the current price we would probably just wait until later to board and take our chances (plus give up the other perks), but I'm glad it is offered to those who do want it.

 

To me FTTF is a win/win for the customer. For those who want/need it they have the option. If traveling with small children or someone with medical issues, immediate cabin access would be worth a lot. It removes a few extra people from guest services so the regular lines will go a little quicker if you don't want to purchase. Carnival is able to keep fares relatively low while offering an upgrade to those who want it. I don't see where this is any different than paying an extra charge for a larger room, specialty restaurant, Cheers, or anything else. It is about what the individual values and are willing to pay to enhance their cruise.

 

I don't want to sail in an interior room (I want to watch the sea as much as possible), never take an excursion, only drink the included beverages, and only eat at the lido and MDR. I also don't drink enough to pay for Cheers, won't 'donate' to the casino or arcade, and don't do much shopping on board or in ports. I recognize that there are others who value things differently than I do though and we should all be able to treat each other with respect.

[Havingfun2010]

Well, it's possible it's still more profitable from them at $90 if it comes close to selling out. 10 slots sold at $70 generates $700 revenue. If they were only able to sell 9 of the 10 at $90, that's still $810 and they come out ahead.

 

They always come out ahead. The product is a free product, and so any and all money collected is pure profit.

[originalgeek]

It wasn't a cruise line fault, but the original porter certainly shared some blame + whoever trained him. Since the luggage made it into a restricted area, someone else must have screwed up as well. It boggles the mind how long it would have take someone to notice, if I had not. No, I am not innocent.

 

If someone asks if they can help with my luggage, I didn't realize I had to verify their credentials and vet them.

 

Well I certainly appreciate you sharing your experience. I'm not a complete newbie but I've never sailed out of Tampa so I don't know how many terminals or other cruise ships may be in town Saturday. I will definitely be checking with the porter to make sure we are all going to the same place. Had I not read this it might never have occurred to me to ask.

[serene56]

On our last cruise on the Paradise, there were a lot of people who didn't get access to their cabins until just before dinner. We never heard what the holdup was, but it made us very happy that our cabin was ready when we got on the ship at 11:30am.

 

 

i can not imagine what that amount of people were doing milling around the ship- most with carry ons til after 5pm?

[serene56]

There were 300 slots sold for FTTF on our cruise on Triumph 2 weeks ago.

 

 

some one is pulling your leg.

 

there is no way that 300 cabins were sold for FTTF because it would defeat the purpose of standing inline

[Organized Chaos]

They always come out ahead. The product is a free product, and so any and all money collected is pure profit.

FTTF is not a product, it's a service. And services cost companies money to provide just as products cost to produce. While FTTF comes with minimal expense to Carnival and has a high profit margin, it is not free to them nor is it "pure" profit.