Someone explain to me the good and the bad

[shlbil]

We purchased it for our first cruise. Got to the terminal and had to wait almost an hour to board the ship, even with FTTF. Strike one. Went straight to our room to check it out, left our carry on bags and then went exploring. Our luggage did not arrive to our room any sooner than anyone else's we went back at 5:00 to change clothes and freshen up and it still wasn't there, but other rooms luggage lined the hallway. Strike two. There isn't really a strike three, we chose not to disembark at the early time appointed we instead had breakfast and got in line to leave the ship around 8am. Getting off the ship was much quicker than getting on, we chose to carry our luggage off instead of having it outside the room the night before. Not sure we'll pay the $$ to get it again as we didn't really see any benefits to it.

[firemanbobswife]

We purchased it for our first cruise. Got to the terminal and had to wait almost an hour to board the ship, even with FTTF. Strike one. Went straight to our room to check it out, left our carry on bags and then went exploring. Our luggage did not arrive to our room any sooner than anyone else's we went back at 5:00 to change clothes and freshen up and it still wasn't there, but other rooms luggage lined the hallway. Strike two. There isn't really a strike three, we chose not to disembark at the early time appointed we instead had breakfast and got in line to leave the ship around 8am. Getting off the ship was much quicker than getting on, we chose to carry our luggage off instead of having it outside the room the night before. Not sure we'll pay the $$ to get it again as we didn't really see any benefits to it.

 

FTTF doesn’t guarantee you will board faster, it guarantees that you can ignore your check in time and that you will board the ship after Wedding Parties, Diamonds, Platinums, and Suites and before the general boarding call should you be in the terminal. The ship needs to be cleared by Customs before they can let anyone on. So if you get there at 10:00AM and boarding isn’t scheduled to start until 11:30AM, then there’s nothing that will get you on sooner until they are given the all clear to let passengers on. So I wouldn’t count that as a strike.

 

Did you have them put the orange sticker on your luggage when they took it? Lots of people don’t know about that but in many ports that’s how they designate who gets their bags first. It’s much easier to see bright orange vs the regular colored tags with the FTTF or Priority logo. Some people don’t even print them in color so black and white is even harder to see.

[shlbil]

FTTF doesn’t guarantee you will board faster, it guarantees that you can ignore your check in time and that you will board the ship after Wedding Parties, Diamonds, Platinums, and Suites and before the general boarding call should you be in the terminal. The ship needs to be cleared by Customs before they can let anyone on. So if you get there at 10:00AM and boarding isn’t scheduled to start until 11:30AM, then there’s nothing that will get you on sooner until they are given the all clear to let passengers on. So I wouldn’t count that as a strike.

 

Did you have them put the orange sticker on your luggage when they took it? Lots of people don’t know about that but in many ports that’s how they designate who gets their bags first. It’s much easier to see bright orange vs the regular colored tags with the FTTF or Priority logo. Some people don’t even print them in color so black and white is even harder to see.

 

Yes we had the orange sticker on our luggage and the tags were printed in color, they probably got lost in the shuffle, not a huge deal, just didn't get our luggage to our room as described as a perk for FTTF. As for waiting to board, we got to terminal around 11:00 and the other priority levels had already boarded, they forgot about FTTF or something because they started general boarding and then did FTTF, so yes that is a strike in my book. We had a great time on our cruise, just should have saved our money for something else and not FTTF, just my opinion though, I know lots of people who won't sail without it.

[firemanbobswife]

Yes we had the orange sticker on our luggage and the tags were printed in color, they probably got lost in the shuffle, not a huge deal, just didn't get our luggage to our room as described as a perk for FTTF. As for waiting to board, we got to terminal around 11:00 and the other priority levels had already boarded, they forgot about FTTF or something because they started general boarding and then did FTTF, so yes that is a strike in my book. We had a great time on our cruise, just should have saved our money for something else and not FTTF, just my opinion though, I know lots of people who won't sail without it.

 

Well that stinks. I haven’t had that happen before. Actually my family that had FTTF got on before I did and I’m Platinum.

 

Their last bag got there after Muster and they called down to GS who refunded their fee. They didn’t ask for nor expect that but it was a very nice thing for them to do.

[mz-s]

I can only speak for Charleston, that's the only port I've gone out of.

 

We bought FTTF once and it made absolutely no difference in how long it took us to get onboard.

 

 

There are still lines in the terminal, they're just a little shorter - but not that much shorter, since they lump suite guests, Plat/Dia, and FTTF in one line - and everyone else in about 5 equally long lines. In fact, they may even put handicapped guests in the priority line as well - I can't recall.

 

 

My luggage has always been there before supper, usually it's there after Muster.

 

 

If I am on the ship before 1:30, it's no big deal to wait for our room (we check our big luggage and only carry on a backpack each).

 

 

Rarely need to visit guest services.

 

 

I've never noticed them actually give priority at tendering. Still, the tender boats come often enough that it's not a big deal to wait if you have to.

 

 

Getting off the ship is fast anyway if you do self-assist, which we always do.

 

 

I spend the cost of FTTF on something fun - an excursion, drinks, casino chips, etc.

 

 

To each their own.

 

I may sing a different tune if I ever go on a ship that holds more than 3,000 people - but even the Sunshine last year wasn't a much different story than all my past Fantasy-class cruises. Maybe a bit longer of a wait, but not bad!

[bobandsherry]

FTTF doesn’t guarantee you will board faster, it guarantees that you can ignore your check in time and that you will board the ship after Wedding Parties, Diamonds, Platinums, and Suites and before the general boarding call should you be in the terminal.

If you board before the general public, isn't that then a guarantee of being faster?

 

 

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[firemanbobswife]

If you board before the general public, isn't that then a guarantee of being faster?

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Yes but it has nothing to do with the time itself as in if you arrive early before they start allowing anyone on. That’s what I meant. People frequently confuse check in time with boarding time. They are not the same.

[maryred]

Yes we had the orange sticker on our luggage and the tags were printed in color, they probably got lost in the shuffle, not a huge deal, just didn't get our luggage to our room as described as a perk for FTTF. As for waiting to board, we got to terminal around 11:00 and the other priority levels had already boarded, they forgot about FTTF or something because they started general boarding and then did FTTF, so yes that is a strike in my book. We had a great time on our cruise, just should have saved our money for something else and not FTTF, just my opinion though, I know lots of people who won't sail without it.

The port personnel do not hold up the general boarding once the Captain's priority lounge and the FttF area are cleared of early arrivals.

Once boarding has started Loyalty, suite, and FttF will all process through the priority lines for security and check-in, but may have a short wait to be added to the next group boarding even if it's a zone number group.

If you did not have that experience then it's on the port personnel not the cruise line. The in terminal staff are employees of the port or transit authority that operates the facility.

 

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[asalligo]

Little secret, if you are flying into Miami, check in at their big booth at the airport (it is down stairs, follow the signs for ground transportation) This will get you into the terminal building much faster and you get in zone 1 for getting on the ship (You are right behind FFTF and all the special groups)

 

alana

 

Would a person staying next to the airport who flew in the day before be able to check in here on cruise morning?

[cnee]

Since we are not yet Platinum, and having done it both ways (FTTF and not), IMO - it depends on your situation. We don't normally make special reservations, so that's not a factor for us. I normally look at when we'll be arriving to the port, how many times we have to tender, and any special situations. I paid for it for our upcoming cruise on 12/30 because we will be travelling with my FIL and he generally hates to get off the ship. Since we are also taking our 12 yo and 9yo, he has made a statement that this cruise is for the kids (since he is 86 and has had a stroke it's hard for him sometimes). So I have tried to make it as easy for us as possible.

 

On our last cruise, I did not pay for it. We didn't have any tenders, it was just my DH and myself, and we were completely in vacation mode. Do I think it CAN be worth it? Yes. Is it always? Not really.

 

I hope this helps.