Half Moon Cay - Faster to the Fun

[sjmbruce]

My husband and I are going on our first Carnival cruise next year to celebrate his birthday. One of our stops is Half Moon Cay.  I’m considering doing FTTF, depending on the following questions.

Does Half Moon require a tender?

If so, does FTTF allow you to skip the line/priority tender to the island?

I was considering a cabana on the island, but if we can get on a tender early and snag a good seat, FTTF would be more economical. (Although a dedicated cabana would allow us to sleep in a little. Decisions, decisions).

Thanks!

 

[Marauder40]

Yes HMC requires a tender.  Never had FTTF, but I don't think it allows you to skip the line, but it give allows you to get a higher boarding number, but no differences back from the island.

Edited September 11, 2019 by Marauder40

[pirate4me2]

Yes, it is a tender port. FTTF will get priority embarkation onto a tender TO the island, but not BACK FROM the island.

[MRSG29]

21 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

Yes, it is a tender port. FTTF will get priority embarkation onto a tender TO the island, but not BACK FROM the island.

This. Went to HMC last year and had FTTF and this is exactly how it went.

[Butterbean1000]

Actually,  we were brought to the front of the line with FTTF.  Note that we did not go at a high traffic time.

[swissh40]

1 hour ago, sjmbruce said:

My husband and I are going on our first Carnival cruise next year to celebrate his birthday. One of our stops is Half Moon Cay.  I’m considering doing FTTF, depending on the following questions.

Does Half Moon require a tender?

If so, does FTTF allow you to skip the line/priority tender to the island?

I was considering a cabana on the island, but if we can get on a tender early and snag a good seat, FTTF would be more economical. (Although a dedicated cabana would allow us to sleep in a little. Decisions, decisions).

Thanks!

 

 

We had fttf on sunshine in August and it went to hmc. We had a letter in our room the night before saying if we wanted priority tender to go to a certain location and tell them you are faster to the fun. We went there and they held us there until the next tender docked on the ship. They then took us down on the elevator (the elevators to that level were closed to passengers and only those like us who were escorted by a crew member with a key could use the elevators to get to the reception tender). They then brought us around the corner and we were at the front and the first to board the tender. You bypass the entire line (cut the line) but they do it in a way that you don’t have to fight to the front and the other passengers don’t really see you cutting 

[mrpayroll]

We were at HMC two weeks ago. The line to return to the ship was very long and it was HOT. Along comes about twenty people bypassing the line. One says " we have faster to the fun, you should have paid for it. " Others started saying that did not mean they had return priveliges.  They said it did and kept walking to the front of the line. Almost started a fight.

 

 

[n6uqqq]

You better book the cabana soon. They sell like hot cakes! And those sell well I hear 🤣

[MzOhioLady]

I'll be visiting HMC Next Week from the Magic and I'm Platinum. It'll be interesting to see if we get to go to the front of the line on our return back to the ship. If we do cool and it not it's still cool.  I'm good either way.

[Sean_B]

1 hour ago, mrpayroll said:

We were at HMC two weeks ago. The line to return to the ship was very long and it was HOT. Along comes about twenty people bypassing the line. One says " we have faster to the fun, you should have paid for it. " Others started saying that did not mean they had return priveliges.  They said it did and kept walking to the front of the line. Almost started a fight.

 

 

 

But did they get priority return privileges or were they told to go to the back of the line? We need to know how the story ends! LOL.

[MzOhioLady]

43 minutes ago, Sean_B said:

 

But did they get priority return privileges or were they told to go to the back of the line? We need to know how the story ends! LOL.

LOL Right! Me Too!  I'm just like the Commercial, "Inquiring Minds Wanna Know" LOL

[RHilla619]

Right from the details on the carnival website...

 

Water Shuttle Priority
You will have priority water shuttle service from ship to shore (multiple departure times may be possible) so you can explore ashore as quickly as you want to. When ready to go ashore, if not on a Carnival shore excursion, present yourself at the Guest Services Desk.
Note: This is also a benefit for VIFP Diamond and Platinum guests and guests traveling in deluxe suite accommodations.

 

So yes when you tender at Half Moon Cay you will get priority boarding for the tenders. Which is almost worth the purchase price by itself, since tendering there can be a mess. On my upcoming cruise to H.M.C. we bought FTTF, mostly for the tender priority. Sleep in a bit, and get on when you want.

[pusywillow]

Sign up for a cabana as soon as you board the ship with FTTF.  The earlier you are at the excursion desk the better choice of cabanas.

[GradUT]

Your money, your choice.  But we had an excellent day on HMC without paying for FTTF or a cabana.  We chose to go later in the morning so that there was no line to board the tender.  We then headed down the beach (to the right as you face the water) and found loungers that we could pull under the trees.  There were hardly any people at this end of the beach, so it was nice and quiet.  Then we waited to take the last tender of the day.  We had about a 20 minute wait, but there were few people going back, so it was not chaotic at all.  

[Purvis1231]

you purchase a Cabana, you will be allowed on the first tender. 

[mrpayroll]

6 hours ago, MzOhioLady said:

I'll be visiting HMC Next Week from the Magic and I'm Platinum. It'll be interesting to see if we get to go to the front of the line on our return back to the ship. If we do cool and it not it's still cool.  I'm good either way.

You do not get to go to front of line . Platinum entitled you to getting to the island.

[mrpayroll]

5 hours ago, Sean_B said:

 

But did they get priority return privileges or were they told to go to the back of the line? We need to know how the story ends! LOL.

Didn't see them walk by us towards the back of line. I assume they just force their way in the line up front.

[sammee]

I remember at one time the paperwork specified priority off the ship and onto tender, but not coming back. It actually came out and said it, but I don't remember the wording.

[mikenbon]

8 hours ago, MzOhioLady said:

I'll be visiting HMC Next Week from the Magic and I'm Platinum. It'll be interesting to see if we get to go to the front of the line on our return back to the ship. If we do cool and it not it's still cool.  I'm good either way.

The shuttle boats run continually so there is no way to get to the front of the line on the way back. People just head to the dock whenever they want to go back to the ship. With FTTF, we have always been escorted by a crew member and were on the first shuttle boat going to the island. 

[MzOhioLady]

13 hours ago, mrpayroll said:

You do not get to go to front of line . Platinum entitled you to getting to the island.

Okay, that's fine!