Is FTTF worth the extra money?

[Joebucks]

I will never ever buy it. I'm usually in a hotel the night before and I will be enjoying the city/beach/pool/room until about 1. By then, my room is ready and embarkation is a breeze. Honestly, 2 hours for $100? 2 hours of chaos on the ship that is too. Early access to move from one room to the next? Sure there are other "perks," but it is all mostly a ripoff. I put that money towards things that matter more to me, like a nicer hotel room.

[VentureMan_2000]

Perhaps I'm lucky... I don't have to contemplate the worthiness of FTTF.  My next three cruises are out of San Francisco, and Carnival does not offer FTTF for cruises leaving out of San Francisco.

[Joe817]

For those of us who are senior citizens, FTTF is definitely worth it. For those under.....say 50 years old, maybe not so much. It's worth it to my wife and I to not have to carry our carry ons, once we get on ship, to go all over the place to get something to eat, go to Guest Services to add our G.C.'s to our S&S account, to explore, etc, etc, etc. For us, it's a benefit that we gladly partake in. 

 

I can see the younger crowd not wanting to 'waste' their money, to be able to buy more drinks, and that's fine! What ever trips your trigger. To us old folks, finding it a chore to lug around extra stuff for 2 or 3 hours,  which takes a toll on the legs, hips and my back.....yes, it's definitely worth it. 

[Organized Chaos]

We have FTTF for one of our two cabins in a couple months. Our son and his friend are in the second one, the one without it. It was sold out when we booked and I managed to snag one early one morning several months ago, but haven't been able to catch one more. We check religiously, but no luck. I know Carnival lets non-priority minors board with priority parents, but what is the likelihood that they'd let our 18 year old son and his friend board with us? We're fully prepared to wait and board with them because we wouldn't go without them, but if Carnival allows an 18 year old child to board with priority parents, that would be great. Obviously, we would love to take advantage of early boarding. What are the chances, has anyone experienced this?

[wesorbeth]

I do not fly, we purchase it to get OFF the ship on debarkation day.  We live in Cincinnati, OH and when you are driving...

 

[Organized Chaos]

Just now, wesorbeth said:

I do not fly, we purchase it to get OFF the ship on debarkation day.  We live in Cincinnati, OH and when you are driving...

 

Agreed, we drive too. On debarkation day, I'm ready to get off the ship and get on the road. Long ways to go.

[SERK]

We love FTTF but the next 2 cruise bookings we have its already sold out.  Even the one we booked almost a year out.  They used to not sell out as fast a few years ago.  I guess the good word is out on it.  Oh well, a couple more cruises after this year and will be Platinum anyway. 

[matymil]

Yes

 

[HillBilly Bob]

13 hours ago, Nickles76 said:

I saw the FTTF for $110 per cabin. Is it worth the extra money?

It was barely worth it when it was $49.00 per cabin.  

[thesmiths]

Worth it for us, My wife suffers from Chronic Migraines so no telling when or where it will happen.

 

We fly in the day before.

I time the trip from the hotel to the port so we arrive right when it opens and if all is good with the previous cruise we are up and in the cabin by 11ish and if she is suffering she can lay down.

Don't need her sitting in a hotel lobby waiting or suffering in a crowded line at the cruise terminal then trying to find a quiet dark area on the ship waiting for our cabin to be ready would not be a good start to our vaca. She can get a few hours rest prior to Muster and I go eat & drink, To me well worth the money!

This is why I get it and she has no idea what FTTF is and that I do this for her!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Qchell]

For my DH and I, it's not worth it.  Most cruises we have been on the lines to board are minimal and I truly think we would have only gotten on board maybe 15 min earlier.  Many times our room is already ready and even if it is not we only have 1 small carry-on, which fits easily under a deck chair, until our room is ready, which is generally about the time we are finished eating lunch.  We rarely go to ports that tender, and when we do, we either book an excursion or take our time leaving the ship as we know the lines are going to be long, might as well enjoy the time relaxing on deck while waiting for the lines to go down.  

Now if you have a family, especially with young children, and possibly a lot of carry-on stuff, and are going to tender ports, it may be worth it for you.  I can definitely see the advantages in that situation.  For our cruising style, we wouldn't get much out of it.  

[Nickles76]

17 hours ago, Joebucks said:

I will never ever buy it. I'm usually in a hotel the night before and I will be enjoying the city/beach/pool/room until about 1. By then, my room is ready and embarkation is a breeze. Honestly, 2 hours for $100? 2 hours of chaos on the ship that is too. Early access to move from one room to the next? Sure there are other "perks," but it is all mostly a ripoff. I put that money towards things that matter more to me, like a nicer hotel room.

 

If you don't mind me asking, which hotel do you stay at? I think that I may have to do that rather than fly in the day of. I'm familiar with Port Everglades, but not so much POM.

[jdemps]

3 hours ago, thesmiths said:

Worth it for us, My wife suffers from Chronic Migraines so no telling when or where it will happen.

 

We fly in the day before.

I time the trip from the hotel to the port so we arrive right when it opens and if all is good with the previous cruise we are up and in the cabin by 11ish and if she is suffering she can lay down.

Don't need her sitting in a hotel lobby waiting or suffering in a crowded line at the cruise terminal then trying to find a quiet dark area on the ship waiting for our cabin to be ready would not be a good start to our vaca. She can get a few hours rest prior to Muster and I go eat & drink, To me well worth the money!

This is why I get it and she has no idea what FTTF is and that I do this for her!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

completely not related to cruising but i also have migraines and have been on a new monthly injectable  drug called AJOVY for 2 months and haven't even had 1!  Just thought I would throw that out there in case she wants to investigate it with her neurosurgeon.  🙂

[thesmiths]

7 minutes ago, jdemps said:

completely not related to cruising but i also have migraines and have been on a new monthly injectable  drug called AJOVY for 2 months and haven't even had 1!  Just thought I would throw that out there in case she wants to investigate it with her neurosurgeon.  🙂

Thank You,

She injects that once a month and Botox Injections every 84 days. Tried the Amovig and that didn't work.

 

Her case is unique as it stems from post brain surgery migraines from 2012.

 

Thank you though!

 

[Joebucks]

1 hour ago, Nickles76 said:

 

If you don't mind me asking, which hotel do you stay at? I think that I may have to do that rather than fly in the day of. I'm familiar with Port Everglades, but not so much POM.

 

It depends on the port. I've enjoy a lot of the ones I've stayed at recently like the Roosevelt in New Orleans, Intercontinental in Miami, Intercontinental in San Juan. My upcoming Lauderdale stay will be at the Hilton Resort. It is a nice beachfront resort and I will likely be on the beach that morning until about noon.

[thesmiths]

1 hour ago, Nickles76 said:

 

If you don't mind me asking, which hotel do you stay at? I think that I may have to do that rather than fly in the day of. I'm familiar with Port Everglades, but not so much POM.

 

We fly into FLL, Uber to the Holiday Inn Port Of Miami.

We like it as it is close to the port and the Bayside Marketplace is right across the street to hang out the night before.

 

 

[katstoy]

Have done two recent cruises, one with FTTF and one without.  The one without was a three day trip and didn't miss it.  Yes, had to schlep my carry on until 1:30, but sat on the lido deck with beer, tequila and my bags until 1:30 - no problems.  Never used the guest services deck.  On debarkation day carried off our luggage and waited about 30 minute in the long line to get off the ship.  

 

Got it for a 7 day trip.  We got on the ship later than we planned (delays at home) and got into our rooms at about 1:00, so the part of early room access was not a big deal - not worth it.  Did use it at guest services the firs day.  Regular line was about 30 deep.  One person at VIP line - worth it.  Next time I went to guest services (day three port day) there was no line at either station.  Didn't get off on the ship at the tender port - not worth it.  Debarkation was a breeze, all of about 5 minutes to get off the ship.  Did not stop walking until we hit immigration!  FTTF guests were given a low number luggage tag (ours was zone 2) and told to meet in the dining room by 9:00ish.  We got out of our rooms at 8:30, hit the dining room and were escorted off the ship by a staff member.  We were brought right to the area where they scan your cards.  There was a line at that point that looked like it was long, but we were able to cut out all that line waiting -worth it.

 

Got it again for my upcoming cruise.  I am hoping to get to the ship much earlier than 1:00 this time and will be glad that I don't have to fight with 4500 other passengers to get off the ship!  Also have not made any specialty dining reservations yet so FTTF may come in handy for those.