Faster to the Fun program announced today

[AdrenalineRush]

http://www.carnival.com/Funville/blogs/faqs/archive/2012/10/09/what-is-the-quot-faster-to-the-fun-quot-program-fttf.aspx

 

 

Faster to the Fun

 

Now guests can maximize their vacation fun with Carnival’s Faster to the Fun (FTTF) package. This new program will be piloted on four ships starting this August and available for purchase via Carnival.com Shore Excursions.

 

Ships

 

Carnival Imagination – starting with the 8/20/12 cruise

 

Carnival Liberty – starting with the 8/25/12 cruise

 

Carnival Destiny – starting with the 10/20/2012 cruise

 

Carnival Valor – Starting with the 10/21/2012 cruise

 

Want to squeeze every minute of fun out of your vacation? You can with our Faster to the Fun package. With this package, you get an express lane to the FUN (and yes, FASTER!).

 

Here’s what it includes:

 

Priority Security, Check-in and Express Boarding

Bypass lines and have exclusive security screening lanes. If you arrive after general boarding has begun, you may bypass the general boarding line and board via the Faster to the Fun lane. The quicker you are on the ship, the quicker you get to hold a frosty drink.

 

First Access to Stateroom

Your stateroom will be ready for you as soon as you board so you can relax or freshen up for all the fun you are about to have.

 

Express Luggage

Your luggage will be expedited to your stateroom so you can unpack and don your cruise attire first!

 

Guest Services

Quickly have any of your questions answered or requests addressed as you will have a dedicated phone and line at Guest Services.

 

Dining Reservations

 

Priority Main Dining Room and Specialty Restaurant reservations

 

Tender Priority

You will have priority tender from ship to shore (multiple departure times may be possible) so you can explore ashore as quickly as you want to.

 

Debarkation Choices

We are always sad to see you go. But when your cruise is over, you may choose an early or late disembarkation time upon arrival to your homeport.

 

 

 

Things to Remember

 

The FTTF price is not per person. The $49.95 price covers all occupants of the cabin so only 1 guest needs to purchase but all occupants receive the benefits.

 

After purchasing FTTF package, please re-print their boarding documents so Faster to Fun reflects on their documents. Have FUN!

 

FTTF can only be purchased pre-cruise on Carnival.com; no al a carte services can be purchased onboard.

 

 

A Few Facts on Faster to the Fun!

 

 

 

Platinum and Diamond VIFP Club members and Suite guests will be the only guests to have access to the VIP lounge at embarkation, just as they are today. FTTF guests will not have this benefit, so embarkation will not be impacted in the VIP lounge.

Similar to airlines boarding first class and then elite frequent flyers, etc., we will START with Diamond, Platinum VIFP Club members when embarkation begins. Then we will board FTTF guests.

The number of people who may purchase FTTF will be capacity controlled based upon the number of Platinum and Diamond VIFP Club members booked for the sailing. If a sailing has a significant number of Platinum and Diamond VIFP Club members, then we won’t plan to sell many FTTF packages. Conversely, if there are very few Platinum and Diamond VIFP Club members on a particular sailing, then we will be able to sell a few more FTTF packages.

[ccruisequeen]

Now I completely understand and do wish the Capt. had extended something:eek:.

The FAQ's does state that it this way:

 

“A Special Invitation from the Captain.” Benefit limited to Diamond Member and one guest once per Cruise, subject to Captain’s availability and discretion. No substitution if Benefit is unavailable.

 

So maybe the Capt. was unavailable? Sure hope not! Anyway you are correct in that it seems they are hardheaded sometimes.

 

Reservations for reserved dining means you're pushed ahead of people on the wait list for early/ late/ YTD

[jnky]

I am about to buy the FTTF for two cabins on our Destiny cruise. The biggest appeal to me is priorty tender because we will be stopping in Grand Cayman. Second biggest appeal is early access to cabins.

 

Can someone explain this piece of the benefits to me? No Specialty Restaurant on our ship. Thanks!

 

Dining Reservations

Priority Main Dining Room and Specialty Restaurant reservations.

 

 

The benefit is that you dont ever wait in a line at the main dining room for YTD. There is a separate line, you walk up, show your Sign and Sail card that has the FTTF insignia, and you are immediately escorted up to the Maitre D' and seated asap. Very nice on formal nights when the line can be many persons long. :) Also, you will get your choice of early/late seating as well without being waitlisted, if you chose to go that route. We just did it on the Imagination in Sept and loved it....good luck!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

After you do your first Diamond cruise all thats left is Platinum Perks, we will find out later they made a mistake and your only Diamond for that cruise. Then its back to Platinum. Maybe we can buy some new perks, everybody else can. .

 

:D LOL :D

 

Tom

[Pellaz]

I bought F2F for our cruise that just ended on the Liberty and can clear up a few questions.

 

There were 30 F2F slots sold for our sailing; two groups of 15. I confirmed this with the nice lady at the check-in desk, who has everyone's Sail&Sign cards already prepared in envelopes, making it much quicker to dispense them. She handed us our Priority Boarding placard and we were off.

 

I thought 30 for our sailing was just about right, and I only had to wait in the VIFP/F2F line at Guest Services twice. Otherwise I was served upon walking up as soon as a GS representative became available. (This proved to be crucial later.)

 

We missed the first shuttle to the Port of Miami from our hotel but made the second one, so we got to the pier not long after boarding had started but, alas, couldn't get there before it started. Still, once we got through the TSA checkpoint the next Carnival employee was about to direct us to the appropriate long line, saw the F2F emblazoned on our Boarding Pass, and then immediately escorted us to the empty VIP check-in line. She also crossed our names off an arrival list and radioed ahead, probably to verify that our stateroom be cleaned and readied if it wasn't already.

At that point they were boarding Zones 2 and 3.

 

Total time from TSA checkpoint to walking along the gangway and onto the ship: 7 minutes. It would have been even quicker, but we put cash down for my sister's S&S account and that took up some time. ;)

 

It was nice to find our luggage already outside our stateroom door when we got there after getting some business done at Shore Excursions, which had no line when we got there. (They had lost my reserved cabana number for Half Moon Cay, though. :mad:)

 

We were given information for priority debarkation and Zone 1 debarking luggage tags, as well as the private number to call Guest Services while onboard ship. (In practice they tended to answer the line slower, since it's a special phone behind the GS desk with an amber light attached to it.)

 

We didn't get to make use of the priority tendering because we missed our port call at Half Moon Cay due to weather :eek:, but if we had, we would have met in a pre-selected lounge for direct escort to Deck 0 and the tender gangway.

 

Due to problems with our stateroom's temperature and humidity I was at Guest Services at least 4 times on that first day, and being able to bypass the long line at the Guest Services desk each time probably saved me at least an hour of waiting. (They eventually had to move us...to a balcony from an oceanview :eek: ...but that wasn't due to F2F status as far as I know.)

 

All in all I have to say it was $50 well-spent. I'd do it again if it's offered.

[alymb03]

The benefit is that you dont ever wait in a line at the main dining room for YTD. There is a separate line, you walk up, show your Sign and Sail card that has the FTTF insignia, and you are immediately escorted up to the Maitre D' and seated asap. Very nice on formal nights when the line can be many persons long. :) Also, you will get your choice of early/late seating as well without being waitlisted, if you chose to go that route. We just did it on the Imagination in Sept and loved it....good luck!

 

Ohhhh, ok! We have our desired reserved dining room time so that won't be much of a benefit for us. Thanks for the help!

[okwriter]

Un, yeah your crazy:D... at the start of your 10th (for people grandfathered in ONLY) you are considered platinum. Members under the new rules should receive their new benefits upon the beginning of the cruise that will upgrade them... I think.

 

But it is only Platinum on the 10th cruise for those who are grandfathered in.

The person I responded to is going on her (?) 10th cruise in February and wondered if Carnival would know it is her 10th.

But that may or may not mean Platinum, right?

 

Honest, I don't try to keep up with the rules because I figure I'm a long way off.

I just keep cruising and figure they'll let me know stuff when I need to know. :D

[alymb03]

Quick question!

 

Since there are sometimes promo codes for shore excursions and the FTTF program is listed under the shore excursions, is it possible to get the FTTF for your cabin for less than $50???

[bobsfamily]

But it is only Platinum on the 10th cruise for those who are grandfathered in.

The person I responded to is going on her (?) 10th cruise in February and wondered if Carnival would know it is her 10th.

But that may or may not mean Platinum, right?

 

Honest, I don't try to keep up with the rules because I figure I'm a long way off.

I just keep cruising and figure they'll let me know stuff when I need to know. :D

She would be grandfathered in... It's 12 months after the start date of the new program if you need one cruise and 18 months if you need 2 or more.

[big_duck]

OK question lol !

 

IF they are allowing people to pay for platinum... but only on 2 or 3 ships... are you receiving the physical platinum card so you get the perks on the next cruise on any of the ships ?????

 

You aren't paying for Platinum you are paying for second best to platinum. No special card, no access to the VIP lounge, you board after VIP. No gifts or free laundry.

 

It is actually a misnomer. It isn't First to the Fun, it is actually third to the fun (after weddings and VIP).

[markadele]

Bring it to the Breeze before Jan. Sounds like a great deal

[panaba453]

I will drink to that.Well said

 

Let me see...do I want to get into my cabin before 1:30 or do I want five drinks? That's a no brainer for us. And I can live without my luggage until they deliver it which is usually before dinner.

 

Now the poor cabin stewards can't do their cabins in a row. They now have to jump around doing all the ones that paid to get in theirs early.

 

It's getting rediculous that everybody is charging extra for things any more. Airlines say you can take luggage with you but you have to pay extra. If you want a window or aisle seat, you pay extra. Now if you want to board earlier, get in your cabin earlier, get your luggage earlier, you pay extra. When will it stop and what's next?

 

Maybe I'm coming on a little strong but it just seems to me like they're just trying to calm the people down that were hurt under the new VIFP program. Problem is, they are charging you for it.

[okwriter]

She would be grandfathered in... It's 12 months after the start date of the new program if you need one cruise and 18 months if you need 2 or more.

 

Thank you for explaining that!

I thought you had to hurry and take them before the end of this year.

I must have imagined that part!

(My "imaginer" works pretty good, but my "rememberer" is failing!) :D

[girlscruise2011]

Quick question!

 

Since there are sometimes promo codes for shore excursions and the FTTF program is listed under the shore excursions, is it possible to get the FTTF for your cabin for less than $50???

 

It worked for me. I used the 10% code and saved $5 on 3 rooms. :D

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Refresh my memory... purchasing one of these covers the individual, or the entire cabin (they would be entitled to the perks as well)?

 

Tom

[Jackie81]

Does anyone know if this is offered on the Splendor yet?

[Leo's Rule]

Refresh my memory... purchasing one of these covers the individual, or the entire cabin (they would be entitled to the perks as well)?

 

Tom

 

it covers the entire cabin...only one $50 payment per cabin.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

it covers the entire cabin...only one $50 payment per cabin.

 

So 30 sold = ~100 beneficiaries. Making money for Carnival Corp --- and that's their goal.

 

Tom

[paulypride]

what ships is the offered on?

 

I am leaving on the Miracle in a few days and I would certainly buy this.

[Bulldog3777]

Not on the Miracle yet.

[wmowan8485]

Just purchased fttf for 4 cabins this August... As I'm one who does not like standing for long periods of time, this is great for getting to the buffet and on board the ship fairly quickly.... :D

[ChefSusan]

The benefit is that you dont ever wait in a line at the main dining room for YTD. There is a separate line, you walk up, show your Sign and Sail card that has the FTTF insignia, and you are immediately escorted up to the Maitre D' and seated asap. Very nice on formal nights when the line can be many persons long. :) Also, you will get your choice of early/late seating as well without being waitlisted, if you chose to go that route. We just did it on the Imagination in Sept and loved it....good luck!

Hate to burst your bubbles, but there is NO separate line for FTTF for YTD Dining. You are stuck in the same line as everyone else who has selected YTD as their dining choice.

 

The "Priority Dining" means that your dining room choice is confirmed (if you are waitlisted), or your table is selected, after Diamond and Platinum passengers are taken care of.

[wmowan8485]

what ships is the offered on?

 

I am leaving on the Miracle in a few days and I would certainly buy this.

 

Just did the miracle for Christmas and New Years! You are going to have an amazing time. Cory is an excellent CD and Drew Carey Look alike. Look for Peetah, the comedy club manager, he is a hoot! Simply love the miracle.

 

I called carnival and was told that fttf would not be available on the Victory until 2/14. Then I started looking at excursions on Feb.1st and it popped up, so I booked.

:)

[wmowan8485]

Hate to burst your bubbles, but there is NO separate line for FTTF for YTD Dining. You are stuck in the same line as everyone else who has selected YTD as their dining choice.

 

The "Priority Dining" means that your dining room choice is confirmed (if you are waitlisted), or your table is selected, after Diamond and Platinum passengers are taken care of.

 

No problems, as we are traveling with a good sized crew we have a set dining time, otherwise mass chaos! I had YTD for Christmas and never had to wait, but then again, it was just my daughter and I. Primarily looking forward to the priority boarding and having our cabins ready.. That alone is worth the cost! :D

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

No problems, as we are traveling with a good sized crew we have a set dining time, otherwise mass chaos! I had YTD for Christmas and never had to wait, but then again, it was just my daughter and I. Primarily looking forward to the priority boarding and having our cabins ready.. That alone is worth the cost! :D

 

I was on the Inspiration during week of Christmas and all the doors into the cabin area's were not only closed but had a guard at each entrance and not allowing anyone to enter cabin area's. We mentioned we were platinum and could enter our cabins early and he said after 1:30. I went to guest services & complained since part of the platinum program is we should be able to access cabins. Someone from guest services had a worker escort us to our cabins but we had to complain about it.