FTTF- don't get upset that I ask

[cherrycola]

I haven't been on a Carnival cruise yet, but I plan on purchasing it.

Reason: My husband and I will be cruising with 2 small kids (ages 3 and 1 at time of cruising).

So priority embarkation will be great, we won't need to stay in crowded area too long with two small demanding kids, as well as we will have early access to the room.

Our cruise will include two tender ports, so we will be able to take advantage of the priority tendering as well. What not to like?

[SadieN]

Actually, I think this is the "advertised benefit" for priority dining accomodations, including YTD:

 

Dining Reservations

Priority Main Dining Room and Specialty Restaurant reservations.

 

Sounds like the ATD Priority Line is something new as I have not encounteered it before. Been Platinum since 2009, about 9 cruises ago.

 

Was there an ATD Priority Line before FTTF? Never was on the ships I've been on.

[serene56]

Sounds like the ATD Priority Line is something new as I have not encounteered it before. Been Platinum since 2009, about 9 cruises ago.

 

Was there an ATD Priority Line before FTTF? Never was on the ships I've been on.

 

 

I read that priority seating on a few ships was a fluke and it has since been taken care of. there is NO priority line for people on any ship

[3dashers]

On number 4 - there is no way to bypass the line for anytime dining whether you're FTTF or Diamond.

 

Yes I just read that. Sorry for the misinfo, but am thankful someone caught my error.

[emelvee]

Do airline frequent flyers get upset that certain credit card holders (such as Chase/United Visa) get perks like priority boarding, free bags, airport VIP lounge access, etc. without accumulating miles? Just wondering...isn't that pretty similar to what Carnival is doing with FTTF (paying for access to perks previously available to frequent cruisers)?

[Clipper123]

The only thing that will bother me is if I have to stand in line at the Conceirge line behind ANY FTTF people. I paid A BUNCH of money to get to my VIP status and this isn't a perk that should be included in FTTF just because someone coughed up $50.........

 

Wow!!! I would pay $50 for FTTF but never would I cruise soley to buy VIP status. That is just silly and shows that someone always has to think of themselves as higher classed than others around them :rolleyes:

 

I have also paid A BUNCH of money for my family of 4 to cruise over the years and although I have paid out enough money to have been platinum a long time ago, I don't have it because the money I spent was for 4 people which equals more than the required number of sailings required under the old VIP program to reach plat. Maybe I should whine and complain about the single people or couples who have reached plat even though they have spent A BUNCH LESS money than I have!!!!

 

Oh and by the way, the plats/diamonds shouldn't be getting perks I have to pay for such as cabin ready upon boarding or early luggage drop off. (Of course I am just kidding, but it is exactly the mentality these complaining plat/dia have).

[Jane2357]

CCL is in business to MAKE money - when any company offers any type of perk for repeat business - it is just that - a freebie, an incentive. This can be given, changed or taken away at the company discretion. The Diamond/Platinum crowd just crack me up - it is CARNIVAL people - the Walmart of cruise lines and getting a special line at Guest Services is what makes you feel special? Laughable.

I'll never make anything over a gold card and if FTTF is available I'd buy it if I thought I needed those perks - and FTTF won't fail because it is making the cruise line money and doesn't cost them anything. FTTF isn't taking anything aways from dia/plat so why care?

[KatieCharlotte]

Please help me understand. I have only cruised once, two years ago, on the Sensation. We arrived at the port a little after 11 am and basically walked through the boarding process with a few short waits. We had everything we wanted immediately in our carry on and had our suitcases in our room by 1:30 pm anyway.

 

Will our experience on the Magic be vastly different now if we don't have fttf? We planned to arrive between 10:30 and 11 am and will be in no rush to get into our room. We don't need fttf for any other reason that I can see because we will be taking a Carnival excursion at our tender port, Belize. I don't care if there's priority anytime dining because we have early dining. We will be in no hurry to disembark and start the long drive home. The only time we went to guest services was to add a little to our tips at the end.

[bills blasters]

I think the best part for me would be getting the luggage right away. We have had to wait until after 8:00 on 2 of our cruises to get all our suitcases. I always feel like I can relax and enjoy myself once all the bags are unpacked and put away.

I see it is going to be available on the Dream in Nov. so an anxious to sign up.

Claudia

[mistycruiser]

Sorry to disagree, but we certainly did on the Imagination. We FTTF people were escorted to the right side of the line immediately upon showing our SnS cards with the FTTF designation. We never waited in line for ATD.

:rolleyes:

 

I believe someone mentioned that to JH and he re-confirmed that that's not how it's supposed to be and that the ships would be notified to correct that. As someone else already stated, it's just priority for getting your requested dining time and not to go to the front of the waiting line.

[kmc500]

You missed one...priority luggage delivery.

 

For us, having the room ready when we board and having our luggage soon afterwards is worth every penny of that $50.

 

Exactly! This is the driving force for us buying it. In nine cruises we have never received all of our luggage earlier than 3 pm, and in many cases it was as late as 5 pm. Getting your luggage at 5 PM is not even that bad, rather it is not knowing if it will EVER show up that is so disconcerting.

 

Knowing you have it is good. Knowing at noon is excellent and most definitely worth $50 to us.

 

Kevin C

[kona_wahine]

The main reason I wanted it was to drop off our carry on's. We always bring soda and it's heavy and ackward to roll around the suitcases. Plus Belize tendering.... :D And I'll get to enjoy more of our cove!

[jnky]

I believe someone mentioned that to JH and he re-confirmed that that's not how it's supposed to be and that the ships would be notified to correct that. As someone else already stated, it's just priority for getting your requested dining time and not to go to the front of the waiting line.

 

I was just stating how it was for us on our sailing...and confirmed by several others who experienced the same thing we did on subsequent sailings.

Cheers!

[darth frosty]

Stupid question do you have different luggage tags for Fttf?

 

We printed all of our documents before this program was announced.

[jtdlmc]

Stupid question do you have different luggage tags for Fttf?

 

We printed all of our documents before this program was announced.

 

Yes, the luggage tags have the FTTF logo on them.

[darth frosty]

Yes, the luggage tags have the FTTF logo on them.

 

 

 

Just printed out new luggage tags but the hotel printer was black n white... Will that matter?

[babsee101]

Thanks to all those that answered my question. :)

[Ta8633]

I went ahead and booked it. We will see if it makes a difference.

 

It's the first time they are offering on Ecstasy. We leave Nov 5.

 

Ships going out of port canaveral will all be getting FTTF.

 

Thank to everyone that answered my original question.

[Gazelle2]

Just printed out new luggage tags but the hotel printer was black n white... Will that matter?

 

Nope. The Carnival website says that it is not necessary to print the luggage tags in color. We have never printed ours in color ... no problem.

[Pellaz]

I went ahead and booked it. We will see if it makes a difference.

 

It's the first time they are offering on Ecstasy. We leave Nov 5.

 

Ships going out of port canaveral will all be getting FTTF.

 

Thank to everyone that answered my original question.

 

Very cool. I don't think you'll regret it.

 

Nope. The Carnival website says that it is not necessary to print the luggage tags in color. We have never printed ours in color ... no problem.

 

True...however, printing them in color DOES help. On our last cruise, a big suitcase showed up outside our cabin door at around 6pm. It wasn't ours and actually belonged one deck above, according to its black-and-white luggage tag. Ooops! I hand-delivered it to the proper stateroom since it wasn't too far away and when I told the owners what had happened, they grimaced and said "We knew we should have printed those tags in color!" ;)

[darth frosty]

Nope. The Carnival website says that it is not necessary to print the luggage tags in color. We have never printed ours in color ... no problem.

 

Thanks

[Bandmo]

I have read many posts on this but am having trouble finding if people think it is a good deal and worth it?

 

Just noticed its available on the ecstasy for my cruise in 2 weeks.

 

I decided to purchase it for my Destiny cruise January 26, but after reading some of these responses I'm feeling guilty. I'm not the type to ditch in line but I wanted it for the port in the Cayman Islands. This is only my second cruise and will book another for July when I go in January. I really don't want the to upset the Kings and Queens (that's how I view those who have many cruises under their belts and have always been happy to answer questions for me), so I'm hoping that they won't take their frustration out on me.

[craftykitty]

It's like any other item that can be purchased..., buy it, enjoy it and let other feel and think how they like.

 

If they have a beef, let them take it up with the corporation.

 

I plan on purchasing this for any cruise that I take that has it available, not only that, I plan on giving it to friends as gifts.

[Bandmo]

FTTF is a disgusting concept. They are charging you to bypass a line which shouldn't exist at all. I hope the program fails.

 

Instead of addressing problems and eliminating bottlenecks to make the waiting lines shorter, Carnival has recently made lines longer and more visible. It seems like a deliberate attempt to sell the FTTF program.

 

That said, since lines are now longer, you'd benefit if any of the following applies:

 

You would like to board early without a long wait

You have a tender in any port and are not on a Carnival excursion

You want to visit Guest Services without a long wait

You have anytime dining

You want to disembark early.

 

 

My first cruise was in July out of Charleston. I didn't think the process of boarding was all that bad but than again other ports are probably much worse? I don't mind waiting in line with the regular folks, I'm more interested in the priory luggage and when we tender in the Cayman islands as I've never had that experience before and I'm nervous about being late to my show excursion. I'm sure my experience of boarding will change since I'll be going our of Miami in January!

[craftykitty]

My first cruise was in July out of Charleston. I didn't think the process of boarding was all that bad but than again other ports are probably much worse? I don't mind waiting in line with the regular folks, I'm more interested in the priory luggage and when we tender in the Cayman islands as I've never had that experience before and I'm nervous about being late to my show excursion. I'm sure my experience of boarding will change since I'll be going our of Miami in January!

 

I personally like having my cabin ready when I board. To me that's worth the price. My next cruise I will be travelling with two people who are legally blind, I want to ensure they are comfortable and relaxed.