Faster to the Fun?

[caddyrag]

You will get most of the FTTF benefits, EXCEPT early access to your cabin. I really enjoy the early access and early luggage delivery. When we did Glory, last January, we were on board in less than 20 minutes and our luggage was there in 10 minutes later. We were unpacked and uncorking our champagne in less than 45 minutes from getting out of the taxi.

 

Thats not true, you don't get luggage faster , priority tenders , vip guest service line or priority dining time. Just early embarkation and debarkation

 

Hate to disagree BUT we have had FTTF several times and always got on board fast luggage was delivered about 15 mins after we boarded. We have used the VIP services many times and first on tenders at grand cayman. Nsncy

[nat_mychelle]

There was description when I went to book a few weeks ago for the Conquest and in the little info box on the side of the description said only 1 per cabin. There were 4 in our cabin and we call got a FTTF sticker on our S&S card and never had problem with booking the 1 for the 4 of us.

[Silent Penguin]

I can't remember if any of the ports we'll visit require a tender. We're stopping at Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Freeport. Any tendering? Since I'm on the fence about FTTF for our upcoming cruise, this would make a difference.

[camtheriot]

FTTF is sold out for our cruise.... Any chance that would change in the next 10 days??:D lol

[ccruisequeen]

FTTF is sold out for our cruise.... Any chance that would change in the next 10 days??:D lol

 

It depends on how many have been sold. They may add a few more so keep checking. Or some may cancel thinking that everyone in the cabin needed them

[Sandi-P]

I just got FTTF for the Pride on Nov 24th. Said it had 13 left when I ordered. It is going to be my DH 1st cruise, I want to make it as easy as possible so he will go again. ;)

[PlayfulTippy]

I just purchased the FTTF and I can't wait until our cruise in October!!!

[Jenbo57]

FTTF is sold out for our cruise.... Any chance that would change in the next 10 days??:D lol

 

They could add more depending on how many Platinum and above are booked for your sailing. On our Liberty cruise last year they started with 15 and when those were gone, they added another 15. Keep watching...

[cajun-crazy]

When I look for our cruise, under the home port - it shows Faster to the Fun and the button "add to compare". I don't ever see, "add to cart". I have NOT done online check in yet. Do I have to complete that step before I can purchase the excursions?

[mia10010]

I know that FTTF allows you to disembark early, but if you are in no rush to get off the ship, are you allowed to stay in your room a little later?

[tree.critter]

I know that FTTF allows you to disembark early, but if you are in no rush to get off the ship, are you allowed to stay in your room a little later?

 

No, they still need to get the rooms turned over for the next guests so they need us all out by 8:30 am. Loved FTTF on the Dream.

[Trey.Mickala]

Hmmm, I'm a newbie but they advertise that you actually will be able to disembark later than the scheduled time. http://m.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/101031

[panoramaofthepast]

Hmmm, I'm a newbie but they advertise that you actually will be able to disembark later than the scheduled time. http://m.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/101031

 

From what I have read here and experienced with FTTF, "late" debarkation means that you can choose to stay on board a little later, but . . everyone must be out of the rooms by 8:30. You can go to breakfast or sit up on deck until about 9:30, but the last call to depart is usually by 9:30 or so.

[Joeychgo]

Frankly, we have found its better to use early disembarkation.

 

Here's why - it takes us about 20 mins to get off the ship, through customs and into a cab. This is because there are no lines at customs, we're first off the ship, first through customs, etc.

 

Plus there is breakfast in the meeting room we have to meet at.

[ccruisequeen]

We live so close to the port that if we use self-disembark we can get home by 9am!

[tm32561]

I just ordered FTTF for our upcoming cruise on the Ecstacy! I'll write a TR but I have to wait 71 days to do so as I am waiting 66 days to cruise! :)

 

 

3013 Sept Carnival Ecstacy

2011 Dec Carnival Fascination

2010 Sept Carnival Elation

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[ladylyn915]

We purchased FTTF for our upcoming cruise on the Paradise. I don't see any mention anywhere about returning to the ship via tender.

Does FTTF get you to the front of the tender line to go back to the ship?

[panoramaofthepast]

We purchased FTTF for our upcoming cruise on the Paradise. I don't see any mention anywhere about returning to the ship via tender.

Does FTTF get you to the front of the tender line to go back to the ship?

No, it only allows you priority getting to the port, not back to the ship. Based on some of the threads I have read, this has caused some testy comments between passengers and crew and other passengers when people thought it also gave them priority getting back on board.

[ladylyn915]

No, it only allows you priority getting to the port, not back to the ship. Based on some of the threads I have read, this has caused some testy comments between passengers and crew and other passengers when people thought it also gave them priority getting back on board.

 

Okay. Well, its good to know - so we won't try to "jump" the line. But, it seems to me that if the FFTF gets you off ship fast - it should get you back on fast as well. Its certainly easy enough to monitor.

[flashncrash]

just got off the freedom. fttf had its good aspects, could have been better and could have been great if needed in some situations. arrived at the terminal and directed to a specific line and given a "priority boarding" placard with fttf logo. check-in was the usual amount of time as any cruise check-in other than you get up to the counter a bit quicker. there are priority boarding levels ahead of fttf but as an example on our cruise, the boarding started at 11:30am and they called fttf "priority boarding" at 11:33am. we opted to head to the lido buffet first. we were at our cabin by 12:38pm and 3 out of 4 bags were outside the door. the 4th did not arrive until about 3:15pm (the baggage people see your tags with the fttf info, labeled here as F2F). the tender to grand cayman works this way. you go down to the priority section of the customer service desk when you want to take the tender. we waited for about one minute before being escorted down to the tender; however at that time, 8:30am, there was no line anyway. they say that the tenders are most busy between 9am to 9:30am so if you go before then it won't be as busy. so in this situation, at 8:30am, fttf was no advantage. when I did go to fttf customer service where you have the dedicated line I won't say that you are helped immediately but you don't have to wait long. the last 2 days of the cruise the non-fttf line for customer service was quite long and if you needed customer assistance the fttf advantage would have been substantial. since I had not cruised on carnival since 1992 I wondered how the priority disembarkation system worked since carnival does not ask you to fill out a form spelling out your travel plans upon departure so there is no way they know if you have an early or late flight. they apparently automatically lump you into the first 2 zones for departure. this worked for us as we had a 10:29am flight out of fll.

 

was fttf worth it? to me it was a 50/50 thing as we didn't need to access the customer service desk when it was a busy time and it was essentially useless for the time we took the tender. for disembarkation I think it would have been easy enough to get zone 1 or zone 2 departure by getting the tags from the customer service desk or even from your cabin steward. it was nice to have your cabin available so quickly and to hit the pool or check out the ship before the majority of the passengers even came aboard. I do feel that having a priority access to a tender returning to the ship would add more value to fttf. so my only experience with fttf is neutral.

 

would I use fttf again? it really depends on the what, when, where and who situation.

Edited August 12, 2013 by flashncrash
addition

[cruznon]

I just learned about FTTF. I immediately decided to book this for our November MAGIC cruise. There was only 1 ticket available and I purchased it! :)

This sounds great. I always love to get onboard early--how terrific to have cabin ready when we arrive.

LOVE Cruise Critic boards.

[hipannie]

hi everyone,

and yes i know i will probably still have fun without it BUT this is my first time cruising and i missed the sale (carnival liberty, jan 4-11). All i hear about are the amazing perks with it. I am truly TRULY bummed out. Is there a HUGE difference between having it or not? i am kind of worried that my honeymoon will not have any special perks because i do not have this FTTF perk and will have to wait in long lines or be considered last for stuff.

 

can someone help me feel better about not having this card lol and also willing to sell me theirs :p....seriously??

[tpcwags]

Hi panne, check back on the Excursion page periodically.? They normally release the Fttf in groups and if they don't have a lot of Platinum and higher guest they will release more between now and the cruise.

[elliair]

I know that FTTF allows you to disembark early, but if you are in no rush to get off the ship, are you allowed to stay in your room a little later?

 

Hang out on the Lido deck and enjoy the coffee, tea, food. On our next cruise that's our plan as we're in no hurry to get off the ship. We only have a 2 hour drive home.

[tpcwags]

Whoops, meant Hipannie, not Hi pannie.