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FTTF Out Of Long Beach

elklemi

By elklemi,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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cathyz

cathyz

Posted
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I don't think they're doing FTTF out of Long Beach and maybe not ever since the embarkation area there is limited and usually very disorganized so wouldn't have room to have all those extra folks board early. I've seen FTTF ship lists and have not seen any Long Beach ship listed (yet). Things can change at any time of course.

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skooter35

skooter35

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We had an early flight and got to the port by 9am. We were able to check in at the Queen Mary and received Zone 1. We sat in the area closest to the boarding doors and enjoyed the music that was playing and people watched. Once the weddings and VIP were on it was our turn. We were on the ship by 11:15. Seemed like we were the first 100 on board!

No need for FTTF in Long Beach if you arrive early to the port, in my opinion.

Enjoy your cruise!!

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SadieN

SadieN

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I don't think they're doing FTTF out of Long Beach and maybe not ever since the embarkation area there is limited and usually very disorganized so wouldn't have room to have all those extra folks board early. I've seen FTTF ship lists and have not seen any Long Beach ship listed (yet). Things can change at any time of course.

 

More like organized chaos.;)

 

Long Beach has almost no indoor waiting areas. A few (4?) benches inside the Dome. Even the Priority checkin is outside the Dome, being requested to wait outside after you have checked in. Early check in is done outside the Dome ( the 3/4 day cruises usually have EC at the Queen Mary). At least there is now shade above the planters.

 

Zones are only issued before the doors open.

 

Hint: If the lines entering the Dome are the same stay to the left. There are only two security scanners and the right one absorbs the Priority line, making the right line slower.

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Steamboat Holly

Steamboat Holly

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We went on our first cruise last month out of Long Beach. We were a little nervous about check in, but it was all really easy. We got there at about 12:30, and there wasn't a line at all. We walked right through security, right up to the counter, and breezed through our pictures. No wait for any of it! I guess we were just there after all the crowds!

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cathyz

cathyz

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More like organized chaos.;)

 

Long Beach has almost no indoor waiting areas. A few (4?) benches inside the Dome. Even the Priority checkin is outside the Dome, being requested to wait outside after you have checked in. Early check in is done outside the Dome ( the 3/4 day cruises usually have EC at the Queen Mary). At least there is now shade above the planters.

 

Zones are only issued before the doors open.

 

Hint: If the lines entering the Dome are the same stay to the left. There are only two security scanners and the right one absorbs the Priority line, making the right line slower.

Organized chaos for sure! If I was a newbie there, I'd be completely lost, but having sailed from there lots of times (and Platinum the last few cruises), we know what to do now. It's not the best set up for sure, not sure how they would organize FTTF there.

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LittleJeanne

LittleJeanne

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When we sailed from Long Beach we checked-in in the platinum area and then were told to just sit anywhere outside to wait. There was no place to keep platinum separate. When they finally opened the doors several people with blue cards went inside before someone finally stepped up and said that platinum would be allowed in 1st. It almost made me think it was their 1st time boarding people because they were so unorganized compared to any other port we've been through.

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tonit964

tonit964

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Long Beach embarkation is chaos.

 

They should have specific lines for specific groups boarding ( weddings, disabled, platinum) but they don't.

 

People filter in from all sides to one line to the right. Even ones with Zone cards 4 or 5 are trying to get on first and are then turned away. It is just so bottlenecked.

 

It would be so easy for them to rope off areas for those waiting to board.

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Rosefloater

Rosefloater

Posted
Posted (edited)
Long Beach embarkation is chaos.

 

They should have specific lines for specific groups boarding ( weddings, disabled, platinum) but they don't.

 

People filter in from all sides to one line to the right. Even ones with Zone cards 4 or 5 are trying to get on first and are then turned away. It is just so bottlenecked.

 

It would be so easy for them to rope off areas for those waiting to board.

 

It's okay with the Inspiration (and any Fantasy class ship). The problem is when there is the extra 1000 people for the larger ships (Splendor and now Miracle).:eek: One would think after so many years Carnival would figure out how to check in a large amount of people.:rolleyes:

 

They do have 4 x-ray machines. 2 on the right side and 2 on the left side past the inside doors. But depending what time it is, the left 2 might be closed.

Edited by Rosefloater
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welldone60

welldone60

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From John Heald this mourning.

 

Faster to the Fun is now available to purchase for the Carnival Inspiration for cruises starting June 24th.

By the end of July we will start the program on Carnival Glory, Carnival Pride, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Splendor and I will have exact dates for those soon.

Cheers

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Laurie S.

Laurie S.

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Yes! I don't need the early boarding since I'm in a suite, but I would love to be able to drop off my carryon with all my scuba and camera equipment first thing, and we really need the priority tender in Cabo.

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ccruisequeen

ccruisequeen

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In Long Beach, VIPs sign in in a enclosed waiting area across from the parking area. It has coffee and water, and is close to restrooms.

 

Others sign in either at the QM or in the dome, after pre-sign ins. Pre-sign in starts at 9:30 and ends at 10:30 or 11. You are assigned zones and sit in your area.

 

When it comes time to board, weddings go first, VIPs are escorted from their wait area, and disabled are allowed to board. Then zones are called.

 

Only after zones are completed are late-comers allowed in the dome. They are placed in a separate line on the other side of the dome.

 

I've Never seen the disorder you've described.

Edited by ccruisequeen
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cathyz

cathyz

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When it comes time to board, weddings go first, VIPs are escorted from their wait area, and disabled are allowed to board. Then zones are called.

 

I see you've sailed from Long Beach several times, as have we, and it has been a disaster every time. We check in in the VIP lounge, but there isn't much seating in there, so we always go outside (from the employees suggestion also) and hang by the VIP sign, but because there are no set up lines folks just rush the door when it opens, there is no coordination and non-VIPs have always pushed in before us, it's a comedy actually. I hope they have a better plan in place with FTTF starts!

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cathyz

cathyz

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Maybe around 11 am you should head back to the VIP check in. Even if you have to stand outside you'll be in sight if the employees who are in charge. They don't seem to pay attention to the outside zone areas.

We may have to try that, but I don't think the employees there know what's going on anyway, we did a B2B there, what a disaster that was we were stuck off the ship for over an hour when it was supposed to be a 'walk off and right back on' kind of thing, they were all running around like chickens with their heads cut off not know what the heck to do with us!

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