FTTF and the Freedom

[Cigar Dude]

Ok, so what's the time you've gotten onboard the Freedom (out of Ft. Lauderdale) when you used the Faster to the Fun?

 

Did you find the FTTF to be worth it?

[ajtaylor29]

We got to the port a little before 11, through security and walked straight into the lounge where we were told to head on board, never sat down! Probably got to our rooms about 11:30, dropped off our carry-ons and went to eat. When we came back all our bags were there. We unpacked and were off exploring the ship when the surrounding cabins were just being allowed in!

Totally worth it to me. We didn't have any tender ports, that would have been an added bonus. But, did have to go to guest services a couple of times and the short wait there was also nice.

i'll do it again on our next cruise (in the planning stages now!!!)

Have fun - we loved the Freedom!!!

[memecakes]

My question is how many people were in regular line that you got to skip do you think? In other words how long would it have taken you to get on the ship without the fttf? Just wondering because we are on the Freedom in 45 days! Have not bought the fttf yet but still could...

[toddlangford]

Ok, so what's the time you've gotten onboard the Freedom (out of Ft. Lauderdale) when you used the Faster to the Fun?

 

Did you find the FTTF to be worth it?

 

Interesting thread I have Fttf and am boarding freedom on nov 10

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Kato27]

Make sure u guy's come back and give some feedback please:)

Were still a way off yet before we get to try it.

You shouldn't wait too long to purchase it thou, cause they are rare.

I got mine a few weeks ago and there were only 9 left.

[Cigar Dude]

I've got mine and they are all sold out for our cruise in 30 days. Getting onbard quickly may make it worth it by itself. Just wondering what those who actually used it thought about it.

[nunuc2000]

How can you tell how many are left or if they're sold out?

[Cigar Dude]

How can you tell how many are left or if they're sold out?

 

Go to your cruise account on the Carnival page and click to add excursions. The excursion list will come up. Click on Faster to the Fun and add it to your cart. It will tell you how may remain.

 

They usually go pretty fast!

[bvhboat]

Funny. I just purchased this for our Freedom cruise on Jan 19 today. Glad to hear the good feedback. We were not planning on paying the cruise off now but we did when we saw there were only 5 FTTF's left. There are 4 left by the way. Have a great cruise.

[dmet0225]

We had FTTF on the Freedom this past May. We INTENDED to get there at about 10:30 AM, however, none of you have traveled with my wife. Therefore, we got there at about 11:15 AM. I couldn't tell you how many people were waiting in the non-FTTF line, because we only stopped a few times - 1 to drop off luggage, 1 to show boarding pass, 1 to go through security, 1 to check in and get Sail & Sign cards, 1 to get embarkation picture and 1 to swipe said Sail & Sign card. There was literally nobody in front of us at ANY of those stops. We then dropped off our luggage in our rooms and headed straight for the Lido deck.

 

There were no tenders on our trip, so I couldn't comment on that convenience.

 

There were several times i had to go to guest services, and I can't recall ever having to wait in one of those lines.

 

As for disembarkation, we had a late flight, so we didn't need the priority disembarkation.

 

Was it worth it to us? As you can see below, I'm getting on the Triumph in 2 days and I have the FTTF for that trip also. Now, if I can just convince my wife of an earlier embarkation time. ;)

[suzybeezy]

So thrilled I used the wise advice received here on CC and got FTTF for my upcoming Freedom cruise leaving on Sept 15th. We will have one tender. Just based on everything I've read, I feel it was likely money well spent. I'll share my opinion after I return.

[noleguy84]

We bought it for our cruise on September 1st. Note the wise, you only need to book it for one person on Carnival.com. If you make the mistake of booking more than 1 person per cabin, which it allows you to do, they will not refund you. Only 1 person per cabin has to book it for everyone in that cabin to use FTTF.

 

We are using parkngo and I plan to be at the port a bit earlier than others (hopefully before 10am) so I will report here when we get back unless someone posts that have done the same.

[mss22859]

We purchased FTTF for our upcoming Freedom cruise. I will post after we return.:)

[Dare2Believe]

We arrived around 10:30am, were onboard no later than noon using FTTF in Fort Lauderdale with the Freedom....We thought it was worth every penny! The lines for non-FTTF were very long even at that time. We breezed right by.

 

We went down to Guest Services for the tender (for Grand Cayman) right before 9am, but we ended up getting on the tender with all the non-FTTF people...at that moment in time, it was not crowded at all. But, having been in LONG LONG LONG tender lines before, I think the FTTF would be a good idea for any tender ports. Keep in mind FTTF does not cover your return trip on the tender. Lines were long in Grand Cayman to get back on the ship but moved swiftly.

 

It was also great to have priority disembarkation as well. We were off the boat and in a taxi on the way to our hotel by 8:15am.

 

Worth it, worth it, worth it!

[5Hawkeyes]

Was it worth it to us? As you can see below, I'm getting on the Triumph in 2 days and I have the FTTF for that trip also. Now, if I can just convince my wife of an earlier embarkation time. ;)

 

I sure hope you come back and tell us how well FTTF worked on the Triumph. We have ours already purchased for our cruise next year and I love hearing how well it works on the Triumph and the Galveston port.

 

Thanks!!!

[b_cruise]

I sailed on sunshine in July out of Barcelona without FTTF and was on ship pretty darn quick. I am now booked for freedom in 300 plus days, lol... Wondering if I should buy it?? How long did it take non FTTF people to get onboard is my question? I don't mind waiting thirty forty minutes but if the wait out of fort lauderdale is a couple hours, this could make my decision? Anyone wait longer than an hour?

[hpilews1]

I have not been on the freedom but I will say with the paradise out of tampa last year without fttf we got on the ship by 11:15. We arrived at the port at 10:30 and were some of the first to board.

[Kato27]

I sailed on sunshine in July out of Barcelona without FTTF and was on ship pretty darn quick. I am now booked for freedom in 300 plus days, lol... Wondering if I should buy it?? How long did it take non FTTF people to get onboard is my question? I don't mind waiting thirty forty minutes but if the wait out of fort lauderdale is a couple hours, this could make my decision? Anyone wait longer than an hour?

Maybe it depends on what port your leaving from? My only experience in boarding was from baltimore, we were on board had gone to guest services and were eating on lido deck by 12:15 Fttf was not available on those cruises.

 

But you had to wait till after 1:30 to go to your room.

$50 for 3 people to use it...I think it's worth to give it a shot. At least for us. Never been to port everglades

I

[RWolver672]

We had it in February on the Freedom. We got to the port around 10:30. Apparently we were the first ones through the door. There was a Carnival worker sitting on a stool by the entrance to the building. We had to show him our boarding pass. He directed us to another door which led to an x-ray machine and metal detector that you passed through. Then it was off to the check-in desk. Before walking up to the desk, there was a lady handing out boarding cards. She gave us one that said Zone 1.

 

We walked right up to the check-in desk and the lady pointed out that this was the first cruise that had FTTF and we were the first guests that she had dealt with using it. So far, so good.

 

She did all the stuff that she had to do, then went for our S&S cards. She couldn't find them. Finally another guy came up and looked at our papers and discovered that the lady that gave us our Zone 1 card, should have given us a Priority card. That's what threw them off. He took our card and gave us the correct one.

 

We then were told to go into the waiting area where we met Glenda. She kept the crowds entertained until 11:45 when they finally started boarding. They boarded wedding parties and handicapped first. Then called for Diamond/Platinum and before they were all in line, they called Priority. We were onboard by 11:55. At that time, both the room we were in and the one next to it had standing room only.

 

We got on the ship and put our cards in the machine (both DW's and mine)and nothing happened. A worker instantly took us over to Guest Services and explained to a worker that our cards weren't working. He entered our booking number, checked our passports, then made us new cards. I noticed that he hadn't put the FTTF sticker on the back and told him about it. He again said that we were the first cruise using it and it would take some getting use to. He then pointed to the D/P line and told us to be sure to use it if we needed anything.

 

We got to our cabins and they were all ready for us. Within a few minutes the phone rang. It was a lady asking us if our cabin was ready, told us that we had a special phone number to call if we had any questions and ask if our luggage was there yet. We decided to head down to the Lido deck, walked out and our luggage was sitting outside the door. Out of nowhere our cabin steward appeared and introduced himself.

 

We were the first ones off the ship after self-debarkation. They had us meet in an area off the dining room. When they called for us, a worker escorted us off the ship. Customs went very smoothly after we found our luggage.

 

That was the only times we used the FTTF but to us, it was well worth the money.

[suzybeezy]

RWolver672, thank you for the detailed explanation of the process - that was very helpful.

[RWolver672]

You're quite welcome. I am sure you will enjoy the Freedom. She's the best one we've sailed on out of six Carnival ships. And I know you will be glad you bought the FTTF. Happy Cruising! :cool:

[scm1063]

It was after noon when we got to board, but everyone was a little delayed. We really liked getting on board and going to our cabin and our luggage was already there. We at lunch and unpacked before the muster drill. In Grand Cayman we walked to guest services and they escorted us down to the tender and merged us in with all the other people to get on board. We also used guest services and didn't have to wait in line. Getting off the ship with #1 was also nice. I would do it again. Enjoy!

[DJHomer]

I used FTTF last year and it was worth every penny! Toting a 16-month-old and her associated accessories (stroller, diaper bag, baby food etc), makes you want to be in your room ASAP! We never stopped in the terminal for anything. We were whisked right through and onto the boat at 11:30. We went straight to our room and before we could even get a diaper change in our luggage was delivered. We tendered at one port and we were given a seperate waiting area to go to. We were on the first tender over. I was very happy with the results of the FTTF and would happily fork over the $50 again, at least while my daughter is young anyway.

[Homer714]

Well worth it in my opinion. we used it in April and we were on the ship 1130 ish. Room was ready, luggage was there before us. we went and ate before the crowds!

 

We had a tender stop but did not need it walked right onto the tender (grand cayman)

 

Separate line and number for customer service was nice also......

 

If you can afford the 50 go for it. If you need it (extra time, kids etc) go for it..

 

We just booked the breeze for may and I got it again for both our rooms.

[rebel7254]

For $50 per cabin, FTTF is a no-brainer. I have not personally experienced it yet, but the overwhelming positive reviews on this boards act as proof enough.