Never Saw The Need For FTTF - Why Bother?

[dwayneb236]

On our last cruise when we had it. We were practically escorted everywhere we went by workers wanting to help us. It was an extremely quick and pleasant experience. I gave my bags to the porter outside and all he said was VIP VIP.. was funny... once inside the port, the ladies walked us to the xrays, sending us around the barricades to two empy machines. Then walked up the stairs where we were immediately taken to the FTTF line where no one was. In the port and checked in within 5 minutes. 10 minute wait after that and on the ship with our bags dropped off in our ready rooms and eating burgers. This was in Galveston. Like I said, Worth every penny. The level of the customer service and frendliness of the staff was outstanding.

[iublondie25]

I keep stalking the site to see if I can snag it. But no such luck yet. But I sail in 11 days. Having 5 kids this would be awesome for me.

 

 

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Marcie and Jay

Five kiddos ages 2-15

Grand Rapids,

Michigan

 

Carnival fascination 2001

Disney fantasy 2011

RCCL Allure of the Seas 2013

[kona_wahine]

Last cruise we signed up for luggage express and there was an issue with them checking me in. I had to go to guest services 3 times on the last sea day. Have you seen the line last sea day?? Thank Goodness I had FTTF. I would have gone crazy. Plus tendering to HMC priority was awesome. Worth $50 for that alone.

[Freckle53]

This will be our first cruise and I bought it after reading about it here. We won't have any tenders, so that part is useless, but we are traveling with our two boys, one of who will be just 2. Cutting down on some waiting and lines for boarding and being able to get into our room ASAP (and getting rid of our carry on stuff), will be worth the $50 to me. If it were just myself and my husband, I probably would have saved the money.

[gilboman]

I understand it is a personal choice and for peace of mind and all that. My question was, has anyone had experiences where FTTF has acyually made a big difference from a time when they did not purchase it?

 

depends what's "big" difference to you? what's little to you may be big to others

 

It's like travelling in economy class vs J class, or having hertz gold vs none. some are ok with economy and no status and wait in the big line... some are not.

[EnTnSA]

I'm with you OP. I don't necessarily see the value for me. I'll just hold on to the 50 bucks and have a few more drinks throughout the week.

 

That said, I rarely go to guest services (Once in all my cruises I think). I just wake up a bit earlier to get ready for the tender (when there is one) I have never had any wait. I would rather stay on the boat as long as possible on debarkation day. I hate leaving the ship.

 

One thing that tempts me is the idea of getting on, putting my luggage away and getting a place to have lunch before the crowds.

 

Hasn't tempted me enough to spend the 50 on it, but I have considered it a few times.

[keith75]

My question was, has anyone had experiences where FTTF has acyually made a big difference from a time when they did not purchase it?

 

Yes! I hate long lines and FTTF eliminates most long lines. I use to wait in long lines everywhere until I purchased FTTF!.... FTTF sold by a cruise near you!

Edited March 25, 2014 by keith75

[craftykitty]

I cruise mostly cruise with my Mother who is almost 79. FTTF for us makes it easier on her so for me, the $50 is an extra I can do for her and ensures she is comfortable rather than lugging carry-ons or extra 'stuff' (my mother packs as if she is cruising on the Queen Mary).

[ccruisequeen]

As a disabled person, it's great to be able to drop off my carry on without lugging if all over the ship for two hours.

 

I don't use the tenders, so I wouldn't pay for those, but early cabin is a luxury!

 

 

[1kaper]

I'm with you OP. I don't necessarily see the value for me. I'll just hold on to the 50 bucks and have a few more drinks throughout the week.

 

That said, I rarely go to guest services (Once in all my cruises I think). I just wake up a bit earlier to get ready for the tender (when there is one) I have never had any wait. I would rather stay on the boat as long as possible on debarkation day. I hate leaving the ship.

 

One thing that tempts me is the idea of getting on, putting my luggage away and getting a place to have lunch before the crowds.

 

Hasn't tempted me enough to spend the 50 on it, but I have considered it a few times.

 

I thought we weren't allowed to go down early to line up to get off the boat or tender, so I never did. I hate getting stuck in the long line going down the stairs to get off the boat. I'll wait a bit later to get off in some ports, but others I want to be off ASAP especially if there is an excursion planned or time is short. This is the reason I've been following the threads about people with FTTF being given priority when getting of at all ports, not just tender (it seems to be Splendor and one or two other ships doing this. They did not do it on my cruise last month on the Glory).

 

 

I'm torn if its worth it for me again next time. We sailed through check in which was so nice, but I don't think we would have been long otherwise (Miami). I loved going to the room and we napped after grabbing a bite to eat, but I don't remember how it worked on my other cruises so it couldn't have bothered me that much not to have it. It was also nice to be all unpacked right away.

It was nice to save time at Guest Services, we went twice (I lost a bracelet, checked lost and found).

 

There was nothing that I experienced that was a "must do it again" for me, but it was certainly a "nice to have". The priority debarkation at ports might sway me though if that is a consistent thing.

 

Next time we travel, it will likely be with a baby so that will factor in. I will probably spring for it then to save myself the possibility of a long wait with a young child. And allow for a nap again.

[1kaper]

I keep stalking the site to see if I can snag it. But no such luck yet. But I sail in 11 days. Having 5 kids this would be awesome for me.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Marcie and Jay

Five kiddos ages 2-15

Grand Rapids,

Michigan

 

Carnival fascination 2001

Disney fantasy 2011

RCCL Allure of the Seas 2013

 

Hang in there, on my cruise 6 days out 17 became available. Fingers crossed for you.

[Casco Bay Kid]

I wouldn't pay for FTTF. Never waited more than 15-20 min to board or more than 30 min to get into room. We always go to cabin early always ready. That's 7 cans of Fosters I can buy with that money.

 

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[Casco Bay Kid]

Plus there are so few places that tender we rarely have a tender.

 

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[petesweet]

....although next cruise is our Platinum.....so we are getting there shortly.

I asked this on another thread (that I started) but no answer yet.

How do you know how many points you have? I can't find it on the Carnival website, although something I did caused it to come up that I am one point short of Platinum. That surprised me, and I want to double-check it.

Thanks.

Kathy

[snc_cam]

Hey Kathy.

 

Log into your Carnival account. Go to the "Manage" pull down, select VIFP. It will show you how many points you currently have.

 

The Pride repo will get me 2 cruises away from Platinum... I'm jealous :)

 

Steve

[petesweet]

Hey Kathy.

 

Log into your Carnival account. Go to the "Manage" pull down, select VIFP. It will show you how many points you currently have.

 

The Pride repo will get me 2 cruises away from Platinum... I'm jealous :)

 

Steve

Hi, Steve:

 

Thought I did what you suggest, but let me try again. I really want to verify that I am that close to Platinum, because it does not seem possible.

 

See you on the Pride. Don't be jealous just yet.:D

 

Kathy

[snc_cam]

Let me know if that works/doesn't work for you...

[petesweet]

Hey Kathy.

 

Log into your Carnival account. Go to the "Manage" pull down, select VIFP. It will show you how many points you currently have.

 

The Pride repo will get me 2 cruises away from Platinum... I'm jealous :)

 

Steve

And there it is! (And I will NOT be the recipient of your jealousy on the Pride.:() Somewhere there was an indication I was one point short, and that did not seem possible. Will have to wait a bit.

 

Kathy

[jcsuzeta]

I keep stalking the site to see if I can snag it. But no such luck yet. But I sail in 11 days. Having 5 kids this would be awesome for me.

 

 

 

Me too! Lol! I sail in 18 days. Keep hope alive! :D

 

 

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[torcruise]

I had FTTF on my last cruise and still stood in line to get off and back onto the ship at ports. Was I supposed to go to guest services to skip the line?:confused:

[snc_cam]

And there it is! (And I will NOT be the recipient of your jealousy on the Pride.:() Somewhere there was an indication I was one point short, and that did not seem possible. Will have to wait a bit.

 

Kathy

 

Ah, so we can wallow in our misery listening to the diamond and platinum folks pine on about there great benefits... We will get there one day :)

 

Less than a year out now... I'm tired of the snow... :)

 

Steve

[gregg204]

I had FTTF on my last cruise and still stood in line to get off and back onto the ship at ports. Was I supposed to go to guest services to skip the line?:confused:

 

 

FTTF only good for tender ports. At the ports with piers you just get off with everyone else.

[iublondie25]

Hang in there, on my cruise 6 days out 17 became available. Fingers crossed for you.

 

 

Thanks'. I am still stalking. I had a dream that a few came open last night and I kept getting interrupted when I was trying to process them. LOL. I need a hobby.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Marcie and Jay

Five kiddos ages 2-15

Grand Rapids,

Michigan

 

Carnival fascination 2001

Disney fantasy 2011

RCCL Allure of the Seas 2013

[pebblesjns]

This will be our 3rd cruise, 2nd with our kids. We went last April with our 3 year old and 6 month old. We sailed with my in-laws (8 of us total). Embarkation was fine in Galveston. By the time we got to the port, there wasn't a line, but our rooms weren't available yet. Debarkation, on the other hand, was horrible. We live in Houston, so we were assigned the last zone to debark. We didn't get off the ship until 10 am. We had to be out of our room around 8 am and were waiting in the Lido area. We eventually were told to move down to the theater so they could change over the Lido for lunch for the oncoming passengers. After about 20 minutes in the lobby, they went ahead and let everyone off the ship. They were behind in turnaround so they pretty much kicked us all off.

 

This time, we now have a 4 year old and a 17 month old. My mom is sailing with us, but it won't be as easy as with a group of 6 adults to corral the 2 kids. I chose to purchase FTTF for this cruise, simply because the thought of getting all of us on the ship and then having to carry our bags around while waiting on our rooms to be ready is not my idea of a fun vacation. Not to mention, if debarkation is the same this trip, I'm sure it won't be as easy to handle since the little one is no longer a non-mobile infant content to be held, but is now a curious toddler who is always on the go. So if it will help to get us on the ship earlier, with little crowds and have access to our room as well as get us off the ship quickly, it will be worth it. I know we could do self-debarkation, but that's not really possible with the kids. We will find out if it is worth it in a couple of weeks, but I'm happy with the purchase.

[EnTnSA]

I thought we weren't allowed to go down early to line up to get off the boat or tender, so I never did. I hate getting stuck in the long line going down the stairs to get off the boat. I'll wait a bit later to get off in some ports, but others I want to be off ASAP especially if there is an excursion planned or time is short. This is the reason I've been following the threads about people with FTTF being given priority when getting of at all ports, not just tender (it seems to be Splendor and one or two other ships doing this. They did not do it on my cruise last month on the Glory).

 

 

I'm torn if its worth it for me again next time. We sailed through check in which was so nice, but I don't think we would have been long otherwise (Miami). I loved going to the room and we napped after grabbing a bite to eat, but I don't remember how it worked on my other cruises so it couldn't have bothered me that much not to have it. It was also nice to be all unpacked right away.

It was nice to save time at Guest Services, we went twice (I lost a bracelet, checked lost and found).

 

There was nothing that I experienced that was a "must do it again" for me, but it was certainly a "nice to have". The priority debarkation at ports might sway me though if that is a consistent thing.

 

Next time we travel, it will likely be with a baby so that will factor in. I will probably spring for it then to save myself the possibility of a long wait with a young child. And allow for a nap again.

 

 

Last summer, we had an early excursion in Grand Cayman. I just made sure we were there right when they said…I think it was 0700 they said the tender breakfast started in the deck 5 area. We were there at 659. Were not the first ones there, but were easily in the first 20. We made it on the first tender and were on land by 720 I believe.

 

Also, remember if you have a Carnival sponsored excursion, they will have a tender ready for your group at your designated time, so you don't really have to worry about waiting then either. Just go to your area and board when the excursion is ready.