FTTF - Early boarding and room ready time?

[QTPieRye]

We had FTTF this past January, and got on board around Noon, right after the wedding parties, but boarding was running behind that day.

 

What is the earliest you've boarded with FTTF and was your room ready?

[snc_cam]

We had FTTF this past January, and got on board around Noon, right after the wedding parties, but boarding was running behind that day.

 

What is the earliest you've boarded with FTTF and was your room ready?

 

we were at the Lido buffet before it opened at 11am. And yes, room was ready.

[SunnydayKim]

Last year out of Miami on the Victory we were onboard before 11am and room was ready. Bags were all in our cabin after an early lunch & drink on Lido. We were unpacked and enjoying our vacation before most were allowed in their rooms. Hoping for the same luck in less than two weeks on the Glory!

 

Kim

[kona_wahine]

About 11:15, and had our bags just after 12:00. That was on the dream out of pt canaveral. On liberty in January it wasn't until around 12:00 and the bags didn't come early.

[kelkel2]

We boarded the Liberty in Miami around 11:30 and yes our room was ready. We did have to wait a little while longer for our Bon Voyage items but they were busy passing them out as we were heading to our cabin so we knew we would get them shortly. I don't think the BV department has any indication of what cabin is FTTF.

[lollylew]

I've done FTTF twice now (and have it for my upcoming Freedom cruise). Both times our rooms were open and ready and seriously, this last time, our luggage beat us there!! It is definitely worth the $$ to me :D

 

Carnival Victory we were onboard I think by 11am

Carnival Inspiration it was 12:30 (but that was because we got there a little late but it was nice to NOT have to stand in the long check in line:p)

[lollylew]

we were at the Lido buffet before it opened at 11am. And yes, room was ready.

 

Cool! I am hoping to be the first one in line at Guy's Burgers on my upcoming Freedom cruise :p

[Maxpilot]

We have tried it once and were not happy with it. Our room was not ready and our bags arrived about the same time as they normally would. Our last bag did not arrive until after dinner. Going to give it another shot next week. :D

[bury me at sea]

I don't buy fttf to be the first on the ship. I happily pay for it to avoid the long lines when I arrive at the port.

 

Have always found our stateroom ready and Bon Voyage packages waiting for us.

 

I understand ports are different. We drive to the port, stop for breakfast, take our time getting there. FTTF gets us to the front of all lines whatever time we arrive. Absolutely worth the $50 per cabin for us. Not to mention the short or non-existent line at Guest Services throughout the cruise.

 

If hallway doors are closed when you get off the elevator No Problem. Go on through, drop off carry-on bags, and start cruising.

[Dadzgirl]

I've done it both ways, with and without it. I prefer it every time now. I was on board and in my room at 11am, luggage present. It was fantastic!

[QTPieRye]

Thanks everyone! Glad to hear that about the 11:00 a.m. on the Victory :)

[MrsMick1]

We used it on the Ecstasy out of Port Canaveral. Our stateroom was ready when we boarded around 11:00. The luggage arrived just a few minutes after we did. Our main motivation for getting it was to have the early room availability to drop our bags and begin enjoying the ship, so it definitely delivered on that. We've purchased it again for our upcoming Glory cruise as well.

[cruzinlisa]

On Conquest (out of NOLA) we were on board by about noonish. They seem to board late there IMO. There were quite a few platinum and wedding parties too. Room was ready when we got on board. However, we had to pretty much push our way through as I had 3 different staff try to stop me. Luggage was either there when we got there or shortly thereafter.

 

As a contrast. In April we went on Celebrity and had priority boarding because of Aqua class and I heard that about half the ship gets "priority" as they offer it for concierge, aqua, suites and some of the higher tiers in their loyalty program. I don't know if half the ship got priority or not, but I do know that once we got inside the terminal (did have to wait a bit in the sun to get into the building), we were directed right up to a check in window and to chairs where we sat for about 2 minutes before being escorted to the ship. We had to wait a while the buffet to open.

 

It was a different experience. I hate waiting. It solidifies that if I travel Carnival, I will probably get FTTF.

 

:cool:

[RWolver672]

We were the first cruise that offered FTTF on the Freedom. It was 11:45 when we boarded and our cabin was ready. Our luggage arrived within minutes of us getting there.

 

The funny part was that as we boarded the ship, our cards wouldn't "Ding". Come to find out, they weren't activated. We were escorted to Guest Services where they issued us new ones. I had to tell the guy to put the FTTF sticker on the new ones. He had missed them because it was new and they weren't use to them yet. He was very apologetic about the whole thing.

Edited August 29, 2014 by RWolver672

[Rudyard]

We've only had it once, on our last cruise. Boarding started at 11:15 at after two wedding parties and the Plat/Diamond group, we were on the ship by 11:30. We went straight to the cabin and the steward was still there. He apologized and said it would be about five minutes as he just needed to vacuum. We dropped our carry on bags, went to eat, and the cabin was ready when we got back.

[Roscoe13]

Had it on the Liberty out of Miami last February. Arrived at the POM around 9:45 am. Dinged on board about 10:40 am. Room ready, luggage arrived about an hour later. Sitting front row pool side on the Lido deck with a Miami vice drink in my hand and a Guy's burger in front of me by 11:00 am.

 

Good times.

[Lovefuninthesun]

Legend, Tampa, 11/2013:

Onboard, to our room before 11:30. Room was ready. Dropped our stuff and went to eat. Bags were there when we got back to the room. :)

 

But the very best experience was being able to use the VIP line at Guest Services -- people were lined up from here to eternity in the regular line. We walked right up to the VIP window, much to the chagrin of a Platinum PAX who came up right after we did -- she publicly and loudly made a big scene that we were not supposed to use that line.:rolleyes:

 

IMO -- totally worth the $! We purchased it again for our october Liberty cruise.