FTTF worth it?

[Zippy26]

I have been on several cruises with Carnival and I have never had a problem long waits to get on the ship so I was wanted to know from any other cruisers if they thought it was worth the money. The only thing I would want it for would be to get off the ship in port separate from the long lines. Help!

[murph1031]

We had it for the first time last week on the Valor. I thought it was the best money I've spent in a long time. We arrived at the port at 11.30am and we where in our cabins by 12.15. All out port stops docked, so the FFTF didn't help as far as getting off the boat, but we still never waited any longer than 10 minutes getting off. As for the service desk, this was also money well spent. Never waited long getting my questions asked, compared to the long line at the regular desk.

[kelkel2]

We really enjoy FTTF and we always look to buy it when booking a cruise. But only you can really decide if it's worth it to you. It's now $60 instead of $50, and if it fits in your budget and you think you would use the benefits of it, then sure, do it!

I do think you get more use from it when there are tender ports on the cruise, but even on our cruise we have coming up without any tender ports, my husband who is typically the penny pincer, insisted we try to book FTTF.

We continue to enjoy it just for getting into our room early, unpacking earlier, and also for the priority boarding. It is worth it to us.

[PortSideCruzan]

 

Hi Zippy26 :)

 

In regards to FTTF being worth it or not is very individual.

 

One must evaluate (all of) the FTTF benefits to see what would be beneficial to you personally, the people cruising with you & your sailing.

 

FTTF Benefits:

 

1) Priority security, check-in and express Boarding

 

2) Access to your stateroom when you board

 

3) Express luggage delivery to your stateroom

 

4) A dedicated (4-digit phone line) & (priority line) at guest services

 

5) Priority dinner reservations

 

6) Priority tender (Escorted from guest services to next tender)

 

7) Debarkation 'Choices' (Early) 'OR' (Late) Disembarkation

 

$59.95 per stateroom for cruise durations, 5 days or longer.

$49.95 per stateroom for 3 & 4 day sailings.

 

Detailed FTTF info & benefits explained, located @:

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/shipboard_knowledge/FastertotheFunPackage.htm

 

Have a terrific day!

 

 

 

:)

 

 

Edited October 19, 2015 by PortSideCruzan

[topofE]

Not really. I've sailed with it, I've sailed without it. It wasn't a noticeable difference really. We like to start our vacation from the moment we leave the house for our 11 hour road trip complete with an overnight stay in a fancy(ish) hotel. We don't need to be FIRST on the ship and our room has NEVER been ready no matter where/when we get to it. It's me and my dad and my daughter and I have yet to go to a room where the bed's aren't separated. We used it a bit last time for the tender to Belize and we liked having our bags in our room earlier. But there was a problem with the ship before embarkation so we ended boarding very late...and about 15 minutes ahead of every NON FTTF holding passenger who got to the port hours behind us. With all the things that we want to blow money on during our vacation, getting somewhere quicker doesn't seem to be worth it. (if it were, we'd fly to port!)

[RecoveryDude]

LOVED FTTF and hope I get it for my upcoming cruise ... I'm stalking the website and also on the "waiting list"

 

#1 reason to love it for me would be access to my cabin when I board....so we don't have to lug around carry-ons. Even if the cabin is not "totally ready" ... with FTTF you can still go to it and drop off your bags. I love not being loaded down while exploring the ship and having lunch at the Lido day 1.

 

A close second ...

 

#2 would be the priority tendering - literally escorted to the tenders from Guest Services and ushered onto a waiting tender as if I'm Sir Elton John.

 

Finally, #3 would be priority disembark so we literally have NO line at Customs.

 

Yup, I love FTTF and it's totally worth it to me!

 

Jeff aka Recovery Dude :)

[miataman19]

Hi Zippy26 :)

In regards to FTTF being worth it or not is very individual.

One must evaluate (all of) the FTTF benefits to see what would be beneficial to you personally, the people cruising with you & your sailing.

FTTF Benefits:

 

1) Priority security, check-in and express Boarding

2) Access to your stateroom when you board

3) Express luggage delivery to your stateroom

4) A dedicated (4-digit phone line) & (priority line) at guest services

5) Priority dinner reservations

6) Priority tender (Escorted from guest services to next tender)

7) Debarkation 'Choices' (Early) 'OR' (Late) Disembarkation

$59.95 per stateroom for cruise durations, 5 days or longer.

$49.95 per stateroom for 3 & 4 day sailings.

Detailed FTTF info & benefits explained, located @:

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/shipboard_knowledge/FastertotheFunPackage.htm

 

Have a terrific day!

:)

Numbers 1,2 and 3 are worth the $60 for us. Get to the cabin, dump the bags and head to a bar to get a drink and wander around the ship without the carry-on bags.

[knight2096]

I felt FTTF was a waste of money, I personally would not use it again. I rather use the money for some extra drinks lol.

Edited October 19, 2015 by knight2096

[KPfromCT]

Well worth the money for our family.:D:D

Love being able to go directly to the cabin and drop the bags before lunch.

HATE lugging the bags through the buffet, or waiting and we go one by one.:rolleyes:

 

That ALONE is worth it.

 

Also, we are usually unpacked before Muster, which is HUGE!!!

[RaiderFaninNM]

Hmmm $60 to get in the room 30 - 60 mins faster............

 

 

Thus one more reason to check in ones bags and not slug them around..;)

 

Lines will be there no matter what, again you are on vacation RELAX and slow down, enjoy!

[KPfromCT]

Hmmm $60 to get in the room 30 - 60 mins faster............

 

 

Thus one more reason to check in ones bags and not slug them around..;)

 

Lines will be there no matter what, again you are on vacation RELAX and slow down, enjoy!

 

To each their own.....:rolleyes:

We get to the port at 10:30. Last time, we were on the ship at 11:15....

Rooms don't open until 1:30...

That's TWO hours early.

It's HUGE for some people. Especially those with young kids....

 

If you don't want to pay for it, or feel it's worth it, that's fine, but don't slam the people that CAN pay for it, and find it to be worthwhile.

 

It's $60.00. We're not talking hundreds of dollars here.

[Minkster1973]

I want to be friends with KPfromCT. :)

[michelle1836]

not worth it for me but just my opinion. we always got to the port early and were on the ship right after FTTF. just had a back pack so not a big deal of being able to get to the cabin that early.

[idkanything]

Just for a different perspective, I've got FTTF for our upcoming cruise because my daughter (28 years old) is in a wheelchair and I have a ton of medical equipment to bring on. If I couldn't drop all that stuff in the room when we boarded, I'd have to carry/push it all over till we could get in. Not only that, but having our accessible bathroom available as soon as we need it is a HUGE help for her.

[CJHAN]

I dont think it is. The boarding process is so quick that payi g to get on early seems unnecessary your room being ready as soon as you get on might be worth it but who wants to go to their room to stay we drop our stuff and off to explore.

[Boozebabe]

Some people have a need to be in their cabin early. There can be medical reasons that others don't realize, such as dialysis patients. Those treatments need to be taken care of in an extremely timely fashion. There can be many other needs for early use of the cabin. It disturbs me that some people are critical of others for purchasing it without any facts as to why they do. The way things are going it won't be long that it will price itself out of existence. It didn't seem like it was priced at $50 very long before it jumped to $60.

[simplelife]

DH and I don't buy FTTF. It's not worth it for us. When we cruise, we enjoy just being laid-back and have no need to be first off the ship at ports. For us, it is more relaxing to wait to check in until after the initial rush. On our last cruise (did not purchase FTTF), we were onboard before noon (no lines) and our room was ready within an hour of boarding. As we just hang out by the pool bar when we first board, we had no problem having our carryon luggage with us until then.

If we were traveling with a group or with kids, or if we were really into port excursions, we might consider FTTF, but for us we'd rather spend the $50-60 on our bar tab.:D

[ObstructedView2]

 

 

PortSideCruzan,

 

Thanks for pointing out that FTTF has more benefits than just boarding the ship faster!!

 

 

 

 

Hi Zippy26 :)

 

In regards to FTTF being worth it or not is very individual.

One must evaluate (all of) the FTTF benefits to see what would be beneficial to you personally, the people cruising with you & your sailing.

 

FTTF Benefits:

 

1) Priority security, check-in and express Boarding

 

2) Access to your stateroom when you board

 

3) Express luggage delivery to your stateroom

 

4) A dedicated (4-digit phone line) & (priority line) at guest services

 

5) Priority dinner reservations

 

6) Priority tender (Escorted from guest services to next tender)

 

7) Debarkation 'Choices' (Early) 'OR' (Late) Disembarkation

 

Detailed FTTF info & benefits explained, located @:

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/shipboard_knowledge/FastertotheFunPackage.htm

 

Have a terrific day!

 

:)

[sfaaa]

Ask yourself this. You are on vacation. So what's the hurry?

[Pirate Dude]

I've purchased it for our next cruise (for us and my in-laws) for two reasons. First so we don't have to cart our carry ons around the ship. But more importantly, for the priority at guest services- I don't want to hear my father in law complaining about the long lines and he will get to know the fine folk at guest services. :)

 

If it were only my wife and I we'd probably pass on it, even with the tender ride at HMC (I've rented a villa so even that won't be an issue from what I've read). But since this will be my first time with FTTF, I may find that it's something I'd always consider- the extra price isn't that much for me.

 

But, as others have said, the ultimate value will always be a personal call.

[gtouch]

It is personal choice. It really is time vs money. To me my wife and our friends our time is much more valuable than the few dollars it cost. To others the money is more important than their time. Both choices are valid to each individual. So decide what is more important to you. And whatever you choose have a great time.

[Zippy26]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. I think I might give it a try if I can purchase it. One more question, does anyone have any idea of how soon before departure they are listed for sale? So far there aren't any excursions listed for March 2016 cruise. Thanks again!

[AZCAMM]

We purchased FTTF for our cruise Dec. 13th on the Miracle. It'll be our first time using this service and I am excited to get onboard the ship as soon as possible.

[CruzerDeb]

FTTF was totally worth it, to me. I bought it because I wanted to get onboard ASAP in order to head to Guest Services and book my cabana for Half Moon Cay. The other benefits were great, but this was the priority for me! I wanted a certain cabana and this ensured that I was 2nd or 3rd in line.

 

And I got the cabana that I wanted . . .

[E&B]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. I think I might give it a try if I can purchase it. One more question, does anyone have any idea of how soon before departure they are listed for sale? So far there aren't any excursions listed for March 2016 cruise. Thanks again!

 

 

We were able to book ours last month when we booked our cruise for 8/2016. It's possible that they may be sold out for your March cruise, but jerk checking. They do open up.