As FTTF prices increase annually, does CCL allow more to sign up?

[jayscore]

FTTF prices go up every year. Are more allowed to purchase this "perk" than before?

[SadieN]

Prices rise and fall due to supply and demand.

 

They say its capacity controlled, more Diamonds/Plats less FTTF will be available. Don't know how true that is.

[Rudyard]

Haven't heard anything about more slots opening up, although I'm sure the tin foil hat crowd will tell you that half the ship can get FTTF now. If anything I think the price increase will keep some people from buying it. FTTF was available when I booked my upcoming cruise but I passed on it due in part to the price increase. We'll just arrive at the port a couple of hours later so it should be a walk on since the initial rush will be over. By the time we board, cabins should be ready so we can drop our bags right away.

[springs741]

We'll just arrive at the port a couple of hours later so it should be a walk on since the initial rush will be over. By the time we board, cabins should be ready so we can drop our bags right away.

This is what we did before we made it to Platinum. And in all honesty we still show up a little later in the process. While I am as anxious as everyone else to begin my vacation, sitting in the terminal in a crowded lounge, waiting to board is not something I enjoy. By arriving closer to noon I can usually walk right on board. I will gladly forgo an hour on the ship to not have to wait an hour in the terminal.

 

To answer OP question: No I do not think they will sell additional slots. It is capacity controlled and only Carnival knows that algorithm for sales so my answer is based only on observation. There is no benefit to sell FTTF, not have the stateroom ready, and have to refund the cost when someone complains. Even though there are many benefits associated with FTTF early boarding and stateroom ready seem to be the perk most cruisers focus.

[joepeka]

FTTF prices go up every year. Are more allowed to purchase this "perk" than before?

I don't know the definitive answer but I will guess "no" to your question. I tend to believe the FTTF prices increases are more Carnival's way of finding out what the upper limit pain point is for passengers and as long as they have no problems selling out FTTF on most (every?) cruise, they will continue to raise the price until (or if) customers say "enough" and no longer demonstrate the same level of demand.

[Moonarino]

... Are more allowed to purchase this "perk" than before?

 

I hope not. The more slots they sell, the less it's potentially worth. Even if I don't buy it, expanding FTTF past a certain point would creep toward defeating the purpose for anybody who does lay out the money for it..

[Nic6318]

Hi

 

I think they are just raising the price till they find a point that people aren't willing to pay.

 

After all, just look at the responses on this site when someone asks if people think it is worth it. No matter how much a number of people suggest that it really isn't worth anything, many others will suggest that "they wouldn't cruise if they couldn't get it".

 

Seeing that the dollar amount involved is only a small premium on the cost of the vacation package, I can imagine that Carnival will be able to continue raising the price many more times before people will think twice about spending the extra money for something they perceive as a benefit.

[First and Ten]

I have to give it up to Carnival....creating such a demand for something that doesn't cost them anything. FTTF is pure profit. Can you imagine the laughter around the boardroom table...."We jacked the price up 40%, and they are still fighting for it. Woo-Hoo" PT Barnum truly nailed it [emoji23]

[cruizinisthebest]

I've been booked for August next year since April of this year. FTTF showed up in late May with 40 slots right out the gate. Used to be the story they were peddling is that fttf was sold in increments of 15 with a max of 30, maybe more if the sailing has few priority cabins. That's clearly not true. I would guess that yes they are making more available as they increase prices. And the beards are blissfully aware that people are willing to pay whatever they charge. By 2019, fttf will be $100 per cabin for longer sailings no doubt. Either that or they will start charging it per person for the first two people.

[riclop]

FTTF prices go up every year. Are more allowed to purchase this "perk" than before?

Carnival loves the people that spent 70-80 dollars to board the ship a few minutes before anyone else and go to your room that is not always ready and get your luggage after those who don't have FTTF, What a waste of $$$$.

[simplelife]

Last cruise our friends had FTTF and we had signed up for a staggered boarding time about an hour into the staggered boarding. We waited only a few minutes in the waiting area and they were still boarding the tail end of FTTF. We ended up boarding just a few minutes after our friends did. It never bothers me to have my carry-on with me, so having the room available earlier is not a big deal. For us, FTTF is not worth the money.

 

 

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[skywalkr2]

For people like me that don't like to wait for a 30 minute window to get into the port... and also don't like to cart around luggage for quite a while... The $70 or so is worth it for me.

[cruizinisthebest]

For people like me that don't like to wait for a 30 minute window to get into the port... and also don't like to cart around luggage for quite a while... The $70 or so is worth it for me.

Absolutely. You're the target cruiser. Lots feel like you do. Carnival knows that.

 

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[First and Ten]

I've been booked for August next year since April of this year. FTTF showed up in late May with 40 slots right out the gate. Used to be the story they were peddling is that fttf was sold in increments of 15 with a max of 30, maybe more if the sailing has few priority cabins. That's clearly not true. I would guess that yes they are making more available as they increase prices. And the beards are blissfully aware that people are willing to pay whatever they charge. By 2019, fttf will be $100 per cabin for longer sailings no doubt. Either that or they will start charging it per person for the first two people.

 

Agree....it went from $50 to $70 and you still have people lined up to buy it. There are a few that view it as a worthwhile convenience but others view it as vital to have a good cruise. A few posters claim they wont sail without it (I wonder if they would really cancel a cruise if they didn't get it, seems a bit extreme)....I could see the next hike going to $100 per cabin (7 night cruise). I wonder what the ceiling is? :confused:

[bUU]

Along the same lines, check out how much it costs for a single entry into the Delta Airlines Sky Club. People are willing to pay more for better.

 

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[cruizinisthebest]

Along the same lines, check out how much it costs for a single entry into the Delta Airlines Sky Club. People are willing to pay more for better.

 

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What do you get with the sky club other than the ability to be first in a few lines? I don't fly Delta, but I know most of the airlines have club memberships.

 

Agree....it went from $50 to $70 and you still have people lined up to buy it. There are a few that view it as a worthwhile convenience but others view it as vital to have a good cruise. A few posters claim they wont sail without it (I wonder if they would really cancel a cruise if they didn't get it, seems a bit extreme)....I could see the next hike going to $100 per cabin (7 night cruise). I wonder what the ceiling is? :confused:

 

Don't know but the ceiling for me was $59.95. lol. I'm not paying a cent more than that. Now there are people we travel with that love it, and they are welcome to get it. There's plenty of slots -especially if you book early. lol

Edited July 17, 2017 by cruizinisthebest

[cruziJenn]

For people like me that don't like to wait for a 30 minute window to get into the port... and also don't like to cart around luggage for quite a while... The $70 or so is worth it for me.

 

+1 from me as well, there are several benefits and it is still a reasonable price as a very small part of the huge total expense that cruising is. If prices keep going up or if they way oversell it then I may change my opinion but for now I would pay it without a second thought.

[crazyfrazee]

Keep in mind, FTTF does not always work. It's not perfect. Our last cruise I paid for FTTF on three of our rooms and none were ready until after 3 PM. Some of our luggage didn't arrive until after 8pm. As long as carnival is bringing in the cash is all that matters.

[Thorncroft]

When everybody is priority, nobody is priority. I hope Carnival keeps a lid on FTTF.

[tatt2ed]

When everybody is priority, nobody is priority. I hope Carnival keeps a lid on FTTF.

What i thought every passenger is a priority to carnival, or was it a dollar sign, i dont remember ?

 

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[bUU]

But that is precisely the issue. The priority has to be future revenue. The question is how to best serve that priority.

 

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[Nic6318]

Keep in mind, FTTF does not always work. It's not perfect. Our last cruise I paid for FTTF on three of our rooms and none were ready until after 3 PM. Some of our luggage didn't arrive until after 8pm. As long as carnival is bringing in the cash is all that matters.

 

 

Hi there

 

That is when you are supposed to use your "FTTF" status to go to the short line at guest services and complain. Tell them you paid for a service, you didn't get it, and you want your money back...they will give you a refund.

 

I don't know if you did that or not, but if people who don't get the service they paid for and don't complain, they will realizes that they not only can continue raising the price but also not necessarily deliver on their promise. The agreement isn't for "best effort" it is for a service...it needs to be delivered.

[bUU]

What FTTF promises varies. For stateroom access, the promise is specific: "Your stateroom will be ready for you as soon as you board..." For luggage, it just promises priority: "FTTF luggage will receive priority delivery..."

 

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[cruizinisthebest]

Correct. If the luggage was delayed for fttf folks, then I would guess it was delayed for everyone. They don't specify times for things on purpose.

 

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[crazyfrazee]

Hi there

 

That is when you are supposed to use your "FTTF" status to go to the short line at guest services and complain. Tell them you paid for a service, you didn't get it, and you want your money back...they will give you a refund.

 

I don't know if you did that or not, but if people who don't get the service they paid for and don't complain, they will realizes that they not only can continue raising the price but also not necessarily deliver on their promise. The agreement isn't for "best effort" it is for a service...it needs to be delivered.

 

Guest services knew. Upon check-in an employee escorted us to GS for them to tell us they were screwing up! As far as complaining to ccl, it's useless. We are now booked with RC. I've loved carnival and have 10 cruises with them but finally getting smart and leaving them. I didn't get a private cocktail party for my group of 10 rooms they promised me and complaining was useless. At this point if they gave me a free cruise I wouldn't take it.