Faster to the Fun

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

41 minutes ago, Italy52 said:

I am amazed at all the responses about Faster To Fun as obviously people are using this service.  I am a newbie to Carnival and asked the question as to when we could purchase this perk (30 days out, 60 days out???) and yet I can't seem to get a response.  Is there some where I can?  Thank you in advance.

I don't think it's a set time frame when it'll be available.  Just keep checking. 

 

If it's sold out it'll say sold out. If it's not there at all then it hasn't gone on sale yet. 

 

Some cruises don't have it at all, like journeys cruises. Too many diamonds and platinums already. 

[Bob NC]

We like FTTF.  We like to get onboard as early as possible without getting lucky in some lottery.  We like dropping off our bags.

 

It seems like whenever I need guest services there's 150 people in line.  I like having the short line available to me.

 

I can see the other side, if people don't care about those things it's not important to them.

[carnival03]

This will be out first time sailing Carnival in 10 years, so things have changed since we last used FTTF. Can someone explain how the check-in times work in relation to FTTF? Worth noting that we'll be going out of Baltimore. 

 

Do you pick your check-in window during online check in or is it assigned? This will be the cruise that turns us gold, so we're not high up on the loyalty scale. Essentially, how would we get the earliest boring time possible and does FTTF make a difference?

[LadyMac72]

On 5/4/2023 at 1:47 AM, Aubriee01 said:

I just bought the Faster to the Fun pass (FTTF) for our September cruise.  Is it worth it?  Also when might it be available for our January cruise?

I got FTTF for all the rooms in my group (4). We have a tender port (Belize) so that plus the priority boarding made it worthwhile for us. I would have purchased it anyway though because my mother has HUUUUUGE anxiety over boarding times. Such in - if we're not 4 hours early to the port, we are late. Knowing she has FTTF helps stay calm and she knows we aren't going to miss the ship.

[Italy52]

2 hours ago, TreyB said:

Look on the excursion options for your departure port (day 1). If it’s available it will be listed as an option to purchase. They only offer it on a limited basis based on how many Platinum and suite passengers have booked to ensure that they can control embarking windows. If you don’t see it offered now keep checking daily. They will put it up and take it down based on their booking algorithm. Every time it’s been available I’ve used it. It’s more expensive now just like everything else, so the comments on here about it being worth it back when it was $50 bucks baffles me. It’s like saying bread was worth it when you could get it for .25 cents a loaf. I like the early embarkation and debarkation, and the early access to my stateroom. Other comments regarding access to guest services and priority tendering are true as well. So for me, yes it’s worth it if you can get it. Enjoy cruising Carnival, we have always received great service and have tons of fun. Welcome aboard!!😎

Thank you for responding, I appreciate it very much.  Our cruise is not until April of 2024 but I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity since we are first time Carnival cruisers and might have to tender for something (that would be our biggest concern). I have been checking about once a week but wasn't sure if I was just spinning my wheels since there might be a specific timeframe that it was offered prior to cruising.  Will continue to monitor my excursions.

[wemjam]

6 minutes ago, Italy52 said:

Thank you for responding, I appreciate it very much.  Our cruise is not until April of 2024 but I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity since we are first time Carnival cruisers and might have to tender for something (that would be our biggest concern). I have been checking about once a week but wasn't sure if I was just spinning my wheels since there might be a specific timeframe that it was offered prior to cruising.  Will continue to monitor my excursions.

You should know now if you have to tender or not.  If you tell us your ports we can tell you.  It is not a case of sometimes they do/sometimes they don't.  There are set ports you have to tender too.

 

If this is the main/only reason for your to buy it, then if you don't have a tender port it likely may not be of value for you 😁

[Italy52]

27 minutes ago, wemjam said:

You should know now if you have to tender or not.  If you tell us your ports we can tell you.  It is not a case of sometimes they do/sometimes they don't.  There are set ports you have to tender too.

 

If this is the main/only reason for your to buy it, then if you don't have a tender port it likely may not be of value for you 😁

I looked at our itinerary and it does have an indication that we might need a water shuttle in about 4 ports --- we are going to Alaska for 14 days.

[Lee Cruiser]

3 hours ago, TreyB said:

It’s more expensive now just like everything else, so the comments on here about it being worth it back when it was $50 bucks baffles me. It’s like saying bread was worth it when you could get it for .25 cents a loaf.

Definitely not a good comparison.  I certainly don't think bread (or any other item) has went up 300% in about seven years and stayed there.

[Rudyard]

19 hours ago, Italy52 said:

Newbie to Carnival.  When is Faster To Fun available for purchase in relation to our booking?

I was able to buy it in January for my Breeze cruise in December, so 11 months in my case. If it's not available yet for your cruise just check back regularly. 

[Rudyard]

Duplicate post

Edited May 7, 2023 by Rudyard

[SRQbeachgirl]

We will be on a sold out Mardi Gras in three weeks and it will be the first time we haven't had FTTF. There was no FTTF availability when we booked and it's been sold out ever since (and I know this because I have been STALKING the website). With the ship being fully booked I'm just hoping I don't have any need to stand in the Guest Services line.

[pinto18]

44 minutes ago, TreyB said:

Not worth it for you doesn’t mean it’s not worth it for someone else. Personal choice bub. 

They asked "Is it worth it"? Obviously I can only give my opinion that it wouldn't be worth it to me..if someone asks a question like that I assume they want an answer that is subjective..since how can I know if it is worth it for them?? And my name isn't Bub 

 

[ProgRockCruiser]

On 5/4/2023 at 4:04 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

All FTTF really gets you is on the ship about 15 minutes faster than if you get the earliest arrival time.

If that.  Per my notes from our last cruise, our boarding call time was 5 (five) minutes after FTTF.  I did online check-in at midnight to snag as early a slot as possible for this non-P/Der.  I will do the same for our next cruise.

 

FTTF is available for our next cruise, but we don't have tender ports and we don't have any non-Carnival excursions, and we aren't in a hurry to debark to make a morning flight.  So, for us, it is not deemed a worthwhile expense at $130.  I'd rather spend another $50 or something and have us do the Behind the Fun tour.

 

IMHO, YMMV.

 

 

[zanydoc]

On 5/4/2023 at 8:55 AM, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

1. Tender ports, if you have an early, independent, excursion

2. Lots of carry ons that you really want/need to drop off, like medical equipment is probably better off left in the cabin than carried around the ship. And, if your group has a bunch of cabins, only 1 needs to get FTTF, but all can drop off their carry ons into the one cabin.

How do you take advantage of FTTF at a tender port? Is there a separate line or place to go meet to be escorted to the tenders? 

[zanydoc]

For upcoming Horizon cruise out of Miami, if I have FTTF and an embarkation time of 10:30, when can I expect to be boarding the ship? Can I arrive earlier than 10:30, or would that just make me have to wait longer? Thanks! 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

33 minutes ago, zanydoc said:

How do you take advantage of FTTF at a tender port? Is there a separate line or place to go meet to be escorted to the tenders? 

You'll get a ticket in your cabin telling you the time and place to meet for the early tender. They'll check your ticket, and escort the group down to the tender.

[pinto18]

1 minute ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

You'll get a ticket in your cabin telling you the time and place to meet for the early tender. They'll check your ticket, and escort the group down to the tender.

On the Panorama you don't get a ticket or a specific time..it just says meet at guest series and there will be someone to escort you down. At least thats for Platinum..perhaps FTTF is different.

[AllgoodOnTheRoad]

Lol, is it worth it. Well I love it and have had it for the last twelve cruises, but I have to admit, it may not be worth much anymore. I bought it for being able to ignore my check in time and to board after platinums, but frankly Carnival has gotten so darn good at embarkation lately that this really only saves you a few minutes. 

[wemjam]

47 minutes ago, AllgoodOnTheRoad said:

Lol, is it worth it. Well I love it and have had it for the last twelve cruises, but I have to admit, it may not be worth much anymore. I bought it for being able to ignore my check in time and to board after platinums, but frankly Carnival has gotten so darn good at embarkation lately that this really only saves you a few minutes. 

Couldn't have said it better!  Used to be when they first started the program boarding (and the entire process starting at the port door) seemed to take forever.   I can't believe how much the boarding process has improved over the years.  I remember my 1st cruise 20 years ago and OMG, the entire process was so long and tedious.

 

Now everything happens so fast! Much improved.  FTTF might get on like 10-15 minutes before general boarding groups.

[pinklucky61]

I had FTTF for my April cruise on Glory out of NOLA.  I'm definitely glad I got it.  For some reason they didn't separate boarding passengers by priority, just had everyone sit in rows according to port arrival.  We separated when they called FTTF after platinums, diamonds & suites (not in that order).

I self-disembarked.  Meeting time was 7:15am, I was in parking garage shuttle (Fulton Garage) by 7.

Have a cruise booked for October out of Mobile, live an hour away, so probably won't bother with FTTF.

Don't forget that FTTF is also helpful in priority MDR requests too.

[zanydoc]

I’m looking forward to trying Spirit as we live close to Mobile, too! 

[wemjam]

2 hours ago, zanydoc said:

How do you take advantage of FTTF at a tender port? Is there a separate line or place to go meet to be escorted to the tenders? 

I always just go to the customer service desk and they have someone escort us.

 

Never noticed a specific place to go otherwise.

[wemjam]

Was looking for something else in the legal ease in the contract and found the following line.  This is all the more reason to pack light and carry on.  We haven't checked bags in years, and never knew their limit was $50 pp/$100 max per room!  The freaking suit case is worth more than what they will reimburse let alone anything in it. 😲

 

(d) It is stipulated and agreed that the aggregate value of Guest’s property, does not exceed $50 USD per Guest or bag with a maximum value of $100 USD per stateroom regardless of the number of occupants or bags and any liability of Carnival for any cause whatsoever with respect to said property shall not exceed such sum, unless the Guest shall in writing, delivered to Carnival, prior to embarkation, declare the true value thereof and pay to Carnival prior to embarkation a sum equal to 5% of the excess of such value. 

 

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

28 minutes ago, wemjam said:

Was looking for something else in the legal ease in the contract and found the following line.  This is all the more reason to pack light and carry on.  We haven't checked bags in years, and never knew their limit was $50 pp/$100 max per room!  The freaking suit case is worth more than what they will reimburse let alone anything in it. 😲

 

(d) It is stipulated and agreed that the aggregate value of Guest’s property, does not exceed $50 USD per Guest or bag with a maximum value of $100 USD per stateroom regardless of the number of occupants or bags and any liability of Carnival for any cause whatsoever with respect to said property shall not exceed such sum, unless the Guest shall in writing, delivered to Carnival, prior to embarkation, declare the true value thereof and pay to Carnival prior to embarkation a sum equal to 5% of the excess of such value. 

 

 

Another reason to get good travel insurance. Most policies will cover this to a much higher amount. 

[csoud68]

Priority debarkation is big.  When I get up the last morning I'm ready to roll.  Get me off faster is way better than mingling in lounge for an hour.  

 

And getting on early and accessing your room is sweet.