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Is FTTF worth it?

Newbie41

By Newbie41,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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serene56

serene56

Posted
Posted
I have a question about the priority dining in the MDR. We booked late...booked yesterday actually for our March 17th sailing on the Legend. I was super suprised to see that there were 2 FTF packages left! We have 12 year old twins so we like th early dining. We were waitlisted because we booked so late... will we get pushed to the front of the waitlisted people for access to early dining due to the priority dining with FTF?

 

 

yes, you are supposed to get your requested wait time.

BUT that being said-- I am platinum and I was not able to get early dining on the Legend.

I think you will have the same problem with this being a prime week for spring break

 

Early dining is the most requested.

If you are stuck with any time dining-- show up at 5:45 and be seated.

Its only a 15 minute difference from traditional seating.

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Nursm0m

Nursm0m

Posted
Posted
I have a question about the priority dining in the MDR. We booked late...booked yesterday actually for our March 17th sailing on the Legend. I was super suprised to see that there were 2 FTF packages left! We have 12 year old twins so we like th early dining. We were waitlisted because we booked so late... will we get pushed to the front of the waitlisted people for access to early dining due to the priority dining with FTF?

 

I did not see anywhere that dining priority is a perk fir FTTF. Sorry.

 

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Nursm0m

Nursm0m

Posted
Posted
Perhaps you should look again, it IS a FTTF perk.

 

I guess I just read that wrong... I interpreted it to mean that you could get priority in the specialty restaurants and then priority changes in MDR. I stand corrected.

 

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FireMedT

FireMedT

Posted
Posted

My experience at the port of Miami last year was not bad at all. They had probably the counter full of employees to check in guests. The line was moving along. The x-ray lines/metal detector lines moved very fast, faster than the airport at MIA. I didn't even sit down after checking in before going on the ship. Maybe I got there at the right time, because after I had checked in and looked back a big mass of people had just lined up. So my advice would be to get there early so you are not in the back of a massive line.

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michelle1836

michelle1836

Posted
Posted
Hi,

I was reading about FTTF, and it sounds like a good idea. Our ship leaves at 4 PM, but I would like to get on it as early as possible. I've also heard that boarding in Miami is a nightmare, so anything that would make it easier would be great. If I purchase FTTF am I really guaranteed early entry to the ship.

 

guaranteed, yes. I am also sailing out of Miami but not getting FTTF. here's why- I always get to the port super early and usually get zone 2 anyway. we will be booking Carnival excursions for the tender ports so wont need it then either. we dont do laundry. we also dont carry that much on with us that we need to get into our cabins as soon as possible.

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wannago35

wannago35

Posted
Posted (edited)
On my next cruise I plan on sacrificing a few DOD's for FTF because my DH will be a newbie and I don't want to him to have a reason to not cruise again!:D I want him to be like "OMG that was so easy to get on, so easy to get off let's do it again".....he's not high maintenance as a Navy guy but I would get big props for no lines. I probably wouldn't tell him that I had to pay extra for it though:p

 

On my last 3 cruises, I don't think we waited long since we usually got to port about 11am and always self-debarked as soon as they let us but Tendering in Belize on the first cruise would have been helpful to have FTF to not wait in those crazy tender lines.

 

I would definitely do it if I had small children too.

 

LOL! I purchased FTTF yesterday and didn't get a chance to tell hubby yet, but maybe I won't and take those props too :)

 

When we cruised on the Fantasy in 2011 it probably took us about 45 min to an hour to board, not too long. We did get there around 1:30 p.m. tho because the shuttle bus from our hotel in Charleston gave priority to pilots/stewardesses going to the airport so we couldn't leave hotel til 1:00pm. Took an hour to disembark, and I really disliked standing on those planks - not so much the line but the planks are steep and over the water, just made me a little nervous is all. We drove to Charleston that time but this time we're flying into Port Canaveral.

 

But we'll be cruising for our 10 year anniversary and I plan to get there much earlier this time, so whatever we can do to make our cruise more enjoyable works for moi & thankfully $50. isn't gonna break us. I like the idea of not carrying bags all over the place once we board and shorter lines throughout the cruise. I'm looking forward to seeing what FTTP has to offer.

Edited by wannago35
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fergusonvt

fergusonvt

Posted
Posted

Having just used it on 2/3 I would have to say yes and no. For getting on the ship it was fantastic. We arrived at the port (Miami) at around 11:00am and waited for about 7 minutes before we walked right on the ship. Our cabin wasn't ready until 1pm and when we got there my husbands suitcase was there. Mine didn't arrive until 3pm even though we gave them to the same porter and they were on the same trolley. They both had the luggage tags with the FTF signage. We had no tender ports and went to the room specified for self disembarkation of FTF passengers. We waited over 1/2 hour for a Carnival employee to escort us off the ship. We were just about to leave and walk off with others who were already doing self disembark. That being said I would probably buy it again just for the getting on the ship early part. BTW, I loved my first Carnival cruise and will do a review later this week as soon as I have time and have uploaded all my pics.

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tinkerbell_82

tinkerbell_82

Posted
Posted
we dont do laundry.

 

Is laundry included???

 

I am SO thrilled- I was able to book a slot for our Glory cruise that just opened today! :)

 

The priority boarding / tenders / luggage are what I am most looking forward two (we have two tender ports). I do a couple of loads of laundy on 7 day cruises so if its included I'll be super happy!

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fanda120608

fanda120608

Posted
Posted

We just used fttf last week in Miami and I would probably use it again should we decide to cruise carnival again (another story). The staff in the terminal were not all on the same page however and we wound up standing in line two separate times before they got their act together. Then after the second line we were directed to a third person because the first two "couldn't handle cash" which we wanted to use.

Positives were our room was ready the minute we boarded around 11:30-12 and our bags beat us there. We also used the fttf/platinum line at guest services a couple times and it helped.

 

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Rasvar

Rasvar

Posted
Posted

I used it in Port Canaveral. I have to carry on CPAP gear, so for me it was useful in just being able to get into the cabin early. Priority tendering at Half Moon Cay was a plus. There was also a delay in disembarking on my cruise since we had some foreign guests who did not go to the Customs meeting for them and it delayed disembarkation by an hour, so priority disembark ended up being useful for me too. It was useful for me but what I found useful might not be for someone else.

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Momma1980

Momma1980

Posted
Posted
I used it in Port Canaveral. I have to carry on CPAP gear, so for me it was useful in just being able to get into the cabin early. Priority tendering at Half Moon Cay was a plus. There was also a delay in disembarking on my cruise since we had some foreign guests who did not go to the Customs meeting for them and it delayed disembarkation by an hour, so priority disembark ended up being useful for me too. It was useful for me but what I found useful might not be for someone else.

 

Hi!

Just wonder if you would tell me how you went about getting priority tender off the ship to HMC with the FTTF. We had FTTF on our Ecstasy cruise as well; but when we went to the theatre for tender tickets, we were given group 4 stickers. I had assumed we would be in group 1 or 2. Did you go to guest services for your tender stickers? Thanks!

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Momma1980

Momma1980

Posted
Posted
did you show some one your sign and sail card

 

Hello!

I think you are asking me this question... If so: yes, I did. I even told her that I was FTTF AND had booked a cabana. I'm wondering if the employee handing out stickers was uninformed. Either that or I should have gone somewhere else to get my tender zone stickers. I don't want to repeat the same mistake twice:)

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DebUSVI

DebUSVI

Posted
Posted

I have just purchased FTTF. This will be our first time using FTTF. I am looking forward to a first relaxing Dayan the ship as we have cruised 6 other times and we have never before been on the ship more than 1 hour before we left port. I was happy to pay $50 to have a relaxing embarkation day.

 

 

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