Just off the Triumph-- Not really a review, more a collection of thoughts

[Midnight Blue]

Thanks for the nice review. It's always good to get multiple perspectives. I have a couple questions if you don't mind. You mentioned you were on the ship by 11:00AM (outstanding by the way), what time did you arrive at the port? You also mentioned you parked at a lot across from the terminal, do you mind telling us what company you parked with? We're debating our parking options and keep hearing how great Galveston Park n Cruise is so close you can walk to the ships.

 

Glad to hear FTTF was worth it for you. We have already purchased our FTTF and am excited we may be on the ship that early.

 

Thanks!

 

We arrived at the port about 10:30 am and were in the VIP lounge by about 10:45 am or so. We parked at Galveston Park n Cruise. You can walk to the ship... but it isn't exactly just a few steps away. And the place we were instructed to park wasn't easily found -- it was basically down an alley that runs parallel to the street that runs in front of the terminal. It worked out fine, but it isn't as easy as it looks on the company's website.

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for your thoughts about your cruise.

[lindy56]

Debarkation:

According to the letter we received, we were to be out of our cabin around 8:30 am and should wait in the Rome Lounge until our group was called to proceed to the gangway to debark.

 

Which deck is the gangway on to debark?

[Midnight Blue]

Which deck is the gangway on to debark?

 

When you leave the ship at the end of the cruise, it's Deck 3. When you get off the ship at Cozumel, it's Deck 0.

Edited July 3, 2013 by Midnight Blue

[yoursurfer]

Great review! We had the exact same experience with FTTF on Conquest last month. Some carnival staff have no idea what it is! This included the person in charge of tendering in Belize. We kept saying we had FTTF and he just looked at us with confusion!

[C2CMH]

Thanks for a great review. We will be sailing on Triumph on Saturday. Just a few questions if you have time. How was the temperature in the cabins and in the dining room? Wondering if it is turned up COLD and if I should be bringing some long sleeve tops for dinner or if I will need a jacket. Also, wondering if you went to any of the movies under the stars and how you liked that, and any thoughts on the casino or the shows.

Thanks

[Midnight Blue]

Thanks for a great review. We will be sailing on Triumph on Saturday. Just a few questions if you have time. How was the temperature in the cabins and in the dining room? Wondering if it is turned up COLD and if I should be bringing some long sleeve tops for dinner or if I will need a jacket. Also, wondering if you went to any of the movies under the stars and how you liked that, and any thoughts on the casino or the shows.

Thanks

 

On temperature: If I could live in a meat locker, I'd be a happy girl. (My poor partner just suffers through it.) I was comfortable on Triumph -- so that means if you tend to be cold natured, you may want to bring something light and long sleeved to slip on.

 

On your other questions... we purposely didn't do that much this cruise. I needed to just read books and stare at the waves, so we didn't go to a show or a movie. I've read another review from someone on the same sailing who did go to the shows and who liked them very much. Unlike some of the other ships, Triumph apparently still has the more elaborate, old style shows.

 

I'm also not a gambler, but I walk through the casino several times. They had 1 craps table, a few blackjack tables, a roulette wheel and lots of slot machines. There were certainly people in the casino, but it was never packed that I could see.

[C2CMH]

Thank you so much for your quick response. Do you remember if it was smokey in the Casino?

[Midnight Blue]

Thank you so much for your quick response. Do you remember if it was smokey in the Casino?

 

Smoking was permitted in the casino. I could definitely smell the smoke, but it wasn't awful to me. If you are very smoke sensitive, though, you may have problems.

[swain girl]

Wow, thank you for all the time it took you to write this, it was well worth the read, I sail on her in Nov.

 

 

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[Trey.Mickala]

Thank you for taking the time to share all of the great info! It's very helpful! I just want to get FTTF clarification. My husband and I will be going on our first cruise on August 3rd (Triumph). We are staying in a Ocean Suite which includes VIP check-in. We called Carnival very early on to inquire about FTTF and were told that our Ocean Suite covers all the perks of FTTF so we did nit need to purchase it additionally. However, as I read what others have posted, I'm wondering if we should reconsider. I just went to the Carnival website to add FTTF and it now appears to be unavailable at this point. Ugh! I wonder if they will add it if I call them.

[Midnight Blue]

Thank you for taking the time to share all of the great info! It's very helpful! I just want to get FTTF clarification. My husband and I will be going on our first cruise on August 3rd (Triumph). We are staying in a Ocean Suite which includes VIP check-in. We called Carnival very early on to inquire about FTTF and were told that our Ocean Suite covers all the perks of FTTF so we did nit need to purchase it additionally.

 

 

Unfortunately, the Carnival phone reps don't all understand FTTF, either.

 

We had what I think is the highest level suite you can get on Triumph -- a Grand Suite. Here's how it played out for us with a suite + FFTF.

 

The suite entitled us to check in and board with the Platinum and Diamond level guests (that's the VIP check in). We boarded before the FTTF guests. If you have only FTTF, you will board before most people, but after the suite guests and the Diamond and Platinum guests.

 

Priority (VIP) check in and boarding is different than being able to go to your cabin when you board. This is where I think people get confused. If you board early (as we did), and you are a suite guest without FTTF, you will not be able to go directly to your cabin. You're on the ship, yes, but unlike the Diamond and Platinum guests, your cabin will not necessarily be ready and you'll lug your bags to the lobby or one of the open restaurants for lunch.

 

With FTTF, whether you are a suite guest or not, when you get on board, your suite/cabin should be ready. You can proceed to your deck and there will be a sign on the fire doors to the cabin hallways (the doors will be closed) that says something like "Diamond, Platinum and FTTF guests are welcome to go to their cabins."

 

Having a suite + FTTF = the full boarding perks afforded to Diamond and Platinum guests -- VIP check in, you're at the head of priority boarding and once on the ship, can go directly to your suite.

 

Having a suite and no FTTF = VIP check in, you're at the head of priority boarding but once on the ship cannot go directly to your suite.

 

Having FTTF and no suite = You have a separate check in from the regular guests, but it isn't VIP check in. You're in the second priority boarding group (after the suite guests, Diamond and Platinum guests), but once on, you can go directly to your cabin.

 

Of course, there are a few other perks that go with FTTF (some on Triumph, but mostly on other ships), but they aren't relevant to the question asked here.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited July 9, 2013 by Midnight Blue

[Trey.Mickala]

Unfortunately, the Carnival phone reps don't all understand FTTF, either.

 

We had what I think is the highest level suite you can get on Triumph -- a Grand Suite. Here's how it played out for us with a suite + FFTF.

 

The suite entitled us to check in and board with the Platinum and Diamond level guests (that's the VIP check in). We boarded before the FTTF guests. If you have only FTTF, you will board before most people, but after the suite guests and the Diamond and Platinum guests.

 

Priority (VIP) check in and boarding is different than being able to go to your cabin when you board. This is where I think people get confused. If you board early (as we did), and you are a suite guest without FTTF, you will not be able to go directly to your cabin. You're on the ship, yes, but unlike the Diamond and Platinum guests, your cabin will not necessarily be ready and you'll lug your bags to the lobby or one of the open restaurants for lunch.

 

With FTTF, whether you are a suite guest or not, when you get on board, your suite/cabin should be ready. You can proceed to your deck and there will be a sign on the fire doors to the cabin hallways (the doors will be closed) that says something like "Diamond, Platinum and FTTF guests are welcome to go to their cabins."

 

Having a suite + FTTF = the full boarding perks afforded to Diamond and Platinum guests -- VIP check in, you're at the head of priority boarding and once on the ship, can go directly to your suite.

 

Having a suite and no FTTF = VIP check in, you're at the head of priority boarding but once on the ship cannot go directly to your suite.

 

Having FTTF and no suite = You have a separate check in from the regular guests, but it isn't VIP check in. You're in the second priority boarding group (after the suite guests, Diamond and Platinum guests), but once on, you can go directly to your cabin.

 

Of course, there are a few other perks that go with FTTF (some on Triumph, but mostly on other ships), but they aren't relevant to the question asked here.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Thank you...you confirmed what I had assumed based on what I have read. Unfortunately, it's too late for us to purchase FTTF as it is sold out. Boo! Oh well, we will just go have a few frosty beverages until our room is ready! Ha!

 

Thanks again!

[Luluwa]

What night is the Chef Table on Triumph? Thanks

 

 

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[ksh66]

Thursday is usually when they have the Chefs table

[ksh66]

Sorry I thought I was posting on my roll call. Was using my phone and never posted from there before. LOL :rolleyes: When we did it we left on a Monday for a five day and it was on Thursday night. Hope that helps.