FTTF - anyone else have issues?

[dkc1973]

I've done FTTF at Galveston in July and we did it at New Orleans last week and neither time was our room ready. In New Orleans they had nobody directing us to the FTTF line so we were in the regular line till I got ahold of someone to ask about it.

 

At the end, they had us meet in a lounge and escorted us out but none of the luggage was ready. We stood and waited 20 minutes while watching hundreds of self assist folks slide out of the terminal to their cars.

 

FTTF wasn't a lot of help.

[Colorado Kat]

That does sound disappointing. Did you speak to Guest Services about it? I think the real value of FTTF lies in being able to bypass tender lines.

 

I'm sorry they didn't do a good job for you. If you contact Carnival, they might refund you?

Edited December 6, 2013 by Colorado Kat

[eoconnor]

We used it on the Conquest of of Miami Thanksgiving week and it worked the way it is intended to. No problems.

Edited December 6, 2013 by eoconnor

[dkc1973]

I thought I'd put it in the survey they send. We actually had a lot of quirky issues (outlet dead, beds left as king, piece of shower fell off, no sink stopper) but we spoke to guest services and they were all fixed promptly.

 

Our main reason for FTTF is because of medical equipment my dad can't check so the idea of getting on and dropping it off was great for us.

 

Maybe we just have bad FTTF luck!

[chasinraynbowz]

We did the FTTF out of NOLA this past May and had no problems. We showed our paperwork to the ladies as we entered and were instructed where to go to get our cards and then where to be seated until we were called. When disembarking, we loved going to the lounge and waiting to be led off the ship to an awaiting taxi.

 

Maybe it was a bad day???

 

Sorry you had problems!!

[larkz]

I've done FTTF at Galveston in July and we did it at New Orleans last week and neither time was our room ready. In New Orleans they had nobody directing us to the FTTF line so we were in the regular line till I got ahold of someone to ask about it.

 

At the end, they had us meet in a lounge and escorted us out but none of the luggage was ready. We stood and waited 20 minutes while watching hundreds of self assist folks slide out of the terminal to their cars.

 

FTTF wasn't a lot of help.

 

It seems like the majority of posters who have used FTTF here have been very happy -- but it sounds like you got the double whammy! You definitely did not get what you paid for.

[carnival4me]

We purchased FTTF this past September out of NOLA and we were very pleased with the perks. We boarded with the Platinum and Diamond guests and went directly to our room. Our luggage was at the room upon arrival. We just purchased FTTF again for our September 2014 cruise on the Dream.

[Vitamin_Sea]

Did FTTF on our last Freedom cruise.

 

FTTF did work 100% but tell me... what is the BIG RUSH to do things?

 

It just is not worth it for us and will not do it again.:cool:

Edited December 8, 2013 by limoguy1

[lady_cruiser]

We did FTTF out of New Orleans this past September and had no problems. We were directed where to go, one of the first on the ship, and our cabin was ready with our luggage when we boarded the ship.

[MichelleChell]

We used it in March on the Magic and loved it. It was everything they offered and more.

Only issue we ran into was once on board the people directing you to the Lido had no clue about it. I'm sure they do now. We just went to our room anyway.

[Rudyard]

We used it last month and overall had a great experience. Like the OP, our cabin wasn't ready when we boarded though. All that was left to be done was to vacuum it, and our cabin steward couldn't apologize enough. I told him it was OK as all we wanted to do was drop our carry ons and go eat lunch (which we did) and we'd come back later. He more than made up for it with his service the rest of the cruise.

 

I can see how someone might be upset though if they wanted to start unpacking, or maybe lay down and rest if they'd had a long morning.

Edited December 8, 2013 by Rudyard

[leedm]

Since 2006 we have 21 carnival cruises and on our last CCL cruise our room was not ready when we boarded, I paid a lot more than you for that perk than you....... Sometimes things happen. The cabin stewards do the best that they can, but no one is perfect. Hope the rest of your cruise was great.

[lbfluffy]

We had it on the Breeze and loved it.

[dnmccoy]

Just got off the Conquest and had ZERO issues

[Cruizinman]

Since 2006 we have 21 carnival cruises and on our last CCL cruise our room was not ready when we boarded, I paid a lot more than you for that perk than you....... Sometimes things happen. The cabin stewards do the best that they can, but no one is perfect. Hope the rest of your cruise was great.

 

Same thing happen to us on the Breeze last month.

 

Since the new loyalty program rolled out I have noticed a decline to have

Platinum's rooms ready when boarding, Stewards are stressed as it is . You have to be Diamond now for that perk to take affect , or pay for FTTF.

[awhcruiser]

We beat the stampede to the lunch buffet...

Did FTTF on our last Freedom cruise.

 

FTTF did work 100% but tell me... what is the BIG RUSH to do things?

 

It just is not worth it for us and will not do it again.:cool:

[Vitamin_Sea]

We beat the stampede to the lunch buffet...

 

Not with FTTF you don't. FTTF does not cover the buffet.:cool:

[NikiiB]

I'm a first-time cruiser and I just used it on the Conquest. It was fantastic.

 

The ONLY issue was that our bags weren't at the room when we boarded. The room was ready otherwise, so I didn't care. We just went up to the Lido deck and hung out at Guy's Burger Joint :D. Once we were ready for dinner, we went back to the room, and they were right there at the door.

 

Everything else went as expected.

[Mysticks1]

Since 2006 we have 21 carnival cruises and on our last CCL cruise our room was not ready when we boarded, I paid a lot more than you for that perk than you....... Sometimes things happen. The cabin stewards do the best that they can, but no one is perfect. Hope the rest of your cruise was great.

 

I don't understand why what you paid for your perk has to do with it. Carnival now sells the FTTF program which advertises that your cabin will be ready when you board so they should deliver the service that they advertise. I don't doubt that the stewards are now very hard pressed to get all of the FTTF, Platinum and Diamond cabins ready by the time that boarding starts and I wouldn't blame them if my cabin wasn't ready. They should add staff to help with that but I think we all know that they won't do that.

[RWolver672]

It is very possible that one cabin steward could have every one of thieir cabins fall into the category of Platinum/Diamond or FTTF. Not probable, but still possible. In that case, there is no way they could get all of the cabins ready for early boarding.

[Cruizinman]

It is very possible that one cabin steward could have every one of thieir cabins fall into the category of Platinum/Diamond or FTTF. Not probable, but still possible. In that case, there is no way they could get all of the cabins ready for early boarding.

 

That's correct, platinum's are a dime a dozen these days and now with the added FTTF, their work load has tripled .

 

So now ,what should Carnival do in this over stressed situation, that they created.

[Cruizinman]

Drop FTTF.

 

That's not going to happen, that's income.

[mlrm]

Drop FTTF.

 

Or just drop FTTF benefits for platinum. After all having the room ready and getting bags early was just an add-on free benefit that didn't exist prior to FTTF.

[Mysticks1]

Or just drop FTTF benefits for platinum. After all having the room ready and getting bags early was just an add-on free benefit that didn't exist prior to FTTF.

 

This sounds more logical to me since they aren't making any money off of giving away those perks. The FTTF program seems to be selling out on every cruise by those who are posting it is sold out when they try to purchase it. And with the latest trends in lowering the Platinum/Diamond perks, they have already gone in the direction of attracting new cruisers rather than working to keep those that were loyal to them over the years. I think the this will continue as Carnival realizes their new niche is with those new to cruising due to their price point. It is all about the bottom line.

[My6Dogs]

We used it on the Conquest of of Miami Thanksgiving week and it worked the way it is intended to. No problems.

 

I agree! It worked fine on this cruise. Although when we were leaving the ship, I did notice the self assist people were leaving at the same time.

But our room was ready when we boarded and we were on the ship really fast once they started boarding!

That being said, I'm not sure I would do it again, unless we are going to a Tender port...

 

Mike