I got fftf ... will be respectful of Platinum

[Jldevlin]

We are on the Conquest in February ... it is b2b ... we snagged the same aft cabin for both legs ..... and now we have fftf !!!!!!!! So the start to our wonderful cruise will be better now that we can get to our cabin early and drop off our stuff.

 

And I promise .. I really,really promise to not attempt to beat the platinum people to the front of the line .... I will not trample, nor run in front of you ... ever....Okay?? Friends now???

[chocolate melting cake]

We are on the Conquest in February ... it is b2b ... we snagged the same aft cabin for both legs ..... and now we have fftf !!!!!!!! So the start to our wonderful cruise will be better now that we can get to our cabin early and drop off our stuff.

 

And I promise .. I really,really promise to not attempt to beat the platinum people to the front of the line .... I will not trample, nor run in front of you ... ever....Okay?? Friends now???

 

You are not only friends, you are pals, buddies, traveling companions! I think you are on the same two legs as us--the 2nd and 9th? I saw your name on the "roll call" site. We're platinum traveling with other platinum and diamond friends, and believe me---we are in NO rush and can only welcome those of you who have paid for this "perk" hope to see you onboard!

[GottaLuvCruising]

It's Carnival's responsibility, not yours or anyone else who chooses to purchase a benefit they offer. I don't think Platinum folks (speaking for myself, but assuming for others) resent the guests who take Carnival up on the offer. We just want Carnival to respect the benefit they've told us that we earned.

 

Have a great cruise!

[okgirl]

I have not found FTTF guests to be any obstruction in the boarding process. In Miami, Galveston and NOLA the FTTF people are held in a completely separate part of the terminal boarding lounge and have been prevented from boarding until all the VIP guests have boarded.

[FloridaMomma]

I feel the same way. We have FTTF for our Dream cruise in March. I'm so paranoid about not stepping on any toes!

[Jldevlin]

I feel the same way. We have FTTF for our Dream cruise in March. I'm so paranoid about not stepping on any toes!

 

I know !!!! I get that not every platinum cruiser gets irritated with the fftf people lol ... and we thank you for that !!! We are trying really hard to get there too lol ....and I understand that they paid a lot more than the 50 I did to get on board early. This was a little tongue in cheek post but I really do mean it.

[kona_wahine]

The only issue I had last February was I was in guest services line. After I was helped I heard the guy behind me complain about me. The attendant had to explain to him I was in the correct line and had the right to be helped. I just shook my head and walked away. It's things like that you can't help, or go in the long general line. (Which I wasn't about to do)

[grumplin]

I almost wonder if I am going to have someone want to kick us out of the lounge for not being platinum after seeing some of the views here. We get VIP because we booked 2 grand suites for us and the kids. Also booked FTTF. :eek:

 

In all honesty we had FTTF last time too and everything was very fast and orderly. We had no waiting and we never even saw the lounge because we boarded right away.

Edited January 12, 2014 by grumplin

[grumplin]

The only issue I had last February was I was in guest services line. After I was helped I heard the guy behind me complain about me. The attendant had to explain to him I was in the correct line and had the right to be helped. I just shook my head and walked away. It's things like that you can't help, or go in the long general line. (Which I wasn't about to do)

 

Do you know what makes people think you are in the wrong line? Are they looking over your shoulder at your card??

[cruizinisthebest]

I feel the same way. We have FTTF for our Dream cruise in March. I'm so paranoid about not stepping on any toes!

 

Not me. Because I'm mannerable no matter what line I'm in regardless of how or why I'm there. Nobody is better than anyone and what everyone should do is be respectful of one another. This is exactly what happened when we boarded last year having FTTF. There were no issues AT ALL. It's Carnival's job to make sure the boarding process runs smoothly. All I have to do is bring my home training. I don't care what color your s&s card is. I'm not peering over to see or listening while you're checking in. I'm minding my business and don't want anyone in mine.

Edited January 12, 2014 by cruizinisthebest

[chasinraynbowz]

We had FTTF on our Elation cruise and have it again for our upcoming Dream cruise. I don't care what others think. We have paid for a benefit and we plan on using it.

 

We will get on the ship when we are told we can get on the ship. We will stand in whatever line we are able to stand in (if needed) and if anyone wants to complain, so be it. If they want to fuss and complain and have a miserable time, then they can. They are NOT going to ruin our cruise.

 

:D

[Ehpride]

I bought FTTF. I'm not a pushy person so I'm not going to be pushing my way in anywhere no matter how I got the benefits. We're all going to get on the ship. I just don't want to haul my carrion around at lunch! I also don't have a habit of letting anybody see my card unless I'm actively using it. So unless you're right on top of me in the guest services line (please don't as I like my bubble), you won't be able to tell if I'm platinum or not.

[cruisinqt]

I personally LOVED having FTTF on our Dream cruise last year. :D We were lead past long winding lines of people and right onto the ship when we boarded. We figure it saved us a good 30-45 minutes. And getting to walk right to our cabin and drop off our stuff was great. While on board, the platinum/FTTF line at the pursers desk usually had no one in line and I just walked right up and got help immediately. It was so neat not having to wait in line with at least a dozen people in front of you like we usually had to. And on the last night of the cruise the line at the pursers desk was a nightmare, but the platinum/FTTF line had only 3 people in it. :) Debarkation was very quick and easy too. FTTF was the best $50 I've ever spent. Even my cheap tightwad husband agreed to getting it for our upcoming cruise this summer. Hope this helps. ;)

[twinmom38]

agree with several of you.. first of all, this is a privledge for Platinum members, of which I am a long way from achieveing. That being said, Carnival has chosen to offer the FTTF, and we have chosen to purchase it, for whatever reason. The responsibility rests on the employees at the ports.(so ultimatley Carnival) They should be diligent in the way they board the ship. I have read that people cannot hear the announcements, etc. These issues should be addressed. I think I would feel the same as some of you platinums, just as I know I will feel if, as a suite passenger, others without priority rush in front of me... It's not the "few minutes" that would bother me.. just the principle.

[SKeighley]

I know !!!! I get that not every platinum cruiser gets irritated with the fftf people lol ... and we thank you for that !!! We are trying really hard to get there too lol ....and I understand that they paid a lot more than the 50 I did to get on board early. This was a little tongue in cheek post but I really do mean it.

 

I am a platimun cruiser with 94 days cruising. I would purchase FTTF if I were not Platimun. I have not had any FTTF be rude to us at all. They only sell so many so what is the big deal. Enjoy

[MuffyKismet]

MY DH and I are Platinum and our friends we new to sailing, we got onto the ship exactly the same time, At most ports they do a really good job of organizing and getting people boarded very quickly! We did get right into our room and our luggage was there soon after ( I do like not waiting for our luggage). But then again Our friends luggage arrived nearly as quickly as ours did!!

 

We utilize other perks of Platinum that are not part of FTTF , free laundry, free gifts and free appetizer and dessert plate delivered to the room . We very rarely have to go to the pursers desk anyway so going the the Platinum line for that doesn't really matter either, although I have seen very long lines in the regular lines sometimes.

 

Again, I really don't see a darn bit of difference and even our friends that don't purchase FTTF get on and get their luggage nearly the same time we do. I'm not sure why anyone would want to pay for it other then putting your things down in your room a little bit earlier. But hey if someone wants to pay $50 per stateroom for it then so be it, I am more then happy to share the line with them that I acquired for free. At the end of the day, we are ALL on a CRUISE VACATION....don't sweat the small stuff LOL

[kona_wahine]

Do you know what makes people think you are in the wrong line? Are they looking over your shoulder at your card??

 

I'm not sure, maybe as I was leaving and turned around he saw my card was red and not platinum. Trust me, I heard him complain and I heard the lady at GS tell him I was FTTF. Next time I would keep my card in my pocket and just show it when I got up there.

[camarowesley]

It's Carnival's responsibility, not yours or anyone else who chooses to purchase a benefit they offer. I don't think Platinum folks (speaking for myself, but assuming for others) resent the guests who take Carnival up on the offer. We just want Carnival to respect the benefit they've told us that we earned.

 

Have a great cruise!

AGREE 100 percent! It should be up to Carnival personnel to monitor and control the situation. Sadly this doesn't happen often. In Miami last November everyone in the VIP room boarded at one time, and yes it included people that purchased FTTF. I don't blame them, I would have done the same thing. Carnival needs a better system to prevent that from happening.

[camarowesley]

I'm not sure, maybe as I was leaving and turned around he saw my card was red and not platinum. Trust me, I heard him complain and I heard the lady at GS tell him I was FTTF. Next time I would keep my card in my pocket and just show it when I got up there.

I've never shown my SS card at guest services. Never been asked for it either.

[cruizinisthebest]

I'm not sure, maybe as I was leaving and turned around he saw my card was red and not platinum. Trust me, I heard him complain and I heard the lady at GS tell him I was FTTF. Next time I would keep my card in my pocket and just show it when I got up there.

 

You shouldn't have to worry about when you choose to show your card at any place on the ship. That's ridiculous.

[krisbtr]

From my experience on the elation...embarkation was a Little faster using FTTF. LOVED being able to access our rooms right away. Didn't have to lug around our water, cokes, and wine. Debarkation was the best. We didn't want to self assist, but wanted to get off the ship early. We waited in a lounge, then escorted off the ship...only took about 10 minutes. I would purchase FTTF again, in a heartbeat!

[CatlinSTJ]

From my experience on the elation...embarkation was a Little faster using FTTF. LOVED being able to access our rooms right away. Didn't have to lug around our water, cokes, and wine. Debarkation was the best. We didn't want to self assist, but wanted to get off the ship early. We waited in a lounge, then escorted off the ship...only took about 10 minutes. I would purchase FTTF again, in a heartbeat!

 

Exactly! When we got checked in the boarding had already started so we were able to go straight on the ship and into our cabins. Awesome! Loved getting on early, unloading everything, meeting our steward Izzy, and then exploring the ship before it got crazy. DH was the one who insisted on doing it again for our next cruise! LOL

[Kudos2Fly]

I turn Platinum on our Dec cruise. I was so close, I only had one more cruise to go before the dead line. And of course I went for it and got my Platinum. My husband turn Platinum two cruises before me.

 

But if I wasn't so close I would pay for FTTF. I like the benefits mainly for embarkation and debarkation... Hubby and I were deciding on weather to carry our stuff off the ship. So we gave it a shot and let them take our luggage off... That was so great we were the first ones off. We didn't have to lug our luggage down stairs. I think we were off the ship by 7:40. :D

 

I didn't notice any problems with Platinum verses FTTF people. And frankly I wasn't paying that close an attention. I went to the guest services desk more then normal on this cruise for a few reasons. But I normally don't do that. But every time I did that, there wasn't that many people in front of me. I did see a few FTTF people a few times in the Platinum line and it never bother me. The only thing that bother me was how LOOOONG some people can take! Even in the non Platinum line.... At times you probably could see grass grow faster... :eek:

 

My hubby and I now love getting to the ship early. We like getting to our rooms and taking a "nap" before going to lunch or walking around the ship. And its nice to be on board early and not carrying your luggage around. Although last time our luggage did not come early. It frankly was the latest we have ever got our luggage. We had the VIP tags on so don't know what happen there.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Kudos2Fly

[Cruising Rules]

It's Carnival's responsibility, not yours or anyone else who chooses to purchase a benefit they offer. I don't think Platinum folks (speaking for myself, but assuming for others) resent the guests who take Carnival up on the offer. We just want Carnival to respect the benefit they've told us that we earned.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

Bravo ... Well said and oh so true!

[kona_wahine]

I've never shown my SS card at guest services. Never been asked for it either.

 

So, are you saying that non platinum and non FTTF can get in the VIP line and not be asked to see their card? I find that hard to believe. Wouldn't everybody just get in that line and bypass the general line?