Suite vs FTTF

[travler27]

I'm in a suite. Is there any reason to buy FTTF?

[twinmom38]

hopefully someone else can verify.. i am also in a suite, but purchased the FTTF for my son who is sailing with us in a balcony cabin , mailnly so we can board at close to the same time.. its my understanding that priority embarkation is all we get, where he will get that, as well as priority tendering, steakhouse reservations, a priority line at guest services, and priority de-barkation. as well as his cabin being ready when he boards... so we will stash our stuff with his stuff after boarding. Carnival really needs to improve their perks for suite guests, IMHO...

[kmc500]

I'm in a suite. Is there any reason to buy FTTF?

 

So far on all of our Carnival cruises we have been in a suite. Until we became platinum last year, we also purchased FTTF as well when it became available. Even though you get priority boarding in a suite, your cabin is not necessarily ready when you board, nor do you get your luggage delivered right away, or get priority tendering.

 

All of those perquisites are the reason we paid for FTTF. Nice not to have to any longer.

 

Kevin C

Edited March 10, 2014 by kmc500

[xitappers2bx]

hopefully someone else can verify.. i am also in a suite, but purchased the FTTF for my son who is sailing with us in a balcony cabin , mailnly so we can board at close to the same time.. its my understanding that priority embarkation is all we get, where he will get that, as well as priority tendering, steakhouse reservations, a priority line at guest services, and priority de-barkation. as well as his cabin being ready when he boards... so we will stash our stuff with his stuff after boarding. Carnival really needs to improve their perks for suite guests, IMHO...

 

he could have boarded with you without the FTTF.

 

 

really, if you're in a suite, or traveling with people who are in a suite, there's no need for FTTF, unless you want to be in your cabin quicker and want the special line to stand in for the front desk.

 

the suite perks SUCK for carnival. after living the high life in a suite on holland america i couldn't bring myself to pay more than a grand extra for a suite. this is where carnival is failing miserably.

[twinmom38]

i had asked previously if he could board with us, and it seemed the overwhelming answer was no.. unless he was a minor child, but he is 33 and traveling with his wife.. but it's all good.. :)

[cruisenshop]

Last carnival cruise - I had a suite and FTTF other friends had FTTF. We all got on board at approximately the same time . My cabin was ready long before theirs and I was told it was because I had a suite - and we were all told to to get a refund for FTTF. No tender ports. No need for short customer service line. Room wasn't ready early... We all got our $ back. Obviously not a fan of FTTF and won't bother again.

[kamac56]

he could have boarded with you without the FTTF.

 

 

really, if you're in a suite, or traveling with people who are in a suite, there's no need for FTTF, unless you want to be in your cabin quicker and want the special line to stand in for the front desk.

 

the suite perks SUCK for carnival. after living the high life in a suite on holland america i couldn't bring myself to pay more than a grand extra for a suite. this is where carnival is failing miserably.

 

We had a suite last week on Legend and my daughters 27 and 30 were on my sail and sign card and still could not board with us. If I were to book another cruise thru carnival I would book a balcony and FTTF, those that purchased the FTTF were treated far better than those with suites.

[love2traveljen]

I'm in a suite, and there is one tender but we have a excursion. So would we get to tender first? Now I'm re thinking fftf

 

 

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[cccer]

I'm in a suite, and there is one tender but we have a excursion. So would we get to tender first? Now I'm re thinking fftf

 

 

Yeah, if your excursion is with Carnival, then priority tendering will not be an issue since they will tell you where and when to go.

[PresDuLac]

So far on all of our Carnival cruises we have been in a suite. Until we became platinum last year, we also purchased FTTF as well when it became available. Even though you get priority boarding in a suite, your cabin is not necessarily ready when you board, nor do you get your luggage delivered right away, or get priority tendering.

 

All of those perquisites are the reason we paid for FTTF. Nice not to have to any longer.

 

Kevin C

 

This is correct and also my experience too.

Got a way to go until I'm Platinum so I'll continue to buy FTTF.

[FloridaMommyof3]

i had asked previously if he could board with us, and it seemed the overwhelming answer was no.. unless he was a minor child, but he is 33 and traveling with his wife.. but it's all good.. :)

 

I cruised with my mom and niece last year. I had FTTF and she did not. She did not board with me. I zipped through the line and she was on an hour later.

[ShakyBeef]

hopefully someone else can verify.. i am also in a suite, but purchased the FTTF for my son who is sailing with us in a balcony cabin , mailnly so we can board at close to the same time.. its my understanding that priority embarkation is all we get, where he will get that, as well as priority tendering, steakhouse reservations, a priority line at guest services, and priority de-barkation. as well as his cabin being ready when he boards... so we will stash our stuff with his stuff after boarding. Carnival really needs to improve their perks for suite guests, IMHO...

 

 

Suite guests get priority debarkation as well as priority embarkation.:)

 

I completely agree: Carnival's "suite perks" suck. Sure, they're the cheapest suites on the seas, but come on, Carnival! You could give those of us spending the extra $$$ a little more without hurting the bottom line too much.:rolleyes:

 

(Disclaimer: since my last cruise was on RCI in a Grand Suite, with real suite perks I may be a bit spoiled.:o But in my defense, I thought Carnival's "suite perks" sucked before experiencing real suite perks.)

[abisutton]

I had a gs in january, with a long tender, although not long wait! Fttf is pointless unless you want to spend $50 to wait in a shorter line in the guest services, but you can call them from your cabin, and they will tell you the best time to come... They were right 100% of the time. Also, not only was my cabin ready at 1200, so was my teenagers inside across the hall! Fttf is easy $$$ for carnival, and I really love carnival!! Don't do it

 

 

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[dorisis]

Suites on RC and Princess have MUCH better perks.

[CrusinCyndi]

Suites on RC and Princess have MUCH better perks.

 

Are their prices higher ?

[Bulldog3777]

Suite guests get priority debarkation as well as priority embarkation.:)

 

I completely agree: Carnival's "suite perks" suck. Sure, they're the cheapest suites on the seas, but come on, Carnival! You could give those of us spending the extra $$$ a little more without hurting the bottom line too much.:rolleyes:

 

(Disclaimer: since my last cruise was on RCI in a Grand Suite, with real suite perks I may be a bit spoiled.:o But in my defense, I thought Carnival's "suite perks" sucked before experiencing real suite perks.)

 

Not on the Elation in May. We were in a suite and Plat. We were first on and first off. Friends were only suite. First on but definitely not even close to first off.

[irishnyc]

Are their prices higher ?

 

Indeed they are. You get what you pay for.

 

OP, there is no such thing as priority steakhouse reservations. Unless you have a tender port or your son plans to be at guest services a lot, FTTF is probably not worth it. You've got a long vacation together on board, is boarding together really worth $50? When we cruised with family we all boarded as we arrived and just met on board.

[marshhawk]

#1-what ship are you on? Do you have tender ports?

I have done FTTF two times, once on the Fascination and once on the Elation.

Fascination-we boarded immediately-our cabin was ready-our luggage was there-and when we were tendering (with no excursion) we went down to the boarding level via an elevator that was being held just for priority-when we needed guest services, we had a personal line. Fantastic.

Elation-we had to wait to board (our handicapped friends came on the same time we did) our cabin wasn't ready-our luggage showed up around 5-and there were no tender ports (we knew this in advance) When we complained to guest services in our little private line, we were told that Carnival does not promise that your luggage would be there when you arrive. BUT we were refunded the charge because our cabin wasn't ready. It was kind of like going through the Spanish inquisition, but they checked with our steward, and he admitted that the cabin wasn't ready. We complained on day one, and we got an OBC for the 50.00 on our last day at sea-hence I have more pictures from that cruise than I normally would.:D

What is important to you-if the only thing important is getting on early, then no, I wouldn't spend the money-if you are tendering with no excursions, it paid for itself.

 

I booked FTTF for our next cruise, but DH's health has gone down hill and he is not cruising. However the person I am cruising with is mobility challanged and she will love being able to get to her cabin and lying down for a while once we get on board.

Edited June 25, 2014 by marshhawk

[ShakyBeef]

Not on the Elation in May. We were in a suite and Plat. We were first on and first off. Friends were only suite. First on but definitely not even close to first off.

 

Has this changed or do you think it was just a fluke on your sailing? All the times I've been in a suite on Carnival, I've been assigned (according to the letter on my bed and my luggage tags) to the VIP debarkation lounge along with the Platinums and Diamonds. When the time came, we were all escorted as a group to the check-out card-bingy thingy at the ship's exit.

 

If they've taken priority debarkation away from suites, they're really being stingy with the "perks".:mad:

[winddawn]

Has this changed or do you think it was just a fluke on your sailing? All the times I've been in a suite on Carnival, I've been assigned (according to the letter on my bed and my luggage tags) to the VIP debarkation lounge along with the Platinums and Diamonds. When the time came, we were all escorted as a group to the check-out card-bingy thingy at the ship's exit.

 

If they've taken priority debarkation away from suites, they're really being stingy with the "perks".:mad:

On my last cruise in March, the Carnival representative divided everyone into groups in the lounge we used for priority debarkation. Diamonds were debarked first, then Platinum, then FTTF, then suites. It was very orderly and respectful.

[winddawn]

Indeed they are. You get what you pay for.

 

OP, there is no such thing as priority steakhouse reservations. Unless you have a tender port or your son plans to be at guest services a lot, FTTF is probably not worth it. You've got a long vacation together on board, is boarding together really worth $50? When we cruised with family we all boarded as we arrived and just met on board.

Actually Carnival's website states:

 

Dining Reservations

Priority Main Dining Room and Specialty Restaurant reservations (excluding Your Time Dining).

 

under the FTTF details:

 

http://www.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/101031

 

The steakhouse is a specialty restaurant.

[tootsiescurly]

hopefully someone else can verify.. i am also in a suite, but purchased the FTTF for my son who is sailing with us in a balcony cabin , mailnly so we can board at close to the same time.. its my understanding that priority embarkation is all we get, where he will get that, as well as priority tendering, steakhouse reservations, a priority line at guest services, and priority de-barkation. as well as his cabin being ready when he boards... so we will stash our stuff with his stuff after boarding. Carnival really needs to improve their perks for suite guests, IMHO...

 

I should not have wasted so much money on Carnival cruises. Those are all the benefits Platinum guests receive. Just another reason to sail other cruise lines!!!

[ShakyBeef]

On my last cruise in March, the Carnival representative divided everyone into groups in the lounge we used for priority debarkation. Diamonds were debarked first, then Platinum, then FTTF, then suites. It was very orderly and respectful.

 

Huh. That's different. But sounds like it works well. I wouldn't have a problem with that - as a suite guest, I don't mind going after the Diamonds and the Platinums. But it bugs me just a bit to be bumped below FTTF. Not a big deal. Priority debark is not what I paid all the extra money for. But it would be nice to be valued a little bit more by Carnival for doing so.

 

Oh well. I am going to enjoy this Carnival cruise in my first VS. Then I'm going to go back to enjoying cruising on RCI, in a GS - racking up double loyalty points for each cruise (I'm going to be 10 points past Platinum after my second cruise:)) and enjoying real suite perks. And yes, I pay a lot more money for that RCI GS than I do for a comparable Carnival suite. But the experience is so much nicer, it's worth it. And RCI really does seem to value their repeat and big-spending customers, unlike Carnival.;)

[WKUTopperFan]

I booked a cruise on the Paradise in a Grand Suite sailing on June 28 two weeks ago. As a lowly Gold VIFP, and enjoying FTTF on the Sunshine in Europe last summer,I have purchased it again. Frankly getting my bags quickly and having a room ready upon embarkation is well worth 50 bucks! I'll let you guys know if I feel I wasted my money post cruise late next week.

Edited June 26, 2014 by WKUTopperFan

[2Shoes2Go]

On my last cruise in March, the Carnival representative divided everyone into groups in the lounge we used for priority debarkation. Diamonds were debarked first, then Platinum, then FTTF, then suites. It was very orderly and respectful.

 

Could you please tell me which ship had this great organization for debarkation? I have only been on one that does this well. It certainly would give me reason to consider spending time onboard this one! :)