Faster to the Fun- is it worth it based on my room location?

[blnorman]

Hello all,

I am debating on if I should purchase the Faster to the Fun option for my upcoming cruise. I need your help in deciding if it is worth it for several reasons. Help me out Cruise Critic Experts!!!!

 

1st concern - We are driving in that morning, so I am uncertain if we will be there early enough to be some of the first to board the ship. I plan on being there early enough to board with the first few, but I am uncertain of what time I will exactly be there so being some of the first to board is 50/50 for me as a deciding factor.

 

2nd concern - Debarkation process - this is another reason I wanted to consider booking the faster to the fun, if it gets us off the ship quicker and ready to hit the road when we return. I'm not rushing my vacation away, but the though of having to sit for hours on a ship to debark is horrifying. I really think this one of the amazing benefits of the FTTF which makes it worth the purchase. So this is a pretty important element in my decision factors.

 

3rd concern - Ship boarding and Room Location- I am R1 (yeap- I know...don't remind me), but I am going to have an awesome cruise no matter what location I am in so let's not discuss the motion or noise associated with the room number. LOL. (smile). Seriously - I am wondering where do they board the ship? If they board the ship from the front of the Riviera deck- then my room location is an advantage for me during embarkation, debarkation, and port stops, ......right? I don't know how they disembark a ship. Do they go front to back outside of the FTTF reservations?

 

4th concern - From what I am told the Fascination is not a large ship like some of the others. So the boarding process may be a lot easier than the larger ships that Carnival offers.

 

5th concern - I saw something about "Tenders" when I was reading reviews on FTTF, but I didn't know what that is.

 

So do yall think it's worth it?

[riffatsea]

You have to decide if it is "worth it" to you.

We love it!

DH hates waiting in lines!

We are on early , can drop bags in our room and get to the Lido for lunch when it is quiet and few folks are on board. Can you drive to the port by 11AM or earlier??

Your room location has nothing to do with when you board or get off at ports!

"Tenders" are small boats that you use at some ports to get to land. These are ports where the ship is too large to actually dock so it stays out in the ocean and the small boats take you to shore. I don't know your itinerary so cannot tell you if you have a tender port.

As for getting off the ship, if you can carry your own luggage off, with FTTF you can literally be the first person off the ship! You get a secret location to meet with the Diamond and Platinum folks and then you are led off the ship before any other group.

You'll have to decide if what I've described makes FTTF a good deal for you or not.

[Herbaltees]

Hello all,

I am debating on if I should purchase the Faster to the Fun option for my upcoming cruise. I need your help in deciding if it is worth it for several reasons. Help me out Cruise Critic Experts!!!!

 

1st concern - We are driving in that morning, so I am uncertain if we will be there early enough to be some of the first to board the ship. I plan on being there early enough to board with the first few, but I am uncertain of what time I will exactly be there so being some of the first to board is 50/50 for me as a deciding factor.

 

2nd concern - Debarkation process - this is another reason I wanted to consider booking the faster to the fun, if it gets us off the ship quicker and ready to hit the road when we return. I'm not rushing my vacation away, but the though of having to sit for hours on a ship to debark is horrifying. I really think this one of the amazing benefits of the FTTF which makes it worth the purchase. So this is a pretty important element in my decision factors.

 

3rd concern - Ship boarding and Room Location- I am R1 (yeap- I know...don't remind me), but I am going to have an awesome cruise no matter what location I am in so let's not discuss the motion or noise associated with the room number. LOL. (smile). Seriously - I am wondering where do they board the ship? If they board the ship from the front of the Riviera deck- then my room location is an advantage for me during embarkation, debarkation, and port stops, ......right? I don't know how they disembark a ship. Do they go front to back outside of the FTTF reservations?

 

4th concern - From what I am told the Fascination is not a large ship like some of the others. So the boarding process may be a lot easier than the larger ships that Carnival offers.

 

5th concern - I saw something about "Tenders" when I was reading reviews on FTTF, but I didn't know what that is.

 

So do yall think it's worth it?

 

Initial Embarkation boarding is usually on Main deck (3). You walk into the main lobby. you won't really have access to you rooms, because the door in the hall leading to your room will be closed.

 

Boarding/ Disembarking at port is done on Deck 0, which means you can get there and get off/on faster than anyone else.

[floridabum]

if you have carry on bags or you are carrying wine, soda or water it is nice to go straight to your cabin to drop off stuff before lunch or to explore the ship. We drive to our ports also and I have even caught a little nap before we had to go to the muster drill. Without FTTF you it will be around 1:00 to 1:30 before you can get to your cabin.... sometimes sooner. Those reasons alone are worth it to my wife and I.

FTTF usually sells out quick so don't procrastinate if you are leaning towards buying it.

[marshhawk]

If you have the opportunity to purchase FTTF then do so.

 

the longest I have ever waited to board a ship was the Fascination-bad storm, high tides, all prolonged getting on board, put it this way, there was no lunch on the lido, we all -everyone -on the ship ended up with anytime dining that night. but the platinum and the FTTF folks were on board calling us peons on their phones to tell us about where they were on the ship.

 

the shortest amount of time waiting to board was the Fascination with FTTF!

 

Unless you are cruising Freeport and Nassau, you will be using a tender to get to a private island. FTTF allows you to go to guest services and get priority to board that tender before the masses do, they hold an elevator just for FTTF folks, and you ride down and get on the ship, while everyone else just gawks:eek:. Does nothing for you on the way back to the ship. And if you have a paid excursion, they will assign you a time to be at your tender.

 

They do not board a ship based on what level your cabin is on, the advantages of a cabin on the Riviera, is that you are closer to your cabin when you board. Back from an excursion, cold and wet, well you just walk up one level and head down the hall to your cabin. That is one main love of the Riviera.

 

If you have a problem or question, you do not have to wait with the masses, you have a priority service desk, which for us has paid off repeatedly since we started paying for FTTF.

 

As far as getting off the ship? I have never been in a rush, and since my flight is 7 hours after docking, I wont be in a rush to get off on my next cruise either.

[bury me at sea]

One of the advantages of FTTF is that you will have access to your cabin immediately. If the hall doors are still closed there will be a sign advising platinum, diamond and FTTF to enter.

 

After reading many many of these "is it worth it" threads I sometimes want to say no. If you're not sure you want it leave it for those who really want it, since they sell such a limited number. So far I have always gotten it but I book very early.

[Bluemoon319]

Are you looking to get off the ship earlier, or quicker? If you are looking to get off the ship early & quickly, then FTTF will do the trick. If you are looking to get off quickly, but not at the very beginning of the debarkation process, then it will do you no good. I am never anxious to end my cruise before I have to & like taking time to eat a nice breakfast on the last day. Because I am Platinum, I always get a "1" for debarkation, which is right after the self-debarkation passengers. Since I am not ready to leave the ship that early, when I do get ready to leave, I am always placed at the end of the line.

 

As stated previously, if you are leaning towards getting the FTTF, don't hesitate because they sell out very quickly. I've seen it happen in less that 1/2 hour before.

[bplazo]

I would rather have the money in my pocket. Waste of $50.00

[GTO-Girl]

If they had offered Faster to the Fun before I became Platinum I would have purchased it in a heartbeat!!

 

The access to your room upon boarding, the priority tenders and priority embark/debark is so worth it.....IMO.

 

Enjoy your cruise!!!

[RuthlessBoss]

I would rather have the money in my pocket. Waste of $50.00

 

For a ship that size and itinerary, nope. So what if you have a carryon for an hour or two? That's the way is was historically done before FTTF. Get in breakfast, watch everyone frantically trying to get off. End your vacation in relaxed mode, not in hurry up mode.

[nchikk]

For us it was worth it. We didn't visit a tender port. But we were on board just after the Platinums and suites. Our debark was Zone 2. And we liked that we could use the Plat/Diamond line at the Purser's desk...I mean Guest Services desk and didn't spend so much time in line.

[jujibee]

Had FTTF for the first time on the Sunshine. Boarding started at 1045a. Went straight to our cabin, dropped our bags and were having our first Guy's Burger by 1115a. Absolutely worth $50 for us! I'll do it every cruise if I can get it.

 

 

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[skyeman27]

Yes, it is worth it especially in Jacksonville port as the lines for check in get very long quickly. Very glad that I had it on my last Fascination cruise...

[YorN]

I would rather have the money in my pocket. Waste of $50.00

 

Good for you? :confused:

[Ehpride]

Just so you know, aside from priority, boarding is first come first serve. The earlier you get there, the lower your zone number. Same for getting off in ports.

 

It's not like an airplane :)

 

 

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[Domino D]

We have always drove, but honestly we always get in the day before. We have never done FTTF, partly because we normally have 2 cabins and my wife still has the first quarter the tooth fairy left her, and partly because we have never had a problem.

 

Our last two cruises (no problems on the others, but can't really remember the timings), we arrived at port between 11:30 and 12:00 (email from Carnival? What email from Carnival?). Checked in with no wait. Breeze went straight on board, our cabin happened to be ready, we were sitting at Serenity at 12:30. On Conquest, we did have to sit and wait for our zone to be called (2). It was maybe 15-30 minutes. Again we were on before 1 pm, and our cabin was ready. Maybe we have just been lucky, I don't know.

 

We don't mind disembarking late. We usually take our carry on's, go to breakfast. Sit in the lobby and watch the turmoil. Sometimes we wait out the crowds and leave next to last. Again, we are driving, so I don't see a reason to rush. Seems like people with flights have more issues, and I don't want to be caught in the storm.

 

I've never thought about the tender/excursion part. There are times I might enjoy getting off before the great stairwell line up, but I don't know if its worth $50 to me. I can tell you who isn't worth $50 to, and I'm just not charging that hill. I'll save those chips for my casino fund, thermal suite, an excursion to The Baths, or something equally awesome.

[Domino D]

To those of you who have more experience, is it more important at certain ports?

 

Our last two cruises have been out of Miami. Do some ports board passengers quicker than others?

[Rh2458]

We have always drove, but honestly we always get in the day before. We have never done FTTF, partly because we normally have 2 cabins and my wife still has the first quarter the tooth fairy left her, and partly because we have never had a problem.

 

Our last two cruises (no problems on the others, but can't really remember the timings), we arrived at port between 11:30 and 12:00 (email from Carnival? What email from Carnival?). Checked in with no wait. Breeze went straight on board, our cabin happened to be ready, we were sitting at Serenity at 12:30. On Conquest, we did have to sit and wait for our zone to be called (2). It was maybe 15-30 minutes. Again we were on before 1 pm, and our cabin was ready. Maybe we have just been lucky, I don't know.

 

We don't mind disembarking late. We usually take our carry on's, go to breakfast. Sit in the lobby and watch the turmoil. Sometimes we wait out the crowds and leave next to last. Again, we are driving, so I don't see a reason to rush. Seems like people with flights have more issues, and I don't want to be caught in the storm.

 

I've never thought about the tender/excursion part. There are times I might enjoy getting off before the great stairwell line up, but I don't know if its worth $50 to me. I can tell you who isn't worth $50 to, and I'm just not charging that hill. I'll save those chips for my casino fund, thermal suite, an excursion to The Baths, or something equally awesome.

How did you know your cabin was ready? I ask because last August there were signs blocking the elevators as well as near the stairways that said rooms were not available until I believe 1:30.

[Domino D]

How did you know your cabin was ready? I ask because last August there were signs blocking the elevators as well as near the stairways that said rooms were not available until I believe 1:30.

 

Yeah that's what I mean by maybe we just got lucky. We got on, took a walk to our cabin, and it was ready. Both times our steward was in the hall, introduced himself and welcomed us. I think maybe on the Breeze the doors from the elevator lobby were closed. I don't remember a sign, but I might have missed it. Definitely no one stopped us, or gave us any indication we shouldn't be there yet.

 

Honestly we check the majority of our bags, so if they were not ready, we would take our two carry on's to the restaurant with us (like when we disembark).

 

I'm beginning to worry that maybe I'm due for a longer delay this time. Better bring an extra book.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Domino D

[angiem0217]

Worth every penny!!!

 

 

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[Athankfulheart]

FTTF saved our bacon on our last cruise. There was a known delay in boarding due to a repair or inspection that required powering down the ship after the previous passengers disembarked. They gave a time for boarding but it was only an estimate. We drove to port and arrived at 12:30 to masses of people like I have neved seen before. This was at PC and not only was the building full, but lines snaked back and forth in front of the terminal as well. We walked to the right , around the outside of the lines and straight up the escalator to the VIP desk. The only time we stopped moving from car to cabin was 10min or so to show docs at the desk and that was for 10 people! We missed our tendered port due to weather as well as Roatan. We did use early de-bark and we used the short line at GS a bunch because we had to deal with our kids spending accts, but FTTF paid for itself before we even boarded the ship :)

[loveysbydesign]

So we're cruising on the Breeze for the 1st time next month and am wondering what the typical times are for debarkation? When we cruised disney we could leave whatever time we wanted.

Although FTTF is sold out, so I may not be able to get it anyway.

Edited October 9, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[Jillbu]

We feel like we won the jackpot when we can pay $50.00 for FTTF. It's like being royalty, sign on the door saying no entrance? Not for us, line 50 folks deep at Guest Services, let me skip over here to the empty line, tender to HMC and pick the perfect spot first, ok. And it goes on and on, do I feel a bit entitled, I do but on my vacation, I want to feel special even if I have to pay for it. We will never sail without FTTF if it's available!

 

 

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[Budget Queen]

Yeah that's what I mean by maybe we just got lucky. We got on, took a walk to our cabin, and it was ready. Both times our steward was in the hall, introduced himself and welcomed us. I think maybe on the Breeze the doors from the elevator lobby were closed. I don't remember a sign, but I might have missed it. Definitely no one stopped us, or gave us any indication we shouldn't be there yet.

 

Honestly we check the majority of our bags, so if they were not ready, we would take our two carry on's to the restaurant with us (like when we disembark).

 

I'm beginning to worry that maybe I'm due for a longer delay this time. Better bring an extra book.

 

Your cabin may have been "ready" but you ignored the no access to you. The halls are closed off for a reason, it is a very busy time with getting rooms ready and delivering luggage. That staff is not going to "police" the area but it is closed until they announce it is open for the general passengers. You also are directed to the lido deck and told this when you board by the staff welcoming you on board. The "exception" is for the platinums/diamonds and FTTF only.

[Javelina87]

We were on the Elation in August with 2 of my grandchildren. It was the 1st time we purchased FTTF. Having the grandkids with us, it was great, but I'm not sure if I would get it just for my husband and me. Almost everything I enjoyed about it (early boarding, room ready early, etc) was because we had kids along. Only you can decide if it is a good VALUE for you.