Is FTTF worth it?

[Kerri7868]

First time cruisers here, 2 adults and 3 kids. We'll be paying $120 (2 cabins) and I'm wondering if it's worth the price. I don't think we'll be in any enormous rush to get embark or off at the ports. Am I wrong?

[gtouch]

First time cruisers here, 2 adults and 3 kids. We'll be paying $120 (2 cabins) and I'm wondering if it's worth the price. I don't think we'll be in any enormous rush to get embark or off at the ports. Am I wrong?

 

Only you can decide if its worth it. You will see lots of people who have used it in the past and don't want to cruise without it and love it. Others will tell you it's a waste of money. My wife and I get it as the few dollars it cost vs the perks we receive we feel it is worth it. To others their dollars are more important than their time and that is just as valid. If you do or don't get it I think you cruise won't be ruined. Happy Sailing.

[CAnative1]

Only you can decide if its worth it.

. Happy Sailing.

 

 

This....

[Vitamin_Sea]

Its worth it if you rather not wait on lines. especially the busy GS desk

 

If your not in a rush, you dont need it

Edited August 18, 2015 by Vitamin_Sea

[PortSideCruzan]

 

Hi Kerri :)

 

In regards to FTTF being worth it or not is an individual decision.

 

One must evaluate the benefits of FTTF to see if it will be beneficial to you personally, the people cruising with you & your sailing.

 

FTTF Benefits:

 

1) Priority security, check-in and express Boarding

 

2) Access to your stateroom when you board

 

3) Express luggage delivery to your stateroom

 

4) A dedicated (4-digit phone line) & (priority line) at guest services

 

5) Priority dinner reservations

 

6) Priority tender (Escorted from guest services to next tender)

 

7) Debarkation 'choices' (Early) 'OR' (Late) Disembarkation

 

For detailed FTTF info and benefits explained click on the link below:

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/shipboard_knowledge/FastertotheFunPackage.htm

 

Have a wonderful voyage!

 

 

 

:)

 

Edited August 18, 2015 by PortSideCruzan

[Santaa]

The only good part for me is I can put my carry-on in my cabin and grab some lunch not worrying about luggage dragging it thru the buffet line.

[42rob22]

Being able to use the priority line at guest services can be a godsend. I don't think people plan on visiting the guest services desk every day of their cruise (although some people here sure love complaining about everything), but it's nice to know you don't have to spend 20+ minutes waiting in line to do so.

[Border Granny]

I agree with everything Gtouch said. We had FTTF last month on the Triumph. My daughter and I always get to the port early anyway, so it did not make that much difference in our embarkation. However, it was really nice to go to our cabins immediately after boarding and dump our carry ons, and put our things away. We then went to eat lunch and wander around for a little while, and we went back to the cabin and very shortly our luggage was there, and we were able to have everything put away before the cabins opened up at 1:30. So, if you plan on boarding early, and you don't want to schlep your carry ons around with you, that is one of the perks that we enjoyed the most.

 

When we left the ship, we did not do self assist, so we were the last ones off, after the Platinum, Diamond and FTTF self assist, before they started letting regular self assist off and then all the zones off. We literally started walking off, stopped just long enough to pick up our luggage, and walked straight to Customs. We waited in line less than a minute at customs. Even though we weren't really in any big hurry, we have waited hours sometimes before (from Galveston), so it was a real time saver.

 

I also visited guest services a couple of times, and was able to skip the long lines, so that was a plus.

 

Would we do it again? I would think so, but we only need one cabin, in your case with two cabins, puts a little different spin on it :). If you do decide to do it, understand that sometimes you will not be able to get it until very close to your sail date. They have limited ones to sell because they have to leave room for the Platinum and Diamonds, so they usually open up some not long before sail date. You just have to keep checking the excursion site frequently.

 

Hope this helps, and enjoy your cruise! Nothing like that first cruise, you'll be hooked [emoji2]

[RuthlessBoss]

None of those things are important to me. If you have an early flight last day, you still get off early by letting GS know. Depending on your boarding time, if it's early, you might consider getting one and dropping everyone's carryall stuff there. If you need something at GS, just go at an off time.

[Island2Girl]

We tried it for the first time this past April and now we would not cruise without it. It was wonderful not to have to drag our carry on luggage and being able to unpack early and head to the pool bar was worth the money. Also I will agree the other posters here, not having to stand in line at the GS desk...priceless! The cruise we took in April had a small hick-up and and the GS lines were always 20-30 people long. It was awesome to go straight to the front of the FTTF line, got some evil looks though ;)

[Kerri7868]

Thank you so much for the replies. :)

 

What is the usual wait time to get into the room without FTTF? Are we talking hours?

[Vitamin_Sea]

Thank you so much for the replies. :)

 

What is the usual wait time to get into the room without FTTF? Are we talking hours?

 

Just check in later in the day. Lines will be almost gone and room will be ready.

 

Last cruise we got to pier at 215pm ... no line

[psikic]

If you do decide to do it, understand that sometimes you will not be able to get it until very close to your sail date. They have limited ones to sell because they have to leave room for the Platinum and Diamonds, so they usually open up some not long before sail date.

 

This part isn't completely accurate. They don't reserve FTTF for Platinum and Diamond, because Platinum and Diamond don't need to purchase it due to them already having these benefits. Secondly, we purchased FTTF for our cruise next month over a year ago.

Edited August 18, 2015 by psikic

[RuthlessBoss]

This part isn't completely accurate. They don't reserve FTTF for Platinum and Diamond, because Platinum and Diamond don't need to purchase it due to them already having these benefits. Secondly, we purchased FTTF for our cruise next month over a year ago.

 

The number of FTTF released is based on the number of Platinums and Diamonds to be on board. The fact you got yours early was rare. You likely just hit it on an early release.

[BopRN]

Just off the Dream. We did not have FTTF. We arrived at the port at 11:45. Basically walked right on after a 5 minute check-in. Room was ready at 1:30 so we took our carry-on to lunch...no big deal. Our luggage had arrived when we got back from the Muster Drill...by 4:15 PM. At Guest Services, there was no FTTF line...it only had a special line for Platinum/Diamond. We never saw huge lines there anyway. Our tablemates had FTTF....they wanted to get off the ship early at a port, but told it is only good for tendering ports. We were last off the ship anyway because of our late flight...lines were long, but no FTTF special line. We were glad we didn't spend the $50. It would not have been any real benefit to us.

Edited August 18, 2015 by BopRN

[JennN]

Thank you so much for the replies. :)

 

What is the usual wait time to get into the room without FTTF? Are we talking hours?

 

We started using FTTF about 3 or so cruises ago. Before that, our room sometimes wasn't ready until 3:30 (right before muster). Other times, it was ready around 2pm or so. It all depends.

 

I agree that choosing if it is right is up to you. Not only is the room ready, but luggage is there a LOT faster in some cases (of our 4 cruises w/o FFTF, we had to wait until about 7pm on average to get our luggage - making Come as you are for dinner totally valid!). We also like to tender first (had 2 bad experiences of waiting almost 2 hours to tender) and "cut the line" at CS. Our time when on vacation is totally worth it to us!

Edited August 18, 2015 by JennN

[gtouch]

Just off the Dream. We did not have FTTF. We arrived at the port at 11:45. Basically walked right on after a 5 minute check-in. Room was ready at 1:30 so we took our carry-on to lunch...no big deal. At Guest Services, there was no FTTF line...it only had a special line for Platinum/Diamond. .

 

The Diamond/Platinum line at Guest Services is where FTTF go.

[JCJR]

Kerri, you should also be asking if you need 2 FTTF or can you get away with one. I have read that some of the benifits can be redundant.

 

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[Border Granny]

Thanks Ruthless Boss for clarifying my statement.....I did not mean to imply the Platinums and Diamonds had to purchase an FTTF, just that room must be left for them if they book closer to sail date. The room stewards only have a very short time to get those cabins ready and there can't be too many that they have to turn around that quickly.

[Kerri7868]

Kerri, you should also be asking if you need 2 FTTF or can you get away with one. I have read that some of the benifits can be redundant.

 

Thanks JCJR, will do!

[jcearth]

Kerri, you should also be asking if you need 2 FTTF or can you get away with one. I have read that some of the benifits can be redundant.

 

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I have gotten away using only using one before, but they have now clarified the priority boarding rules, and state that you must purchase one for each cabin. I have purchased FTTF for both of my cabins for my upcoming cruise (we plan on using prioirity tender and priority embarkation). You still might be able to get away with only one, but then again, you might not.

[RuthlessBoss]

I have gotten away using only using one before, but they have now clarified the priority boarding rules, and state that you must purchase one for each cabin. I have purchased FTTF for both of my cabins for my upcoming cruise (we plan on using prioirity tender and priority embarkation). You still might be able to get away with only one, but then again, you might not.

 

In this case, unless they want BOTH cabins ready or want all 5 to board a few minutes ahead of non FTTF people, one will do. The parents can board with the kids. It will give 1 cabin available to drop off carryons. The parents will have GS priveleges (kids won't need it). For tendering, the kids can board with the parents. Saves $59.

[xrayann06]

Cruised the Dream with our 3 kids in 2014. We didn't get FTTF and we didn't have any problems boarding or getting into our room. It's ultimately a personal choice. We personally would rather use that $120 towards excursions or other extras.

 

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[Kerri7868]

In this case, unless they want BOTH cabins ready or want all 5 to board a few minutes ahead of non FTTF people, one will do. The parents can board with the kids. It will give 1 cabin available to drop off carryons. The parents will have GS priveleges (kids won't need it). For tendering, the kids can board with the parents. Saves $59.

 

So say the husband and I got FTTF with our cabin not not for the kids. Would they check the kids' little cards (or whatever we are given) to make sure we ALL have FTTF before letting us all board together?

[coevan]

so, the kids are in a separate cabin?