Did FTTF go up, AGAIN?

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Just a hunch, but you see the line swell when they add the gratuities to peoples account. You can bet you get a lot of them questioning that....Again, just a hunch, but there are more than a few of those passengers requesting they be removed too....MOOCHES

 

But that is just the last evening, right? What do people need the rest of the time? I can use the phone in my room to make requests for extras or leave a note for my steward which is always followed through by them.

[figdu]

But that is just the last evening, right? What do people need the rest of the time? I can use the phone in my room to make requests for extras or leave a note for my steward which is always followed through by them.

 

Last few cruises it has been added in the middle of the cruise and not the last night.

[ShakyBeef]

For those that just can't imagine what one might do at GS other than complain or remove tips, I hope I can help elucidate a little...

 

 

A few of the things I have done at GS:

 

 

• increased our auto-tips
  
• requested our balcony divider be opened (with my father, from neighbouring cabin)
  
• booked the Behind the Fun Tour (no one present at excursions desk)
  
• gotten envelopes for extra tipping
  
• broken large $ bills down to smaller bills for extra tipping
  
• picked up an extra Fun Times after mine was lost
  
• set up a new folio for DH's internet package (business expense - needs to be in its own folio)
  
• asked about a misprint in the FunTimes, to find out what was the actual time and place of an event (CC M&M)
  
• turned in items I found to Lost & Found
  
• got a replacement S&S card when it was demagnetized, or when DH packed his in his checked luggage the last night:rolleyes::p
  
• gotten printouts of our S&S accounts
  
• and several other things I can't remember right now:o, but never removed or lowered any tips.
  

[ccdaniel2707]

I have been on some very large ships, and have never seen a long line at guest services. GS is really for those that have an issue, like something wrong, or a real complaint. Tips are prepaid, excursions are prepaid, but the ships I'm on that's a separate desk. So why is the line so long on a Carnival ship? Are there really that many unhappy customers? Maybe they are unhappy because they just got ripped off buying FTTF?

 

My point being, what exactly is FTTF? Get you luggage an hour before others? But yet, so many people carry theirs on. So you get to drop it off at your room? Really, that $70.00 is for that? But I guess you saved money on tips to the porter. Priority getting on? So getting on the ship 15 minutes early is worth it? Now if you gave your bags to the porter, walked on 15 minutes later, you would save 15 minutes walking to your cabin, and now you can go straight to the pool bar for your first drink, or go to the buffet to trip over all the bags laying around for the self assisters that did not pay the $70.00 fee or are afraid that the porters will use their bag as target practice trying to hit the fish in the water.

 

Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes.......I purchase it & think its well worth it. When I have needed GS, the line has been a mile long. One reason I need GS is to add money to my S&S card when the one kiosk most ships have, don't work or have a long line. We like getting our vacation started as soon as possible. With us, we have been able to board a lot faster than general boarding (most cases it has been 45 mins to an hour faster). We have had friends who could not purchase FTTF because it would sell out & they would still be waiting for their zone to be called while we were already in our room.

[Computer Nerd]

I have been on some very large ships, and have never seen a long line at guest services. GS is really for those that have an issue, like something wrong, or a real complaint. Tips are prepaid, excursions are prepaid, but the ships I'm on that's a separate desk. So why is the line so long on a Carnival ship? Are there really that many unhappy customers? Maybe they are unhappy because they just got ripped off buying FTTF?

 

My point being, what exactly is FTTF? Get you luggage an hour before others? But yet, so many people carry theirs on. So you get to drop it off at your room? Really, that $70.00 is for that? But I guess you saved money on tips to the porter. Priority getting on? So getting on the ship 15 minutes early is worth it? Now if you gave your bags to the porter, walked on 15 minutes later, you would save 15 minutes walking to your cabin, and now you can go straight to the pool bar for your first drink, or go to the buffet to trip over all the bags laying around for the self assisters that did not pay the $70.00 fee or are afraid that the porters will use their bag as target practice trying to hit the fish in the water.

 

you obviously have never walked past guest services the day you get on board or the last night of the cruise. as for what exactly fttf is has already been explained in multiple threads. if you wish to gloss over part of the benefits in your mind that is your prerogative but don't attempt to lead others to think that's all there is to it.

[firemanbobswife]

I've had to go to GS when we were charged the adult price for DS for his BB package, to switch people out of/into another cabin, get a key made for another cabin, when my cabin key didn't work, had erroneous bar charges on our account, to add some GCs when the kiosks were down, when I was charged for games I didn't play in the arcade. Never would dream of removing gratuities. In fact 99% of the time I prepay them. Those are just what come to my mind right now.

 

Only 1 of those times was there not a wait at GS. Every other time the line was all the way to the theatre. Luckily I had FTTF and didn't have to waste a lot of time waiting in it. No one really plans to go there, sometimes it just happens. And boy was I glad I had FTTF! Oh, and none of these were on the last night so there ya go.

[poobears]

I've been to GS to book an excursion that wasn't available online, to cash out my S&S on every cruise because so far I've always had money left on my preloaded account. I'd rather cash it out and use the cash on the drive back home to cover expenses than wait on a check and easier to do there than in the casino with the crowds. Turned in found items to lost and found and had to swap out a room key that didn't work, think that was it.

 

Don't want FTTF dont' buy it, if you want it buy it. Easy peasy.

[poobears]

Oh and I prepay tips when I book my cruise so no I'm not there to remove them after they are auto added.

[Jdfireman]

I love it when people buy FTTF. It is a cost without any physical product so it helps Carnival's bottom line and anything that can swell the coffers means that the cost of my cruise doesn't have to bear a price hike, for the most part. I applaud people who make my cruise affordable...good on them.

 

Best comment don't forget the the profit helps the stock

[mufc99]

If its too cheap everybody will buy it and then it wouldnt work!

 

They are just trying to divide their cruisers into 2 groups, to make things easier, and at the same time let the gullible ones pay them for doing the cruiseline a big favour!

 

One thing they have got to take into acccount, anybody without it, that has a bad experience because of it, might not travel with them ever again, and bad word them to everybody! :-)

[TerReuv]

I'm still trying to figure out why it's bad to be like an 8 year old at Christmas? I'm not hollering "ME FIRST!". I'm just hollering "I'M ON A CRUISE!"

 

What can I say? I am like an 8 year old at Christmas when it comes to getting on a cruise. I am also like an 8 year old at Christmas (wait for it) at Christmas! What's wrong with that?

 

Being excited has nothing to do with having to be first.

 

OK - now you guys can go back to arguing about FTTF. :D

[Havingfun2010]

you obviously have never walked past guest services the day you get on board or the last night of the cruise. as for what exactly fttf is has already been explained in multiple threads. if you wish to gloss over part of the benefits in your mind that is your prerogative but don't attempt to lead others to think that's all there is to it.

 

Actually, two cruises ago, after I ate lunch, I went to GS to fix a small issue with OBC and that it was applied evenly which was a slight issue. I got in line, and had just a couple of people in front of me. This was on the largest cruise ship in the world. Lines and Carnival go together for some reason, but for some reason, on Carnival, the lines are ridiculously long, even for getting off the ship. Other cruise lines that have better staffing models, manage this, and place guest services on top priority. FTTF is nothing more than a money grab.

[ShakyBeef]

i'm still trying to figure out why it's bad to be like an 8 year old at christmas? I'm not hollering "me first!". I'm just hollering "i'm on a cruise!"

 

what can i say? I am like an 8 year old at christmas when it comes to getting on a cruise. I am also like an 8 year old at christmas (wait for it) at christmas! What's wrong with that?

 

Being excited has nothing to do with having to be first.

 

Ok - now you guys can go back to arguing about fttf. :d

 

Edited August 31, 2016 by ShakyBeef

[poobears]

I think the people who keep throwing out the Firstie attitude are trying to be like the cool kids in school. You know the one that stood off the side with the shades on that pretended they didn't like anyone or anything and could care less but really just wanted to fit in. Just to prove how awesome they are they will stroll on at the very last minute and prove they ain't no Firstie. They are too cool for that. They are a Lasty and proud of it!!!!!!!!:D

[First and Ten]

I think the people who keep throwing out the Firstie attitude are trying to be like the cool kids in school. You know the one that stood off the side with the shades on that pretended they didn't like anyone or anything and could care less but really just wanted to fit in. Just to prove how awesome they are they will stroll on at the very last minute and prove they ain't no Firstie. They are too cool for that. They are a Lasty and proud of it!!!!!!!!:D

 

LOL...."Lastie"....I like that, good one....I see you keep using "Firstie"....admit it, you like it :D

Edited August 31, 2016 by First and Ten

[stevec999]

I am platinum, didn't cost me a penny. Just the result of taking a bunch of vacations that happened to be on a Carnival ship.

 

I like getting on the ship early. It is nice to be able to dump my carry ons in the cabin. Nice to get to Lido and have lunch before the crowds get bad.

 

We have friends that travel with us that buy FTTF. They like getting on early and dumping their carry ons .

 

I would probably buy FTTF if I weren't platinum. I have no issue with people being able to purchase the "perks" as it were.

 

As far as the cost. I think some people forget that money does not have the same value to everyone. Some have trouble realizing that $70 is so insignificant to some people that it is not even worth considering.

[mufc99]

Where is that pic somebody posted a while back of the FTTF people in the waiting area?

 

It looked like they were all waiting at the euthanasia clinic! :-)

[Computer Nerd]

Actually, two cruises ago, after I ate lunch, I went to GS to fix a small issue with OBC and that it was applied evenly which was a slight issue. I got in line, and had just a couple of people in front of me. This was on the largest cruise ship in the world. Lines and Carnival go together for some reason, but for some reason, on Carnival, the lines are ridiculously long, even for getting off the ship. Other cruise lines that have better staffing models, manage this, and place guest services on top priority. FTTF is nothing more than a money grab.

 

taxes are a money grab. giving people the opportunity to purchase a service they want to purchase is called having options and cruisers are free to select the option if they so choose. it's a shame you don't like for others to have the ability to choose they want but i'm not surprised you act this way since you haven't in sailed carnival in lord knows when and simply troll the carnival boards to bad mouth a product you know little of.

Edited September 1, 2016 by Computer Nerd

[Computer Nerd]

Where is that pic somebody posted a while back of the FTTF people in the waiting area?

 

It looked like they were all waiting at the euthanasia clinic! :-)

 

you must be confusing carnival with holland america. :rolleyes:

[skridge]

What the "FIRSTIES" will also do, is check back to their cabin once every 12 mins because they need their luggage to unpack.

There you go again lumping all people that want to get on board as soon as possible as ridiculous. I bet there are some people that choose to board later that have an eight year old mentality. I do not unpack until after the muster drill. I do take my carry on bag with my drinks and bottles of wine down to my room around 2:30. I have been sitting by the pool sipping Coronas for the previous two hours which is my choice.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[mufc99]

you must be confusing carnival with holland america. :rolleyes:

 

Is Holland that bad?

 

A travel agent was giving us cruise brochures and she said you dont want that one! :-)

 

She said most of the Holland cruisers were over 65!

[Computer Nerd]

Is Holland that bad?

 

A travel agent was giving us cruise brochures and she said you dont want that one! :-)

 

She said most of the Holland cruisers were over 65!

 

no, holland is great but yes, everyone is old on those cruises. you could be 70 and be the kid at the dinner table. :D