Fttf

[Pellaz]

Here's what I pulled from the excursion info. No tender ports on the cruise I'm going on, but I like the priority embark and late disembark. We'll so, ok if I can't get it.

 

Priority Check-in with Express Boarding

The quicker you board the ship, the quicker you're holding a frosty drink.

 

--And the quicker you're out of a crowded terminal, quicker to get into the line for Mongolian Wok :) , quicker to get to Shore Excursions for booking or reserving certain first-come first-served excursions, etc. This can be a HUGE benefit; just ask anyone who's ever reserved a cabana at Half Moon Cay.

 

Guaranteed Stateroom

Your stateroom will be ready as soon as you board, so you can relax or freshen up for the fun you're about to have.

We've actually seen them radio ahead to the ship when we checked in at the pier to let them know we were on the way and to have our stateroom ready. This is an awesome benefit especially if you're carting around a lot of carry-on luggage, sodas, etc. Just drop it off and go explore.

Express Luggage

Your luggage will be expedited to your stateroom so you can unpack and get settled in for a great vacation!

In practice this doesn't always work as planned, and in some cases it's not Carnival's fault but the porters' fault at the pier. We've had luggage delivered swiftly and we've had some that didn't arrive until after muster.

Guest Services

You'll have a dedicated phone number and line at Guest Services so you can quickly have your questions answered.

The dedicated phone line doesn't always result in a faster answer, but the express line is a huge plus if you have to head to Guest Services during busier times. It saved one of our cruises long ago; no kidding.

 

Tender Priority

You will have the option to choose a priority tender from the ship to shore (multiple departure times may be possible), so you can explore ashore as quickly as you would like.

Note that there is no priority tender service BACK to the ship, for anyone.

Debarkation

We're always sad to see you go. But when your cruise is over, you may choose an early or late disembarkation time upon arrival to your homeport.

I sometimes wish they could also let us choose "late sleep-in." :D

[maryred]

Just want to give you the "reality" of what generally happens vs. those short burst statements. See my comments in red.

Here's what I pulled from the excursion info. No tender ports on the cruise I'm going on, but I like the priority embark and late disembark. We'll so, ok if I can't get it.

 

Priority Check-in with Express Boarding

The quicker you board the ship, the quicker you're holding a frosty drink.

Yes you get to use the priority line in the terminal the same as those in suites and with Platinum + loyalty status, and ignore your arrival time appointment. BUT for boarding you will be boarding after the Back2Back passengers, the Wedding party, Diamonds, Platinums, suite, and special invite passengers, basically a mere few minutes prior to them calling the general boarding zone #s. Also none of the port terminals that have the Captain's Lounge allow FttF passengers to wait in that priority lounge with the Platinum + and suite passengers, if you arrive prior to officially cleared boarding time.

Where FttF pays off here is if you have an arrival appointment time that does not agree well with your travel plans that you can enter the terminal prior it, you need not wait outside the terminal for your appointment window to open. And the second instance is when it is of help is when you have an arrival appointment during general boarding "rush hour" usually between 11:30am and 12:30pm when the terminal is still playing catch-up with the general boarding passengers seated and waiting with zone #. Since the advent of Carnival using the arrival appointments and the S&S cards in your cabin's mailbox lines for security and check-in have become vastly more manageable. Having FttF once boarding has begun will get you once finished w/ check-in to the next group heading on board.

Guaranteed Stateroom

Your stateroom will be ready as soon as you board, so you can relax or freshen up for the fun you're about to have.

This along with the priority tendering is perhaps the biggest selling point to most passengers.But if your plans have you arriving at the terminal about 12:30/1pm by the time you get through general boarding the cabins are ready anyway. The cabin will be clean and ready enough that you can drop off your carry-ons and for you to take a nap or shower.

Where the big payout here is if you are arriving early and will be boarding early (before 1pm) this is just as described. BUT if you have any online FunShop preorders, like cabin decorations, half cases of water, or bottles of liquor don't expect them to be there on arrival. These things are generally brought up to the stateroom between noon and 3pm.

 

Express Luggage

Your luggage will be expedited to your stateroom so you can unpack and get settled in for a great vacation!

This perk is relative. It also depends on the port authority curbside porters (that have no affiliation to any particular cruise line) marking and sorting you bags dockside correctly. The way this works if you and another passenger arrive at the same time curbside to hand over your checked luggage your bags to the same porter yours will arrive at your cabin door prior to that general boarding passenger next to you curbside. Now this "sooner" could be 3+ hours, but it can also be just a mere 15 minutes sooner.

 

Guest Services

You'll have a dedicated phone number and line at Guest Services so you can quickly have your questions answered.

This is not a move to the front of the line type of situation. Just like the terminal it is a priority line shared by special circumstance guests, Diamonds, and Platinums. There have been actual times I have witnessed on board where this line is longer than the general guest services line. Plus with the installation of the S&S kiosks, the interactive in cabin TV, and the Carnival HUB app many of the minor things like depositing more funds or viewing your on board account can now be done at these usually these no wait machines.

 

Dining Reservations

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

Another subjective perk. If you are already confirmed for your preferred dinner time and speciality restaurants in your cruise manager this does nothing for you except maybe move you higher on the Chef's Table seating chart. If not confirmed or no response on specialty dinner reservations this will move you higher on the waitlist right behind Diamonds, Suites, and Platinums waiting for dining assignments and reservations. For YTD this does not get you a table from the hostess any faster than anyone else on line with you at the desk.

 

Tender Priority

You will have the option to choose a priority tender from the ship to shore (multiple departure times may be possible), so you can explore ashore as quickly as you would like.

A great perk if you have tender ports a wasted effort if you don't.

Just remember those with ship sponsored excursions generally will have guaranteed tender seats, and could be boarded to a tender before those with "priority" status. Also to receive this perk you need to follow the instructions delivered to your cabin concerning where to find your priority escort to the tender. You can not just start cutting the line on your own. This is only for outbound from the ship tenders, everyone has the same status on the return from port tenders.

 

Debarkation

We're always sad to see you go. But when your cruise is over, you may choose an early or late disembarkation time upon arrival to your homeport.

If looking to leave last, any passenger is eligible to do that, just wait for the last call ashore for your prefered type of debarkation, self assist or relaxed.

Where this really pays off, as long as you follow the special instructions sent to your cabin, is on priority self assist debarkation. Depending on how many Diamonds, Platinums, and suite passengers decide on this method you will be among the first 3 or 4 groups let off the ship. It is also helpful for those that choose relaxed debarkation but still want to get off among the earliest zones allowed. Again depending on those with higher priority than you, you will be entitled to receive tags for zones 1-4. Again follow the special instruction to fully utilize this perk, as the first few calls for these low zone numbers will only be made in the lounge or restaurant that priority disembarkation passengers are meeting in.

 

If you believe that the perks offered and that apply to your particular cruise are worth the fee being asked continue to keep searching for FttF to become available. Passenger upgrade to suites all the time, no longer needed FttF. People fail to pay their final payment by the due date automatically cancelling their booking along with any extras they prepaid, including FttF (takes 3-4 days after the payment date to show back as being available). Life and ship happens so people cancel their cruise booking at any point, again freeing up an FttF "ticket" if they purchased it already.

[serene56]

--

We've actually seen them radio ahead to the ship when we checked in at the pier to let them know we were on the way and to have our stateroom ready. This is an awesome benefit especially if you're carting around a lot of carry-on luggage, sodas, etc. Just drop it off and go explore. :D

 

 

who called and who did they call? The cabin stewards have a manifest of who is boarding with priority.

[strawberry642]

yes FTTF was a blessing getting on and off the ship (day one day 7- ideal) and for the tender in HMC. YES

 

That's what I'm thinking, especially getting on the ship. Then on debarkation day, you can select a later time, which for us is fine, since we aren't in a rush. I'll keep checking. Thanks.

[strawberry642]

Just want to give you the "reality" of what generally happens vs. those short burst statements. See my comments in red.

 

If you believe that the perks offered and that apply to your particular cruise are worth the fee being asked continue to keep searching for FttF to become available. Passenger upgrade to suites all the time, no longer needed FttF. People fail to pay their final payment by the due date automatically cancelling their booking along with any extras they prepaid, including FttF (takes 3-4 days after the payment date to show back as being available). Life and ship happens so people cancel their cruise booking at any point, again freeing up an FttF "ticket" if they purchased it already.

 

Great info. Thank you!!!

[laststop]

A question about boarding time: Sailing in January, we have not done our online check in yet because we are getting our daughter a passport (I know she doesn't need one to cruise but we want her to have one for future trips as well). Am I missing out on earlier boarding times or does that selection happen closer to set sail date? Just trying to weight if FTTF is worth it for us. Thanks

[strawberry642]

You can start the online check in process without having her passport number. That section will just be incomplete for now. This will allow you to scroll through the checklist and get to the boarding time selection option, so that you can choose an early boarding time if that's what you want. I'm currently checking for FTTF on the cruise I'm going on, but it's currently sold out so I'll just keep checking.

[maryred]

A question about boarding time: Sailing in January, we have not done our online check in yet because we are getting our daughter a passport (I know she doesn't need one to cruise but we want her to have one for future trips as well). Am I missing out on earlier boarding times or does that selection happen closer to set sail date? Just trying to weight if FTTF is worth it for us. Thanks

With the new system update you will not be able to do your online check-in until 90 days prior to your departure date. At that time you can pick your arrival appointment for the terminal.

As for getting FttF, if you see it's available and have just an inkling that you might want it...GRAB IT... As long as the price is not a hardship at the time. You can always cancel it prior to cruising. I believe, but could be a bit off, that you have until 72 hours before sailing to cancel for a full refund to the payment method used to buy it. Just don't use a Carnival gift card as you would need to wait for them to mail you a new one.

 

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[Pellaz]

who called and who did they call? The cabin stewards have a manifest of who is boarding with priority.

 

The Carnival employee who checked our boarding passes and saw the FTTF logo was the employee who radioed the ship. On that occasion we went from curbside to setting foot onboard in seven minutes...including a stop for my sister at the check-in kiosk to deposit cash for her onboard account. Helped make me a fan of FTTF for life.

 

This would have been at PortMiami for either my first or second Carnival cruise, so either the Imagination or the Liberty.