Faster to the fun - worth it? or not so much?

[Joebucks]

Lol, really? So front of the line at Six Flags "huge benefit" - front of the line on cruise ship and cabin access hours ahead, "waste of money"....

 

Let's say for the sake of math, you save 1 hour per ride on a peak day in an amusement park with a priority pass. Can anyone honestly say FTTF saves more than 1 hour waiting in lines, total? It's an early room access perk.

 

Now, if FTTF also included priority access to Punchliner, buffets, ports of call/reboarding, waterslides, etc, then that would be a comparable product.

Edited September 4, 2018 by Joebucks

[disneylover89]

Based on the LONG guest service lines on all the ships I have been on, very, very worth it. Being able to drop off our luggage early in our cabin and being able to eat our embarkment lunch on the balcony is an added plus. We will always purchase this service.

[BellaSweet]

Its worth it to me. I have no desire to wait in lines on vacation. On our last cruise, we were down at guest services so many times(issues with the hub app.) I also like being able to take my stuff directly to my room, get settled in and grab a drink before muster. I gladly pay the money.

[ryano]

Its a personal decision. It is NOT worth it to me. Ive yet to be on board a Carnival cruise ship any later than 11 - 1130 am and couldnt care less about going straight to my cabin. If I use Guest Services its generally late at night when there are no lines. Most everything I need them for I can do on the kiosk. The rest of the "perks" are pretty meaningless to me as well. A lot of people love it though and will gladly hand Carnival their money for something that costs Carnival nothing

[pacruise804]

Big difference between a park, and the ship. The park you are there one day, with really long lines all day. With the ship, you really don't need to wait in a long line all day.

 

The one amazing thing I find is the number of people, who get this marketing gimmick, to get on the ship fast, to drop luggage in the room, and throw in they have 48 sodas in a bag to "save money". I don't see a lot of bringing sodas to "save money" although that may happen, but more to have the specific brand they want at the temperature or location they want. Yet, I have been cruising for well over 25 years. I get to the port. I give my bag to a porter. I get on the ship. I have a back pack. Some travel light with only a back pack, but families with children or those with special needs (CPAP comes to mind) they might have significantly more. Go get lunch, sit for little bit at a bar, and go to my room. Lots of people can benefit from getting away from the crowds for a bit. Usually have my bags before muster drill. Simple to unpack anytime. Usually is the key word. Never use guest services. Good for you, but many do. It's nice to have a dedicated line and go when my schedule fits vs. trying to guess when the lines will be short. Get a soda package. I do all this free of any stress and money (except buying the soda package).

 

Almost forgot. Bring soda on, pay FTTF so not to lug it, and than tip extra for ice. That's a very expensive soda. I bring wine, and like to drop it in the cabin vs. lugging it (and enjoy the other features of FTTF too). Some bring drinks the ship does not provide or don't want the warm can over ice you get with the package. Some bring protein drinks or other specialty drinks for dietary/health needs that aren't soda.

 

I've often seen it recommended to spend an extra $150 for a hotel room the night before a cruise rather than risk a 3-5 hour drive to a port (but it does minimize risk/more restful boarding). Many pay more for drinks through Cheers than they would if they had bought the same drinks a la carte (but might not have purchased all those drinks). Most ships have up-charge restaurants even though there is adequate food included with the cruise fare. The spa, internet packages, and casino/bingo are other areas that some consider a waste of money and others won't cruise without.

 

We all have different things we choose to spend on to enhance our vacation experience. Just because some don't find value in FTTF doesn't mean that it doesn't hold value for others.

[Zoey mommy]

I have not sailed with fttf yet, but have it for my upcoming cruise. I have patience issues so I want on the ship as early as I can. Also, priority luggage is a huge thing for me because vacation doesn’t start until I am unpacked .

I have sailed with my brother and sister in law who are platinum and without fttf we are usually the first boarding group and only on the ship about 5 minutes later than the platinum so really the early boarding isn’t a huge deal, it’s getting the room and my luggage early that are the perks for me. It really depends on your preference. If you aren’t getting there until 12 or 1 anyways it may not be worth it for you

[jeffdal]

We got on the ship a big whopping 30 minutes before our friends on FTTF and I was having enough fun on the Lido Deck that I did not need to get to my room or luggage. I never needed help line or special reservation treatment.

[disneylover89]

I've often seen it recommended to spend an extra $150 for a hotel room the night before a cruise rather than risk a 3-5 hour drive to a port (but it does minimize risk/more restful boarding). Many pay more for drinks through Cheers than they would if they had bought the same drinks a la carte (but might not have purchased all those drinks). Most ships have up-charge restaurants even though there is adequate food included with the cruise fare. The spa, internet packages, and casino/bingo are other areas that some consider a waste of money and others won't cruise without.

 

We all have different things we choose to spend on to enhance our vacation experience. Just because some don't find value in FTTF doesn't mean that it doesn't hold value for others.

 

Perfectly said!