When will FTTF return?

[klfrodo]

I love paying for entitlement 🙄

[HectorAchilleus]

On 3/17/2022 at 9:30 PM, cruises42 said:

I don't understand why the P&D priority embarkation has not restarted. They stopped mask mandates, opened the casino for smoking, and stopped bubble tours. What is the hold up for priority boarding?

It is my opinion that they will bring back FTTF before Diamonds, etc. They do not have the profit incentive to do otherwise. With new varients, etc, you may never see priority boarding for Plats & Diamonds (except for priority check-in) again

[TerReuv]

3 hours ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

This has been true for us as well. We always get FTTF and I am hoping they reinstate it before our June 25th Mardi Gras cruise. So many people think it's just about embarkation and debarkation, but to us those are the least of the perks. We like being able to drop our bags off in the cabin before noon so we don't have to lug them around with us (we drive and carry our bags on with us - usually just two rolling carry-on size bags). We also like the priority tender service if we don't have excursions booked at tender ports. And the priority line at Guest Services is priceless, IMO. I know a lot of people say they never have to go to GS, but sadly that has not been our experience. Not a single cruise for us has been without inaccurate charges or other problems that needed to be corrected. Our Magic cruise was the worst, as I think I had to go to GS at least once every day, and the regular line was horrible the entire time - even snaking through the atrium on multiple occasions to the point I took a photo just to prove it happened! The Priority line saved us a TON of time.

 

As for those who say FTTF dilutes the P/D benefit because - gasp - they might have to stand in the GS line for an extra minute behind a non-P/D person, no, it really doesn't. It's still a service that you get for free, while others have to pay for it. If P/D got a free spa pass, would it be any less of a perk due to others being able to buy a pass for the same services? After all, non-P/D people might be occupying all of the heated loungers at the exact time you want to use one. 

 

Absolutely agree with you.  We have had FTTF on all our cruises but the first.  It was always worth it.  We used to travel with my parents and it was helpful to be able to drop off our luggage then eat.  We also drive and love being able to get off the boat first thing and on the road after debark.  

 

We don't cruise until October so I am also crossing fingers that it comes back.  Those that complain should also remember that they limit the # of FTTF depending on the number of P & D. 

[cruises42]

6 hours ago, HectorAchilleus said:

It is my opinion that they will bring back FTTF before Diamonds, etc. They do not have the profit incentive to do otherwise. With new varients, etc, you may never see priority boarding for Plats & Diamonds (except for priority check-in) again

I really hope you're wrong.

[cmukid87]

18 hours ago, HectorAchilleus said:

It is my opinion that they will bring back FTTF before Diamonds, etc. They do not have the profit incentive to do otherwise. With new varients, etc, you may never see priority boarding for Plats & Diamonds (except for priority check-in) again

Highly doubtful.  If they do there will be a mixup of benefits for P/D and the FTTF to accommodate.  I'd imagine Carnival does not want to upset their frequent customers just to make a few bucks with FTTF.  Just a couple of upset P/D can completely offset the potential profit of FTTF.

[1kaper]

On 3/18/2022 at 10:21 AM, crazy4themouse said:

We have always been some of the most ardent FTTF fans out there... But honestly, for the 3 cruises we have taken so far since the restart, we haven't missed it at all. At least out of Galveston, between the facial recognition technology and VeriFLY, the whole embarkation process has become so streamlined and fast that we just haven't needed FTTF. And with no longer having to deal with Customs or any of that mess, disembarkation has become so blazing fast it's almost disconcerting how quickly we go from beautiful ship to sitting in our car ready to sadly go home, lol. Night and day difference from before.

 

The one thing we do miss is the dedicated line at guest services, but simply having that wouldn't be worth the extra $$ for us. 

 

We sailed out of Galveston the end of March and embarkation was a nightmare.  Super long lines. At least they moved consistently albeit slowly. 
 

On 3/19/2022 at 6:11 PM, Ilovesailaway said:

Maybe its just me but I don't get the appeal of FTTF. If I don't want to deal with lines during embarkation I would just wait and show up after the rush. Same with debarkation.... relax till the rush is over. And honestly the only time I have ever had to go to guest services on was unfortunately on my last 2 cruises because the new muster procedure had a tech issue and my card wouldn't scan.... what a pita that was

To each his own and I know carnival will resumes asap for the $

it may depend on where you sail from but on our last trip out of Galveston there wasn’t a slow down. We were in the last check in appointment time and the line was HUGE behind us. I believe they were late getting everyone on. So unless you want to arrive “late” for the cruise - I wouldn’t risk that personally. 

I have booked another cruise out of Galveston and travelling with an 8 year old, I’d pay for FTTF all day everyday. 
 

 

as for disembarkation, we left with the early group because of an early flight. Since we are Canadian we had a passport. 
It was super easy and fast. 

[Pellaz]

On 4/17/2022 at 3:24 PM, HectorAchilleus said:

It is my opinion that they will bring back FTTF before Diamonds, etc. They do not have the profit incentive to do otherwise. With new varients, etc, you may never see priority boarding for Plats & Diamonds (except for priority check-in) again

 

Carnival was NOT making a killing on FTTF, BTW.  Sure, they collected some money on it, but they also gave perks to the participants and, in the grand scheme of things, the $1500 or so they collected from a tour is a drop in the bucket.  

 

 

On 4/17/2022 at 4:21 PM, TerReuv said:

 

Absolutely agree with you.  We have had FTTF on all our cruises but the first.  It was always worth it.  We used to travel with my parents and it was helpful to be able to drop off our luggage then eat.  We also drive and love being able to get off the boat first thing and on the road after debark. 

 

For our cruise long ago on the Liberty, having FTTF probably saved the cruise.  I had to go back and forth to Guest Services several times because our room didn't have any A/C.  Having that shorter line thanks to FTTF literally saved me an hour or more.   (End result:  after invoking the Carnival guarantee, we were moved from an oceanview to a balcony that WAS being A/C'd.)   

 

On 4/17/2022 at 4:21 PM, TerReuv said:

We don't cruise until October so I am also crossing fingers that it comes back.  Those that complain should also remember that they limit the # of FTTF depending on the number of P & D. 

Yep!    FTTF slots were released in groups of 15, and I don't remember any cruise getting more than 60...and that would be on a cruise with a low number of Ds and Ps.   The capacity control always seemed to work well; the priority line at GS never exceeded 3 or 4 people at most.  

[AtomicCruiser]

I am sorry, but I am at a loss understanding why commentors are stating this has to do with Covid.  I am a Carnival Diamond (recent).  The Platinum and Diamond "lounges" were less filled (i.e. more social distancing) than the normal holding area for boarding.  And, "Faster to the Fun" sat in the general boarding as well, just called to board sooner.  So, folks, I can see reducing venues due to staff shortages, or reducing some other perks.  But this is just not making sense to me at all.  Where you sit, and when you are called to board, does not tie into Covid protocols.

[groundloop]

10 minutes ago, AtomicCruiser said:

I am sorry, but I am at a loss understanding why commentors are stating this has to do with Covid. ......

 

 

(sigh)..... I thought this thread had died peacefully several months ago.

 

John Heald explained quite a while back that this policy was a result of needing to dedicate extra resources to the additional cleaning requirements for cabins.  It had nothing to do with anything in the terminal.

 

(Personally I wish Carnival would take a look at how their sister company, Holland America, assigns boarding times and then allows guests to go straight to their cabin the minute they board.  I just got off my first HAL cruise and it was a much smoother embarkation process.)

Edited June 26, 2022 by groundloop

[tweak89]

13 minutes ago, groundloop said:

 

 

(sigh)..... I thought this thread had died peacefully several months ago.

 

John Heald explained quite a while back that this policy was a result of needing to dedicate extra resources to the additional cleaning requirements for cabins.  It had nothing to do with anything in the terminal.

 

(Personally I wish Carnival would take a look at how their sister company, Holland America, assigns boarding times and then allows guests to go straight to their cabin the minute they board.  I just got off my first HAL cruise and it was a much smoother embarkation process.)

 

This is essentially what I was told by two different CSR's when I called about my September reservation.  We have used FTTF on all our prior Carnival cruises and was looking forward to using it again.  When we didn't see it available, I asked about when calling for another reason.  I had to call again for something else and asked again (sometimes you get inconsistent info) and the explanation what the same.  

 

Both CSR's made it sound unlikely it would be back this year.

[TerReuv]

14 hours ago, tweak89 said:

 

This is essentially what I was told by two different CSR's when I called about my September reservation.  We have used FTTF on all our prior Carnival cruises and was looking forward to using it again.  When we didn't see it available, I asked about when calling for another reason.  I had to call again for something else and asked again (sometimes you get inconsistent info) and the explanation what the same.  

 

Both CSR's made it sound unlikely it would be back this year.

 

I saw a post last week or so from John Heald, he was giving the news about the Platinum & Diamond party coming back.  He said that the visa process is starting to get better and more crew will be getting to the ships.  He mentioned that others (including FTTF) wouldn't be far behind.  We sail at the end of October.  Keeping fingers crossed it's back for our cruise.  For us, putting carry on in the room was the best perk.  We're sailing with my BIL who will be in a scooter so not having to mess with anything extra would be great.

[kelkel2]

Am I the only one that doesn’t see it coming back?

i know a lot of the plat and diamonds hate it, I don’t blame you. But with suites, plats and diamonds getting early access, adding the fttf to it had to be a huge burden to get cleaned. Especially on these new and super large ships, it’s got to be a ton of work. I could see them using covid as an excuse for a long time and it just never coming back. But that’s just my thoughts.

[groundloop]

I just got off a cruise on Holland America, my first with them - I liked embarkation with them much better than Carnival.  They have a sort of built in FTTF.

 

Guests are assigned arrival times, which I was put-off about at first, but the upside is that once you board you can go directly to your cabin.  We arrived a few minutes before our assigned time, had about a 10 minute wait to get in the cruise terminal, and after that breezed through check-in and were on the ship.  Our cabins were ready for us so we dropped off our things and got on with enjoying the rest of our cruise.  

 

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by groundloop

[1kaper]

6 hours ago, kelkel2 said:

Am I the only one that doesn’t see it coming back?

i know a lot of the plat and diamonds hate it, I don’t blame you. But with suites, plats and diamonds getting early access, adding the fttf to it had to be a huge burden to get cleaned. Especially on these new and super large ships, it’s got to be a ton of work. I could see them using covid as an excuse for a long time and it just never coming back. But that’s just my thoughts.

 

People ask John Heald almost every day and he keeps saying it will be back.  While some people may hate it, lots of people love it and are willing to pay for it.  It is easy money for Carnival once they have the staffing to allow it.  

[Bernardo62]

people have money for the most silly things. FTTF will make Carnival richer cause people will spend that dollar!! DO you!!

[ultrafighter]

7 hours ago, kelkel2 said:

Am I the only one that doesn’t see it coming back?

 

Honestly, I think you're one of very few.

[Purvis1231]

Once it returns, what will be the price? $79.00, $99.00, or 129.00? 

[ultrafighter]

56 minutes ago, Purvis1231 said:

Once it returns, what will be the price? $79.00, $99.00, or 129.00? 

Excellent (and scary) question.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Purvis1231 said:

Once it returns, what will be the price? $79.00, $99.00, or 129.00? 

The price depends on supply and demand.

[Purvis1231]

3 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

The price depends on supply and demand.

I think there will be a high demand for FTTF. 

[notscb]

On 3/17/2022 at 9:33 PM, mz-s said:

My guess is once the TSA or whoever is in charge lifts the mask mandates in the terminals.

Guess again.

RCL has their key program with is similar to FTTF. Their program has been in place since covid.

 

Ultimately, everything on cruises is driven by economic impact. If FTTF is profitable for CCL and they have the staffing capacity to do it, they'll bring it back.

[1kaper]

16 hours ago, Bernardo62 said:

people have money for the most silly things. FTTF will make Carnival richer cause people will spend that dollar!! DO you!!

Silly is not understanding that we all have different priorities. People spend money on thing every day that others would consider silly. 

After our last experience boarding with a 7yo in tow in a long hot line, FTTF is worth every penny to me. Maybe not for someone else. 

I don’t see the spa as being “worth it” but many do. I don’t call them silly. I’m sure there are things you spend your money on that I wouldn’t bother.  People can spend their money on what they choose for what is worth it to them. 

[Bernardo62]

2 hours ago, 1kaper said:

Silly is not understanding that we all have different priorities. People spend money on thing every day that others would consider silly. 

After our last experience boarding with a 7yo in tow in a long hot line, FTTF is worth every penny to me. Maybe not for someone else. 

I don’t see the spa as being “worth it” but many do. I don’t call them silly. I’m sure there are things you spend your money on that I wouldn’t bother.  People can spend their money on what they choose for what is worth it to them. 

Ahhhhh..... Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup SILLY THINGS! Like I said DO YOU! it's your money buy door decoration, schedule wall junk & towel clips!!! It is my entertainment to see crazy things people buy and the drunks!!!