Faster To The Fun is back...

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Did they have that locking arrival time verbage for the FTTF page pre covid? If so, was it red highlighted? 

[ninjacat123]

11 hours ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

Did they have that locking arrival time verbage for the FTTF page pre covid? If so, was it red highlighted? 

I bought FTTF for years and don't remember that verbiage highlighted.

[tweak89]

15 hours ago, geneparmesan said:

Carnival felt the need to emphasize that statement by making it red (not me). I don't think they would do that if they just meant you need to select a fake appointment time as the online check-in process would make you do that anyways.

 

I'm not "reaching" for anything; I'm just curious if FTTF means you need to arrive in your scheduled window or not. I'm not sailing until the end of Dec, so hopefully I'll hear about how it works before I go.

All I know is that when we had FTTF on prior cruises we picked a time, then showed up whenever we wanted.  Never had an issue.

[EngIceDave]

Can I assume if I do not see it available in my reservation manager, it is either sold out or unavailable?

(Celebration, Jan 29, 2023)

[ninjacat123]

21 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

Can I assume if I do not see it available in my reservation manager, it is either sold out or unavailable?

(Celebration, Jan 29, 2023)

I see FTTF in my Cruise Manager for my Jan 13, 2023 cruise.  Did you click on Categories, scroll down and find FTTF below Fly2Fun?

[shof515]

30 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

Can I assume if I do not see it available in my reservation manager, it is either sold out or unavailable?

(Celebration, Jan 29, 2023)

ship is too new to have faster to the fun

[EngIceDave]

28 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

I see FTTF in my Cruise Manager for my Jan 13, 2023 cruise.  Did you click on Categories, scroll down and find FTTF below Fly2Fun?

I don't even see fly2fun -STRIKE THAT

 

Found it, but it is blank

Edited November 22, 2022 by EngIceDave

[jsglow]

1 hour ago, EngIceDave said:

Can I assume if I do not see it available in my reservation manager, it is either sold out or unavailable?

(Celebration, Jan 29, 2023)

It does sell out quickly and assume it either 'goes away' or is marked 'sold out' once they reach the capacity constrained number. Note that it might not be available at all for cruises that have high D&P counts.

 

It's actually one of Carnival's truly brilliant ideas.  They've decided how many slots should be available per ship for 'early boarding' and simply take that number and subtract the D&Ps with the remainder 'available for sale'.  Great way to generate some extra $.

[asalligo]

18 hours ago, geneparmesan said:

Carnival felt the need to emphasize that statement by making it red (not me). I don't think they would do that if they just meant you need to select a fake appointment time as the online check-in process would make you do that anyways.

 

I'm not "reaching" for anything; I'm just curious if FTTF means you need to arrive in your scheduled window or not. I'm not sailing until the end of Dec, so hopefully I'll hear about how it works before I go.

Same here, late December cruise and waiting to hear about this from a person who tries it. Without being able to ignore check in times, I plan on cancelling. 

[ProgRockCruiser]

4 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

Can I assume if I do not see it available in my reservation manager, it is either sold out or unavailable?

(Celebration, Jan 29, 2023)

If it was ever offered for your cruise, once it sells out it usually (in my limited experience) shows up as a sold-out excursion.

 

If it was never offered, it usually doesn't show up at all.

 

My upcoming cruise had it available, then it sold out, and that's how it shows in my excursions list for home port.

EDIT: Also, it is common that early sailings on a new ship never get FTTF offered up.  Maybe after 3 or 6 months or something.

Edited November 22, 2022 by ProgRockCruiser

[ProgRockCruiser]

3 hours ago, jsglow said:

It does sell out quickly and assume it either 'goes away' or is marked 'sold out' once they reach the capacity constrained number. Note that it might not be available at all for cruises that have high D&P counts.

 

It's actually one of Carnival's truly brilliant ideas.  They've decided how many slots should be available per ship for 'early boarding' and simply take that number and subtract the D&Ps with the remainder 'available for sale'.  Great way to generate some extra $.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.  If total D&Ps is less than some % of capacity, then offer up the delta as FTTF.  No-one misses out on anything, the room steward work load remains the same as if D&Ps, and Carnival gets extra income.

[OceanZena]

Thanks for posting this info. I had no idea it came back and just went and bought it for my Feb sailing and was able to purchase it with the onboard credit given at time of booking. I don't remember being able to do this in the past, but I was able to buy a bunch of stuff like the wifi package, treats and drinks for the room and now FTTF all with the $200 OBC they gave me when I booked the sailing. I always thought you couldn't use that until you were on board but very happy to discover you can use it for all this stuff! 

[ProgRockCruiser]

4 minutes ago, OceanZena said:

Thanks for posting this info. I had no idea it came back and just went and bought it for my Feb sailing and was able to purchase it with the onboard credit given at time of booking. I don't remember being able to do this in the past, but I was able to buy a bunch of stuff like the wifi package, treats and drinks for the room and now FTTF all with the $200 OBC they gave me when I booked the sailing. I always thought you couldn't use that until you were on board but very happy to discover you can use it for all this stuff! 

The ability to use OBC for pre-boarding purchases is relatively new.  Indeed, it was not like that before.  But I think the glut of OBC caused Carnival to change their policies because too many people complained they couldn't easily spend it all onboard, or were "laundering" it through the casino.

[OceanZena]

5 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

The ability to use OBC for pre-boarding purchases is relatively new.  Indeed, it was not like that before.  But I think the glut of OBC caused Carnival to change their policies because too many people complained they couldn't easily spend it all onboard, or were "laundering" it through the casino.

Can you still pull OBC as cash from the slots? I usually gamble it all away anyway, but hope they haven't stopped the ability to withdraw it if you prefer to have the cash. 

[crazy4themouse]

On 11/22/2022 at 9:21 AM, shof515 said:

ship is too new to have faster to the fun

 

20 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Also, it is common that early sailings on a new ship never get FTTF offered up.  Maybe after 3 or 6 months or something.

 

 

People keep saying that, but I was able to jump on and grab it for our Jubilee inaugural sailing as soon as FTTF came back. I think Carnival has thrown that previous scenario out the window in an attempt to pull in as much $$ as possible, because I've also never seen FTTF offered so far ahead of cruises before. Fine with me, we love having it!

 

 

[Bulldogsoc]

My cruise for the Xmas break sold out within ours of being on offer the first of the week.  We have always bought it in the past pre-covid.  In each of those cases it was sold out but people more experienced than i said to keep checking back daily as they get a handle on numbers they will allocate more.  Those people were right and on each of those pre-COVID occasions we were able to score the FTTF after initially sold out. I am supremely confident that the deal will continue to be that you book a boarding time but show up when you want.  To be otherwise is nonsensical nonsense.

 

Mark

[ProgRockCruiser]

22 hours ago, OceanZena said:

Can you still pull OBC as cash from the slots? I usually gamble it all away anyway, but hope they haven't stopped the ability to withdraw it if you prefer to have the cash. 

I will be honest and say "I don't know".  It was something someone else posted about being able to load up your S&S card with OBC as Casino credits, then after a couple of plays if you get bored you can then just cash it out.

[rikitikitavii]

On 11/22/2022 at 9:49 AM, EngIceDave said:

Can I assume if I do not see it available in my reservation manager, it is either sold out or unavailable?

(Celebration, Jan 29, 2023)

For our December cruise , says “all bookings have already been bought”.

[jsglow]

We just got confirmation that P&D (and suites) ARE SUBJECT to their arrival time appointment.  Our correspondence for an upcoming cruise was crystal clear.  Our D&P benefit is being able to check in 16 days in advance.

 

I would not anticipate any difference for FTTF.  I suspect those that purchased the program have or will receive a similar letter.

 

https://view.carnivalcruiselineemail.com/?qs=39fe7881d07cbc30f5d432e1b1ce522e154c0e04ca1dfc2579d906521886a39a4d2701cf677db07d0b35f7464e25f87b6ac73a1a032197fd151369f0c83c519a363af1d362d20875958c41f3d9e9bb70

[Sccoupe50]

So, is there a trick to getting one of the early appointment times if they are actually enforcing them? I'm platinum at 15 days out on the Legend. The earliest appointment was 1:30PM when I checked in this morning. Wouldn't that mean that half the ships guests are platinum/diamond and have already checked in to fill up all of the earlier appointments?

[sunshower9]

17 hours ago, jsglow said:

We just got confirmation that P&D (and suites) ARE SUBJECT to their arrival time appointment.  Our correspondence for an upcoming cruise was crystal clear.  Our D&P benefit is being able to check in 16 days in advance.

 

I would not anticipate any difference for FTTF.  I suspect those that purchased the program have or will receive a similar letter.

 

https://view.carnivalcruiselineemail.com/?qs=39fe7881d07cbc30f5d432e1b1ce522e154c0e04ca1dfc2579d906521886a39a4d2701cf677db07d0b35f7464e25f87b6ac73a1a032197fd151369f0c83c519a363af1d362d20875958c41f3d9e9bb70

I have FTTF for my upcoming cruise.  My check in date was 14 days before the sail date, not 16 like D/P.  Even so, I was able to easily get the earliest arrival appointment.  So far, nothing from Carnival about having to stick to our arrival times, but John Heald has been telling everyone that FTTF guests can just go straight to the priority line regardless of their check in time.  I suppose in a few days we'll be hearing first hand accounts about how it actually plays out.

[Drummy14]

I'm leaving out of Galveston next weekend and saw FTTF was sold out. I got a 10-10:30 arrival time and am only red status. I'll update here what I see since I'll be there first thing in the morning.

[kona_wahine]

I bought it for our February cruise so anxiously awaiting to hear everyone’s experience. I’ve read we can drop our bags but no access to the room until the normal 1:30, which is fine. But if we don’t have a separate line and early boarding then I’ll just cancel. $130 isn’t worth it. 

[asalligo]

Anyone tested FTTF yet? I really want to know if you can show up prior to your check in time. 

 

 

[ProgRockCruiser]

4 minutes ago, asalligo said:

Anyone tested FTTF yet? I really want to know if you can show up prior to your check in time. 

 

 

I thought it went live for cruises departing 1 Dec or after.  So we'll find out Thursday?