FTTF not actually Priority

[VentureMan_2000]

5 hours ago, AllgoodOnTheRoad said:

FTTF is priority and you may check in at any time. 

 

This simply is not true.  Carnival clearly states "during your arrival appointment"

From Carnival's site:

Here is what the program includes:

 

Priority Check-in
Upon arrival to the terminal (during your arrival appointment), look for the Priority line to check-in. 

[AFS1970]

I am many cruises away from my next loyalty tier, so buying FttF is probably the only way I will see these benefits. Although I find myself agreeing more with those that don't think I should be able to buy what they earned. That being said, I am not convinced they will be of much benefit to me. For $130, I can get on a slightly shorter line at the usual time, but the whole ship leaves at once, so other than getting to hog a chair faster, not much interest there. Dropping off bags isn't a deal breaker for me, as most of my luggage is checked, if I have a carry on it would probably be something I want to keep with me. If I can afford to drop it off, I can just check it.

 

The priority Karen line (in person and the Bat-Phone) are only good to me if I plan on complaining, which since I hope not to have anything to complain about every cruise, seems like planning to fail. I have thankfully only had to complain once, and that was on RCI, ad it was really more of a question than a complaint. On Oasis they canceled an Ice show with no notice, and we realized when our printed docs didn't match the daily schedule. I have probably jinxed myself by writing this. 

 

Since I am trying MTD for the first time, other than some specialty reservations I have already made, that priority feature isn't going to help me. And for this cruise, since I am not flying home, I really don't care when I leave the ship. I have seen others here on CC who swear by leaving as late as possible. 

 

I realize everyone's milage may vary, but for us, at least on this upcoming cruise, I can't see spending the money. 

[VentureMan_2000]

4 minutes ago, AFS1970 said:

The priority Karen line (in person and the Bat-Phone) are only good to me if I plan on complaining,
 

Exactly what I think.  I've visited the customer service desk a few times to help me with questions I had.  Having to stand in line for 5 or 10 minutes did not ruin my cruise.  Stand in line with a cocktail if that makes your wait more enjoyable.

[jsglow]

FTTF is certainly in the eye of the beholder. We purchased it as a 'gift' for our adult kids who will be joining us on an upcoming cruise in a separate (but linked for dinner) cabin. Long Beach enforces arrival slots for everyone so I'll remind them to get an arrival appointment as soon as it becomes available. That way we'll all be able to arrive at the port at the same time, and, perhaps more importantly, debark and access Cabo tenders together.  At embarkation, we'll simply linger a bit in the Priority Lounge waiting for FTTF to be called for boarding.

 

Yes, I plan on eyeballing them out with the rest of the commoners through the glass while we wait. 😆

[NewfieFam]

On 8/6/2023 at 1:56 PM, NewfieFam said:

Hello,

I have booked FTTF out of Miami in 6 days, I did not stay up to check in because I had understood that I had Priority boarding. But, you can only get in the priority line when you show up at your arrival time. Do you get to board any earlier once inside the terminal? I am very tempted to cancel.  I feel that if people knew that they had to show up at a specific time they would just skip the FTTF and stay up for the earliest check in time.

Do you get to board any earlier once inside the terminal?

Does priority debarkation even matter if you are bringing your own bags off?

I'm zone D10 with arrival time of 11-11:30, what time would I expect to actually be on the ship.

Hello, I am the OP. I am currently sitting in the terminal waiting to board. The guy just said faster to the fun? Right this way. Then he put his hand in front of the normal line to stop the flow of traffic until we could get through.

[Butterbean1000]

Years ago before I was platinum, I would stalk the website waiting for FTTF to open for our cruise.  I can remember only paying $50 for it.  It was around $75 the last time we used it.  How much is it going for now?  Before we would show up early and they would let us on after P/D no matter what time our check in. Not being to stay in the cabin until after 1 is a downer.  Not sure it's worth it now.

 

[Rudyard]

4 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

It was around $75 the last time we used it.  How much is it going for now?

Varies by length of cruise now. I think it starts at $79 or $89 and goes up to around $149. I may be mistaken but it's something like that. 

[MagnoliaBlossom]

I am a Diamond level so I have had quite a few cruises and I can tell you that the procedure with FTTF varies depending on port, ship, stage of the moon,who knows what,so all the above information could be true on any given day.

 

our last CCL cruise was in May and with out boarding passes was a new notice that stateroom access for baggage drop would not be available.  No reason, not that they need to give one, so I don’t know if it was a one time thing or it is a new thing.  I can see it being very disruptive for the crew doing turn over.  Another line we sail often times has a luggage check at a loung near the atrium where a crew member gives you a claim ticket for your bags and they are watched over til you go claim them.  Very nice feature.  
 

[phoneman69]

On 8/6/2023 at 9:49 PM, Bbloom004 said:

We are currently on the Horizon and used FTTF yesterday to board in Miami.   I also had similar doubts about its use, as I didn’t check in early and was assigned a 12:30 boarding. I wasn’t very organized with the checkin!   However we have a 3 year old so I thought any line skipping may be beneficial, so decided to keep FTTF, in spite of late check in.  We got to the Miami port at 11:30 (hour before assigned time). We were waived through the Prioirty line and walked up to check in and direct to security and then on the ship. We were on the ship in 15 minutes max (easiest I have ever had).   No one said anything about assigned boarding time, and we had to

show our boarding pass multiple Times.   We had read you could leave your bags in your room prior to 1:30.   That was not the case for us. We tried and were very sternly told not until after 1:30.   They said if we left them outside the room there was a risk they would be taken and get lost.  The lady in charge of cleaning was very  adamant and borderline rude on this.  As such that perk was not worth it.    Just day two of cruise now so haven’t used it for anything else yet ….   

I hope the Lady who told you no leaving you bag is not your room steward. If she is no extra tip for her.

[cruise_lover_2309]

It's funny, when we first started crusiing with Carnival about 10 years ago, FTTF was sold out immedaitely and you had to keep checking every day for it.  My upcoming Alaskan cruise has had it available for months now.  It's definintely not as popular as it once was. 

[staceyglow]

48 minutes ago, cruise_lover_2309 said:

It's funny, when we first started crusiing with Carnival about 10 years ago, FTTF was sold out immedaitely and you had to keep checking every day for it.  My upcoming Alaskan cruise has had it available for months now.  It's definintely not as popular as it once was. 

It doesn't sell out as quickly because they increased the price, as they should have.

 

They only sell a set number of FTTF slots.  Just like the cabanas on Half Moon Cay, the best business practice is to raise the price to the point where they it takes awhile for them to sell out.

[VentureMan_2000]

Given the large number of Plats/Diamonds on each sailing, is FTTF really that much more beneficial than Gold ?  Seems like it might save 30 minutes at best.

Edited August 15, 2023 by VentureMan_2000

[sailingships]

On 8/7/2023 at 7:54 AM, AllgoodOnTheRoad said:

. I did dislike that Miami has no separate seating area for FTTF. They throw you right into general population. 

Oh poor baby !!!

[staceyglow]

32 minutes ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

Given the large number of Plats/Diamonds on each sailing, is FTTF really that much more beneficial than Gold ?  Seems like it might save 30 minutes at best.

I know, right?!  Once I had to sit next to a *shudder*  BLUE CARD!  🤢🤢🤢

 

 

[ProgRockCruiser]

4 hours ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

Given the large number of Plats/Diamonds on each sailing, is FTTF really that much more beneficial than Gold ?  Seems like it might save 30 minutes at best.

If FTTF could jump into the Priority Line regardless of Arrival time slot selected (like they could last month, evidently), then FTTF could save you from boarding a couple of hours later if you were sluggish is snagging an early arrival appointment.  That benefit has apparently gone away.

 

But if you want to get up or stay up to 12 mid (ET) and snag an early arrival appointment, you will at best be about 5 min in front of the first non-FTTF group that stayed up late like you.  Last two sailings the FTTF group was at most (IIRC) five minutes before my wife and me, and we weren't in the first non-FTTF group.

 

To me, because I always have tried to snag an early arrival time slot anyway, FTTF's potential benefits are (now) priority water shuttle / tenders use and the priority line at Customer Service.  And therefore FTTF isn't worth it (to me) at the current pricing (especially with no tender ports).  Yet Carnival has sold out for my sailing, thus maximizing their revenue from offering that low/no-cost perk.

[hillbilly cruiser]

Maybe it's just me but I don't think so. I don't like FTTF using the express line at guest services. I think that is something we earned not  to be paid for. Flame me if you want I don't care just stating my thoughts. are more FTTF than Platinum or Diamon in line.

[wemjam]

23 minutes ago, hillbilly cruiser said:

Maybe it's just me but I don't think so. I don't like FTTF using the express line at guest services. I think that is something we earned not  to be paid for. Flame me if you want I don't care just stating my thoughts. are more FTTF than Platinum or Diamon in line.

I commented on the same thing too... I'm with you.  Frustrates me to stand in a line behind red and blue cards for sure.  Especially when you have 4 people in the room and they are all their together complaining trying to make a big deal out of stupid stuff to get money off their bill (happens every cruise I swear).  The stupid crap I see these people in line taking up customer cares time for.  🤦‍♀️

 

At least charge PER PERSON or something for FTTF instead of per room.  1 person spends $100 and boom, suddenly 4 people in the room get all the privilege's.

 

I will likely get flamed too but don't care.  We cruised to get to this level to have specific perks, and suddenly it is diluted with all the others who can just buy in for pennies.

Edited August 16, 2023 by wemjam

[NewfieFam]

1 hour ago, wemjam said:

I commented on the same thing too... I'm with you.  Frustrates me to stand in a line behind red and blue cards for sure.  Especially when you have 4 people in the room and they are all their together complaining trying to make a big deal out of stupid stuff to get money off their bill (happens every cruise I swear).  The stupid crap I see these people in line taking up customer cares time for.  🤦‍♀️

 

At least charge PER PERSON or something for FTTF instead of per room.  1 person spends $100 and boom, suddenly 4 people in the room get all the privilege's.

 

I will likely get flamed too but don't care.  We cruised to get to this level to have specific perks, and suddenly it is diluted with all the others who can just buy in for pennies.

I would be annoyed as well. However, i believe that alot of the upper card tiers are free casino Travellers. Maybe just be happy with the free perks that come with that. Likely only one person is gambling and the other is piggybacking off of them. Maybe better to have them not earn any rewards unless they are paying full price. I have high airline status and most of my flights are upgraded to business class, if i fly on the airline point rewards I do not get further rewards.

[Colorado Beach Bum]

1 hour ago, NewfieFam said:

I would be annoyed as well. However, i believe that alot of the upper card tiers are free casino Travellers. Maybe just be happy with the free perks that come with that. Likely only one person is gambling and the other is piggybacking off of them. Maybe better to have them not earn any rewards unless they are paying full price. I have high airline status and most of my flights are upgraded to business class, if i fly on the airline point rewards I do not get further rewards.

Not sure your assumption is correct about most high tiers being earned via casino comps.  But does it matter if the cruise line is earning money via fare or casino?  Either way it’s income.  High airline status is sometimes earned by business travelers whose company paid the fare, not the individual. Is that fair to those who paid their own way?  Either way it’s income to the airlines keeping fares more reasonable for the average traveler.  

[wemjam]

8 hours ago, NewfieFam said:

I would be annoyed as well. However, i believe that alot of the upper card tiers are free casino Travellers. Maybe just be happy with the free perks that come with that. Likely only one person is gambling and the other is piggybacking off of them. Maybe better to have them not earn any rewards unless they are paying full price. I have high airline status and most of my flights are upgraded to business class, if i fly on the airline point rewards I do not get further rewards.

Well I don't fall into that category.  I have been cruising 20 years + now with Carnival and I don't hardly gamble at all.  I little bit sometimes (not even every cruise) on the slots.

 

I did start getting a casino offer just in the last year or two, but mine is like the bottom of the barrel offer where it might save me $100 of my normal room rate and that is it.  I was actually very surprised because it happened after a cruise where I spent maybe $200 in the slots the entire cruise.

 

 

[2wheelin]

14 hours ago, hillbilly cruiser said:

Maybe it's just me but I don't think so. I don't like FTTF using the express line at guest services. I think that is something we earned not  to be paid for. Flame me if you want I don't care just stating my thoughts. are more FTTF than Platinum or Diamon in line.

You didn’t earn it. You bought it and got all those cruises to enjoy along with it. Some of us had to be working to support families rather than vacationing while you were “earning” those rewards. You get your perks every cruise while FTTF need to purchase each time and it is small perks for the price. What’s the difference if one or two of them get ahead of you in line—5 minutes tops? Chill.

[ProgRockCruiser]

15 hours ago, hillbilly cruiser said:

Maybe it's just me but I don't think so. I don't like FTTF using the express line at guest services. I think that is something we earned not  to be paid for. Flame me if you want I don't care just stating my thoughts. are more FTTF than Platinum or Diamon in line.

 

1 hour ago, 2wheelin said:

You didn’t earn it. You bought it and got all those cruises to enjoy along with it. Some of us had to be working to support families rather than vacationing while you were “earning” those rewards. You get your perks every cruise while FTTF need to purchase each time and it is small perks for the price. What’s the difference if one or two of them get ahead of you in line—5 minutes tops? Chill.

Hey, I have an idea!  How about, instead of Auto-Grats, Carnival includes FTTF with every cruise fare!  That way everyone gets to benefit from it, regardless of how many cruises they've taken, and they can all get into the Priority line at GS, and...oh wait...

 

😉

 

To be honest, I'm not sure of whether being able to "buy" perks normally earned by "loyal" customers is a good idea or a bad idea.  Airlines changed their approach to Lounge access, with Delta (for example) restricting the sale of Lounge Access passes to their Silver and above members because too many of the hoi polloi were clogging up the lounges.

 

The idea of "earning a perk" because you've spent a lot of money (and therefore sailing days, or vice versa if you like) over time with a provider, vs being able to "buy" that same perk for one time use via an extra fee has a lot of cognitive dissonance for me.  Maybe it should be more like the "old days" of actual class fares, or how some lines are doing the ship-within-a-ship thing (Yacht Club, The Haven, Havana?).  Bring back First Class, Second Class, Third Class, and Steerage!

 

That way, if you want all the possible perks on your first cruise, you don't need to "earn it" via 200 days of sailings, just buy it!

 

I dunno, not sure I really prefer any solution.

Edited August 16, 2023 by ProgRockCruiser