Is Faster To the Fun (FTTF) still worth the Money in 2024?
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- we've done FTTF, but the last three cruises we've taken we've done without it. Join is for a discussion about if it's really worth it or not. Lots of Pros and cons!
#carnival #cruiselife #travel
On the last cruise we took a few years ago, we had this snooty couple, the lady mostly, ask if we were diamond or platinum while we were in the priority help desk line. I said no, but FTTF. She mumbled something under breath. I pointed at the FTTF on the sign with diamond and platinum and said that we simply paid for the perks that they earned for sailing 75+ days. Her face turned red as a beet.
Oh yeah, burns them up. Thanks for watching and posting!
Best explanation of FTTF thank you
Thank you so much!
For us, we have a full days drive when we get back so we need to get off asap (even though we dont want to) that was the icing on the cake to go ahead and get it.
We use it only because my son has autism and helps with lines
Understandable!
So this would be my husband and I a third cruise on Carnival I did not know about the faster to fun before this year and because we have back pains we didn't want to stand in long lines so I call my booking agent and asked about it and they were all sold out at a time but as I was making my payments I noticed it was there so we Cruise out February 25th 2024 we'll see how It go
Sounds like for someone in your situation, it's perfect
Interesting take on the value of FTTF from your perspective. I think some of it misses the mark as the point of FTTF is being able to take it easy and not have to get up early to get early zones/groups for whatever activity. We have used it on 3 of the previous 5 cruises and will have it on our upcoming cruise on the Vista this weekend. For us the biggest benefit onboard was the dedicated guest services line on the phone and at the desk. We have used that more than we ever thought we would. We also enjoy being able to "cruise" right onto the ship without dealing with boarding groups and we absolutely love the early self disembark. We are in our car heading home when general disemebarkers are still in customs! So, if you are an early riser, maybe FTTF won't be of value. I'm an early riser, but instead of rushing to grab an early zone/spot I can spend that time eating a more leisurely breakfast or hitting the gym. Totally worth it for my wife and I.
The point was about the tender boats, there isn't a line snaking all over the boat anymore that someone has to wait in, or get up super early to be in the front of anymore. You get your early zone boarding pass, and you get to do whatever until they call your zone. It's a lot better than it used to be if you dont have FTTF
we usually get suites when we go on carnival and I think that has better perks than FTTF.
I used it twice...2014 and 2017 and it was less than $90...so now that I am platinum won't have a problem with those who purchase FTTF
good attitude!
I purchased FTTF for my husband and I and I am excited to see how it works. Thanks for the information
You mentioned choosing early or late disembarkation and that there is a lounge that we can wait in. How do you "choose" the time and how will we find the lounge? This was a very informative video - thanks!
They will announce what decks are open for waiting. Usually lido or deck 5.
As far as choosing. They will deliver information to your stateroom on where to meet for early Disembarkation. If you don't want that, you can go up to the lounges with everyone else
I wonder if it matters on what port. We bought it this time and are sailing from Baltimore. It is our second time cruising. I figure we can try it once to see if it’s worth it
My advice is Don't make your decision on getting on the ship. Focus on getting the early check in two weeks earlier instead. We literally boarded two minutes after the FTTF people.
so as long as i check in immediately when able we will get on the ship quickly and going to shore doesnt seem harder than with FTTF? I HAD IT PRECOVID AND LOVED IT. Sorry for the caps lock. anyway we couldnt get it last year but that didnt seem to matter. we got on port quickly still no problem. guessing itll be like that now as well. we are going on mardi gras. im just worried about ferry ports/ excursions like going to ezcaret.
Yes checking in early takes away a lot of the benefits of FTTF. I can't swear every ship uses the numbered tickets now for tender boats, but that was out experience
Thanks for the info. In the past I’ve upgraded to a suite, you get all the faster to the fun perks but also a nicer room for around the same cost. At least that’s true for the 3-4 night cruises out of Long Beach. Thanks!
Nice!
Bought fttf out of Galveston and as a first time cruiser, I think the value is there. You lay out a lot of good points, that going forward if just sailing with my wife and I, we might forgo the option. The ability to have a much shorter line for guest services was a nice perk (alongside debarkation), but after our first sailing I now know to just get down there in the early AM hours and there is no line for guest services. IF you are traveling with children, which we were, I can't recommend the addon enough unless it is insanely expensive. We paid $90 for the Breeze out of Galveston and I'd argue we got our money's worth with the priority security line, priority check in line, and priority debarkation traveling with kids. Especially overly excited kids going on a new adventure and mega tired kids with the early wake up call to leave the ship.
You mentioned without FTTF you need to go early to get tender boarding pass and then departure zone/time options? Is there a specific location to pick those up each day?
It would be the morning of whatever day the tender boat port day is. The location is going to change from ship to ship.
As I understand it, you have to pay extra for the good service for which a customer is entitled
This year we will have both of our children with us on the cruise our youngest daughter has autism and cannot tolerate standing in long lines of long periods of time believe me it’s for everyone else’s benefit that we don’t we quick that being said I think that we are looking forward to a little bit of convenience and the $89 that we spent our five the cruise is so totally worth it however if the price was any higher than that or if the price was per person instead of per cabin and we probably would just find a way to cope with the chaos of her meltdowns while we wait in long lines with everyone else
If the price doesn't seem to high to you and you have an opportunity to purchase it, go for it!
@tdubblz Absolutely get this if you are traveling with children. Makes getting on and off the ship very straightforward with very little waiting in line.
Just skipping the long lines at guest services was worth it!
Especially that first 24 hours!
Okay, that's it. I'm cancelling my FTTF pass. I've been second guessing it after reading reviews. This is our second cruise and it wasn't available on the first one so I wasn't sure if it'd be worth it or not.
Hope you enjoy your cruise!
Great information folks !!! I enjoyed all of the B rolls as well ;) !!!! Thanks for sharing !!! :)
Thanks so much brother! We shot several videos that I hope will really help out fellow cruisers
It says you can drop your bags off however couldn’t anyone just go in your room and take your stuff? As the cabin door is left open while they clean it
The only time the door is open is when they're actually getting it ready, they lock it when they leave
Thank You!
Not sure what FTTF is, but BTTF is definitely still worth the money! Great Scott this is heavy, 88 miles per hour!!! Run for it Marty!!!!!
We have cruised from Baltimore twice. The ships here are smaller. Getting on and off have not proved problematic. We were on RC.
We're doing RC in May out of Seattle to Alaska. Excited to try it!
So if I have a 12:30 check in time on my ticket and I have FTTF I still have to get there at 12:30, but I get to use the priority boarding line? A coworker keeps telling me FTTF means you can show up as early as you want.
Your coworker is very smart, you can arrive with the earliest boarding time which is 10:00
Same I have FTTF with a checkin in time of 12-12:30. I’m a little confused by the other statement. So the time means nothing? I show up whenever? Because honestly what’s the point of me paying 90 dollars if it’s really not worth it. Also I have a 12pm flight home from a Tampa. Do you think if I didn’t have FTTF I could still do early disembarkation with self disembark?
We had a great time cruising with y’all. Good information!
Thanks Bill! Miss catching up with you at dinner. It was great getting to know you
i think you 2 make a lovely couple
Cruising in January and haven’t seen FTTF offered yet - where would I see it or is it not being offered till my online checkin (when they have a good idea how many Platinum & Diamond members are booked)?
Yeah, they might not release it until 4-6 months before the cruise. Find a Facebook group for your sailing, and usually those are good for finding out when it's released. Good luck!
If you have a spa-level room (Deck 11 and 12), does that mean you can tender to the island faster or debark when you want? It seems like those higher decks used to be called first.
Ive never seen tendering by deck. I've seen stand in line (which FTTF gets to skip. And the ticket system, which FTTF gets to ignore
Thank you so much for the info, how do I get it do I call carnival or use the app
If it's available, it will be listed on the website planner for your cruise under the 1st day of your cruise. When is your Cruise?
@@EscapingtheEmptyNest my cruise is 7/8/23 leaving out of port Canaveral
Yeah, check the website. If it's not there or says sold out keep checking, literally every day. They release spots a little at a time. If you don't get it, just know it's not as vital as it used to be.
@@EscapingtheEmptyNest thank you again🛳
Does it matter what time I choose when I check in for Faster To The Fun? Do I just show up at 10 regardless of what time I’ve selected? Thanks!
It's been a while since I checked in for FTTF, but I'm pretty sure they allow you to reserve earlier times.
@@EscapingtheEmptyNest Ok, thanks. This is our first cruise with Carnival, we’re going on the Vista. I guess we’ll find it Saturday when our check in opens. 😀
Please let me know how it goes
@@EscapingtheEmptyNest I went through the Carnival Hub app right at midnight, got 10-10:30 check in time. I see a lot of people were having trouble with the site, but I had no problems. Also, some people on the Facebook group went right at midnight and earliest was 11. I wonder if a spot was automatically saved for us with FTTF. Who knows?
@@m3dman3 sounds that way! Have a great trip
OMG...free laundry? I need that in my life! LOL
yeah, but you need 75 or more days of cruising on carnival to get that. We're a long way off, so we still have to use the pay per use washing machines. Thanks for watching Cindy!
@@EscapingtheEmptyNest Oh wow. So free laundry is for the folks that probably spend more time on water than land. LOL
So get up early to get a tender pass!
Funny story. They announced over the loud speaker that tender passes would be distributed at 7:30. The CD announced before a show that it would start at 7. The fun times said 7:30. We arrived at 7, and found out they started passing them out at 6am
@@EscapingtheEmptyNest oh wow!!
NO ITS A JOKE
Not a fan of FTTF. Personally, I think you should earn it with your loyalty to the brand.
On our first couple of cruises, it was helpful, especially when we took our kids. As empty nesters, we find we don't necessarily need it anymore and we are still a ways away from platinum.
I think the benefits should go to the passengers who spend the most money - people in suites should get more perks than those in interior cabins. Just like in airplanes. Those who book business or 1st class get more bennies than those in economy.