Carnival Cruise Faster to the Fun | Priority Check-In & Cruise Perks

The Constructor's Thoughts: Carnival Cruise Faster to the Fun or FTTF for short, is simply an extra fee-paying upgrade to get you onboard quicker so you can be off again and into the action sooner. Here's everything about it: what it is, what it costs, and whether it's worth your while.

What Is Carnival Faster to the Fun/What Perks Does It Include

Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line Faster to the Fun gives priority access to guests on a few key areas that most cruisers care about:

• Priority boarding: With the FTTF pass, you can skip long check-in, security, and boarding lines.
• Early stateroom access: You can drop off luggage in your cabin earlier in the day.
• Priority delivery of checked luggage: Your suitcase will arrive before most.
• Exclusive guest services: There will be an exclusive line at guest services and a dedicated phone line for queries.
• Priority dinner reservations: Early, late, or "Your Time Dining" priority (although not every flexible dining reservation is affected daily).
• Priority care and shuttle/tender service (for ports requiring tendering) and preferred time for boarding.
• Preferred disembarking time at the conclusion of the cruise (either early or later).

When, Where, & How Much Carnival Faster to the Fun

• Faster to the Fun price depends heavily on duration of cruise, ship, and sailing date; newer ships tend to have higher prices.
• It is sold per cabin, per trip. If only one person in a cabin wants to use Faster to the Fun, only that one person has to pay for the package, and it includes everyone staying in that stateroom.
• This add-on is available only prior to sailing, when booking usually opens six to eighteen months before embarkation day.
• Availability varies by sailing; the package can sell out. It also depends on how many Diamond/Platinum loyalty members are booked on that sailing.
• Not all Carnival cruises are Faster to the Fun cruises-Carnival Journeys sailings and European cruises do not have the Faster to the Fun option.

Is Faster to the Fun worth the cost?

Whether Carnival Cruise Faster to the Fun is worth it depends on your priorities and travel style:

Why people love it:

• For those wanting to get on board faster, avoid long lines, and enjoy more time onboard- even if it means just grabbing lunch before most guests arrive.
• Families with kids who are not good at waiting, or prefer to relax in the cabin first rather than stand around the check-in area.
• If the guest service queues have been very slow ever since the previous cruises, the priority line being awarded makes a difference.

Carnival Cruise Deal & Offers!

Find your perfect getaway with Carnival's latest cruise deals. Explore destinations, onboard fun, and unbeatable savings.

VIEW Deal & Offers!

Photo by Carnival Cruise Line

When it might not be worth it:

• If you don't mind getting to port late, then you're probably working against the benefit. Some people show up to the end of the check-in and get on board quickly without paying the premium, anyway.
• If your itinerary is tender-port-free, then the priority tender/shuttle perk is useless.

FAQs & "myths" about Faster to the Fun

• Are all Carnival cruises Faster to the Fun? They are not. Some sailings (Carnival Journeys, European cruises) never have this option.
• Carnival Cruise Faster to the Fun boarding time: FTTF is priority or expedited boarding; that is to say it does not always mean really early boarding, as it depends on how check-in flows and how many other priority statuses are in place. The main thing is to essentially bypass the queue.
• Carnival Cruise Faster to the Fun 2025: As of January 16, 2025, the information remains current with regard to FTTF status, offerings, pricing (which varies wildly by ship and length of cruise), and availability.

Conclusion

Carnival Cruise Line Faster to the Fun can be well worth it if you dislike waiting, want to maximize time onboard, or if you travel with kids or people who hate standing in long queues. But if you are more laid-back, a little flexible, or budget-conscious, then you might want to forgo this one and just join the "regular" boarding lines. It all comes down to how much time or convenience is worth for you.