My Time Dining is one of the options youll get to choose from when you book your cruise. Yes, My Time Dining is flexible. My Time Dining and tips - Royal Caribbean Blog Traditional dining is great for anyone who enjoys the classic cruise dinner experience, meeting new people and enjoying a dedicated waiter for the duration of your sailing. How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. Personally, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping people that are doing me a service. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Another method is to just simply show up at the Main Dining Room each night when you are ready to eat. Im really asking the opposite - We havent prepaid gratuities, but the agent has booked us in for My Time Dining! Alas! 0000003714 00000 n You cannot paste images directly. Also as others have stated, prepaid gratuities and MTD have nothing to do with each other anymore. Jon got hooked on cruising after his first cruise on his honeymoon, and today he is always looking for cruise deals and reading information about the cruise industry. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. 0000014730 00000 n If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. Unsubscribe whenever you want. At many big lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, its not uncommon for a family of four staying in a single cabin to see around $80 a day in service fees added to their bills. April 7, 2008. 0000417581 00000 n It can be awkward to eat with a complete stranger, and this dining option also makes it easier for folks who just want to enjoy their getaway at sea. If you feel anyone has been particularly helpful you can always tip them extra in cash. We always choose My Time dinning. But I remember the days before MTD and Automatic Tips when, on the last night, TIP Night, people would eat at other venues and skip out on tipping the wait staff. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. If you have a smaller party, you might find that you do not have to wait as long as larger parties. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 0000909381 00000 n Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. Additional cash gifts are not expected. No reservation is needed, but Royal Caribbean strongly encourages you to get a reservation if you dont want to spend a lot of time waiting when you go to dinner. 0000896900 00000 n If you are purchasing a dining package or plan on eating dinner in one of the other complimentary venues, you may not find yourself putting too much thought into what dining style you'd prefer. I always find that funny when peeps complain about the added on grats listed as a separate charge..do they ever look at their cable bill, electric bill, phone bill.etcetc. It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Your link has been automatically embedded. How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises Or do they not notice those "add on" charges? If you're wondering how much you should tip on the specific cruise line you're considering or have already looked, we've compiled that information here. Welcome aboard! Thanks Matt- We paid for the cruise at the time of booking. The menu for My Time Dining is still the same, so you will get the same quality meals. Copyrights |, www.royalcaribbean.ae is part of Royal Caribbean Arabia owned by Safeen Tourism LLC the Sole Middle East Representative of Royal Caribbean International, 2023 All Rights Reserved | ROYAL CARIBBEAN ARABIA. The only thing you should HAVE to pay at booking is the deposit. Thats the whole point of the service charge. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Callummck There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. With My Time Dining, you can simply walk up to the host stand to be seated or make reservations in advance for your preferred time. Royal Caribbean gratuities for children and infants The guest relations staff will want to know if youve experienced particular service issues. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. You no longer have to prepay gratuities if you select My Time Dining. But whether My Time Dining works for you or not really depends on what your preferences are. 0000828394 00000 n When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. On a cruise ship there are so many activities and fun shows, that it can be easy to lose tract of time, and not having to worry about being at diner at a specific time works for some people. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? 0000891423 00000 n Yes. Are you sure that isn't an Iglu Cruise rule? If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? My Time Dining is the flexible dining option on Royal Caribbean cruises. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. How to book My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. If not, you might be stuck eating even later than the second seating! 0000003555 00000 n Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Read on to learn what My Time Dining is, the benefits that it offers, and how to book. A lot of cruisers were actually upset when they heard about My Time Dining and vowed to never sail with Royal Caribbean again if this was the only option. In this case, no gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. There have been both positive and negative reports on Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining. You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. It is recommended that you book a table though. 0000755470 00000 n What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. My time dining and gratuities - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise They are per person. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. Unlike Traditional Dining, you will not be seated at the same table with the same wait staff if your choose My Time. We know booking a cruise can be a complicated process, so if you need any help or would even like us to fill out your information for you please get in touch. Legal Information | Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. We know booking a cruise can be a complicated process, so if you need any help or would even like us to fill out your information for you please get in touch. How Does Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining Work? - Cruise Fever Powered by Cruiseline.com, spoke with royal Carib rep today who said prepaid grats are now out if you are using My Time Dining. ( use to happen frequently). 0000006450 00000 n The recommended dress code for the Main Dining Room for traditional dining or My Time Dining is smart casual. Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. There is no special dress code for My Time Dining it has the same dress code as traditional dining. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 0000011539 00000 n 0000420293 00000 n In this line of thinking, lines with these charges are essentially breaking out a good chunk of onboard labor costs as a separate line item on your bill. Be the first to rate this post. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. 0000735845 00000 n 0000913572 00000 n You will see the same helpful crew members waiting on you in the WJ as you did last night in the MDR. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or crew appreciation charges at some lines). 0000841664 00000 n You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. Clear editor. Still reserve a table if you can otherwise, you might be waiting with a grumbling stomach until a table becomes free if you just walk in. These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. Our new My Time Dining option allows you the flexibility to choose when you want to dine each evening, giving you the chance to enjoy your meals at your own pace. Just make sure to turn up at the reserved time. So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . Due to availability, however, you may not have as many times to choose from. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. However, a lot of people do uphold the dress code, so if you turn up in a t-shirt and shorts then you may look out of place. Brilliance of the Seas is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal . 0000008654 00000 n The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. 0000901330 00000 n 0000006046 00000 n has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. Prepaid Gratuities / My Time Dining - Royal Caribbean Discussion Theres also a dining hotline you can call from the phone in your stateroom to make changes to your reservations. PDF MY TIME DINING - Royal Caribbean International Search Now 0000767892 00000 n If you want to change to My Time Dining, youll need to speak to Guest Services within the first two days of your cruise. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. Someone else that pays more will take up the slack for you. For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its "free at sea" promotion. 0000897240 00000 n Related: Use these credit cards to maximize your next cruise vacation. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. E{3bEi_,FdTneL m!TlmJ=&esmh~rqbo)q9V'{7_LA74us i%@MZC1twwBjkC%{'BLTzP64Z{C@gC;qdF\u4:}NiIYmKzuu>k&dOWd1ydzW ]EhWJt*iLAcGMUyhvjw%m&_I;jxt' jg|zn~7_{ksiY15M HHnV6@,,TnMv9GU{$ Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. If, for instance, you plan on staying late in port one day but still wish to eat in the Main Dining Room, you could make a reservation for later in the evening, rather than miss out on the experience because you have early dining. Regent Seven Seas Cruises. You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. 0000910770 00000 n Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have two options for dining: My Time Dining and Traditional Dining. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review. That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. This dining option requires you to "pre pay" your gratuities. Read more: Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? This is why we recommend making reservations for My Time Dining, whether that be in advance via the Cruise Planner or onboard by speaking with a head waiter. All rights reserved. 0000909755 00000 n 0000002916 00000 n $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. If you tip personally in cash, those people must turn it in or face dismissal. Display as a link instead, By Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! 0000883078 00000 n A. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. It is possible to snag dining times around 7:00pm every night, but this is a highly desirable dinner time. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. A lot of people still prefer the idea of traditional dining where you sit for dinner at the same time every evening, with the same party and with the same waiter. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. By his definition the answer is yes. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. Australians typically do not tip because the minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 AUD/hr ($14.56 USD/hr).