My Time Dining is one of the options youll get to choose from when you book your cruise. 0000841939 00000 n Could you please tell me how I can improve it? 0000910770 00000 n Read more: Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); | Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. Can they join me in the My Time Dining Room. Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora Planning a cruise? 0000750166 00000 n 0000897170 00000 n Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 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. Enrollment required. Royal Caribbean gratuities for children and infants The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. The dining staff will do all possible to accommodate the request, based on availability. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. 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. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Weve booked a cruise through an agent. I am not trying to get out of tipping, I would like to be convinced that the automatic charge actually gets passed on to the crew?? I did find My Time Dining rather a contradiction as theoretically you could dine anytime between the hours of 6.30 9.30, but, its best to make a reservation, as it turned out the waiting time was approximately the same for both cases. You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. If a guest requests My Time dining, can wine be ordered through Royal Gifts to be delivered to the dining room? The exact times, however, will vary according to your cruise itinerary. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. 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. Search Now When you log into the Cruise Planner, all you have to do is navigate to the "Dining" tab and scroll down until you see "My Time Dining.". Royal Caribbean | MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS 0000006046 00000 n Paste as plain text instead, I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 With Traditional Dining, you will have the same reserved seating each night of your cruise, and there are two seatings to choose from: first (early) and second (late). All sent to your inbox. But its definitely not for everyone. I will HAPPILY pay my gratuities, and feel that having them paid in advance is very convenient, andprobably saves me some money. Royal Caribbean has done the latter keeping the option for traditional dining service but also offering My Time Dining. At least, thats how it is supposed to work. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. Learn more. Im really asking the opposite - We havent prepaid gratuities, but the agent has booked us in for My Time Dining! Also as others have stated, prepaid gratuities and MTD have nothing to do with each other anymore. You dont have to do anything. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, the cruise line will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. For guests that want to experience the Main Dining Room without the formality of having a set time, Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean offers its guests two choices for enjoying dinner in the main dining room: My Time Dining or. If youre late then your table may be given away, and youll have to wait for another one. Throughout the cruise, you may be able to change your My Time Dining reservations on the app or by calling the dining hotline from your stateroom's telephone, but it is dependent on availability. 0000910197 00000 n My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. . Im pretty sure were havent prepaid the gratuities, but our invoice from RCL does say that our dining is My Time Dining and the Cruise planner will let us make reservations. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. So with My Time Dining, you might lose some of that experience, but the flexibility of your own table and time is often preferable anyway. 0000738152 00000 n Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. 0000006714 00000 n You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . 0000418111 00000 n Regent Seven Seas Cruises. A The automatic service gratuity is $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. If not, you might be stuck eating even later than the second seating! I suspect that the automatic tipping is a hidden charge for the customers who already paid to go on the cruise to subsidise the company's wage bill. Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. Theyll be able to make recommendations based on what youve previously ordered and make sure your favourite drink is waiting for you, if you want them too. The menu for My Time Dining is still the same, so you will get the same quality meals. 0000005141 00000 n I have just booked the allure this afternoon and was told by the iglu cruiserep that if I wanted my time dining then I would HAVE to pay the gratuities up front at the time of booking,but if I had first or second sitting then I didn't need to pay I was imformed that royal had made this part of their booking conditions 2 months ago. 0000014730 00000 n April 7, 2008. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks Are you sure that isn't an Iglu Cruise rule? MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping You can even switch from My Time Dining to Traditional if you booked before understanding the differences, but you might end up with late dining depending on when you make the change, as early tends to book up quickly. 0000418076 00000 n 0000704363 00000 n Still need help? Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. If you want to reserve it on-board then visit Guest Services. If, for example, two people would like to eat earlier around 6:30pm, you would make them their own reservation. 0000916414 00000 n Booking MTD on certain ships requires individual checkouts for each night while other ships you can make reservations for the whole cruise and check out once. Additionally, several major lines in the past couple of years have begun offering bundle pricing to customers who pay for cruise tips, Wi-Fi charges and an onboard drinks package all at once in advance of sailing, potentially at a discount. Some dont charge a service fee at all. "=0 2BNX/edbi-:w)ddA(BTec;B&r9mE(!Rp#nZbCE2$*,U3Qg+sm{_`S.c xj"PxglZ%Ter_&8W}.l|2cs='g}:f kyMFNG7xFdI"^Jd\O&+W\^:_6 XEljBWm6jk2Tn)a0jGG\E Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. ;) Can we opt out of those added on charges also?? If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. If you tip personally in cash, those people must turn it in or face dismissal. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Royal Caribbean Dining. The recommended dress code for the Main Dining Room for traditional dining or My Time Dining is smart casual. Started August 27, 2021, By 0000828884 00000 n Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. When making a reservation you will be offered My Time or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. But some people just want to eat with their own family. You can do this before the cruise, or during your voyage. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you don't want a set dining time. Check here before booking an award fare. 0000423354 00000 n Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. Your link has been automatically embedded. You can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. This is where you'll not only be able to make your My Time Dining reservations, but also where you can reserve shore excursions, drink packages, and more. Welcome aboard! Do you plan on dining anywhere except the dining room? Now you have a choice to prepay gratuities or not with either Traditional or MTD. The rates listed are per person, per day. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. My time dining and gratuities - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise You'd likely pay it at final payment date. Why is it combined? 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . Alas! Follow along on this incredible voyage! 13 Biggest Mistakes Made by Carnival Cruise Passengers [Carnival Tips], Cruise Ship Room Service: Menus and Fees for Cruise Lines, Carnival Anytime Dining: Tips for Your Time Dining with Carnival, Carnival Bringing a Fourth Cruise Ship to Galveston, Texas, Carnival to Send Newly Upgraded Ship on 14-Day Transatlantic Cruise, Royal Caribbean Updates Perks in Loyalty Program. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. CC Help Jenn If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Traditional dining guests may be seated with other parties to form a larger table, which can be fun if youre confident enough to make new friends. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 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. Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. 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. You dont have to attend dinner at the same time, and you can arrange a table that works for you. Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises There is a $9.75 gratuity per day that is required and this actually covers not only the wait staff but your room steward. 0000755470 00000 n If you plan on spending most of your time in the buffet restaurant anyway, then you might not be concerned about the Main Dining Room and your dining times. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. 0000828394 00000 n The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. 0000027181 00000 n Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. 156.1k. 0000916809 00000 n My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. Jon can be reached at. 0000419103 00000 n So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? 2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Display as a link instead, Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. LauraS 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. 0000916095 00000 n I noticed the My Time doesn't offer reservations until 6:45. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Can a family in one stateroom dine at different times with My Time Dining? Find the right card for you. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. 0000831970 00000 n You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. Your statement You cannot sign up for My Time Dining until you are on board the vessel is incorrect you can do this online when you book the Cruise. Our dining options have been reimagined to give you a culinary experience at sea as vast, varied and eye-opening as dining in the worlds most cosmopolitan cities. My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises 0000916923 00000 n trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream Thanks Matt- We paid for the cruise at the time of booking. The lines that offer these deals say theyll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf. It's easy, convenient, and if you wish to recognize outstanding service you can always tip extra cash personally. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. What is My Time Dining? | Royal Caribbean Cruises So therefore it does not show on our invoice. 0000026625 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. My Time Dining - Gratuities?? - Cruise Critic Community 0000902188 00000 n You can save even more $$$ by eating in the Lido on the last evening and avoiding your cabin steward that night also ? These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. 0000896807 00000 n To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. 0000901330 00000 n 0000006312 00000 n You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. Be the first to rate this post. 0000024527 00000 n We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review - Direct Line Cruises Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments. We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. Some people like to get to know their wait staff and sitting with other people at a table is not a problem, while others like to dine anytime they feel like it and prefer to eat with just their party. 0000737875 00000 n They are per person. That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. You also will not be able to switch after the second day, so you'll want to visit Guest Services and/or the Main Dining Room when you embark-- Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. Just make sure to turn up at the reserved time. Please don't disrupt the system that works that was put in place that is fair to crew and guests . American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. However, as mentioned, it is usually just easier and more convenient to leave the auto-gratuity/service charge/hotel charge (it is called different things on different cruise lines) in place. Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board. My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. You also do not get to know the wait staff as well, since you may be seated in a different area every night. 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. You cannot paste images directly. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Please note, you can only choose one dining style per sailing so once they join you they must use My Time Dining for the rest of the cruise. . Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! Obviously through this conversation you can tell that you can pre-pay your gratuities our they will be added to your onboard account daily as you cruise. 0000005956 00000 n It's kind of a runaround to personally get to everyone who is included (my opinion). Please note, you can only choose one dining style per sailing so once they join you they must use My Time Dining for the rest of the cruise. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships something that once was common. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want.