Yes, My Time Dining is flexible. Traditionally, dinner on a cruise ship has been served at two specific seating times. 0000738152 00000 n Please don't disrupt the system that works that was put in place that is fair to crew and guests . That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. CC Help Jenn But some people just want to eat with their own family. Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. 0000909755 00000 n Related: The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free. 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. The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. By But its definitely not for everyone. 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. Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. The only real downside beyond having to pay your gratuities in advance is that you arent guaranteed the same waiter every night. 0000916923 00000 n Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. I noticed the My Time doesn't offer reservations until 6:45. 2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 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. How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? 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. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 0000417013 00000 n If you dont like tipping in advance to your service, and you would rather leave generous tips individually, there is nothing stopping you from going the extra mile to tip your waiter or waitress each night you use the My Time Dining option. Can guests move between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining during their cruise? Im really asking the opposite - We havent prepaid gratuities, but the agent has booked us in for My Time Dining! 0000019016 00000 n We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, To request a call back from one of our cruise experts, kindly provide us with the details requested bellow and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. 0000891696 00000 n So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. 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. Still need help? 0000016969 00000 n document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); | Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. If you tip personally in cash, those people must turn it in or face dismissal. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you dont want a set dining time. Enrollment required. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. It's easy, convenient, and if you wish to recognize outstanding service you can always tip extra cash personally. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. Some guests do not plan on eating in the Main Dining Room each day or would rather do so at the time of their choosing. Thats the whole point of the service charge. My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. Gratuities haven't been going up "almost every year." 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.this is royal caribeans latest sneaky trick to get you to part with more money than you need to.the gratuities payment are VOLUNTARY you have the choise to pay them or request onboard the ship to take them off of your account . Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. 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. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. 0000005911 00000 n Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. April 7, 2008. You also will not be able to switch after the second day, so you'll want to visit Guest Services and/or the Main Dining Room when you embark-- Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. E{3bEi_,FdTneL m!TlmJ=&esmh~rqbo)q9V'{7_LA74us i%@MZC1twwBjkC%{'BLTzP64Z{C@gC;qdF\u4:}NiIYmKzuu>k&dOWd1ydzW ]EhWJt*iLAcGMUyhvjw%m&_I;jxt' jg|zn~7_{ksiY15M HHnV6@,,TnMv9GU{$ If you are unable to book show times in advance via the Cruise Planner when you are making your My Time Dining reservations, you may end up booking a dinner time that clashes with one of the shows. If you are choosing My Time Dining because you are not a fan of either set dining times, you will need to ensure that you make nightly reservations as soon as possible via the Cruise Planner. Reservations are strongly recommended. Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . please click here to update it. It truly depends, though. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. 0000005866 00000 n 0000897240 00000 n Quote tiny260 Members 2.4k LocationOklahoma Posted January 11, 2019 I think you probably have had you questions answered already but I wanted to show an example. 0000722800 00000 n We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have slightly different daily gratuities. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. This is an unfair statement. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. But whether My Time Dining works for you or not really depends on what your preferences are. Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. 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. 0000901423 00000 n The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Others tip their room service or wait staff at their favorite bar, either early in the cruise in the hope of getting better service or at the end to thank them for enhancing the vacation experience. 28 0 obj <> endobj xref 28 131 0000000016 00000 n Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). I think the crew would let it be know if they were not receiving their share of the gratuities. If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. 0000420293 00000 n It gives passengers prepaid gratuities, a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a basic beverage package for a single bundled price of $50 per person, per day. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. 0000898322 00000 n 0000006236 00000 n I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. ;). They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. However, spaces may be limited so it may not be possible if you leave it too late. You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. 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.