Reservations are strongly recommended. Member Title: 100,000+ Club. 0000891340 00000 n Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My Family Time Dining is a dining option for families with children ages 3-11 years that aims to help kid's complete dinner within 45 minutes, freeing parents to enjoy coffee and . Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! 0000426585 00000 n Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! You can then make reservations for your restaurant, or just turn up at the restaurant between 6 pm and 9.30 pm and wait for a table to be available. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. There have been both positive and negative reports on Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. There is no special dress code for My Time Dining it has the same dress code as traditional dining. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. That means two people sharing a room on a seven-night cruise would pay $308 in tips for an otherwise free drinks package on top of their daily service charge fees. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. 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. 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. 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. I don't mind tipping for good service. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. Automatic Gratuities were added to lessen the event of "skipping out" on tips and to make sure MTD waiters were tipped. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. The rates listed are per person, per day. Theres also a dining hotline you can call from the phone in your stateroom to make changes to your reservations. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or crew appreciation charges at some lines). 0000828837 00000 n Having to arrive early, though, defeats the purpose of being able to dine whenever you'd like. Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. 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. That's because some cruise lines tack daily service fees onto passenger bills yet many travelers still hand out additional cash gratuities, either as a matter of course or for exemplary service. If not, just leave blank, How to book My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean, What you need to know about Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining, Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining. 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. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. However, each ship does also offer specialty dining for an additional fee. 0000812508 00000 n I always prepay my gratuities and do traditional dining. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Royal Caribbean does make it easy to enjoy flexible dining with My Time Dining, so just make sure you sign up to it if you want to decide when you eat each day. At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. For instance, in recent years, Norwegian has been continuously running free at sea promotions that include not just free crew tips but free shipboard Wi-Fi and a free drinks package, too. Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. 0000003836 00000 n You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. 0000016969 00000 n 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. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. Pasted as rich text. 0000690334 00000 n 0000916809 00000 n In this case, no gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. Follow along on this incredible voyage! 0000022522 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. From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. 0000425403 00000 n 0000897748 00000 n Youll be asked to pre-pay your gratuities. If you would like a specific waiter or table, they are more likely to be able to accommodate your request with advance reservations (however, please note this is based on availability). My confusion is to do with the My Time Dining - If gratuities havent been prepaid, do we still have the My Time Dining thats on the invoice?! You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. However, if you dont sign up for My Time Dining within the first two days of your cruise, then youre stuck with traditional dining times. Search Now 0000911056 00000 n The only real downside beyond having to pay your gratuities in advance is that you arent guaranteed the same waiter every night. Lines that now cover gratuities in their fares include Azamara, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? 0000913572 00000 n 0000419307 00000 n 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. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. 0000909755 00000 n You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. . 0000426236 00000 n 0000008654 00000 n Still need help? Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. By This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. 0000418111 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 think the crew would let it be know if they were not receiving their share of the gratuities. Also as others have stated, prepaid gratuities and MTD have nothing to do with each other anymore. It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable. Personally, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping people that are doing me a service. xdOHTQ7Ho1bJ!IP"th+5ha0P"..\h! hQhE9; 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. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. If the gratuities are pre-paid, it should be part of the cruise booking. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. 0000897240 00000 n If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, as well as Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises. Do you have Cruise Fever too? When making a reservation you will be offered My Time or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. Started June 21, 2021, By The exact times, however, will vary according to your cruise itinerary. Related: The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free. 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. Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. The longer you wait to arrive, however, the longer you will have to wait for an available table. Do I have to pre-reserve My Time Dining through Cruise Planner? I will pay for fantastic service but can't stand getting it shoved in my face and HAVE TO pay gratuities. For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. A fun part of cruising can be meeting the same people for lunch or diner every day and discussing things about the ship or about the excursions they went on. How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. 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. 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. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. This dining option requires you to "pre pay" your gratuities. Main Dining Room on Allure of the Seas please click here to update it. 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. Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. Royal Caribbean has done the latter keeping the option for traditional dining service but also offering My Time Dining. Unlike traditional dining - where a dining time is assigned to you - guests who opt for My Time Dining can eat in the Main Dining Room whenever they like during dining hours, according to availability. My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. The group we are going with have all chosen the early 5pm dinner reservation. 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. Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? You can, however, always tell your waitstaff that you have other plans, and they will do their best to serve you as quickly as possible. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Learn more. 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. Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. 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. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. If you dislike tipping on cruise ships, but can't afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, look for promotions when cruise lines with service charges throw in free gratuities as a booking incentive. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. Yes. 0000006636 00000 n Also (and I'm probably being the grammar police on this one) do you really mean "you HAVE to pay the gratuities up front at the time of booking" or do you mean they have to be added to your bill at time of booking? Still need help? Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. No votes so far! The lines that offer these deals say theyll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf. 0000006236 00000 n 0000901714 00000 n So therefore it does not show on our invoice. gratuities amongst the other My Time Dining waiters; feel free to reward your waiter with an extra tip for providing excellent service . Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, dining room wine purchases and Lotus Spa services. Brilliance of the Seas is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal . With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 28 0 obj <> endobj xref 28 131 0000000016 00000 n If you do get the same waiter every night, theyll remember your name and your preferences. 0000002916 00000 n If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. Just make sure to turn up at the reserved time. This also applies to sailings departing from Australia and New Zealand. 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! 0000828394 00000 n ?xtp~?f~j)Br$7q,,"Sf%SXAii%1O=]rlsE"V3ueGWY^U?h2/?7>V1yP GoW}wA[5!>0yuoe | Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. Early dining is around 6 pm, while late dining is closer to 8:30 pm. 0000913926 00000 n These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. Your link has been automatically embedded. Cruisers should also bring cash to tip the porters who bring their bags onto the ship (usually $2 per bag), as well as tour guides in port ($5 to $10 per person for half-day tours, $10 to $20 for full-day excursions and $2 for non-guide drivers). You will see the same helpful crew members waiting on you in the WJ as you did last night in the MDR. Sunshine State. 0000014304 00000 n For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. If you have multiple people in your stateroom or travel party, you can make multiple reservations each evening to accommodate everyone's preferences. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. This is where you'll not only be able to make your My Time Dining reservations, but also where you can reserve shore excursions, drink packages, and more. Related: Use these credit cards to maximize your next cruise vacation. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. I am not trying to get out of tipping, I would like to be convinced that the automatic charge actually gets passed on to the crew?? Display as a link instead, There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. "=0 2BNX/edbi-:w)ddA(BTec;B&r9mE(!Rp#nZbCE2$*,U3Qg+sm{_`S.c xj"PxglZ%Ter_&8W}.l|2cs='g}:f kyMFNG7xFdI"^Jd\O&+W\^:_6 XEljBWm6jk2Tn)a0jGG\E You dont have to do anything. One additional reason that you might pre-pay in the future is that Royal can change these rates at anytime, if you have them pre-paid, you are locked in to that rate. 0000422260 00000 n CC Help Jenn 0000704363 00000 n Why is it combined? My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 0000005051 00000 n 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. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. If you are traveling with more than eight people, My Time Dining might become a hassle. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. There will be a My Time Dining check-in desk at the entrance to the dining room with wait staff to greet guests. The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. 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. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. 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. 0000755747 00000 n If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 0000015069 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. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 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 usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from.

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