| The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. 0000902670 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. Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. 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. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). That is not the case anymore but Royal is not great about updating their website information (I've heard they still talk about Dynamic Dining on Quantum class ships which only lasted one year). Also if staff are chastised for receiving cash, why do all the posts advocate tipping over and above the automatic gratuities for good service? Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Why is it combined? Enrollment required. 0000419103 00000 n This allows you to decide when you want to eat, and who you want to sit with, instead of traditional dining where you have set times and sit with the same group each day. 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. You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. Aside from formal nights, there is no enforced dress code except that bare feet and tank tops are not allowed in the Main Dining Room. 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. When you eat with someone different every night it can be hard to get past the introductions every night and really get to know someone. Alas! Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. The buffet restaurant doesnt offer reservations and you can visit it whenever you want. There is a $9.75 gratuity per day that is required and this actually covers not only the wait staff but your room steward as well. Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. We can honor requests to change only once based on availability. If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. gratuities amongst the other My Time Dining waiters; feel free to reward your waiter with an extra tip for providing excellent service . It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Similarly, if youre on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. 0000006450 00000 n 0000418076 00000 n Don't know why you want to do this (are you planning to carry cash every time you go to the WJ?) I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 0000735845 00000 n My Time Dining is one of the options youll get to choose from when you book your cruise. These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. On a typical seven-night cruise, thats nearly $600 in fees. There will be a My Time Dining check-in desk at the entrance to the dining room with wait staff to greet guests. CC Help Jenn If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. 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. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? 0000891999 00000 n Could you please tell me how I can improve it? Often, even if you do have a reservation you have to wait, but the time is much shorter since they are expecting you. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. 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. Weve booked a cruise through an agent. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. However, many people now prefer to enjoy more flexibility with dinner, so cruise lines have either done away with traditional dining altogether or set up an alternative option. My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. ;). 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. Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. 0000906618 00000 n 0000891423 00000 n By All rights reserved. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. 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. TPG values it at $1,600. Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. Perhaps as more and more cheapos remove their grats the cruise lines will finally just increase fares so everyone pays the same in tips. 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. Getting to know the staff and allowing them to get to know you is also a fun part of cruising for some people and My Time Dining would severely limit activity. Now you have a choice to prepay gratuities or not with either Traditional or MTD. 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. Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? If youre late then your table may be given away, and youll have to wait for another one. If you prefer to pay for tips once you're on board your cruise, youll generally find that the gratuities automatically appear on your bill. Here is why some people dislike the more informal dining option. Suggested read: 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Thanks Matt- We paid for the cruise at the time of booking. Privacy Policy | You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. Still need help? Your link has been automatically embedded. Who knows? 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. 0000419636 00000 n Can they join me in the My Time Dining Room. 0000905280 00000 n 0000019016 00000 n Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 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. 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. 0000897721 00000 n That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. You dont have to do anything. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. 0000006714 00000 n 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. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. Someone else that pays more will take up the slack for you. 0000901714 00000 n 0000005866 00000 n 0000913926 00000 n Read more: Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? 0000891340 00000 n They are per person. If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. 0000005911 00000 n The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. Member Title: 100,000+ Club. Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. 0000014304 00000 n 0000736746 00000 n Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. Note, however, that this means you may not be able to have as flexible of a dining experience as you might be hoping for, especially if prime reservations have been secured in advance by other guests. You can save even more $$$ by eating in the Lido on the last evening and avoiding your cabin steward that night also ? 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. Do I have to pre-reserve My Time Dining through Cruise Planner? Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. 0000690334 00000 n All of the gratuities are divided equally among the wait staff. 0000002916 00000 n If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. We strongly recommend reserving your dining times through Cruise Planner prior to your sailing as dining times may fill up. 0000737498 00000 n Yes. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. A. From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. However, each ship does also offer specialty dining for an additional fee. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. The wait. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. 0000024527 00000 n You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. . On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you don't want a set dining time. Thats the whole point of the service charge. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. 0000006358 00000 n 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. If you are traveling with more than eight people, My Time Dining might become a hassle. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. The lines that offer these deals say theyll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf. 0000736952 00000 n American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. 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. (Sponsored). 0000423354 00000 n We have had really wonderful waiters in the WJ, some that even remember my DH loves those ranger cookies and will bring him some when they see us. 0000909381 00000 n Also, once you have been seated and your meal is being served, no other guests will be sat at your table. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Having to arrive early, though, defeats the purpose of being able to dine whenever you'd like. There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. Automatic gratuity charge: None. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. 0000916414 00000 n You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. I sailed on the explorer last year and the trick then was we could only cancel them on day 3 of the trip[obviously hopeing for a lot of forgetful customers] its a damn cheek that they are desperately trying to take this right for the customer to cancel ,,after all I never had gratuities for slogging my guts out in the kitchens and bakeries in my career and I don't suppose many ouy there do either. As I mentioned, most of the time you will be eating with just your party, but if you prefer to eat with others you can still request it. We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. Brilliance of the Seas is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal . Can a family in one stateroom dine at different times with My Time Dining? Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! 0000011404 00000 n 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. 0000897748 00000 n I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. 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. If you need to change or cancel a reservation for any reason, you will have to go into the specific order and cancel each reservation separately before you are able to rebook. Upload or insert images from URL. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 0000906914 00000 n $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. 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 . Posted June 24, 2017. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. Speciality restaurants require reservations but they dont have traditional dining times. You need to contact your TA and have her add it to your invoice in order to prepay gratuities. You post the same made up garbage in every thread. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, dining room wine purchases and Lotus Spa services. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. No votes so far! 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. 0000897170 00000 n Personally, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping people that are doing me a service. 0000417308 00000 n 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). Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. 0000005096 00000 n I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board. Some dont charge a service fee at all. Just make sure to turn up at the reserved time. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 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. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Legal Information | That is not the case anymore but Royal is not great about updating their website information. I will HAPPILY pay my gratuities, and feel that having them paid in advance is very convenient, andprobably saves me some money. Reservations are strongly recommended. The dining staff will do all possible to accommodate the request, based on availability. 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. 0000027181 00000 n Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Enrollment required. Understood, and many passengers also feel this way. Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). 0000005141 00000 n You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 0000422260 00000 n Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. 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 . Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 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. How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! 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. For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. I always prepay my gratuities and do traditional dining. Due to availability, however, you may not have as many times to choose from. 0000747552 00000 n 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. 0000005051 00000 n 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. 0000426236 00000 n The Dining experience was Excellent as were the Waiting Staff, the only gripe, there had to be one, was the cost of the Wine. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent By his definition the answer is yes. The standard gratuities of $13.50 per person per day for JS and below, and $16.50 per person per day for GS and better. Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. Reservations are highly recommended, as the wait time can be long if you choose to eat during the prime dinner hours of 6:30-8:00pm. u"7QV-gL)qO^>#~r{e7|W(WFAX>B|zj&u{P$LEi7+?X!^ This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. "=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 They were accurate as of the publishing of this story. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Plus Ups are excluded. 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. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. 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. Its much better if youre someone who likes to play it by ear for dinner, based on how hungry you are.
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