0000905280 00000 n Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. The buffet restaurant doesnt offer reservations and you can visit it whenever you want. Guests may request a special table or waiter. Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. It truly depends, though. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. 0000901714 00000 n How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. Kudos to NCL for no longer allowing grats to be removed onboard. 0000911056 00000 n 0000737875 00000 n In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say. 0000006236 00000 n Sunshine State. The rates listed are per person, per day. Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! 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. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. Additional cash gifts are not expected. You also do not get to know the wait staff as well, since you may be seated in a different area every night. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. 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. You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". Learn more. You can do this before the cruise, or during your voyage. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. 0000426585 00000 n 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. 0000736746 00000 n We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story. Someone else that pays more will take up the slack for you. The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. 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). 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. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. The benefits of My Time Dining are that you decide who you eat with, and when. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? 0000897721 00000 n 0000417807 00000 n It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. 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. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 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. My Time Dining is not available for breakfast, but you can still use it for both lunch and dinner. If you feel anyone has been particularly helpful you can always tip them extra in cash. You dont really get to know the people you are eating with that well. We strongly recommend reserving your dining times through Cruise Planner prior to your sailing as dining times may fill up. The others could make a separate My Time Dining reservation for 8:15pm. Even if you initially booked Traditional Dining, you can call your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to change to My Time. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . When you are reserving your cruise, you will be given the option to select "Traditional Dining" or "My Time Dining.". There have been both positive and negative reports on Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 0000420293 00000 n 0000418920 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. You dont have to do anything. Royal Caribbean Dining. My Time Dining is only applicable to the Main Dining Room on your ship. Read more: Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. So therefore it does not show on our invoice. Do you plan on dining anywhere except the dining room? 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. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Im sorry you never received a tip in your years of "slogging your guts out." You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. Still need help? 0000891696 00000 n We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. Enrollment required. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. The best way to fully take advantage of the My Time Dining program is to make your reservations before you board the ship! There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. If you leave the service charge on your room bill, you are not expected to leave additional cruise tips for your room attendant or waiters. 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. Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 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. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares. Clear editor. Welcome aboard! Pardon? You can post now and register later. Online, you can only book My Time Dining for up to eight guests. Im really asking the opposite - We havent prepaid gratuities, but the agent has booked us in for My Time Dining! 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. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per . 0000005866 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. The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. 0000828837 00000 n Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. Paste as plain text instead, 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). document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); | 0000755470 00000 n Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one. Like what you see? 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. Speciality restaurants require reservations but they dont have traditional dining times. CC Help Jenn There is no special dress code for My Time Dining it has the same dress code as traditional dining. Started June 21, 2021, By Your previous content has been restored. gratuities amongst the other My Time Dining waiters; feel free to reward your waiter with an extra tip for providing excellent service . 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 . 0000005141 00000 n . Still, not all lines have service fees that high. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Don't know why you want to do this (are you planning to carry cash every time you go to the WJ?) This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. 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. The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. 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. Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. If a guest requests My Time dining, can wine be ordered through Royal Gifts to be delivered to the dining room? Privacy Policy | 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. 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. Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. 0000738858 00000 n I don't mind tipping for good service. trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream We want to do MTD, but Im asking will this stand without finding a way to prepay the gratuities beforehand (Id guessed it would have been in Cruise Planner but evidently not), The gratuities is distributed amongst the entire cruise staff including the dining staff. No, no, no, no, no. 0000841939 00000 n That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . 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. 0000735845 00000 n If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. 0000003555 00000 n Traditionally, dinner on a cruise ship has been served at two specific seating times. 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. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. 0000008654 00000 n You will not be able to make your choice until the last step in the booking process; all passenger names will have to be entered first! This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. 0000015069 00000 n Then, Norwegian Cruise Line decided to shake things up a bit with "freestyle dining", an innovation that allows guests to eat dinner anytime . This may not seem like a big deal if youre new to cruising, but cruise ship waiters are exceptional at their job and they are very good at learning all about you. Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. Or do they not notice those "add on" charges? Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. There will be a My Time Dining check-in desk at the entrance to the dining room with wait staff to greet guests. 0000690334 00000 n Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. Learn more. Automatic gratuity charge: None. 0000896900 00000 n Youll be asked to pre-pay your gratuities. The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Thanks Matt- We paid for the cruise at the time of booking. Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. Alas! 0000901330 00000 n John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. 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?! 0000014304 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. M&-]f_Le}BXJ.D7CCx. 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.". The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. I think the crew would let it be know if they were not receiving their share of the gratuities. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. 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. Itll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise. 0000005051 00000 n 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. 0000913926 00000 n The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Pasted as rich text. 0000891478 00000 n Read on to learn what My Time Dining is, the benefits that it offers, and how to book. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. You no longer have to prepay gratuities if you select My Time Dining. 0000424501 00000 n 0000014874 00000 n Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? 0000019016 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. That is really the biggest flaw with My Time 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. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. 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. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. 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. 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. 0000755747 00000 n 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. All of the gratuities are divided equally among the wait staff. Due to availability, however, you may not have as many times to choose from. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 0000819210 00000 n Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. 0000891340 00000 n 0000019459 00000 n It's kind of a runaround to personally get to everyone who is included (my opinion). You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. Reservations are strongly recommended. Legal Information | 0000738152 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.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 . 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. 0000901423 00000 n January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. Do you have Cruise Fever too? Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise.