If not, you might be stuck eating even later than the second seating! Read on to learn what My Time Dining is, the benefits that it offers, and how to book. Sunshine State. Itll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise. All rights reserved. Still need help? 0000417308 00000 n You will have to make each reservation individually and add them to your cart one-by-one. You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. 0000005051 00000 n A lot of cruisers were actually upset when they heard about My Time Dining and vowed to never sail with Royal Caribbean again if this was the only option. 0000425403 00000 n %PDF-1.4 % document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us | Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know Find the right card for you. If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. I will pay for fantastic service but can't stand getting it shoved in my face and HAVE TO pay gratuities. Pardon? Seating can also be reserved while onboard. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! What happens if I cancel the gratuities? 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.". My Time Dining - Gratuities?? - Cruise Critic Community Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora 0000021713 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. 0000906914 00000 n At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. 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. 0000914358 00000 n What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Legal Information | 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. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. We can honor requests to change only once based on availability. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review - Direct Line Cruises My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 0000006046 00000 n 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. From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. All of the gratuities are divided equally among the wait staff. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you dont want a set dining time. HW[U5}@iy% $Q'i'xNg2f(-E2obIcUHQ?/yZ!X}qu`?x %PM-*9:^C^%4eKYT,wybq6hkG7w@N5r~ wj,_u';d'QLOC >g18&fa[2.K\TXHkAnA;C:j>, F nf9|t&ix2KXRlb@}dnMqe@Vc8pXN-:{d2{sPVuINq?1k0BaL ;>9tH4w%E3@NH"e&z j9VMF}|^~*h hXH9K You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. They say the money is shared not just with front of house crew, such as room attendants and waitstaff, but also with behind-the-scenes workers. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. Since you stated that you have already paid you cruise in full I would not go back to your TA just to pay them, I would just pay them at the end of the cruise when you settle your account, there are 2 different rates, one for regular rooms which I believe is $14.50 per day, per person, what you see on my picture is for a suite which is $16.50 PD, PP. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Australians typically do not tip because the minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 AUD/hr ($14.56 USD/hr). How much to tip extra on a cruise is entirely up to you because it is in no way required. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. 0000891478 00000 n Depending on when you go, you may have to wait until there is an available table. 0000016969 00000 n 0000736952 00000 n Royal Caribbean. 0000897721 00000 n If you are traveling with more than eight people, My Time Dining might become a hassle. No, no, no, no, no. 0000916414 00000 n You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. If you have multiple people in your stateroom or travel party, you can make multiple reservations each evening to accommodate everyone's preferences. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? 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. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Don't know why you want to do this (are you planning to carry cash every time you go to the WJ?) That is really the biggest flaw with My Time Dining. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 0000891423 00000 n My Time Dining is one of the options you'll get to choose from when you book your cruise. We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or crew appreciation charges at some lines). 0000006679 00000 n 0000421346 00000 n 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. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, My time dining and gratuities - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise 0000916809 00000 n Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. 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 . The others could make a separate My Time Dining reservation for 8:15pm. In this case, no gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. I take any thread older than a year (sometimes less) with a grain of salt. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. 0000911056 00000 n 0000003555 00000 n They work very long hours all day long. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. At least, thats how it is supposed to work. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. 0000690334 00000 n Its much better if youre someone who likes to play it by ear for dinner, based on how hungry you are. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. It truly depends, though. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. 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. Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. If you do get the same waiter every night, theyll remember your name and your preferences. If you want to change to My Time Dining, youll need to speak to Guest Services within the first two days of your cruise. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. 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. If you have selected My Time Dining for your next Royal Caribbean Cruise vacation, here's everything you need to know about how to book My Time Dining and secure your nightly dining reservations. 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. 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. Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 0000905656 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. Guests may request a special table or waiter. Speciality restaurants require reservations but they dont have traditional dining times. The benefits of My Time Dining are that you decide who you eat with, and when. 0000005096 00000 n 0000420293 00000 n In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. But its definitely not for everyone. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. (Sponsored). It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. 0000883078 00000 n If your My Time Dining reservation is at 7:15pm, do not make any other reservations until 8:30pm or later. 0000831970 00000 n 0000844607 00000 n Royal Caribbean Dining. 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. 0000006312 00000 n Suggested read: 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. 0000891812 00000 n 0000916923 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. 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! Perhaps as more and more cheapos remove their grats the cruise lines will finally just increase fares so everyone pays the same in tips. One thing Ive read over and over again from people who really like My Time Dining is that they dont have to worry so much about what time dinner is. Once they go to the My Time Dining desk to be seated for dinner, the waiter will look up the guests stateroom and pull any special dietary needs or amenities purchased for them. Even if you only plan to eat in the Main Dining Room a couple of times during your cruise, it often makes sense to choose My Time Dining so that you can pick the time you want. 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. 0000003714 00000 n 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. My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises Main Dining Room on Allure of the Seas Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. I don't mind tipping for good service. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 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. 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. 0000022522 00000 n 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. Often, even if you do have a reservation you have to wait, but the time is much shorter since they are expecting you. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Personally, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping people that are doing me a service. 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. It is much simpler, and fairer, to leave them in place. But some people just want to eat with their own family. Plus Ups are excluded. 156.1k. You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. ;p, You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By My Time Dining is not available for breakfast, but you can still use it for both lunch and dinner. 0000901423 00000 n Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? 0000427335 00000 n Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. 0000755747 00000 n 0000910197 00000 n So therefore it does not show on our invoice. Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. Learn more. My Time Dining is only applicable to the Main Dining Room on your ship. 0000704363 00000 n Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 0000011404 00000 n 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. And that they aren't simply following the outdated information still present on Royal's website as pointed out above? It's easy, convenient, and if you wish to recognize outstanding service you can always tip extra cash personally. 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. When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have two options for dining: My Time Dining and Traditional Dining. Automatic Gratuities were added to lessen the event of "skipping out" on tips and to make sure MTD waiters were tipped. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. The dining staff will do all possible to accommodate the request, based on availability. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 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. Depending on the choice of the guests on board, there may be designated restaurants for those on a traditional dining plan and those on a My Time Dining plan. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. 0000005911 00000 n 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. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. Kudos to NCL for no longer allowing grats to be removed onboard. I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining.