0000422815 00000 n 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. 0000891696 00000 n 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. Not every ship has it though, so you should check out their website to see if your ship will offer this service if you are interested. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. 0000737498 00000 n We were unaware of the automatic (recommended amount) tipping charge applied to our credit card when we switched to My Time on the 3rd day of our recent 8 day cruise. It's easy, convenient, and if you wish to recognize outstanding service you can always tip extra cash personally. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. 0000905280 00000 n Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. What we experienced was that their program is NOT really "My time dining", it is RESERVATION time dining. Be the first to rate this post. The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. 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. but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. 0000910197 00000 n Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. And that's before you add in any additional tips you wish to give to your room service or favorite bartender or autogratuities tacked on to bar, restaurant and spa bills. 0000812508 00000 n You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. A. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. 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. If you feel anyone has been particularly helpful you can always tip them extra in cash. 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. 0000767892 00000 n Powered by Invision Community. 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. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. By his definition the answer is yes. 0000006404 00000 n 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. Royal Caribbean has done the latter keeping the option for traditional dining service but also offering My Time Dining. The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. 0000003714 00000 n Since they are not . My partner and I prefer a later dinner and have selected My Time dining however we'd still like to join them for dinner at least 1-2 nights. This is an unfair statement. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Welcome aboard! 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 . 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. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. 0000417308 00000 n We strongly recommend reserving your dining times through Cruise Planner prior to your sailing as dining times may fill up. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time 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. 0000907210 00000 n 0000916923 00000 n Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. 0000828837 00000 n It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. If you want to change to My Time Dining, youll need to speak to Guest Services within the first two days of your cruise. You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. %PDF-1.4 % 0000736952 00000 n To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. 0000896807 00000 n 0000016969 00000 n The rates listed are per person, per day. 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. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you wont pay more. The guest relations staff will want to know if youve experienced particular service issues. Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. 0000005096 00000 n Sunshine State. 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. Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. If you do get the same waiter every night, theyll remember your name and your preferences. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. View All Cruises Feel free to leave a comment below to let the community at Cruise Fever know how you feel about My Time Dining in the comment section below. 0000906618 00000 n But to the OP's question, we have MTD on Mariner next month and have not prepaid our gratuities. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. Hi! There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable. 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. Do you have Cruise Fever too? 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. 0000911365 00000 n The wait. Sorry- Im not expressing myself too well! 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. 0000006002 00000 n 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. 0000006312 00000 n Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); | 0000424501 00000 n 0000901423 00000 n Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. 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. Do you plan on dining anywhere except the dining room? 0000422260 00000 n 0000755747 00000 n From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. 0000909381 00000 n That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. The longer you wait to arrive, however, the longer you will have to wait for an available table. 0000427335 00000 n Wondering if anyone can help out with this? Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 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. Check here before booking an award fare. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. Understood, and many passengers also feel this way. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. My Time Dining is one of the options youll get to choose from when you book your cruise. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have two options for dining: My Time Dining and Traditional Dining. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. The dining staff will do all possible to accommodate the request, based on availability. 0000002916 00000 n What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! Suggested read: 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Reservations are strongly recommended. 0000008654 00000 n 0000027181 00000 n The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. KA^tQmy9*yE'6C'VBz@JKz+I_0U{:$asg* \ endstream endobj 157 0 obj <>/Size 28/Type/XRef>>stream I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. 0000006236 00000 n Unsubscribe whenever you want. 0000021713 00000 n So for those who like some solitude, they may find that this more freestyle approach works better, but not everyone likes the NCL style of eating. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Pasted as rich text. Im really asking the opposite - We havent prepaid gratuities, but the agent has booked us in for My Time Dining! You no longer have to prepay gratuities if you select My Time Dining. 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?? That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! No votes so far! 0000905656 00000 n This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. 0000019459 00000 n Callummck Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? So therefore it does not show on our invoice. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. 0000901714 00000 n 0000015069 00000 n Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. You can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. Can they join me in the My Time Dining Room? Your link has been automatically embedded. xdOHTQ7Ho1bJ!IP"th+5ha0P"..\h! hQhE9; As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. 0000704363 00000 n Learn more. 0000898322 00000 n 0000006679 00000 n Gratuities haven't been going up "almost every year." Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. Jon can be reached at. 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. If a guest requests My Time dining, can wine be ordered through Royal Gifts to be delivered to the dining room? 0000421346 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. It is more difficult for the Main Dining Room to accommodate larger groups with My Time Dining, as there are fewer tables set for bigger parties. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. I don't mind tipping for good service. If you want to walk in then you might have to wait for a suitable one to become available, while if youve booked it should be ready for you when you arrive. How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. 0000011404 00000 n Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. CC Help Jenn $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. My Time Dining is therefore available to anyone who wants to mix things up. It's kind of a runaround to personally get to everyone who is included (my opinion). All rights reserved. By 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. 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. 0000014304 00000 n 0000891084 00000 n The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. 0000722800 00000 n Clear editor. After sneaking a peek at our dining table the 1st night out & seeing we were seated with 4 elderly women, we decided to consider switching to My Time. 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). How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. You dont have to do anything. Learn more. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. Legal Information | Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. 0000426236 00000 n You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. Even if you initially booked Traditional Dining, you can call your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to change to My Time. Due to availability, however, you may not have as many times to choose from. 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 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. This also applies to sailings departing from Australia and New Zealand. 0000417581 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. That means, if you decide to visit the Main Dining Room on day 3 of your cruise, you wont be able to choose your time. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. Member Title: 100,000+ Club. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. 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. Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. 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). If you want to reserve it on-board then visit Guest Services. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. Like what you see? 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.". 0000019016 00000 n It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. 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. I think the crew would let it be know if they were not receiving their share of the gratuities. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. That said, if you want to, you can often adjust the charges (either up or down) while youre on board by visiting the guest relations desk. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. That is how it works for those employees who get paid with tips. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 0000005141 00000 n ;p, You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. 0000906128 00000 n Why is it combined? Please don't disrupt the system that works that was put in place that is fair to crew and guests . There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. 0000901330 00000 n Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. The Dining experience was Excellent as were the Waiting Staff, the only gripe, there had to be one, was the cost of the Wine. $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. $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. xbbba`b``0 u B endstream endobj 29 0 obj <>/ViewerPreferences<>/Metadata 6 0 R/AcroForm 30 0 R/Pages 5 0 R/StructTreeRoot 8 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 30 0 obj <>/Encoding<>>>>> endobj 31 0 obj <>/Shading<>/ColorSpace<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC/ImageI]/Properties<>/MC1<<>>/MC2<<>>/MC3<<>>>>/ExtGState<>>>/Type/Page>> endobj 32 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 162 85 0 R] endobj 33 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 140 80 0 R] endobj 34 0 obj <> endobj 35 0 obj <> endobj 36 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 147 75 0 R] endobj 37 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 120 96 0 R] endobj 38 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 210 122 0 R] endobj 39 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 77 93 0 R] endobj 40 0 obj [/Separation/PANTONE#20281#20CV/DeviceCMYK<>] endobj 41 0 obj [/DeviceN[/Cyan/Magenta/Yellow]/DeviceCMYK 114 0 R 116 0 R] endobj 42 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 128 101 0 R] endobj 43 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 192 121 0 R] endobj 44 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 128 110 0 R] endobj 45 0 obj [/Separation/PANTONE#202727#20C/DeviceCMYK<>] endobj 46 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 3 66 0 R] endobj 47 0 obj [/ICCBased 65 0 R] endobj 48 0 obj <>stream Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits.