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. Hi! 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. 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. 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. No votes so far! The exact times, however, will vary according to your cruise itinerary. 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. So therefore it does not show on our invoice. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 0000897170 00000 n 0000006636 00000 n Can a family in one stateroom dine at different times with My Time Dining? She also told us about gratuities added to the Seapss account. Search Now 0000015069 00000 n Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. 0000891340 00000 n Please don't disrupt the system that works that was put in place that is fair to crew and guests . 0000747552 00000 n 0000006046 00000 n At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. But to the OP's question, we have MTD on Mariner next month and have not prepaid our gratuities. Prepaid Gratuities / My Time Dining - Royal Caribbean Discussion You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". What is My Time Dining? | Royal Caribbean Cruises I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board. 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. The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. 0000905656 00000 n The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. 0000914358 00000 n Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. Hi, I'm Jenni. You can change your dining time on your Royal Caribbean cruise using the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbeans website. This dining option requires you to "pre pay" your gratuities. 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 0000896807 00000 n If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. 0000006236 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. 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. 0000736952 00000 n 0000423354 00000 n Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. 0000905280 00000 n Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. 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 opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Or do they not notice those "add on" charges? 0000005096 00000 n Should they have been paid at the time of booking? 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. Search Multiple Sites at Once 0000891587 00000 n Theres also a dining hotline you can call from the phone in your stateroom to make changes to your reservations. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew. If, for example, two people would like to eat earlier around 6:30pm, you would make them their own reservation. 0000901330 00000 n Would we pay them on the first day onboard? My Family Time Dining | Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per . The buffet restaurant doesnt offer reservations and you can visit it whenever you want. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 0000750166 00000 n TPG values it at $1,600. Your link has been automatically embedded. 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. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. 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. It is recommended that you book a table though. If not, you might be stuck eating even later than the second seating! 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. Do you have to pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean Australia? I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. 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. 0000426236 00000 n How much to tip extra on a cruise is entirely up to you because it is in no way required. Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. However, each ship does also offer specialty dining for an additional fee. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. April 7, 2008. But its definitely not for everyone. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Learn more. Similarly, if youre on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. My Time Dining is one of the options you'll get to choose from when you book your cruise. 0000417078 00000 n Guests may request a special table or waiter. You'd likely pay it at final payment date. At most lines, you can pay your service charges in advance of sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). When you are reserving your cruise, you will be given the option to select "Traditional Dining" or "My Time Dining.". My Time Dining is the flexible dining option on Royal Caribbean cruises. 0000418111 00000 n 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. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. I think the crew would let it be know if they were not receiving their share of the gratuities. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Like what you see? Also if staff are chastised for receiving cash, why do all the posts advocate tipping over and above the automatic gratuities for good service? Kudos to NCL for no longer allowing grats to be removed onboard. ;). By Cheap people have been around for years. There have been both positive and negative reports on Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 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. Yes. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, the cruise line will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. (Sponsored). 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. Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its "free at sea" promotion. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. 0000891478 00000 n Often, even if you do have a reservation you have to wait, but the time is much shorter since they are expecting you. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! Royal Caribbean and their "My time dining". - Ask a Cruise Question You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. PDF MY TIME DINING - Royal Caribbean International Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. Rather, you will be seated wherever there is availability. 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. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Royal Caribbean | MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS However, the suggested dress code remains the same. The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. 28 0 obj <> endobj xref 28 131 0000000016 00000 n Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. 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 we paid the gratuities up front when onboard would we still have able to do MTD? My Time Dining is not available for breakfast, but you can still use it for both lunch and dinner. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. Having to arrive early, though, defeats the purpose of being able to dine whenever you'd like. Find the right card for you. 0000828394 00000 n 0000006714 00000 n CC Help Jenn The lines that offer these deals say theyll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf. 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. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. 0000022522 00000 n The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. 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. Member Title: 100,000+ Club. Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. 0000737875 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. 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. . ;) Can we opt out of those added on charges also?? ( use to happen frequently). Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. 0000419307 00000 n 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. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. Still reserve a table if you can otherwise, you might be waiting with a grumbling stomach until a table becomes free if you just walk in. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. If the gratuities are pre-paid, it should be part of the cruise booking. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. You dont really get to know the people you are eating with that well. 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 . Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review. 0000736746 00000 n 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. ;p, You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By The only thing you should HAVE to pay at booking is the deposit. 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. Perhaps as more and more cheapos remove their grats the cruise lines will finally just increase fares so everyone pays the same in tips. Once you have made your My Time Dining reservations, they will appear in your cruise calendar, both on Cruise Planner tab and Royal Caribbean's app. Understood, and many passengers also feel this way. 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. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. 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. Wondering if anyone can help out with this? %PDF-1.4 % 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. Ships registered in the Bahamas. If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. The wait. LauraS 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. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 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! My Time Dining uses the same menu as traditional seating. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. You will have to make each reservation individually and add them to your cart one-by-one. This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. Legal Information | These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. Royal Caribbean has done the latter keeping the option for traditional dining service but also offering My Time Dining. Another method is to just simply show up at the Main Dining Room each night when you are ready to eat.

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