Another method is to just simply show up at the Main Dining Room each night when you are ready to eat. If you are asking by prepaying gratuities in advance does that force you to do MTD, then the answer is no. January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? 0000015069 00000 n How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? Throughout the cruise, you may be able to change your My Time Dining reservations on the app or by calling the dining hotline from your stateroom's telephone, but it is dependent on availability. 0000424501 00000 n M&-]f_Le}BXJ.D7CCx. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. Do I have to pre-reserve My Time Dining through Cruise Planner? Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. 0000419307 00000 n This dining option requires you to "pre pay" your gratuities. 0000421346 00000 n 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. Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. Some dont charge a service fee at all. Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. 0000418076 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. Find the right card for you. You will see the same helpful crew members waiting on you in the WJ as you did last night in the MDR. We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. Itll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise. 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. For guests that want to experience the Main Dining Room without the formality of having a set time, Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean offers its guests two choices for enjoying dinner in the main dining room: My Time Dining or. Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. 0000422496 00000 n Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 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. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. 0000003555 00000 n The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. 0000916414 00000 n Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. If you feel anyone has been particularly helpful you can always tip them extra in cash. You cannot paste images directly. 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?? 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. 0000016969 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. So therefore it does not show on our invoice. Can I reserve the same table or waiter at the same time in My Time Dining? John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises 0000006404 00000 n You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. Plus Ups are excluded. Royal Caribbean gratuities for children and infants The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. 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. You can change your dining time on your Royal Caribbean cruise using the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbeans website. You dont really get to know the people you are eating with that well. It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 0000738858 00000 n Speciality restaurants require reservations but they dont have traditional dining times. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night, My first cruise to the Galapagos: The good, the bad and the absolutely adorable. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Even if you initially booked Traditional Dining, you can call your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to change to My Time. All of the gratuities are divided equally among the wait staff. 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. Also, once you have been seated and your meal is being served, no other guests will be sat at your table. 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? It can be awkward to eat with a complete stranger, and this dining option also makes it easier for folks who just want to enjoy their getaway at sea. Reservations are strongly recommended. but only parties of 20 or less can be seated at one time. They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. CC Help Jenn What is My Time Dining? | Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean has done the latter keeping the option for traditional dining service but also offering My Time Dining. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Search Multiple Sites at Once Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. We always choose My Time dinning. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Check here before booking an award fare. 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. 0000426585 00000 n Unsubscribe whenever you want. The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. 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. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Your previous content has been restored. 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 The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. 0000902670 00000 n My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! Are you sure that isn't an Iglu Cruise rule? *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 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. You need to contact your TA and have her add it to your invoice in order to prepay gratuities. 2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 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. She also told us about gratuities added to the Seapss account. Hi, I'm Jenni. 0000905280 00000 n If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you wont pay more. The Dining experience was Excellent as were the Waiting Staff, the only gripe, there had to be one, was the cost of the Wine. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. 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. But even so, it's more likely to keep up with cost of living, not to make up for those who don't tip. Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. 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. You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! TPG values it at $1,600. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Yes, My Time Dining is flexible. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. 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. My Time Dining is not available for breakfast, but you can still use it for both lunch and dinner. Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! The group we are going with have all chosen the early 5pm dinner reservation. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. However, each ship does also offer specialty dining for an additional fee. Alas! There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. LauraS 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 rates listed are per person, per day. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. You can post now and register later. 0000722800 00000 n 0000905656 00000 n 0000006312 00000 n If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Would we pay them on the first day onboard? 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. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per . My Time Dining is the flexible dining option on Royal Caribbean cruises. 0000427335 00000 n 0000735845 00000 n From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. Also (and I'm probably being the grammar police on this one) do you really mean "you HAVE to pay the gratuities up front at the time of booking" or do you mean they have to be added to your bill at time of booking? I don't mind tipping for good service. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, When making a reservation you will be offered My Time or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). 0000767892 00000 n Answer (1 of 4): Fares purchased on the Australian website will always include pre-paid gratuities. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 0000812508 00000 n You dont have to do anything. Someone else that pays more will take up the slack for you. However, the suggested dress code remains the same. If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. Obviously through this conversation you can tell that you can pre-pay your gratuities our they will be added to your onboard account daily as you cruise. Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. 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. 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 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. Hi! With My Time Dining, you can simply walk up to the host stand to be seated or make reservations in advance for your preferred time. 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. But whether My Time Dining works for you or not really depends on what your preferences are. How to book My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. 0000906128 00000 n 0000423354 00000 n It is possible to snag dining times around 7:00pm every night, but this is a highly desirable dinner time. 0000417013 00000 n Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. 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). but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. That is how it works for those employees who get paid with tips. Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. If not, you might be stuck eating even later than the second seating! 0000750166 00000 n If you dislike tipping on cruise ships, but can't afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, look for promotions when cruise lines with service charges throw in free gratuities as a booking incentive. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. 0000891084 00000 n My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 0000006679 00000 n The longer you wait to arrive, however, the longer you will have to wait for an available table. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. With Traditional Dining, you will have the same reserved seating each night of your cruise, and there are two seatings to choose from: first (early) and second (late). Related: The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free. If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. And that they aren't simply following the outdated information still present on Royal's website as pointed out above? Why is it combined? 0000913572 00000 n The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. 0000831970 00000 n Guests may request a special table or waiter. 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. If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. It's easy, convenient, and if you wish to recognize outstanding service you can always tip extra cash personally. 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. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? If you tip personally in cash, those people must turn it in or face dismissal. 0000417308 00000 n At most lines, you can pay your service charges in advance of sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream 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. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. Sorry- Im not expressing myself too well! What is My Time Dining? | Royal Caribbean Cruises 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. My Time Dining Question : r/royalcaribbean - reddit.com Main Dining Room on Allure of the Seas You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. 0000737498 00000 n Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or crew appreciation charges at some lines). u"7QV-gL)qO^>#~r{e7|W(WFAX>B|zj&u{P$LEi7+?X!^ How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. 0000425403 00000 n Read on to learn all about cruise ship tipping culture and how much you'll need to tip on your next cruise, based on which cruise line you're sailing. 0000755470 00000 n 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. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. 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. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. Clear editor. 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. Who knows? The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. $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. 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. 0000891812 00000 n On a typical seven-night cruise, thats nearly $600 in fees. By 156.1k. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Additionally, several major lines in the past couple of years have begun offering bundle pricing to customers who pay for cruise tips, Wi-Fi charges and an onboard drinks package all at once in advance of sailing, potentially at a discount. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 0000005141 00000 n Can a family in one stateroom dine at different times with My Time Dining? If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises 0000005051 00000 n #4. 0000892388 00000 n Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora Still need help? Member Title: 100,000+ Club. 0000911056 00000 n 0000005866 00000 n 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. It truly depends, though. 0000883078 00000 n ( use to happen frequently). You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. Upload or insert images from URL. Do you have to pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean Australia? Enrollment required. Online, you can only book My Time Dining for up to eight guests. Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? 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. Royal Caribbean My Time Dining: What You Must Know! gratuities amongst the other My Time Dining waiters; feel free to reward your waiter with an extra tip for providing excellent service . Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Now you have a choice to prepay gratuities or not with either Traditional or MTD.