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. 0000891084 00000 n You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. 0000737498 00000 n At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? Alas! But even so, it's more likely to keep up with cost of living, not to make up for those who don't tip. Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. If a guest requests My Time dining, can wine be ordered through Royal Gifts to be delivered to the dining room? You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. The dining staff will do all possible to accommodate the request, based on availability. 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 . xdOHTQ7Ho1bJ!IP"th+5ha0P"..\h! hQhE9; 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 Question : r/royalcaribbean - reddit.com Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. 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. 0000812508 00000 n Early dining is around 6 pm, while late dining is closer to 8:30 pm. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. You dont really get to know the people you are eating with that well. but only parties of 20 or less can be seated at one time. Suggested read: 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 0000418076 00000 n No votes so far! If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Do you have to pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean Australia? 0000755747 00000 n Wondering if anyone can help out with this? 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. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. All rights reserved. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. A The automatic service gratuity is $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. CC Help Jenn I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. 0000014874 00000 n Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. The others could make a separate My Time Dining reservation for 8:15pm. We always choose My Time dinning. It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. 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. My Time Dining is the flexible dining option on Royal Caribbean cruises. That is not the case anymore but Royal is not great about updating their website information. Royal Caribbean has done the latter keeping the option for traditional dining service but also offering My Time Dining. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 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. All rights reserved. There is no special dress code for My Time Dining it has the same dress code as traditional dining. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. You no longer have to prepay gratuities if you select My Time Dining. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. 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 anytime they like during dinner hours, according to times availability. At many big lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, its not uncommon for a family of four staying in a single cabin to see around $80 a day in service fees added to their bills. Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. 0000005096 00000 n 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . Royal Caribbean | MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS 0000019459 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. Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. By 0000892817 00000 n I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 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. 0000914358 00000 n Even if you initially booked Traditional Dining, you can call your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to change to My Time. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us | We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. 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. 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. 0000005866 00000 n They are per person. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. It is recommended that you book a table though. The same applies if you want to switch from My Time Dining back to traditional dining. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you wont pay more. Someone else that pays more will take up the slack for you. 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. 0000896900 00000 n 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. We strongly recommend reserving your dining times through Cruise Planner prior to your sailing as dining times may fill up. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Main Dining Room on Allure of the Seas What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. Search Multiple Sites at Once 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. Hi! If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. When making a reservation you will be offered My Time or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. 0000424501 00000 n 28 0 obj <> endobj xref 28 131 0000000016 00000 n On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you dont want a set dining time. Legal Information | 0000005676 00000 n 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?? Member Title: 100,000+ Club. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Royal Caribbean My Time Dining: What You Must Know! Prepaid Gratuities / My Time Dining - Royal Caribbean Discussion 0000897748 00000 n You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. 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. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 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. 0000419307 00000 n 0000738858 00000 n If you need to change or cancel a reservation for any reason, you will have to go into the specific order and cancel each reservation separately before you are able to rebook. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. 0000005051 00000 n But its not strict. You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. Still need help? 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. 0000907210 00000 n Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . By Due to availability, however, you may not have as many times to choose from. TPG values it at $1,600. LauraS Cheap people have been around for years. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. If youre late then your table may be given away, and youll have to wait for another one. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. You can, however, always tell your waitstaff that you have other plans, and they will do their best to serve you as quickly as possible. 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. 0000426236 00000 n Im pretty sure were havent prepaid the gratuities, but our invoice from RCL does say that our dining is My Time Dining and the Cruise planner will let us make reservations. 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). To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. I will pay for fantastic service but can't stand getting it shoved in my face and HAVE TO pay gratuities. | Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. 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. Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora But whether My Time Dining works for you or not really depends on what your preferences are. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 0000022110 00000 n If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. %PDF-1.4 % 0000433627 00000 n That means two people sharing a room on a seven-night cruise would pay $308 in tips for an otherwise free drinks package on top of their daily service charge fees. Can I reserve the same table or waiter at the same time in My Time Dining? We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. 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. The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? If you want to change to My Time Dining, youll need to speak to Guest Services within the first two days of your cruise. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent 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. Royal Caribbean | MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Do you plan on dining anywhere except the dining room? 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. 0000891812 00000 n 0000916414 00000 n Royal Caribbean Gratuities: Everything You Need to Know 0000891423 00000 n 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. We always choose My Time dinning. Understood, and many passengers also feel this way. ;p, You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its "free at sea" promotion. I don't mind tipping for good service. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. You can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. You need to contact your TA and have her add it to your invoice in order to prepay gratuities. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. By his definition the answer is yes. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. 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. You post the same made up garbage in every thread. This is where you'll not only be able to make your My Time Dining reservations, but also where you can reserve shore excursions, drink packages, and more. 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. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. Find the right card for you. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? 0000005911 00000 n Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. 0000883078 00000 n 0000831970 00000 n Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. Gratuities haven't been going up "almost every year." 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. Your previous content has been restored. 0000897170 00000 n If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. Jon can be reached at. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 0000425403 00000 n The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. 0000906914 00000 n No reservation is needed, but Royal Caribbean strongly encourages you to get a reservation if you dont want to spend a lot of time waiting when you go to dinner. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. 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. You can post now and register later. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. Here is why some people dislike the more informal dining option. My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. 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. If, for example, two people would like to eat earlier around 6:30pm, you would make them their own reservation. After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping Im really asking the opposite - We havent prepaid gratuities, but the agent has booked us in for My Time Dining! Enrollment required. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 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. It is possible to snag dining times around 7:00pm every night, but this is a highly desirable dinner time. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. If you get one of these packages for free as a booking perk, as with the aforementioned Norwegian Cruise Line promotion, you may still be required to pay the gratuities on the free perk. This is why we recommend making reservations for My Time Dining, whether that be in advance via the Cruise Planner or onboard by speaking with a head waiter. Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. 0000011539 00000 n Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! Seating can also be reserved while onboard. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. What is My Time Dining? | Royal Caribbean Cruises Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. 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. She also told us about gratuities added to the Seapss account. Since they are not . Powered by Invision Community. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. 0000423354 00000 n 0000828394 00000 n . 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. However, the suggested dress code remains the same. How Does Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining Work? - Cruise Fever 0000417013 00000 n On a typical seven-night cruise, thats nearly $600 in fees. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. please click here to update it. 0000910770 00000 n The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. Answer (1 of 4): Fares purchased on the Australian website will always include pre-paid gratuities. Unlike Traditional Dining, My Time Dining is only marked as lasting for fifteen minutes. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 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. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. Learn more. 0000910197 00000 n 0000901784 00000 n Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. please click here to update it. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. 0000006714 00000 n 0000901330 00000 n Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. 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. 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. 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. 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. Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. 0000911056 00000 n 0000916095 00000 n 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. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. 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. My Time Dining is one of the options youll get to choose from when you book your cruise. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? 0000905280 00000 n 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. CC Help Jenn This is an unfair statement. 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. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. 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. Pasted as rich text. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. 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. 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. It's kind of a runaround to personally get to everyone who is included (my opinion). It also means you arent limited to eating at 5.30 pm or 8 pm you can choose any time between 6 pm and 9.30 pm for your table.