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. So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. You will see the same helpful crew members waiting on you in the WJ as you did last night in the MDR. There will be a My Time Dining check-in desk at the entrance to the dining room with wait staff to greet guests. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. 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. Royal Caribbean gratuities for children and infants You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. Like what you see? April 7, 2008. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. 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 now a choice within the booking process. Then, Norwegian Cruise Line decided to shake things up a bit with "freestyle dining", an innovation that allows guests to eat dinner anytime . 0000891084 00000 n 0000417308 00000 n Here is why some people dislike the more informal dining option. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! 0000735845 00000 n I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board. When you are reserving your cruise, you will be given the option to select "Traditional Dining" or "My Time Dining.". 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. 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). When making a reservation you will be offered My Time or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. When you eat with someone different every night it can be hard to get past the introductions every night and really get to know someone. The benefits of My Time Dining are that you decide who you eat with, and when. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. Now you have a choice to prepay gratuities or not with either Traditional or MTD. You can then make reservations for your restaurant, or just turn up at the restaurant between 6 pm and 9.30 pm and wait for a table to be available. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. Powered by Cruiseline.com, spoke with royal Carib rep today who said prepaid grats are now out if you are using My Time Dining. All rights reserved. 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. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. 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. This dining option requires you to "pre pay" your gratuities. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. I don't mind tipping for good service. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! 0000916414 00000 n The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. By 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. 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. Plus Ups are excluded. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. 0000911365 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. The exact times, however, will vary according to your cruise itinerary. Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. 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. It is recommended that you book a table though. Started August 27, 2021, By You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. 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. Planning a cruise? The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. 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 even so, it's more likely to keep up with cost of living, not to make up for those who don't tip. You will have to make each reservation individually and add them to your cart one-by-one. 0000417807 00000 n If you have multiple people in your stateroom or travel party, you can make multiple reservations each evening to accommodate everyone's preferences. Follow along on this incredible voyage! 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. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Youll be asked to pre-pay your gratuities. For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships something that once was common. 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. | Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. 0000901784 00000 n 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. 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! Having to arrive early, though, defeats the purpose of being able to dine whenever you'd like. . If we paid the gratuities up front when onboard would we still have able to do MTD? See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 0000841939 00000 n 0000913572 00000 n The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. Theres also a dining hotline you can call from the phone in your stateroom to make changes to your reservations. My Time Dining is one of the options youll get to choose from when you book your cruise. 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. Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. $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. It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? 0000006312 00000 n You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". 0000005956 00000 n 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 group we are going with have all chosen the early 5pm dinner reservation. CC Help Jenn The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. Once they go to the My Time Dining desk to be seated for dinner, the waiter will look up the guests stateroom and pull any special dietary needs or amenities purchased for them. At least, thats how it is supposed to work. 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. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. My Time Dining is not available for breakfast, but you can still use it for both lunch and dinner. 0000002916 00000 n 0000905280 00000 n Gratuities haven't been going up "almost every year." Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. However, each ship does also offer specialty dining for an additional fee. Enrollment required. 0000016969 00000 n trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream Should they have been paid at the time of booking? Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. And that they aren't simply following the outdated information still present on Royal's website as pointed out above? 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. 0000418920 00000 n Powered by Invision Community. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. Royal Caribbean. You can do this before the cruise, or during your voyage. 0000006358 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. You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. 0000892817 00000 n Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. But its definitely not for everyone. 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. 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. Posted June 24, 2017. 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. You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. The folks who WERVE YOU are the ones who get your tips. 0000891999 00000 n Still, not all lines have service fees that high. Theyll be able to make recommendations based on what youve previously ordered and make sure your favourite drink is waiting for you, if you want them too. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. This allows you to decide when you want to eat, and who you want to sit with, instead of traditional dining where you have set times and sit with the same group each day. 0000916923 00000 n 0000005676 00000 n Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. Related: The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free. You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? 0000425403 00000 n However, spaces may be limited so it may not be possible if you leave it too late. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Unlike Traditional Dining, My Time Dining is only marked as lasting for fifteen minutes. If you feel anyone has been particularly helpful you can always tip them extra in cash. A. If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. 0000812508 00000 n We strongly recommend reserving your dining times through Cruise Planner prior to your sailing as dining times may fill up. Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! 0000433627 00000 n For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. 0000005141 00000 n On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you don't want a set dining time. If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. 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. 0000883078 00000 n Enrollment required. You dont really get to know the people you are eating with that well. This is an unfair statement. 0000005911 00000 n Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . 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. 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. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. We know booking a cruise can be a complicated process, so if you need any help or would even like us to fill out your information for you please get in touch. How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. 0000897170 00000 n 0000419636 00000 n 0000014730 00000 n The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. Alas! Hi! This is where you'll not only be able to make your My Time Dining reservations, but also where you can reserve shore excursions, drink packages, and more. The recommended dress code for the Main Dining Room for traditional dining or My Time Dining is smart casual. 0000423354 00000 n If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. No reservation is needed, but Royal Caribbean strongly encourages you to get a reservation if you dont want to spend a lot of time waiting when you go to dinner. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night, My first cruise to the Galapagos: The good, the bad and the absolutely adorable. This may not seem like a big deal if youre new to cruising, but cruise ship waiters are exceptional at their job and they are very good at learning all about you. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 KA^tQmy9*yE'6C'VBz@JKz+I_0U{:$asg* \ endstream endobj 157 0 obj <>/Size 28/Type/XRef>>stream Search Multiple Sites at Once No votes so far! However, a lot of people do uphold the dress code, so if you turn up in a t-shirt and shorts then you may look out of place. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. I take any thread older than a year (sometimes less) with a grain of salt. But some people just want to eat with their own family. You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. So therefore it does not show on our invoice. 0000419103 00000 n Pasted as rich text. Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. 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. 0000896807 00000 n Thats the whole point of the service charge. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Display as a link instead, Sunshine State. 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. You can post now and register later. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. Callummck The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. 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. 13 Biggest Mistakes Made by Carnival Cruise Passengers [Carnival Tips], Cruise Ship Room Service: Menus and Fees for Cruise Lines, Carnival Anytime Dining: Tips for Your Time Dining with Carnival, Carnival Bringing a Fourth Cruise Ship to Galveston, Texas, Carnival to Send Newly Upgraded Ship on 14-Day Transatlantic Cruise, Royal Caribbean Updates Perks in Loyalty Program. There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. CC Help Jenn Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. But to the OP's question, we have MTD on Mariner next month and have not prepaid our gratuities. (Sponsored). *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. 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. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). You need to contact your TA and have her add it to your invoice in order to prepay gratuities. Privacy Policy | 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. 0000421346 00000 n 0000737498 00000 n 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. 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. 0000898322 00000 n But its not strict. If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. Note, however, that this means you may not be able to have as flexible of a dining experience as you might be hoping for, especially if prime reservations have been secured in advance by other guests. Similarly, if youre on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 0000747552 00000 n Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. 0000003836 00000 n Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. That is not the case anymore but Royal is not great about updating their website information. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. 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. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. 0000005051 00000 n 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? 0000003388 00000 n Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. 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. 0000902161 00000 n *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 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. If you dont like tipping in advance to your service, and you would rather leave generous tips individually, there is nothing stopping you from going the extra mile to tip your waiter or waitress each night you use the My Time Dining option. 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. If your My Time Dining reservation is at 7:15pm, do not make any other reservations until 8:30pm or later. 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. 0000006636 00000 n 0000419307 00000 n 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 . Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. 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. 0000017159 00000 n 156.1k. If you want to reserve it on-board then visit Guest Services. My Time Dining is one of the options you'll get to choose from when you book your cruise. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. 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. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. Answer (1 of 4): Fares purchased on the Australian website will always include pre-paid gratuities. 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. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. Traditionally, dinner on a cruise ship has been served at two specific seating times. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. A fun part of cruising can be meeting the same people for lunch or diner every day and discussing things about the ship or about the excursions they went on. 0000738152 00000 n 0000844607 00000 n The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. Personally, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping people that are doing me a service. If you do get the same waiter every night, theyll remember your name and your preferences. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. E{3bEi_,FdTneL m!TlmJ=&esmh~rqbo)q9V'{7_LA74us i%@MZC1twwBjkC%{'BLTzP64Z{C@gC;qdF\u4:}NiIYmKzuu>k&dOWd1ydzW ]EhWJt*iLAcGMUyhvjw%m&_I;jxt' jg|zn~7_{ksiY15M HHnV6@,,TnMv9GU{$ Your link has been automatically embedded. 0000909755 00000 n But whether My Time Dining works for you or not really depends on what your preferences are. If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. 0000006679 00000 n 0000755747 00000 n These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. It gives passengers prepaid gratuities, a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a basic beverage package for a single bundled price of $50 per person, per day. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable. 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. 0000910770 00000 n 0000891812 00000 n 0000417013 00000 n That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. What we experienced was that their program is NOT really "My time dining", it is RESERVATION time dining. 0000022110 00000 n The best way to fully take advantage of the My Time Dining program is to make your reservations before you board the ship! Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. The only thing you should HAVE to pay at booking is the deposit. 0000901714 00000 n 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.
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