Similarly, if youre on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. It is possible to snag dining times around 7:00pm every night, but this is a highly desirable dinner time. 0000426585 00000 n If your My Time Dining reservation is at 7:15pm, do not make any other reservations until 8:30pm or later. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Rather, you will be seated wherever there is availability. 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. You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. Theres also a dining hotline you can call from the phone in your stateroom to make changes to your reservations. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. 0000417581 00000 n has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. 0000901423 00000 n trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream That is really the biggest flaw with My Time Dining. 0000828884 00000 n Still, not all lines have service fees that high. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. 0000891999 00000 n Regent Seven Seas Cruises. On a typical seven-night cruise, thats nearly $600 in fees. Pasted as rich text. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. 0000819210 00000 n Online, you can only book My Time Dining for up to eight guests. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. Pardon? Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. Suggested read: 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 0000897170 00000 n They are per person. You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. No votes so far! 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. 0000892388 00000 n 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. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. You dont have to do anything. If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. 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. 0000006236 00000 n It is recommended that you book a table though. My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises My Family Time dining is currently unavailable throughout our fleet. 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 . 0000690334 00000 n I think the crew would let it be know if they were not receiving their share of the gratuities. This is an unfair statement. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a 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. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. 0000831970 00000 n Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. 0000909755 00000 n 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. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. 0000011404 00000 n In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say. 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. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. At least, thats how it is supposed to work. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 0000003555 00000 n Guests may request a special table or waiter. 0000891587 00000 n 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. Its much better if youre someone who likes to play it by ear for dinner, based on how hungry you are. The benefits of My Time Dining are that you decide who you eat with, and when. 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. There will be a My Time Dining check-in desk at the entrance to the dining room with wait staff to greet guests. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. 0000027181 00000 n 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. My Time Dining - Gratuities?? - Cruise Critic Community Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. 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. We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. 0000014304 00000 n The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. CC Help Jenn The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. 0000909381 00000 n We always choose My Time dinning. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. 0000008654 00000 n Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. You dont have to attend dinner at the same time, and you can arrange a table that works for you. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. 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. If you tip personally in cash, those people must turn it in or face dismissal. %PDF-1.4 % 0000006046 00000 n 0000891478 00000 n That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Understood, and many passengers also feel this way. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us | 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. Wondering if anyone can help out with this? Getting to know the staff and allowing them to get to know you is also a fun part of cruising for some people and My Time Dining would severely limit activity. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. 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. Answer (1 of 4): Fares purchased on the Australian website will always include pre-paid gratuities. 0000891423 00000 n Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. If we paid the gratuities up front when onboard would we still have able to do MTD? 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. The folks who WERVE YOU are the ones who get your tips. Here is why some people dislike the more informal dining option. Started August 27, 2021, By 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). For your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. 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. 0000750166 00000 n Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. And that's before you add in any additional tips you wish to give to your room service or favorite bartender or autogratuities tacked on to bar, restaurant and spa bills. 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. Sorry- Im not expressing myself too well! please click here to update it. Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 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. 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. Should they have been paid at the time of booking? Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. 0000422496 00000 n It has its advantages, but for a lot of people, its too restrictive. I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. 0000425403 00000 n The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. 0000005141 00000 n Could you please tell me how I can improve it? Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Copyrights |, www.royalcaribbean.ae is part of Royal Caribbean Arabia owned by Safeen Tourism LLC the Sole Middle East Representative of Royal Caribbean International, 2023 All Rights Reserved | ROYAL CARIBBEAN ARABIA. 0000755747 00000 n The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. . 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. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. 0000755470 00000 n 0000421346 00000 n You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. And that they aren't simply following the outdated information still present on Royal's website as pointed out above? Privacy Policy | 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. 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. Welcome aboard! 0000736746 00000 n I always find that funny when peeps complain about the added on grats listed as a separate charge..do they ever look at their cable bill, electric bill, phone bill.etcetc. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. 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. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable. If a guest requests My Time dining, can wine be ordered through Royal Gifts to be delivered to the dining room? 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. 0000737498 00000 n Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 0000737875 00000 n The recommended dress code for the Main Dining Room for traditional dining or My Time Dining is smart casual. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. 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. Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. 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. 0000913572 00000 n 0000898322 00000 n but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. ?xtp~?f~j)Br$7q,,"Sf%SXAii%1O=]rlsE"V3ueGWY^U?h2/?7>V1yP GoW}wA[5!>0yuoe With Traditional Dining, you will have the same reserved seating each night of your cruise, and there are two seatings to choose from: first (early) and second (late). 0000891084 00000 n 0000006714 00000 n The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. Once you have made your My Time Dining reservations, they will appear in your cruise calendar, both on Cruise Planner tab and Royal Caribbean's app. They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. However, many people now prefer to enjoy more flexibility with dinner, so cruise lines have either done away with traditional dining altogether or set up an alternative option. The rates listed are per person, per day. You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. Still reserve a table if you can otherwise, you might be waiting with a grumbling stomach until a table becomes free if you just walk in. By You can do this before the cruise, or during your voyage. E{3bEi_,FdTneL m!TlmJ=&esmh~rqbo)q9V'{7_LA74us i%@MZC1twwBjkC%{'BLTzP64Z{C@gC;qdF\u4:}NiIYmKzuu>k&dOWd1ydzW ]EhWJt*iLAcGMUyhvjw%m&_I;jxt' jg|zn~7_{ksiY15M HHnV6@,,TnMv9GU{$ 0000916809 00000 n When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have two options for dining: My Time Dining and Traditional Dining. 0000911056 00000 n If not, you might be stuck eating even later than the second seating! 0000019016 00000 n Kudos to NCL for no longer allowing grats to be removed onboard. 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. 0000419103 00000 n This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. April 7, 2008. So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. As I mentioned, most of the time you will be eating with just your party, but if you prefer to eat with others you can still request it. Read on to learn what My Time Dining is, the benefits that it offers, and how to book. By 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. 0000910197 00000 n Can guests move between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining during their cruise? 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 . 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. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. 0000006404 00000 n 0000736952 00000 n That is how it works for those employees who get paid with tips. Royal Caribbean | MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Enrollment required. Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. Powered by Invision Community. 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. January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. 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. You also do not get to know the wait staff as well, since you may be seated in a different area every night. 0000005956 00000 n Member Title: 100,000+ Club. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. 0000006312 00000 n At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? 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. Gratuities haven't been going up "almost every year." 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. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. In this case, no gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". 2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. If you have multiple people in your stateroom or travel party, you can make multiple reservations each evening to accommodate everyone's preferences. That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. 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. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 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 can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. TPG values it at $1,600. ;) Can we opt out of those added on charges also?? Who knows? What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? 0000722800 00000 n We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. 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. That is not the case anymore but Royal is not great about updating their website information. 0000913926 00000 n My Time Dining Frequently Asked Questions | Royal Caribbean Cruises Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. 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. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. All sent to your inbox. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Even if you initially booked Traditional Dining, you can call your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to change to My Time. 0000747552 00000 n Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. 0000422260 00000 n Reservations are strongly recommended. The only thing you should HAVE to pay at booking is the deposit. A lot of cruisers were actually upset when they heard about My Time Dining and vowed to never sail with Royal Caribbean again if this was the only option. Do you have Cruise Fever too? Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. Powered by Cruiseline.com, spoke with royal Carib rep today who said prepaid grats are now out if you are using My Time Dining. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. 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. I noticed the My Time doesn't offer reservations until 6:45. 0000418111 00000 n 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). Youll be asked to pre-pay your gratuities. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. You'd likely pay it at final payment date. If you want to reserve it on-board then visit Guest Services. Having to arrive early, though, defeats the purpose of being able to dine whenever you'd like. Prepaid Gratuities / My Time Dining - Royal Caribbean Discussion Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review - Direct Line Cruises Paste as plain text instead, Royal Caribbean My Time Dining: What You Must Know! 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. Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! View All Cruises My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. Alas! When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. Details: Gratuities are included in the fare. 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. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. You can save even more $$$ by eating in the Lido on the last evening and avoiding your cabin steward that night also ? Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. Search Multiple Sites at Once Display as a link instead, 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. 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. 0000916095 00000 n 0000841939 00000 n Itll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise. My Time Dining is therefore available to anyone who wants to mix things up. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. In this line of thinking, lines with these charges are essentially breaking out a good chunk of onboard labor costs as a separate line item on your bill. If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. 0000422815 00000 n 0000916923 00000 n But its not strict. Cheap people have been around for years. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. 0000828394 00000 n Or do they not notice those "add on" charges? My Time Dining is only applicable to the Main Dining Room on your ship. Royal Caribbean gratuities for children and infants Would we pay them on the first day onboard? Another method is to just simply show up at the Main Dining Room each night when you are ready to eat. Still need help? Royal Caribbean has done the latter keeping the option for traditional dining service but also offering My Time Dining. 0000024527 00000 n Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. Can a family in one stateroom dine at different times with My Time Dining?
Todos os Direitos Reservados à royal caribbean my time dining gratuities® 2015
