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. Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. 0000891696 00000 n Prepaid Gratuities / My Time Dining - Royal Caribbean Discussion I don't mind tipping for good service. If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. You dont have to attend dinner at the same time, and you can arrange a table that works for you. Posted June 24, 2017. 0000423354 00000 n All sent to your inbox. That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you don't want a set dining time. I sailed on the explorer last year and the trick then was we could only cancel them on day 3 of the trip[obviously hopeing for a lot of forgetful customers] its a damn cheek that they are desperately trying to take this right for the customer to cancel ,,after all I never had gratuities for slogging my guts out in the kitchens and bakeries in my career and I don't suppose many ouy there do either. Powered by Cruiseline.com, spoke with royal Carib rep today who said prepaid grats are now out if you are using My Time Dining. Would we pay them on the first day onboard? Since you stated that you have already paid you cruise in full I would not go back to your TA just to pay them, I would just pay them at the end of the cruise when you settle your account, there are 2 different rates, one for regular rooms which I believe is $14.50 per day, per person, what you see on my picture is for a suite which is $16.50 PD, PP. 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. 0000418111 00000 n Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. 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. 0000418920 00000 n How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Reservations are strongly recommended. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. 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. You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Callummck Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. 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! The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. 0000902161 00000 n Some guests do not plan on eating in the Main Dining Room each day or would rather do so at the time of their choosing. 0000812508 00000 n Legal Information | 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. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board. They are per person. You dont have to do anything. 0000891423 00000 n 0000755470 00000 n There is a $9.75 gratuity per day that is required and this actually covers not only the wait staff but your room steward. Thats the whole point of the service charge. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. On a typical seven-night cruise, thats nearly $600 in fees. "=0 2BNX/edbi-:w)ddA(BTec;B&r9mE(!Rp#nZbCE2$*,U3Qg+sm{_`S.c xj"PxglZ%Ter_&8W}.l|2cs='g}:f kyMFNG7xFdI"^Jd\O&+W\^:_6 XEljBWm6jk2Tn)a0jGG\E 0000022522 00000 n 0000898322 00000 n 0000916095 00000 n document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. Who knows? 0000003555 00000 n If you feel anyone has been particularly helpful you can always tip them extra in cash. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. 28 0 obj <> endobj xref 28 131 0000000016 00000 n 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. But even so, it's more likely to keep up with cost of living, not to make up for those who don't tip. 0000022110 00000 n Welcome aboard! For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 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. Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. 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. 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. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. Your previous content has been restored. It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. xdOHTQ7Ho1bJ!IP"th+5ha0P"..\h! hQhE9; Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. 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 also will not be able to switch after the second day, so you'll want to visit Guest Services and/or the Main Dining Room when you embark-- Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? That is really the biggest flaw with My Time Dining. 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Royal Caribbean recently added "My time dining" as a dining option. 0000891812 00000 n Yes, My Time Dining is flexible. 0000910770 00000 n I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. 0000014304 00000 n But to the OP's question, we have MTD on Mariner next month and have not prepaid our gratuities. The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? A The automatic service gratuity is $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. KA^tQmy9*yE'6C'VBz@JKz+I_0U{:$asg* \ endstream endobj 157 0 obj <>/Size 28/Type/XRef>>stream Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Member Title: 100,000+ Club. 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. Instant Real Time Pricing 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. You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. Since they are not . 0000027181 00000 n Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. 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. 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. PDF MY TIME DINING - Royal Caribbean International 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. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? 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. The folks who WERVE YOU are the ones who get your tips. The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. 0000750166 00000 n 0000417807 00000 n If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you wont pay more. 0000737498 00000 n Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, dining room wine purchases and Lotus Spa services. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. 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. Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. 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 0000422260 00000 n Often, even if you do have a reservation you have to wait, but the time is much shorter since they are expecting you. 0000896807 00000 n You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". 0000417581 00000 n 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 continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. No votes so far! Sunshine State. If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? 0000005956 00000 n From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. 0000014730 00000 n This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. 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. If you want to reserve it on-board then visit Guest Services. ;p, You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. Hi! Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. I think you probably have had you questions answered already but I wanted to show an example. Our dining options have been reimagined to give you a culinary experience at sea as vast, varied and eye-opening as dining in the worlds most cosmopolitan cities. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. There is no special dress code for My Time Dining it has the same dress code as traditional dining. 0000421346 00000 n 0000892388 00000 n Understood, and many passengers also feel this way. Royal Caribbean. During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. Reservations are strongly recommended. The rates listed are per person, per day. The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream 0000828884 00000 n It's kind of a runaround to personally get to everyone who is included (my opinion). If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. 0000916923 00000 n 0000767892 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. Do you have Cruise Fever too? 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. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Booking MTD on certain ships requires individual checkouts for each night while other ships you can make reservations for the whole cruise and check out once. January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. We can honor requests to change only once based on availability. 0000690334 00000 n But its definitely not for everyone. 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. Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. 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. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. 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. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Do you have to pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean Australia? At most lines, you can pay your service charges in advance of sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). 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. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. My Time Dining is one of the options youll get to choose from when you book your cruise. 0000892817 00000 n You post the same made up garbage in every thread. 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. My time dining and gratuities - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. 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. Can guests move between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining during their cruise? CC Help Jenn 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. Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. If you want to change to My Time Dining, youll need to speak to Guest Services within the first two days of your cruise. Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. Enrollment required. 0000916809 00000 n If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. M&-]f_Le}BXJ.D7CCx. 0000006404 00000 n 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. 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. Suggested read: 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! Display as a link instead, Australians typically do not tip because the minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 AUD/hr ($14.56 USD/hr). 0000003714 00000 n Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! Search Now 0000418076 00000 n Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. My Time Dining is only applicable to the Main Dining Room on your ship. I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Here is why some people dislike the more informal dining option. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or crew appreciation charges at some lines). 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. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review - Direct Line Cruises 0000913572 00000 n Guests may request a special table or waiter. 0000906618 00000 n Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. Don't know why you want to do this (are you planning to carry cash every time you go to the WJ?) It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. 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? please click here to update it. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. Read more: Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? #4. 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. 0000426585 00000 n 0000005911 00000 n 0000704363 00000 n The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. But whether My Time Dining works for you or not really depends on what your preferences are. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. 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. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew. That is how it works for those employees who get paid with tips. 0000419636 00000 n 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. 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). The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). My Time Dining Question : r/royalcaribbean - reddit.com ( use to happen frequently). The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. 0000002916 00000 n please click here to update it. 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. The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. Still need help? Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. 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. 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. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you dont want a set dining time. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. 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. If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. Early dining is around 6 pm, while late dining is closer to 8:30 pm. 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. Royal Caribbean gratuities for children and infants Speciality restaurants require reservations but they dont have traditional dining times. Or do they not notice those "add on" charges? LauraS Royal Caribbean | MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Kudos to NCL for no longer allowing grats to be removed onboard. 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. 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. 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. Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! The wait. Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. 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. If you have a smaller party, you might find that you do not have to wait as long as larger parties. Royal Caribbean Dining. 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. A. Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips.