Itll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise. Editorial disclaimer: 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. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . It's also not possible to update every forum discussion when information changes so it can be confusing to read conflicting threads. 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 . 0000014304 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. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. 0000898322 00000 n 0000417581 00000 n They say the money is shared not just with front of house crew, such as room attendants and waitstaff, but also with behind-the-scenes workers. If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. 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. Paste as plain text instead, Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. 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. Sunshine State. 0000418076 00000 n 0000422815 00000 n Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. Wondering if anyone can help out with this? Similarly, if youre on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. 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. 0000916809 00000 n The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. 0000907210 00000 n Then, Norwegian Cruise Line decided to shake things up a bit with "freestyle dining", an innovation that allows guests to eat dinner anytime . For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its "free at sea" promotion. CC Help Jenn One additional reason that you might pre-pay in the future is that Royal can change these rates at anytime, if you have them pre-paid, you are locked in to that rate. However, the suggested dress code remains the same. Depending on when you go, you may have to wait until there is an available table. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). 0000002916 00000 n If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. #4. Your link has been automatically embedded. 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 cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. 0000906914 00000 n That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. The Dining experience was Excellent as were the Waiting Staff, the only gripe, there had to be one, was the cost of the Wine. 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. (Sponsored). 0000016969 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). 0000019016 00000 n 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. Alas! The rates listed are per person, per day. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. But its definitely not for everyone. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. 0000906618 00000 n Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. 0000891084 00000 n 0000005141 00000 n LauraS $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. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. 0000755470 00000 n Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. 0000896807 00000 n 0000417078 00000 n You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. It is much simpler, and fairer, to leave them in place. Details: Gratuities are included in the fare. 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. You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. We always choose My Time dinning. 0000006636 00000 n Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. However, as mentioned, it is usually just easier and more convenient to leave the auto-gratuity/service charge/hotel charge (it is called different things on different cruise lines) in place. ( use to happen frequently). 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. If, for example, two people would like to eat earlier around 6:30pm, you would make them their own reservation. 0000006404 00000 n 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. But some people just want to eat with their own family. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. 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. Additional cash gifts are not expected. Thats the whole point of the service charge. The longer you wait to arrive, however, the longer you will have to wait for an available table. 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. 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. 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 wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. If, for instance, you plan on staying late in port one day but still wish to eat in the Main Dining Room, you could make a reservation for later in the evening, rather than miss out on the experience because you have early dining. 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. 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. Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. 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 . Guests may request a special table or waiter. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. This also applies to sailings departing from Australia and New Zealand. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. But whether My Time Dining works for you or not really depends on what your preferences are. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us | You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. 0000022110 00000 n 0000417013 00000 n Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. You no longer have to prepay gratuities if you select My Time Dining. 0000422496 00000 n Follow along on this incredible voyage! Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. 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. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. 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. You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. If youre late then your table may be given away, and youll have to wait for another one. Main Dining Room on Allure of the Seas 0000844607 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. My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. 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. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. 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. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. 0000916414 00000 n 0000737498 00000 n That's because some cruise lines tack daily service fees onto passenger bills yet many travelers still hand out additional cash gratuities, either as a matter of course or for exemplary service. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you wont pay more. Im sorry you never received a tip in your years of "slogging your guts out." 0000831970 00000 n The guest relations staff will want to know if youve experienced particular service issues. It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. Jon got hooked on cruising after his first cruise on his honeymoon, and today he is always looking for cruise deals and reading information about the cruise industry. 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. 0000902188 00000 n 0000421346 00000 n 0000812508 00000 n Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 0000738152 00000 n Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. 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. 156.1k. January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. 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. It can be awkward to eat with a complete stranger, and this dining option also makes it easier for folks who just want to enjoy their getaway at sea. 0000892817 00000 n If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. 0000735845 00000 n All rights reserved. Do you plan on dining anywhere except the dining room? So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. Kudos to NCL for no longer allowing grats to be removed onboard. If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. You can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. I take any thread older than a year (sometimes less) with a grain of salt. 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. 0000914358 00000 n Legal Information | I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. 0000909381 00000 n Royal Caribbean. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? Member Title: 100,000+ Club. 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. . And that they aren't simply following the outdated information still present on Royal's website as pointed out above? Weve booked a cruise through an agent. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. 0000738858 00000 n To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. 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. 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 Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 0000737875 00000 n Rather, you will be seated wherever there is availability. As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). 0000883078 00000 n Traditionally, dinner on a cruise ship has been served at two specific seating times. 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. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. Like what you see? You can do this before the cruise, or during your voyage. After sneaking a peek at our dining table the 1st night out & seeing we were seated with 4 elderly women, we decided to consider switching to My Time. 0000011404 00000 n Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. 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. Early dining is around 6 pm, while late dining is closer to 8:30 pm. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 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. 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 your convenience, prepaid gratuities are automatically added to your flexible option reservations. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. My Time Dining is only applicable to the Main Dining Room on your ship.
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