You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. Similarly, if youre on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. 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. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. Brilliance of the Seas is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal . 0000003714 00000 n When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have two options for dining: My Time Dining and Traditional Dining. If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. Search Now Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. 0000019459 00000 n My Family Time Dining | Royal Caribbean Cruises If you tip personally in cash, those people must turn it in or face dismissal. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Plus Ups are excluded. 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. 0000755470 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. But even so, it's more likely to keep up with cost of living, not to make up for those who don't tip. Started June 21, 2021, By Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. Callummck By Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. Details: Gratuities are included in the fare. 0000909381 00000 n | ( use to happen frequently). 0000891084 00000 n 0000422815 00000 n A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. 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. 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. If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. 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. The group we are going with have all chosen the early 5pm dinner reservation. 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. Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! 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. 0000433627 00000 n 0000916923 00000 n So for those who like some solitude, they may find that this more freestyle approach works better, but not everyone likes the NCL style of eating. A 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. 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. Rather, you will be seated wherever there is availability. By his definition the answer is yes. 0000906128 00000 n 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. You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. 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. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, 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. 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. Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? You dont have to attend dinner at the same time, and you can arrange a table that works for you. 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. Personally, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping people that are doing me a service. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! The best way to fully take advantage of the My Time Dining program is to make your reservations before you board the ship! Speciality restaurants require reservations but they dont have traditional dining times. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. 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. 0000422496 00000 n 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). 0000006236 00000 n 0000901330 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. 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. 0000910770 00000 n Traditionally, dinner on a cruise ship has been served at two specific seating times. 0000750166 00000 n That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Kudos to NCL for no longer allowing grats to be removed onboard. What is My Time Dining? | Royal Caribbean Cruises Also if staff are chastised for receiving cash, why do all the posts advocate tipping over and above the automatic gratuities for good service? There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one. At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. 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. 0000005676 00000 n When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. Its much better if youre someone who likes to play it by ear for dinner, based on how hungry you are. 0000891340 00000 n Can guests move between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining during their cruise? trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. 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. 0000005911 00000 n In this case, no gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. Unlike traditional dining - where a dining time is assigned to you - guests who opt for My Time Dining can eat in the Main Dining Room whenever they like during dining hours, according to availability. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? 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). Weve booked a cruise through an agent. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. The wait. January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. 0000006714 00000 n Someone else that pays more will take up the slack for you. Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. 0000891478 00000 n 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. 0000422260 00000 n 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. Wondering if anyone can help out with this? You do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. 0000722800 00000 n Answer (1 of 4): Fares purchased on the Australian website will always include pre-paid gratuities. Royal Caribbean recently added "My time dining" as a dining option. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 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. TPG values it at $1,600. 0000006636 00000 n Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. Now you have a choice to prepay gratuities or not with either Traditional or MTD. 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. 0000418076 00000 n 0000014874 00000 n Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. Your link has been automatically embedded. Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. If you want to walk in then you might have to wait for a suitable one to become available, while if youve booked it should be ready for you when you arrive. It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. 0000897240 00000 n The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. 0000891423 00000 n If you have a smaller party, you might find that you do not have to wait as long as larger parties.