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). Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per . How much to tip extra on a cruise is entirely up to you because it is in no way required. 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. 0000891478 00000 n My Time Dining is only applicable to the Main Dining Room on your ship. Related: Use these credit cards to maximize your next cruise vacation. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. 0000417308 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. It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. 0000911365 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. 0000737875 00000 n We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. 0000897748 00000 n (Enrollment required for select benefits.). *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 0000008654 00000 n 0000422496 00000 n This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable. 0000897170 00000 n If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. CC Help Jenn 0000019459 00000 n To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. 0000896900 00000 n You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. You post the same made up garbage in every thread. You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. You can post now and register later. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. By his definition the answer is yes. 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. 0000017159 00000 n If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. 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. 0000019016 00000 n 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 0000003714 00000 n 0000021713 00000 n M&-]f_Le}BXJ.D7CCx. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, . When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). That is really the biggest flaw with My Time Dining. 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. You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. You will have to make each reservation individually and add them to your cart one-by-one. 0000828884 00000 n We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. 0000426585 00000 n Like what you see? 0000433627 00000 n On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you dont want a set dining time. #4. 0000419103 00000 n If youre late then your table may be given away, and youll have to wait for another one. Youll be asked to pre-pay your gratuities. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. Instant Real Time Pricing I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! 0000015069 00000 n Can they join me in the My Time Dining Room? 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. If you dislike tipping on cruise ships, but can't afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, look for promotions when cruise lines with service charges throw in free gratuities as a booking incentive. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. ;) Can we opt out of those added on charges also?? 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. 0000422815 00000 n If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. 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. 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. Still, not all lines have service fees that high. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. Details: Gratuities are included in the fare. 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. 0000737498 00000 n The only thing you should HAVE to pay at booking is the deposit. 0000906128 00000 n It is much simpler, and fairer, to leave them in place. Paste as plain text instead, Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. 0000891587 00000 n A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. 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. Then, Norwegian Cruise Line decided to shake things up a bit with "freestyle dining", an innovation that allows guests to eat dinner anytime . Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 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. But some people just want to eat with their own family. 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. Alas! Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one. 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. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. but only parties of 20 or less can be seated at one time. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have slightly different daily gratuities. 0000828837 00000 n In this case, no gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. When you are reserving your cruise, you will be given the option to select "Traditional Dining" or "My Time Dining.". I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. 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. 0000006312 00000 n Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. CC Help Jenn 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. The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. 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. 0000767892 00000 n There have been both positive and negative reports on Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining. 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. 0000750166 00000 n The recommended dress code for the Main Dining Room for traditional dining or My Time Dining is smart casual. 0000417078 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. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. 2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 0000747552 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. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! %PDF-1.4 % Powered by Cruiseline.com, spoke with royal Carib rep today who said prepaid grats are now out if you are using My Time Dining. 0000424501 00000 n My Time Dining is therefore available to anyone who wants to mix things up. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. Are you sure that isn't an Iglu Cruise rule? 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 . 0000902188 00000 n Reservations are strongly recommended. 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! What happens if I cancel the gratuities? 0000006679 00000 n 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. The menu for My Time Dining is still the same, so you will get the same quality meals. Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. $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. 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. If you are choosing My Time Dining because you are not a fan of either set dining times, you will need to ensure that you make nightly reservations as soon as possible via the Cruise Planner. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. 0000006002 00000 n Aside from formal nights, there is no enforced dress code except that bare feet and tank tops are not allowed in the Main Dining Room. You also do not get to know the wait staff as well, since you may be seated in a different area every night. The buffet restaurant doesnt offer reservations and you can visit it whenever you want. They work very long hours all day long. 0000704363 00000 n Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. If you leave the service charge on your room bill, you are not expected to leave additional cruise tips for your room attendant or waiters. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say. 0000828394 00000 n 0000426236 00000 n 0000902670 00000 n 0000419307 00000 n I suspect that the automatic tipping is a hidden charge for the customers who already paid to go on the cruise to subsidise the company's wage bill. We know booking a cruise can be a complicated process, so if you need any help or would even like us to fill out your information for you please get in touch. E{3bEi_,FdTneL m!TlmJ=&esmh~rqbo)q9V'{7_LA74us i%@MZC1twwBjkC%{'BLTzP64Z{C@gC;qdF\u4:}NiIYmKzuu>k&dOWd1ydzW ]EhWJt*iLAcGMUyhvjw%m&_I;jxt' jg|zn~7_{ksiY15M HHnV6@,,TnMv9GU{$ The dining staff will do all possible to accommodate the request, based on availability. We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. 0000902161 00000 n Wondering if anyone can help out with this? During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. 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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. 0000897240 00000 n Itll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise. 0000897721 00000 n 0000738152 00000 n You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. 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. You dont have to attend dinner at the same time, and you can arrange a table that works for you. Enrollment required. 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. The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. 0000014730 00000 n 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. 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. 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. Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. please click here to update it. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. You dont have to do anything. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, Someone else that pays more will take up the slack for you. 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. 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. For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its "free at sea" promotion. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. 0000417581 00000 n 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. 0000901784 00000 n 0000003555 00000 n 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. Display as a link instead, but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. Learn more. 0000006714 00000 n Brilliance of the Seas is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal . Seating can also be reserved while onboard. Search Now 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. 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. 0000005911 00000 n Follow along on this incredible voyage! I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board. Please don't disrupt the system that works that was put in place that is fair to crew and guests . Australians typically do not tip because the minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 AUD/hr ($14.56 USD/hr). Also if staff are chastised for receiving cash, why do all the posts advocate tipping over and above the automatic gratuities for good service? 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. 0000914358 00000 n 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. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 0000005676 00000 n 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. Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. 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. 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.