royal caribbean my time dining gratuities

document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us | . 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. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Still, not all lines have service fees that high. When you log into the Cruise Planner, all you have to do is navigate to the "Dining" tab and scroll down until you see "My Time Dining.". 0000914358 00000 n Learn more. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. 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. Search Now 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. 0000905280 00000 n (Enrollment required for select benefits.). 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. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Why is it combined? 0000828884 00000 n 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. 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. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. To this day it still references dynamic dining in the cruise planner even though that is long gone. 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. But some people just want to eat with their own family. ;) Can we opt out of those added on charges also?? 0000002916 00000 n When you are reserving your cruise, you will be given the option to select "Traditional Dining" or "My Time Dining.". 0000690334 00000 n You dont really get to know the people you are eating with that well. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 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. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 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. 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. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you dont want a set dining time. 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. It has its advantages, but for a lot of people, its too restrictive. At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. This dining option requires you to "pre pay" your gratuities. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. ?xtp~?f~j)Br$7q,,"Sf%SXAii%1O=]rlsE"V3ueGWY^U?h2/?7>V1yP GoW}wA[5!>0yuoe 0000911056 00000 n 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. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. 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. Perhaps as more and more cheapos remove their grats the cruise lines will finally just increase fares so everyone pays the same in tips. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 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. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. 0000011404 00000 n If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. A. Often, even if you do have a reservation you have to wait, but the time is much shorter since they are expecting you. 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. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. CC Help Jenn Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. 0000750166 00000 n Also if staff are chastised for receiving cash, why do all the posts advocate tipping over and above the automatic gratuities for good service? What happens if I cancel the gratuities? 0000014874 00000 n Plus, your own feed of TPG content. You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. 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. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Can I reserve the same table or waiter at the same time in My Time Dining? Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. 0000901784 00000 n You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. 0000910197 00000 n When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 0000422260 00000 n Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. But its definitely not for everyone. 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. It is much simpler, and fairer, to leave them in place. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 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. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Here is why some people dislike the more informal dining option. 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. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, 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. 0000006312 00000 n Details: Gratuities are included in the fare. If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. 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. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have two options for dining: My Time Dining and Traditional Dining. %PDF-1.4 % 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. Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, the cruise line will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. please click here to update it. Guests may request a special table or waiter. Royal Caribbean. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. Related: The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free. 0000891340 00000 n You can choose a different time each day, so you can fit dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans. Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. 0000902161 00000 n My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. It truly depends, though. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 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. 0000901330 00000 n If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. Would we pay them on the first day onboard? 0000767892 00000 n You can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. Your previous content has been restored. Legal Information | Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. You'd likely pay it at final payment date. Alas! 0000016969 00000 n Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. 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! Plus Ups are excluded. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. 0000003388 00000 n Sorry- Im not expressing myself too well! Do you have Cruise Fever too? Yes, My Time Dining is flexible. The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. 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. If a guest requests My Time dining, can wine be ordered through Royal Gifts to be delivered to the dining room? Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. 0000812508 00000 n Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. 0000755747 00000 n 0000738152 00000 n 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. $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. 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. Member Title: 100,000+ Club. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. 0000897240 00000 n The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. 0000735845 00000 n 0000910770 00000 n 0000015069 00000 n Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. The wait. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. If you are traveling with more than eight people, My Time Dining might become a hassle. 0000747552 00000 n We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. I will HAPPILY pay my gratuities, and feel that having them paid in advance is very convenient, andprobably saves me some money. But its not strict. Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. 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. Ships registered in the Bahamas. It is possible to snag dining times around 7:00pm every night, but this is a highly desirable dinner time. 0000902188 00000 n What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises 0000755470 00000 n Speciality restaurants require reservations but they dont have traditional dining times. If not, just leave blank, How to book My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean, What you need to know about Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining, Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. If you are purchasing a dining package or plan on eating dinner in one of the other complimentary venues, you may not find yourself putting too much thought into what dining style you'd prefer. The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. 0000433627 00000 n To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. 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. 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. Royal Caribbean gratuities for children and infants That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. By After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. What we experienced was that their program is NOT really "My time dining", it is RESERVATION time dining. 0000014304 00000 n Thanks Matt- We paid for the cruise at the time of booking. Depending on when you go, you may have to wait until there is an available table. 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. There is a $9.75 gratuity per day that is required and this actually covers not only the wait staff but your room steward. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! 0000006046 00000 n The benefits of My Time Dining are that you decide who you eat with, and when. As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. 0000006450 00000 n Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. 0000420293 00000 n 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. For instance, in recent years, Norwegian has been continuously running free at sea promotions that include not just free crew tips but free shipboard Wi-Fi and a free drinks package, too. By his definition the answer is yes. 0000907210 00000 n 0000006358 00000 n You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. 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. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. 0000422815 00000 n Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 0000005141 00000 n ;p, You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Just make sure to turn up at the reserved time. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments. Rather, you will be seated wherever there is availability. Find the right card for you. 0000427335 00000 n What is My Time Dining? | Royal Caribbean Cruises Still need help? 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. 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. #4. 0000027181 00000 n The group we are going with have all chosen the early 5pm dinner reservation. All of the gratuities are divided equally among the wait staff. Main Dining Room on Allure of the Seas 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. Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. 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. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares. Read on to learn what My Time Dining is, the benefits that it offers, and how to book. Also, once you have been seated and your meal is being served, no other guests will be sat at your table. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. My confusion is to do with the My Time Dining - If gratuities havent been prepaid, do we still have the My Time Dining thats on the invoice?! If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. The menu for My Time Dining is still the same, so you will get the same quality meals. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. We always choose My Time dinning. 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. Enrollment required. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. 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. 0000005051 00000 n *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 0000418920 00000 n So by your definition no one should tip because others will make up the difference? Follow along on this incredible voyage! A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. This also applies to sailings departing from Australia and New Zealand. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. The buffet restaurant doesnt offer reservations and you can visit it whenever you want. 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. Personally, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping people that are doing me a service. 0000916095 00000 n Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or crew appreciation charges at some lines). 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. Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. You can change your dining time on your Royal Caribbean cruise using the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbeans website. 0000901714 00000 n Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. 0000896807 00000 n Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Like what you see? Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. 0000014730 00000 n Powered by Cruiseline.com, spoke with royal Carib rep today who said prepaid grats are now out if you are using My Time Dining. Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review. 0000005866 00000 n 0000905656 00000 n Probably because it makes it less confusing than diving up the tips. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. The folks who WERVE YOU are the ones who get your tips. The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. 0000022110 00000 n Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. Youll be asked to pre-pay your gratuities. 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 caribbean my time dining gratuities 2023