royal caribbean my time dining gratuities

Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. So if I cancel my gratuities what will be added to my account for my time dining. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? 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). 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 . If you tip personally in cash, those people must turn it in or face dismissal. Royal Caribbean "My Time Dining" Review. My time dining and gratuities - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise 0000006714 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. 0000419103 00000 n Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Should they have been paid at the time of booking? The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. And that they aren't simply following the outdated information still present on Royal's website as pointed out above? A. 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. 0000425403 00000 n When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. If you pay them onboard, it will be charged automatically each day of the cruise. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew. Powered by Cruiseline.com, spoke with royal Carib rep today who said prepaid grats are now out if you are using My Time Dining. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. Pasted as rich text. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you dont want a set dining time. 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. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. 0000906914 00000 n 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. Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. 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. The Dining experience was Excellent as were the Waiting Staff, the only gripe, there had to be one, was the cost of the Wine. You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. The others could make a separate My Time Dining reservation for 8:15pm. If you have multiple people in your stateroom or travel party, you can make multiple reservations each evening to accommodate everyone's preferences. 0000891999 00000 n Pardon? 0000014730 00000 n Some guests choose to recognize particularly exceptional service with an additional cash gratuity on the last night of their cruise. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 Thats the whole point of the service charge. 0000426236 00000 n We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. 0000755747 00000 n Some people assume that, because My Time Dining offers more flexible dining, it has a more flexible dress code. gratuities amongst the other My Time Dining waiters; feel free to reward your waiter with an extra tip for providing excellent service . Plus Ups are excluded. January 11, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! Started June 21, 2021, By 0000418076 00000 n The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. Seating can also be reserved while onboard. Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. Not every ship has it though, so you should check out their website to see if your ship will offer this service if you are interested. 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 do have to prepay your gratuities in order to sign up to My Time Dining. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 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. 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. Clear editor. 0000913572 00000 n Do I have to pre-reserve My Time Dining through Cruise Planner? The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. 0000901330 00000 n Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. Cheap people have been around for years. There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, You can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. It truly depends, though. LauraS Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. 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. 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. 0000896807 00000 n 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. xbbba`b``0 u B endstream endobj 29 0 obj <>/ViewerPreferences<>/Metadata 6 0 R/AcroForm 30 0 R/Pages 5 0 R/StructTreeRoot 8 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 30 0 obj <>/Encoding<>>>>> endobj 31 0 obj <>/Shading<>/ColorSpace<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC/ImageI]/Properties<>/MC1<<>>/MC2<<>>/MC3<<>>>>/ExtGState<>>>/Type/Page>> endobj 32 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 162 85 0 R] endobj 33 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 140 80 0 R] endobj 34 0 obj <> endobj 35 0 obj <> endobj 36 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 147 75 0 R] endobj 37 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 120 96 0 R] endobj 38 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 210 122 0 R] endobj 39 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 77 93 0 R] endobj 40 0 obj [/Separation/PANTONE#20281#20CV/DeviceCMYK<>] endobj 41 0 obj [/DeviceN[/Cyan/Magenta/Yellow]/DeviceCMYK 114 0 R 116 0 R] endobj 42 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 128 101 0 R] endobj 43 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 192 121 0 R] endobj 44 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 128 110 0 R] endobj 45 0 obj [/Separation/PANTONE#202727#20C/DeviceCMYK<>] endobj 46 0 obj [/Indexed 47 0 R 3 66 0 R] endobj 47 0 obj [/ICCBased 65 0 R] endobj 48 0 obj <>stream 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 0000901714 00000 n Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, The only thing you should HAVE to pay at booking is the deposit. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. Who knows? Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Unlike Traditional Dining, My Time Dining is only marked as lasting for fifteen minutes. Member Title: 100,000+ Club. To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. Prepaid Gratuities / My Time Dining - Royal Caribbean Discussion 0000417078 00000 n If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. Yes, My Time Dining is flexible. 0000898322 00000 n Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say. | A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, Use these credit cards to maximize your next cruise vacation, 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise, The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free, pay $16 for what the line now calls a crew appreciation charge, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You also do not get to know the wait staff as well, since you may be seated in a different area every night. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you wont pay more. Hi! 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. Royal Caribbean recently added "My time dining" as a dining option. 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. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks Hi, I'm Jenni. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Jon can be reached at. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. The lines that offer these deals say theyll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf. That is not the case anymore but Royal is not great about updating their website information (I've heard they still talk about Dynamic Dining on Quantum class ships which only lasted one year). Even if you initially booked Traditional Dining, you can call your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to change to My Time. We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. Now you have a choice to prepay gratuities or not with either Traditional or MTD. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares. Do you have Cruise Fever too? For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Their memory is incredible and they really do make you feel special. Australians typically do not tip because the minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 AUD/hr ($14.56 USD/hr). 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. I take any thread older than a year (sometimes less) with a grain of salt. Search Multiple Sites at Once Those grats are also handed out to WJ staff, cafe staff, etc. . 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. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. Enrollment required. 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. We always choose My Time dinning. 0000022522 00000 n Ships registered in the Bahamas. They work very long hours all day long. Early dining is around 6 pm, while late dining is closer to 8:30 pm. 0000005096 00000 n You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. If, for example, two people would like to eat earlier around 6:30pm, you would make them their own reservation. 0000005141 00000 n It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? Callummck Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. Display as a link instead, Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? My Time Dining - Gratuities?? - Cruise Critic Community Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. 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. Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. 0000891812 00000 n 0000433627 00000 n 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. 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. When making a reservation you will be offered My Time or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). That is not the case anymore but Royal is not great about updating their website information. 0000901423 00000 n 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! 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. Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? My Time Dining is only applicable to the Main Dining Room on your ship. 0000916095 00000 n Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per . She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. Please don't disrupt the system that works that was put in place that is fair to crew and guests . Like what you see? You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. If we paid the gratuities up front when onboard would we still have able to do MTD? 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. In this case, no gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). It is possible to snag dining times around 7:00pm every night, but this is a highly desirable dinner time. Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. 0000916923 00000 n My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. So therefore it does not show on our invoice. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. MY FAMILY TIME DINING MY TIME DINING DAILY RESERVATIONS Awards FOLLOW US JOIN CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY CALL US NOW +971 4 331 4299 $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. View All Cruises If you have a smaller party, you might find that you do not have to wait as long as larger parties. If you keep things as they are, everyone who is supposed to be tipped, WILL be tipped. This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. You dont really get to know the people you are eating with that well. Royal Caribbeans award winning dining program, My Time Dining, offers flexible and traditional options. I don't know if you have cruised before, but the gratuities cover more than your wait staff in My Time Dining. You need to contact your TA and have her add it to your invoice in order to prepay gratuities. M&-]f_Le}BXJ.D7CCx. 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. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable. 0000901784 00000 n How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. On a typical seven-night cruise, thats nearly $600 in fees. 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. She also told us about gratuities added to the Seapss account. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Read on to learn what My Time Dining is, the benefits that it offers, and how to book. 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. If the gratuities are pre-paid, it should be part of the cruise booking. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. CC Help Jenn 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. The included tip amount varies by cruise line, but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. 0000015069 00000 n If you are asking by prepaying gratuities in advance does that force you to do MTD, then the answer is no. 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. 0000423354 00000 n To ensure quick seating, we encourage guests who have selected the Flexible option to place a reservation for each evening. 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. The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. 0000737875 00000 n 0000690334 00000 n Posted June 24, 2017. My Time Dining uses the same menu as traditional seating. If you are traveling with more than eight people, My Time Dining might become a hassle. You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. We always choose My Time dinning. 0000006679 00000 n 0000891587 00000 n ( use to happen frequently). The rates listed are per person, per day. Find the right card for you. This is an unfair statement. 0000905280 00000 n Answer (1 of 4): Fares purchased on the Australian website will always include pre-paid gratuities. Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora The recommended dress code for the Main Dining Room for traditional dining or My Time Dining is smart casual. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story. You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. The flexible option allows you to select your own dining time and table companions on a daily basis. Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know 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). 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. 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. 0000750166 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). By I will pay for fantastic service but can't stand getting it shoved in my face and HAVE TO pay gratuities. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. 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. PDF MY TIME DINING - Royal Caribbean International If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. 0000828394 00000 n 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. Can guests move between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining during their cruise? Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. 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. 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. Just make sure to turn up at the reserved time. You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. 0000902670 00000 n 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); | No, no, no, no, no. 0000426585 00000 n I am not trying to get out of tipping, I would like to be convinced that the automatic charge actually gets passed on to the crew?? 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. All rights reserved. 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 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. Guests may request a special table or waiter. The best way to fully take advantage of the My Time Dining program is to make your reservations before you board the ship! Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. Would we pay them on the first day onboard? Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one. (Sponsored). It has its advantages, but for a lot of people, its too restrictive. That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. 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. 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.