She also told us about gratuities added to the Seapss account. Planning a cruise? Even if I opt out of automatic gratuities? 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. All rights reserved. Still need help? 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. 0000891587 00000 n
If we paid the gratuities up front when onboard would we still have able to do MTD? 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. Related: The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free. The best way to fully take advantage of the My Time Dining program is to make your reservations before you board the ship! The problem is, I cant see anywhere how to prepay the gratuities? We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. 0000008654 00000 n
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Powered by Invision Community. 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. You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. 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. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. $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. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. If youre not someone who has cruised before, you might not be aware of traditional dining times on cruise ships. Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. 0000006312 00000 n
Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. Automatic Gratuities were added to lessen the event of "skipping out" on tips and to make sure MTD waiters were tipped. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This is an unfair statement. If you are asking by prepaying gratuities in advance does that force you to do MTD, then the answer is no. TPG values it at $1,600. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. 0000005866 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. but it's so much better to leave the automatic tips in place and just give extra cash to those you feel deserve it. If you have an issue with how the crew get paid don't withhold your tips since that will only penalize the crew. That is how it works for those employees who get paid with tips. During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. You no longer have to prepay gratuities if you select My Time Dining. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. I think the crew would let it be know if they were not receiving their share of the gratuities. You can eat anytime between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. This also applies to sailings departing from Australia and New Zealand. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew. 0000916095 00000 n
That explains it and answers my question- youre right, it does still say it on parts of the website. 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. 0000017159 00000 n
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. 0000005141 00000 n
How Does Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining Work? 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. You can then book dinner in the Main Dining Room for any time you want, or just walk in without a reservation. However, spaces may be limited so it may not be possible if you leave it too late. There is no need to remove the "pre=paid" or "included" tips. I think you probably have had you questions answered already but I wanted to show an example. You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. 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. Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. The others could make a separate My Time Dining reservation for 8:15pm. Hi! Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. 0000891423 00000 n
You can reserve My Time Dining when you first book your cruise, or by logging onto the Royal Caribbean website to amend your booking. 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. #4. 0000891084 00000 n
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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. 0000417013 00000 n
So therefore it does not show on our invoice. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. A list of those who do this is available to the staff. The old way of MTD had forced you to prepay gratuities but that changed some time ago. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. CC Help Jenn Weve booked a cruise through an agent. Here is why some people dislike the more informal dining option. 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. 0000844607 00000 n
Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. Every Royal Caribbean ship includes meals at many included restaurants, including the main dining room and the buffet. 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. You will have to make each reservation individually and add them to your cart one-by-one. 0000427335 00000 n
Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! Youll be told which restaurant to go to based on your choice. 0000910197 00000 n
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You cannot paste images directly. You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. 0000841664 00000 n
Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. For guests that want to experience the Main Dining Room without the formality of having a set time, Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean offers its guests two choices for enjoying dinner in the main dining room: My Time Dining or. 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.". You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. 0000841939 00000 n
What happens if I cancel the gratuities? 0000014304 00000 n
In many cases, the service charges are adjustable. I noticed the My Time doesn't offer reservations until 6:45. Dont worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesnt mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you need to register for My Time Dining if you don't want a set dining time. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. 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. 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. 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. What happens if I cancel the gratuities? Unlike Traditional Dining, you will not be seated at the same table with the same wait staff if your choose My Time. ;) Can we opt out of those added on charges also?? The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. I understand that once upon a time prepaid gratuities were required for MTD. The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. 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. Additional cash gifts are not expected. No, no, no, no, no. My partner and I prefer a later dinner and have selected My Time dining however we'd still like to join them for dinner at least 1-2 nights. Upload or insert images from URL. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. 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. It is recommended that you book a table though. 0000418076 00000 n
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Royal Caribbean. 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). You can be seated with the party you arrive with or be seated at your own table. Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. 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. The agent asked us which dining option wed like and we chose my time. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 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. Also if staff are chastised for receiving cash, why do all the posts advocate tipping over and above the automatic gratuities for good service? 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. 0000426585 00000 n
That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Read more: Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! We can honor requests to change only once based on availability. Early dining is around 6 pm, while late dining is closer to 8:30 pm. At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so. My Family Time dining is currently unavailable throughout our fleet. We always choose My Time dinning. 0000005956 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. If you do get the same waiter every night, theyll remember your name and your preferences. Posted June 24, 2017. 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. 0000747552 00000 n
But its definitely not for everyone. Im pretty sure were havent prepaid the gratuities, but our invoice from RCL does say that our dining is My Time Dining and the Cruise planner will let us make reservations. There have been both positive and negative reports on Royal Caribbeans My Time Dining. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. Paste as plain text instead, 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. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. 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. My Time Dining is therefore available to anyone who wants to mix things up. 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Like what you see? Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent Gratuities haven't been going up "almost every year." Follow along on this incredible voyage! 0000902670 00000 n
Instant Real Time Pricing 0000003714 00000 n
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Yes, if there is availability in the My Time Dining Room, we would be happy to accommodate the request. 0000005051 00000 n
Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. If you opt out of daily gratuities your account will not be charged for them. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. 0000425403 00000 n
But to the OP's question, we have MTD on Mariner next month and have not prepaid our gratuities. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. By Fortunately, Royal Caribbean still offers both traditional and My Time Dining options. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! You may request a certain waiter each night, and we will work to seat your party in his or her area depending on availability. Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. 0000418920 00000 n
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The folks who WERVE YOU are the ones who get your tips. 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. 0000011539 00000 n
However, each ship does also offer specialty dining for an additional fee. A. 0000417807 00000 n
Can they join me in the My Time Dining Room? 0000016969 00000 n
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My Time Dining is the flexible dining option on Royal Caribbean cruises. If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. If you want to use My Time Dining you must pay for tips in advance. 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. 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. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, as well as Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises. My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. 0000014730 00000 n
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 . 0000418111 00000 n
Could you please tell me how I can improve it? 0000913572 00000 n
We always choose My Time dinning. HW[U5}@iy% $Q'i'xNg2f(-E2obIcUHQ?/yZ!X}qu`?x
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hXH9K You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. u"7QV-gL)qO^>#~r{e7|W(WFAX>B|zj&u{P$LEi7+?X!^ Australians typically do not tip because the minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 AUD/hr ($14.56 USD/hr). Unsubscribe whenever you want. Yes. Read on to learn what My Time Dining is, the benefits that it offers, and how to book. Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). Are you sure that isn't an Iglu Cruise rule? 0000006636 00000 n
Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares. We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. By his definition the answer is yes. 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. 0000828394 00000 n
The traditional dining experience allows you the choice of either early or late seating times for each day of your cruise. Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. LauraS Please don't disrupt the system that works that was put in place that is fair to crew and guests . 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. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. We have my time dining and according to the threads it looks like the gratuities are asked to be prepaid. But some people just want to eat with their own family. 0000910770 00000 n
As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. 0000914358 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. If you want to change to My Time Dining, youll need to speak to Guest Services within the first two days of your cruise. 0000901330 00000 n
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. Alas! These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. 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. 0000021713 00000 n
It's easy, convenient, and if you wish to recognize outstanding service you can always tip extra cash personally. 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. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions 0000896900 00000 n
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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. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Reservations are strongly recommended. However, the suggested dress code remains the same. Still need help? 0000027181 00000 n
It has its advantages, but for a lot of people, its too restrictive. The rates listed are per person, per day. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Callummck Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. You definitely won't go hungry during your sailing, even if you don't purchase any dining extras. Due to availability, however, you may not have as many times to choose from. This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. 0000006046 00000 n
Heres my confusion: I understand prepaid gratuities is required for My Time Dining. 0000006679 00000 n
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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. 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. Note, however, that this means you may not be able to have as flexible of a dining experience as you might be hoping for, especially if prime reservations have been secured in advance by other guests. Well, this is NOT the only option and you can still choose to eat in the traditional manner. 0000738858 00000 n
The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. John2195, June 24, 2017 in Royal Caribbean International. If you do not prepay gratuities, they will be charged to your onboard account automatically, on a daily basis. 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. gratuities amongst the other My Time Dining waiters; feel free to reward your waiter with an extra tip for providing excellent service . Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. If you need to change or cancel a reservation for any reason, you will have to go into the specific order and cancel each reservation separately before you are able to rebook. 0000897721 00000 n
See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience.