Understood, and many passengers also feel this way. Have you noticed over the years that daily grats have been increasing almost every year to make up for the non tippers. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks It isn't a hidden charge, since we all know about the charge and of course it subsidizes the wage bill. April 7, 2008. 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. 0000418076 00000 n 0000423354 00000 n I noticed the My Time doesn't offer reservations until 6:45. Learn more. If you have multiple people in your stateroom or travel party, you can make multiple reservations each evening to accommodate everyone's preferences. We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. If the gratuities are pre-paid, it should be part of the cruise booking. The others could make a separate My Time Dining reservation for 8:15pm. 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. These 9 Drinks Are Free on Royal Caribbean Cruises. 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. Some guests do not plan on eating in the Main Dining Room each day or would rather do so at the time of their choosing. Weve booked a cruise through an agent. 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. Automatic Gratuities were added to lessen the event of "skipping out" on tips and to make sure MTD waiters were tipped. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. 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. I did find My Time Dining rather a contradiction as theoretically you could dine anytime between the hours of 6.30 9.30, but, its best to make a reservation, as it turned out the waiting time was approximately the same for both cases. Ships registered in the Bahamas. However, you can still make reservations, based on availability, once onboard. I don't mind tipping for good service. Guests may request a special table or waiter. but only parties of 20 or less can be seated at one time. Why is it combined? Cheap people have been around for years. 0000905656 00000 n Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora 0000916095 00000 n I take any thread older than a year (sometimes less) with a grain of salt. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); | 0000002916 00000 n Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. 156.1k. You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. 0000755747 00000 n Your automatic gratuities also cover your cabin steward and other behind the scenes personnel; not just dining room staff. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. 0000735845 00000 n 0000906618 00000 n Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. We do not prepay gratuities because we always have OBC and they will be deducted from the OBC daily. 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. Discover the culinary curiosities of Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. 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 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. 0000014730 00000 n If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you wont pay more. 0000910197 00000 n We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. 0000891812 00000 n Traditional seating will mean that guests will keep the same wait staff and dining companions throughout the cruise. Unsubscribe whenever you want. The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. If we paid the gratuities up front when onboard would we still have able to do MTD? Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per . 0000024527 00000 n You will be seated with whomever you arrive to the dining room with. That said, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. They work very long hours all day long. Should they have been paid at the time of booking? 0000006636 00000 n The wait. Pasted as rich text. You can change your dining time on your Royal Caribbean cruise using the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbeans website. 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. 0000913572 00000 n My Family Time dining is currently unavailable throughout our fleet. This may not seem like a big deal if youre new to cruising, but cruise ship waiters are exceptional at their job and they are very good at learning all about you. 0000737498 00000 n Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Youll be asked to pre-pay your gratuities. The only thing you should HAVE to pay at booking is the deposit. 0000736746 00000 n 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. My Family Time Dining | Royal Caribbean Cruises If you cancel prepaid gratuities, you can visit Guest Services once you are onboard and request they discontinue automatic gratuties. You may tip extra if you feel you have been "WOW'd". Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). Clear editor. If you plan on spending most of your time in the buffet restaurant anyway, then you might not be concerned about the Main Dining Room and your dining times. 0000006236 00000 n If youre already booked and have chosen the flexible option, you can easily pre-reserve specific days and times online. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. 0000747552 00000 n 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. 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. This is an unfair statement. 0000005676 00000 n Alas! Their website explains it as such: "By selecting My Time Dini. Maximum of 10 guests per reservation. 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. It is much simpler, and fairer, to leave them in place. Sorry- Im not expressing myself too well! 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 . 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. 0000911056 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. 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. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have slightly different daily gratuities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us | Jon can be reached at. If you feel anyone has been particularly helpful you can always tip them extra in cash. Welcome aboard! 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. 0000003836 00000 n You can save even more $$$ by eating in the Lido on the last evening and avoiding your cabin steward that night also ? 0000433627 00000 n 0000006312 00000 n Thats the whole point of the service charge. Can I participate in My Time Dining but make a reservation for a specific time? Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or crew appreciation charges at some lines). The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. 0000427335 00000 n ( use to happen frequently). We strongly recommend reserving your dining times through Cruise Planner prior to your sailing as dining times may fill up. I will pay for fantastic service but can't stand getting it shoved in my face and HAVE TO pay gratuities. It truly depends, though. ;p, You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Do you have to pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean Australia? My Time Dining uses the same menu as traditional seating. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story. You will see the same helpful crew members waiting on you in the WJ as you did last night in the MDR. I am looking at cancelling my gratuities when I get on board so I can pay these personally. You can do this before the cruise, or during your voyage. So therefore it does not show on our invoice. The menu for My Time Dining is still the same, so you will get the same quality meals. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say. In this line of thinking, lines with these charges are essentially breaking out a good chunk of onboard labor costs as a separate line item on your bill. 0000019459 00000 n Read more: Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? Brilliance of the Seas is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal . PDF MY TIME DINING - Royal Caribbean International You can disable the usage of cookies by changing the settings of your browser. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares. (Sponsored). Reservations arestronglyrecommended in order to avoid a delay in seating (reservations will be taken once onboard, based on availability). Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per . 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. A world of culinary exploration awaits you onboard Royal Caribbean. 0000006046 00000 n Australians typically do not tip because the minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 AUD/hr ($14.56 USD/hr). If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. You also do not get to know the wait staff as well, since you may be seated in a different area every night. A lot of cruisers were actually upset when they heard about My Time Dining and vowed to never sail with Royal Caribbean again if this was the only option. 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. You no longer have to prepay gratuities if you select My Time Dining. 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 only real downside beyond having to pay your gratuities in advance is that you arent guaranteed the same waiter every night. They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. 0000422496 00000 n please click here to update it. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Suggested read: 6 Things You MUST Know About Formal Night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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). 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. trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 158 0 obj <>stream 0000006404 00000 n Wondering if anyone can help out with this? Flexible seating works very much like standard restaurant seating. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Started August 27, 2021, By Thanks Matt- We paid for the cruise at the time of booking. 0000417581 00000 n If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. I'm travelling with guests from another stateroom who selected Traditional Dining. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dine as you want, when you want. 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?? A. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. 0000819210 00000 n To request a call back from one of our cruise experts, kindly provide us with the details requested bellow and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Im sorry you never received a tip in your years of "slogging your guts out." 0000916809 00000 n Would we pay them on the first day onboard? There is a $9.75 gratuity per day that is required and this actually covers not only the wait staff but your room steward. 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.
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