My Time Dining

[newparents]

 

Yes but you don't pay the gratuities separately for each staff member. You pay one amount per day which covers everything. That poster said they didn't want to pay gratuities for their baby, which means neither the cabin steward nor wait staff would receive gratuities.

 

Thats wrong, I absolutely do pay grats for every member of the family, everyone, I made a simple comment about a baby paying the same as an adult in dining room ONLY, it was only the wine waiter I mentioned and to me was a bit much, and people have absolutely jumped all over me for a single comment. All cabin stewards and wait staff get the grats from us, every single one of them and from all the family, adult, children, ALL of us, I said I think its a bit much for a baby and thats my opinion, I apologise if u dont agree but thats how I feel. Someone here commented that there are no wine waiters anymore, its just ur reg waiter, I did not know that!! It was a simple comment so can we kindly drop it now. All wait staff get their grats from us, we love getting to know the staff etc, and happily give our wee envelopes over.

 

 

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[newparents]

To those that don't want to tip for a baby, think about this.

 

Our last cruise was our first with our son who was 9 months old at the time. Our wait staff EARNED their tip/gratuity from him. They were great! They brought plain steamed veggies for him every night. Even cut the veggie in to small pieces for him to gum. Played with him and entertained him during dinner when they didn't have to rush around like crazy people. Babies make HUGE messes when they are eating. Had the high chair ready for when we arrived at the table each night.

 

Our room steward also earned his, he would straighten the sheet & blanket in the crib as well as organize the toys on the couch so that they weren't scattered all over the cabin as we sometimes had (inadvertently) left. We put the diapers in the portable diaper genie bags, but he still had to empty our cans much more frequently than usual.

 

I can only hope that our next cruise, in May, we get the same great service for the little guy! I don't mind paying the grats for him when they make things easier on us.

 

I think its wonderful that the staff were soooo fab with ur wee guy.

I only made a comment that I thought it was a bit much a baby was expected to pay as much as an adult and I only mentioned the wine waiter, who I hear they dont have now anyway, it was a simple comment that has been completely blown out of proportion. I did not say at any point we dont pay the tips, we always do and to ALL staff and always would.

Def hope we have the experience u had, thats fantastic, happy sailings :-)

 

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[joandian]

I have another view on this. My husband and I choose not to eat in the dining room. We just don't like being scheduled, having to change for dinner or sit for a few hours to eat. We always choose MTD so we don't disrupt table mates we may have been seated with if we went traditional dining.

 

So, we are paying our gratuities in advance and we don't even use MTD. Having said that, we don't mind having it all paid before we cruise but after reading some comments, we tend to agree that everyone should have their gratuities just added to their onboard cards. The current system doesn't seem at all fair.

 

Jo

[palofmine]

i have no problem paying gratuities ahead of time, as base pay, that's what they get to feed their families. I do give out a little cash to individual waiters, and my room steward if i feel they have gone beyond the Royal expectation.

[palofmine]

I have another view on this. My husband and I choose not to eat in the dining room. We just don't like being scheduled, having to change for dinner or sit for a few hours to eat. We always choose MTD so we don't disrupt table mates we may have been seated with if we went traditional dining.

 

So, we are paying our gratuities in advance and we don't even use MTD. Having said that, we don't mind having it all paid before we cruise but after reading some comments, we tend to agree that everyone should have their gratuities just added to their onboard cards. The current system doesn't seem at all fair.

 

Jo

 

The gratituities are split between ALL the wait staff on board, so thats why its all pre paid, everyone gets tipped regardless of who is serving you. ;)

[joandian]

The gratituities are split between ALL the wait staff on board, so thats why its all pre paid, everyone gets tipped regardless of who is serving you. ;)

 

I know that and I never said differently. I said we have liked having them prepaid but having read some comments, agree everyone should be paying the same way.

[SherriZ366]

Our last three cruises we were told traditional dining was full,then they try to push this my time dining.Ten months out and all traditional dining is full give me a break.We will not cruise without early dining.Funny when you refuse it they will give you what you want.We will not prepay tips again. :)

Thanks for writing about refusing My Time. If we are booking far ahead and they only have My Time, I will refuse and insist on late dining.

 

I was told that they hold some capacity back on the 3 options (Early, Late MyTime) and will release each type at a certain time depending on how the ship and dining options are filling up and how large the wait lists are. We are D+ and one of our perks (and I think D also) is to get preferential treatment on dining times/options.

[caribbean sailor]

Thanks for writing about refusing My Time. If we are booking far ahead and they only have My Time, I will refuse and insist on late dining.

 

I was told that they hold some capacity back on the 3 options (Early, Late MyTime) and will release each type at a certain time depending on how the ship and dining options are filling up and how large the wait lists are. We are D+ and one of our perks (and I think D also) is to get preferential treatment on dining times/options.

 

Sorry it took about a week or so,and a email to Crown and Anchor.We then received a email stating we had early dining.What we told the vacation specialist was my time dining was a deal breaker for us.What you tell them is you will cancel if you don't get traditional dining late.They just say what they are told to say.Also send the email.Again sorry we did edit our post i think i hit preview instead of submit.Have a great cruise. :)

[CruiseMore1]

If anyone is interested, go look at all postings by Mighty Fierce. He/she has exactly 2 - both are the same subject. The other one was from November last year. Obviously, someone who just likes to stir thing up!

[SherriZ366]

Sorry it took about a week or so,and a email to Crown and Anchor.We then received a email stating we had early dining.What we told the vacation specialist was my time dining was a deal breaker for us.What you tell them is you will cancel if you don't get traditional dining late.They just say what they are told to say.Also send the email.Again sorry we did edit our post i think i hit preview instead of submit.Have a great cruise. :)

Like the deal breaker idea. Late Traditional is important to us unless we are traveling with someone who has to eat earlier and then we put in significant time getting the 7 PM slot for My Time.

[kruzerci]

If anyone is interested, go look at all postings by Mighty Fierce. He/she has exactly 2 - both are the same subject. The other one was from November last year. Obviously, someone who just likes to stir thing up!

 

That doesn't change the fact that it is indeed a problem. It's time for a policy adjustment!

[poncho1973]

That doesn't change the fact that it is indeed a problem. It's time for a policy adjustment!

 

The fact that there isn't indicates that a dozen people on the internet complaining doesn't quite = "OMG we need to change our policy!"

 

If there ever is one, it will be because it's a big deal to many people, not just a big deal to a few people. Which would be as it should be.

[cruise_girl2002]

I didn't realize royal did this when I booked my first cruise with them a few years ago. they asked me what dining I wanted, told them my time dining and to link my reservation with my friends cabin that way we could sit together. she told me they linked them and we were all set to go. we checked in and found out, that they never linked our reservations :mad:. so we had early dining and my friends had anytime. we went there on embarkation day to get it changed. which they did, but couldn't get us a table together. thankfully we found another couple that swaped with us.

anyway...back on topic about gratuities, we had the WORST service in the mdr for 2 nights. (I had better service in mcdonalds!) our water glasses sat empty for 20 minutes, our food was cold, it was like they forgot about our table. We went to guest services and told them the problems and to see if we could adjust our tips, for the bad service..nope. are you freaking kidding me!? they told us it was because we were originally set for your time dining.

 

If I ever choose to sail with them, I wont be getting this my time dining. it seems that the waiters know, so what do they care if you get crap service...they have their tips from you

[LSSloves]

I didn't realize royal did this when I booked my first cruise with them a few years ago. they asked me what dining I wanted, told them my time dining and to link my reservation with my friends cabin that way we could sit together. she told me they linked them and we were all set to go. we checked in and found out, that they never linked our reservations :mad:. so we had early dining and my friends had anytime. we went there on embarkation day to get it changed. which they did, but couldn't get us a table together. thankfully we found another couple that swaped with us.

anyway...back on topic about gratuities, we had the WORST service in the mdr for 2 nights. (I had better service in mcdonalds!) our water glasses sat empty for 20 minutes, our food was cold, it was like they forgot about our table. We went to guest services and told them the problems and to see if we could adjust our tips, for the bad service..nope. are you freaking kidding me!? they told us it was because we were originally set for your time dining.

 

If I ever choose to sail with them, I wont be getting this my time dining. it seems that the waiters know, so what do they care if you get crap service...they have their tips from you

 

Somebody is not over the John Heald thread.

[LMaxwell]

Somebody is not over the John Heald thread.

:rolleyes: I'm more inclined to believe they got bad service with MTD and are sharing their experience...

[LSSloves]

:rolleyes: I'm more inclined to believe they got bad service with MTD and are sharing their experience...

 

3 years later

[LMaxwell]

3 years later

 

Who cares? The thread exists NOW. Just goes to show that when a customer has a bad experience they will keep repeating about it and tell anyone who will listen. Are only positive opinions valid on this forum? Who wants to participate in an echo chamber?

[LSSloves]

Who cares? The thread exists NOW. Just goes to show that when a customer has a bad experience they will keep repeating about it and tell anyone who will listen. Are only positive opinions valid on this forum? Who wants to participate in an echo chamber?

 

No read the thread I just posted negative opinions are fine this poster just despises RCI but posts on every thread about them being snobs and how much she hates RCI after 3 yrs.

[iheartbda]

When I booked our last cruise fairly far out, only MTD was available and there was no mention of a waitlist. Having to prepay gratuities was not an issue since we always prepay and wanting to use OBC to pay them was not an issue either. We never get OBC that amounts to anything.:D We just wanted traditional dining and don't understand, and wonder why it was not available so far out. Others have said they had no problem getting what they wanted but that doesn't seem to be across the board.

 

I must say that the MDT worked quite well and not sure I would go back to traditional.:)

[cruise_girl2002]

No read the thread I just posted negative opinions are fine this poster just despises RCI but posts on every thread about them being snobs and how much she hates RCI after 3 yrs.

 

if I hate them, how come I have sailed with them 4 times. I have tried them. are they my favorite no. is carnival perfect? no, I have had issues with them too. did I say royals are snobs? no. what I said...was "so it would be ok, for me to go to a celebrity board, (after all you said carnival cruisers were trailer trash) and say if you want to sail with snobs, sail with celebrity." I only come to the cruise lines boards when I have a cruise booked with that cruise line. OMG!! im on a royal board! uhhh, I have cruise booked with them! why? im giving them yet ANOTHER chance.

 

the point of your whole thread the other day, was plane childish.

[cruise_girl2002]

BTW, this thread was started april 10, 2014. im not stirring the pot, Mr. all carnival cruisers are trailer trash :rolleyes:

[Rala]

Thank you MM! I also know from experience.

 

Me, too!!!:)

[jenninlaca]

I'm amazed at how many people are upset about this. If you look at the big picture, you are spending thousands of dollars on a cruise that you have to pay in full 75 days (possibly more) in advance. Pre-paid gratuities are $84 per person, which is a tiny fraction of your overall cruise cost. Whether you agree with policy or not regarding treating MTD reservations differently, the bottom line is that it is only an additional $84 that you are being asked to pay up front, which you would be paying anyway. This should not be a big deal either way.

 

I get wanting to use OBC for gratuities, but unless you have a massive amount of OBC, the should be plenty of other things to use OBC on that you might want (any drinks including coffee and non-alcoholic, photos, excursions, up charge dining, classes etc. etc.)

[kruzerci]

I'm amazed at how many people are upset about this. If you look at the big picture, you are spending thousands of dollars on a cruise that you have to pay in full 75 days (possibly more) in advance. Pre-paid gratuities are $84 per person, which is a tiny fraction of your overall cruise cost. Whether you agree with policy or not regarding treating MTD reservations differently, the bottom line is that it is only an additional $84 that you are being asked to pay up front, which you would be paying anyway. This should not be a big deal either way.

 

I get wanting to use OBC for gratuities, but unless you have a massive amount of OBC, the should be plenty of other things to use OBC on that you might want (any drinks including coffee and non-alcoholic, photos, excursions, up charge dining, classes etc. etc.)

 

I think you're missing the big picture. It is simply unnecessary to have MTD guests prepay gratuities if nobody else is required to.

 

I don't think any anybody wants them to prevent people from paying gratuities ahead of time, but you shouldn't be forced to prepay just because you are doing MTD. You should have the option to pay them up front and the option to pay them onboard, just like everybody else.

 

How is that even argue-able? If everybody has to prepay gratuities, that's one thing, but one dining time shouldn't have to when nobody else does. Why get defensive about that :confused:?

[LMaxwell]

I'm amazed at how many people are upset about this. If you look at the big picture, you are spending thousands of dollars on a cruise that you have to pay in full 75 days (possibly more) in advance. Pre-paid gratuities are $84 per person, which is a tiny fraction of your overall cruise cost. Whether you agree with policy or not regarding treating MTD reservations differently, the bottom line is that it is only an additional $84 that you are being asked to pay up front, which you would be paying anyway. This should not be a big deal either way.

 

 

I am paying for 6 people. So I am asked to part with $500 3 billing cycles before those with fixed dining. Please explain how this is an equitable policy? I do not feel $500 is a tiny fraction of the cost of the trip and I should have every right to pay for services at the time they are rendered, not three billing cycles in advance.

 

I am okay paying the cruise fare and taxes 75 days in advance because that is a policy that is applied to all guests equally and those essentially hold my reservation, my spot on the ship. I have not received service...and those employees will not be given my portion of the gratuities until after I debark. Parting with my money early is of not practical benefit to me or to the crew member. RCI is using the float and basically making me the bank.

 

 

I get wanting to use OBC for gratuities, but unless you have a massive amount of OBC, the should be plenty of other things to use OBC on that you might want (any drinks including coffee and non-alcoholic, photos, excursions, up charge dining, classes etc. etc.)

 

Again, why should I not be able to use OBC the same way as other guests with fixed dining can to pay their OBC's. What if I don't want to pay $20 per photo or buy coffee drinks, or take some sort of class? That's a preposterous argument on your side; just spend it somewhere else.

 

No thank you, I would prefer to have the same exact options in regards to how $500 gets spent as guests given fixed dining time. What happened "To each their own"; the most overused and misapplied statement on this website?