slyster Posted February 26, 2016 #1 Share Posted February 26, 2016 So MTD has been around for a while. We have always done traditional. Can folks share their experiences with MTD, making reservations and wait times as well as just showing up and waiting for a table? In some ways it would be great to just show up for dinner when we are hungry, not at a set time LOL Also, did you find it easy to get a table for 2 with MTD? We always get a table for two for traditional seating and it has never been a problem. Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted February 26, 2016 #2 Share Posted February 26, 2016 It's actually easier to get a table for two in MTD than in traditional. Note that sometimes the tables for two are very close together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Denversail Posted February 26, 2016 #3 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We had no issues getting a table for two on our last cruise doing MTD. That was the only cruise I've been on with just one other person where I used MTD. I do recall that the first night was a little crazy and had to wait in line a bit. Not a big deal. We sat at the same table every night except one night we got there a little late. They still gave us a two person table though. This cruise coming up though decided we would start a little more peacefully. Booked specialty for the first night and will resume out MTD after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaGirl13 Posted February 26, 2016 #4 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Had MTD on Freedom. Made reservation times before we sailed but it is easy enough to change on board. You can also make a reservation each day if you want different times. First night had a table for two and amazing servers so we're able to keep that the rest of the trip. You can "just show up" at different times but you will wait a bit. MTD is a slight misnomer but it worked for us. Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpayroll Posted February 26, 2016 #5 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We have been using MTD lately. We always eat early, ( with reservations ) 5;30 OR 5:45. When we leave the dining room, it seems like there is a large amount of people waiting to get in. Just like any restaurant , they have to " turn over " the tables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impatientlywaiting Posted February 26, 2016 #6 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We quit eating in the dining room because DH didn't like the traditional dining experience. After 7 cruises of eating in the Windjammer, we tried MTD in September on Jewel and now we'll never go back to the Windjammer for dinner. It was wonderful! We made our reservations ahead of time (we like to eat at the same time every night) and had there same waiters and the same table all nights. We had a great experience. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted February 26, 2016 #7 Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) So MTD has been around for a while. We have always done traditional. Can folks share their experiences with MTD, making reservations and wait times as well as just showing up and waiting for a table? In some ways it would be great to just show up for dinner when we are hungry, not at a set time LOL! Never had a problem getting a table for two for either traditional (e-mail RCCL dining before cruise) or MTD. You can kind of get what you describe (show up whenever you are hungry) even with a reservation - if you are within a certain window of time. I made a standing reservation for MTD at 7:30 for every night but we showed up anywhere from as early at 7 and as late as 7:45 and got the same table every night with no wait. Edited February 26, 2016 by Biker19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aseyrick Posted February 26, 2016 #8 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Can you make your MTD reservations before boarding the cruise or once you board? TIA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddcan Posted February 26, 2016 #9 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We love MTD - it's super easy. As you mention, you can do it one of two ways: Book at a certain time (can be done online before the cruise, or even at the entrance to the restaurant anytime during the cruise). This is similar to having a reservation at a land restaurant Just show up at any time. This is similar to just showing up at a land restaurant - may be a lineup. My observation on this one is to go at a time that is not on the hour or on the half-hour (ie 6:00 or 6:30). This is because most people probably go down for dinner at a specific time. So, show up at 6:15 - will likely be less people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted February 26, 2016 #10 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Can you make your MTD reservations before boarding the cruise or once you board? TIA! Either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmf123 Posted February 26, 2016 #11 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We have had MTD for the past couple of cruises, dining at the same time and having the same good wait staff. As mentioned, the tables for two are plentiful and close together. On our second evening on the Jewel we became acquainted with the couple next to us, and made it a 'table for four' for the rest of the week with our new friends- fun and memorable. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aseyrick Posted February 26, 2016 #12 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Thank you! I'm looking at all my online docs and can't find where I can make MTD reservations. Can you please point me to where I can make the reservations? Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebeard39 Posted February 26, 2016 #13 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We have done MTD on all of our RCL cruises and never had a problem even when we showed up late. If you don't mind sitting with other people you will be seated usually faster. The longest we waited for a 2 top was 5 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiel53 Posted February 26, 2016 #14 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We did Your time several times. Usually, it was just the two of us, but we have done it with a group of 6. We had reservations nightly for 7PM and every night our table was ready for us with the same wait staff. My next cruise on Allure isn't for a while yet, so I'm not able to make my reservations, but I will as soon as I can. I will do the same and hope to get the same table nightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddcan Posted February 26, 2016 #15 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Thank you! I'm looking at all my online docs and can't find where I can make MTD reservations. Can you please point me to where I can make the reservations? Thanks again! In the Cruise Planner section - same as planning excursions. May not be available to you yet if you cruise is too far in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funbobby68 Posted February 26, 2016 #16 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Thank you! I'm looking at all my online docs and can't find where I can make MTD reservations. Can you please point me to where I can make the reservations? Thanks again! It's done under the cruise planner , specially restaurants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TYSONBOXER Posted February 26, 2016 #17 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We had MTD on Liberty and never had a problem. We got a table for 2 and had the same table and waiters every night but one. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keksie Posted February 26, 2016 #18 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We have had MTD several times now. We never make reservations except for specialty dining and just show up when we want. We typically eat fairly early and that may be why we have never had to wait for a table for 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuCruise Posted February 26, 2016 #19 Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) Good to hear all the positive feedback. We booked early enough and so had a choice between traditional and MTD. We selected MTD to better coordinate dinner with the shows (we're coming with kids and didn't have to have a late show every night). As for reservations, you have to wait for them to open up. If I remember correctly, it was around 4 months before (but we got lucky as it's not always that early). Edited February 26, 2016 by LuCruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonto524 Posted February 26, 2016 #20 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We have done MTD in the last couple of years and have never had a problem getting a table for two - but, as Bob mentioned, you (at least on Radiance class) are very very very close to the next two-top table(s). Also, on our last cruise (repositioning 13-day on the BR), while we had made MTD reservations and asked (almost begged) for the same waitstaff as we had had on the week before, we were told very dismissively as if we were crazy that it was impossible to fulfill such a request (it had been possible the week before - go figure) and each night we were marched to a different section of the dining room. Not a deal breaker, but it wasn't the nicest dining experience for that reason. YMMV. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nado44 Posted February 26, 2016 #21 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Early or late traditional dining for us is just that - too early or too late. We're MTD fans and always put in a standing 630 reservation for every night. We also always swing by the MDR on embarkation day to put in a request for a two top (table for two). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slyster Posted February 26, 2016 Author #22 Share Posted February 26, 2016 For those who show up without a reservation, what's the longest you have waited? The time for traditional and late seating is part of the reason why we are considering MTD. 5:30 is too early so we were thinking about 6pm or 6:30pm. Also, did you feel service was quicker or slower with MTD? Just thinking on past experiences where courses are pretty much served at the same time. And thank you all for your feedback and experiences. I'm thinking we should consider MTD just for the flexibility :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 26, 2016 #23 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We enjoy tablemates, so we definitely don't want a 2-top! We do traditional, so we can have company at dinner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tserface Posted February 26, 2016 #24 Share Posted February 26, 2016 We always do MTD and most of the time we share tables with others (typically 8 people). On a few cruises we liked the table the first night so we all did the same time every night and they saved it for us (I.E., kind of turned it into a Traditional thing). We eat alone if we go to specialty restaurants, but in the MDR we like to visit with other cruisers. Cruising is one of the only vacation choices where you are expected to interact with others (trivia, eating, other games, etc.) so we really like that aspect. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karena1 Posted February 26, 2016 #25 Share Posted February 26, 2016 So MTD has been around for a while. We have always done traditional. Can folks share their experiences with MTD, making reservations and wait times as well as just showing up and waiting for a table? In some ways it would be great to just show up for dinner when we are hungry, not at a set time LOL Also, did you find it easy to get a table for 2 with MTD? We always get a table for two for traditional seating and it has never been a problem. Thanks in advance! We have done MTD since it was first introduced and would never do anything else. We never (or rarely) make reservations and go eat when we feel like it. It is rare we have to wait. And it is very easy to get a table for 2 which is what we do most of the time. We love MTD, love the flexibility and everything else about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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