Experiences with My Time Dining

[CreativeCruiser119]

Hello all,

My family and I are booked on the March 25th, 2018 sailing of the Freedom of the Seas. We booked the cruise this past April while onboard the Harmony of the Seas, and at the time of booking, all that was available for dining was My Time. We were told that there are typically cancellations and to be on the lookout in case any openings come up for our preferred seating (6:00 PM), but for now we are on My Time. For anyone who has done My Time Dining on Freedom or any other ship, what was your experience? Was it a longer wait to be seated? Just hoping for some input as we have never done My Time before. Thank you in advance to all who reply!

 

 

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[IBookHePays]

Personally, I love MTD...you can make reservations for the same or different times each day. There are two lines, one for people with reservations and one for those without. I have never waited more than 10 minutes in either line!

[karena1]

we LOVE LOVE LOVE MTD!. Have done MTD since it was first introduced and will never go back to traditional. Love going to eat when we feel like it. We rarely make reservations, but you can if you want. I don't think we have ever waited more than 5 minutes to get a table. Just love the flexibility of going to dinner when we want vs when we have to.

[Isaboo]

We had it for the first time last summer on Liberty. I had no complaints! I did make reservations but we tend to eat fairly early. Most of our reservations were for around 6:00-6:45. We had the same table/waitstaff every night. I would imagine it's different if you don't make reservations and just show up.

[Doug S]

Popular reservation times (6:30-7:30) will fill up faster, but you can go without a res and usually get seated quickly. You mentioned going with your family. Note that the larger the table required, the longer the wait may be. Seating for couples is quick, but I once traveled with a group of 10 and had to make special arrangements and available times were similar to traditional seatings (early and late) so they could turn the limited number of larger tables. Another pro for MTD is that it usually seems to move quicker than traditional. Don't want to rush thru dinner, but sometimes traditional tended to drag out a bit with the bigger group seatings.

[cb at sea]

It's like any "land-based" restaurant...you can "call ahead" or show up and be seated at the next avail. table. If you have a LARGE party (over 4), then it's harder to seat you, so do make a reservation....you don't need to do it in advance, you can do it each morning, if you wish.

[MattSaw]

We went on a Mediterranean cruise two years ago. That whole cruise was on My Time, because it was so port-intensive. That was the only time we've ever done My Time, but we were pleasantly surprised by it.

 

The second night, we came down for dinner. The maitre d' asked us whether we'd like the same waiters as the evening before. We enthusiastically said yes. This waiter assignment held for all nights of the cruise but one. It was really the best of both worlds -- flexible time plus familiarity with your waiters.

[gt_mustang_gal]

When we show up for MTD, can a request be made for a table just for 2?

[Pruritus]

You can ask for a table for 2, no problem.

 

We were on the Serenade a couple of weeks ago and we didn't like MTD. Everything felt very rushed, they managed to cram three courses in 1 hour. I actually saw a couple of waiters complain to their superior about the workstress. They somehow managed to serve our neighbours the first course before even bringing bread.

 

We also got a table for two in a very inconvenient place, with trollies surrounding us. That did not happen a second time. Maybe on the bigger ships the logistics are better.

There was no line most of the time (max of 3 couples before us) and we were seated within 5 minutes everytime (with reservations for 7.30 pm).

[Johnamac123]

I sailed the Western route with her last year, and had MTD the entire week. I like to dine early, and had a standing 5:00 pm reservation. However, I doubt it would have mattered as I was seated almost immediately each night. Also, I had the same table and wait staff each night. No issues whatsoever with MTD for me.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Well at 5pm there is not that much demand!

[hapster85]

We had MTD on Radiance in 2015, but only actually went to the MDR once. Called after breakfast and made a reservation for 7 people for 6 pm no problem. That was a port day. Called the next morning, the last sea day, around the same time, and they were booked up. The earliest they could take us was 8 pm. Much too late for most in the group.

 

I would definitely recommend making reservations for a large party. Online before sailing, if possible.

[Mellowjourney]

Hi CreativeCruiser. It appears that we will be on the same cruise with our family of 16. We booked well over a year in advance and were told that MTD was all that was available as well. We all want to eat together and it was proving difficult to make reservations for such a large group, so I requested a change to traditional 5:30 dining which will be better for the 2 grandchildren. It looks like part of our group has been changed. Still waiting to hear about the others. Since we did a group booking, all paid for by my SO, I'm hopeful it will work out. Fingers crossed. :)

[slyster]

I have heard depending on the ship, your wait times may be longer. I'm sailing on Anthem in a few months and I have read that Anthem seems to be a little different than the other ships. Longer wait times without a reservation than on other ships. We have reservations for 6 or 6:30 each evening so we will see how that goes.

[DISFANS3]

We make reservation first thing for MTD after we board..

[deecruzer]

If you really want a specific time, make the reservation now on line. If you get into the preferred time, then cancel them. When we were on the Freedom in October, we did not make reservations before. We tried going down between 6:30 and 7 and were told to come back at 8:30. They made a reservation for the rest of the week for 8 and told us we were lucky to get it. I have done my time dining a few times and would never do it again with out making the reservations as soon as they open up. Royal Caribbean could learn a lot from Norwegian where dining is such a smooth process.

[ccarroll57]

I'm glad I read this. I just got off the Anthem and saw huge lines for MyTime dining the few times I walked by (I had Traditional). I booked for Alaska next year and chose MyTime and was rethinking my decision. Sounds like everyone has had good luck with it so I'll stick with it.

[davekathy]

We did MTD for the first time on our B2B April 2017 Caribbean cruise on the Jewel. I made reservations for two at 5:30 for each evening thru the Cruise Planner months before the sail date. When we boarded we selected a specific table for two next to the railing. We had the same table for both legs of the cruise but not the same wait staff. We knew we wouldn't and we didn't mind as the wait staff for both legs of the cruise were excellent. All of our future cruises will be MTD with a reservation. There was a constant line for those with reservations and those that didn't have reservations. One line was on the port side and the other on the starboard side. Very organized.

[grapau27]

We did MTD for the first time on our B2B April 2017 Caribbean cruise on the Jewel. I made reservations for two at 5:30 for each evening thru the Cruise Planner months before the sail date. When we boarded we selected a specific table for two next to the railing. We had the same table for both legs of the cruise but not the same wait staff. We knew we wouldn't and we didn't mind as the wait staff for both legs of the cruise were excellent. All of our future cruises will be MTD with a reservation. There was a constant line for those with reservations and those that didn't have reservations. One line was on the port side and the other on the starboard side. Very organized.

I always book my MTD times on line and never a problem on the night to get a table for two.

On Freedom last week i saw some people given pages which is the norm on P&O but never seen on RC before.

[davekathy]

I always book my MTD times on line and never a problem on the night to get a table for two.

On Freedom last week i saw some people given pages which is the norm on P&O but never seen on RC before.

 

No issues with our reservations, table size or location either. We saw pagers being handed out on the Jewel on both legs. MTD is very popular.

[katiel53]

We had MTD on Allure of the Seas in January and made reservations for about the same time every night. I think it was either 6:30 or 7. We cancelled most nights as we had a 5 night dining package. One of the nights we did use the MTD was the 2nd formal night. We were in line for at least 20 minutes and then waited in a "holding area" for at least another 10.

 

 

We were seated at table for 2 which was what we requested and it was stuffed into a small corner. Not one of the better tables for sure. The other night we went to the MDR was the last night. Once again, about the same time and it didn't even take 5 minutes in line and then to the table. When we left dinner, there was a huge line.

 

I prefer the MTD as 5:30 is sooooooo early to have dinner and now that I travel with my sister or my son and his family, 8PM is too late for them. At home I have dinner at 7, so the MTD usually works for me.

[slyster]

Are folks finding that Anthems MTD has problems in terms of wait time? I have read a few posts about people who mentioned seeing long lines for MTD. I would assume it's for folks without reservations, but I wondering if there are wait times for people who do have reservations?

[papaflamingo]

Hello all,

My family and I are booked on the March 25th, 2018 sailing of the Freedom of the Seas. We booked the cruise this past April while onboard the Harmony of the Seas, and at the time of booking, all that was available for dining was My Time. We were told that there are typically cancellations and to be on the lookout in case any openings come up for our preferred seating (6:00 PM), but for now we are on My Time. For anyone who has done My Time Dining on Freedom or any other ship, what was your experience? Was it a longer wait to be seated? Just hoping for some input as we have never done My Time before. Thank you in advance to all who reply!

 

 

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If you really want to eat at 6:00 every night, book that time on line as soon as reservations are open (check now). You can book your whole party if no more than 10 yourself. If more than 10 you need two reservations. But if you book for the same time, 6:00, you can get the same table and waiters for the entire cruise and you effectively have "traditional dining." Also, are you waitlisted for early traditional? Likely times will open up as the cruise gets closer and people cancel.

[Mellowjourney]

Update on my party of 16 switching from My Time Dining to Traditional 5:30 dining. We all got switched. Royal Caribbean confirmed this on Friday. Fingers crossed for your situation. There is a lot of time fortunately.

[CreativeCruiser119]

Personally, I love MTD...you can make reservations for the same or different times each day. There are two lines, one for people with reservations and one for those without. I have never waited more than 10 minutes in either line!

 

 

 

That is very helpful. Thank you so much for your reply!

 

 

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