My Time Dining Question...?

[LobsterStalker]

Hi all;

I have read some things lately that are bringing my selection of My Time dining into question...long waits, poor booking system etc.

Most recently I read in another post that My Time only starts service at 6:45...? 

Is this true ,And if so , Is that standard across all ships ?

Thx in advance

[davekathy]

41 minutes ago, LobsterStalker said:

Hi all;

I have read some things lately that are bringing my selection of My Time dining into question...long waits, poor booking system etc.

Most recently I read in another post that My Time only starts service at 6:45...? 

Is this true ,And if so , Is that standard across all ships ?

Thx in advance

What ship? MTD started at 7:15 on the Explorer 20 March and 27 March. We did early (6:PM) TD. Long lines stretching back to studio for MTD when we left the MDR on both legs of the B2B cruise. Glad we switched over to early TD. 

[Marie51]

On Mariner my time dining started at 6:45 PM. We changed to traditional at 5:30 PM.

[OnTheJourney]

You might be referring to the thread I started recently. I had no idea any sort of change was made until I went into my booking on the website to select dining for an upcoming cruise. What I found was nothing available before 7:30 on the first night, and then nothing before 6:45 all the other nights. I was dumbfounded having not encountered this on our last cruise. I'm referring to the Adventure - can't speak for other ships. I consulted with my TA as well as emailed the dining services at RCL - both of which confirmed that there is nothing as early as used to be. So I had my TA change me to the early 5:00 seating. A few more emails back and forth with the RCL dining confirms that I should have no problem reserving a table for two. I also have read about long lines for MTD and people not getting in till considerably later than they had reserved. I don't want to deal with any of that so we'll see how the TD time works out. 

Edited August 24, 2022 by OnTheJourney

[OnTheJourney]

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Long lines stretching back to studio for MTD when we left the MDR on both legs of the B2B cruise. Glad we switched over to early TD. 

Sounds like I made the right choice in also switching to TD!  No way will I stand in line that long for dinner on a cruise ship. I'd take one look at that line and be off to the buffet 😁

Edited August 24, 2022 by OnTheJourney

[crzndeb]

I just switched myself, daughters and grandkids to Traditional Early on the Navigator for New Years cruise. I normally travel solo, and don’t dine in the MDR, so MTD was always OK, but I’m not messing around with lines and waits with the fam.

[LobsterStalker]

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

What ship? MTD started at 7:15 on the Explorer 20 March and 27 March. We did early (6:PM) TD. Long lines stretching back to studio for MTD when we left the MDR on both legs of the B2B cruise. Glad we switched over to early TD. 

I'm thinkin i'm gonna attempt to get switched

We are on 7 night Symphony followed by 8 night Explorer beginning Sept.24

[LobsterStalker]

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

What ship? MTD started at 7:15 on the Explorer 20 March and 27 March. We did early (6:PM) TD. Long lines stretching back to studio for MTD when we left the MDR on both legs of the B2B cruise. Glad we switched over to early TD. 

Did you switch on the ship or ahead of time?

[LobsterStalker]

32 minutes ago, Marie51 said:

On Mariner my time dining started at 6:45 PM. We changed to traditional at 5:30 PM.

Were you able to switch once onboard , or ahead of time ?

[Starry Eyes]

42 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

You might be referring to the thread I started recently. 

Yours was just one of many such threads since the restart.  There were even some before the shutdown, as the new system started on some ships long ago.  
 

Many of us are startled or disbelieving when we first learn of the changes in MTD starting time.  Some, like you, discover it before the cruise, and can learn about the new system and make the best selection for their families from the available options before the cruise.  It is worse for those who learn about the change on board after all the traditional dining slots are filled.

 

[OnTheJourney]

38 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

It is worse for those who learn about the change on board after all the traditional dining slots are filled.

 

Agreed, but TD doesn't really have "slots" as such, right? It's either the early or late seating time. Nothing in between. 

[poocher]

I have been able to secure 6:45 MTD reservations for all three of our cruises since the restart.  Harmony 3/22, never waited more than 10 minutes and had same table/staff every night.  After night 3, they just waved us in.  Personally, I don’t think 6:45 is late and 5-5:30 is way too early for us.  There will be plenty of time to see shows and, frankly, none of them are must see IMHO.

[aubreyc1988]

I booked after final payment for my upcoming sailing on Sept 4th on Liberty and was automatically given first seating (5:30) traditional dining.

 

It's been years since I have sailed Royal Caribbean so I was a little nervous about doing the traditional dining/sitting with other people based on my last experience with traditional dining on Royal Caribbean (the family we were sat with talked about how they went to Russia in the dead of night with a large bag of cash and bought their child...)

 

I am hoping to not be at a table with others, but the risk of going to MTD and having the HUGE waits reported on here is too great, I will just hope I'm not sat next to people who buy children...

[Starry Eyes]

35 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

Agreed, but TD doesn't really have "slots" as such, right? It's either the early or late seating time. Nothing in between. 

“Slots” as in seating capacity.  Only so many people can be assigned to early TD and so many to late TD.  
 

Once all the tables are filled in early and late, no more people assigned to MTD can switch to TD; they will remain assigned to MTD (or eat in other venues) even if they have tots with early bedtimes or brittle diabetics who eat on rigid schedules or whatever 

[taglovestocruise]

38 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

I booked after final payment for my upcoming sailing on Sept 4th on Liberty and was automatically given first seating (5:30) traditional dining.

 

It's been years since I have sailed Royal Caribbean so I was a little nervous about doing the traditional dining/sitting with other people based on my last experience with traditional dining on Royal Caribbean (the family we were sat with talked about how they went to Russia in the dead of night with a large bag of cash and bought their child...)

 

I am hoping to not be at a table with others, but the risk of going to MTD and having the HUGE waits reported on here is too great, I will just hope I'm not sat next to people who buy children...

Two weeks out, you are right in the sweet spot, email royal and ask for a table size to fit your party.  Give them your name, reservation number, ship and cabin number.

rcldining@rccl.com

[OnTheJourney]

28 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

Give them your name, reservation number, ship and cabin number.

rcldining@rccl.com

Exactly. I was told to do that - by the dining room staff (or whomever responds to emails at that address). Not going to sit at a big table with others - no interest in that whatsoever. I'd go to the buffet before that. Hopefully our suite concierge can maybe assist once we hear from him/her. I guess dining room seating is not something they get involved with though. Table for two or nothing. 

Edited August 24, 2022 by OnTheJourney

[OnTheJourney]

1 hour ago, poocher said:

Personally, I don’t think 6:45 is late and 5-5:30 is way too early for us.  

It is for us. 5:00 is fine, or 5:30. We like to get to the early show. By 9:30-10:00 I'm ready to settle back in the room and call it a night. Not into going to any of the lounges, casino, etc. 

[OnTheJourney]

1 hour ago, Starry Eyes said:

Once all the tables are filled in early and late, no more people assigned to MTD can switch to TD; they will remain assigned to MTD (or eat in other venues) even if they have tots with early bedtimes or brittle diabetics who eat on rigid schedules or whatever 

I'm just leery of how all this will play out. Having just cruised with Viking spoiled me - walk in to dinner anytime (except for specialty dining). They don't do any of that TD or MTD. 

[poocher]

Perhaps Unlimited Dining Package?

[taglovestocruise]

1 hour ago, OnTheJourney said:

Exactly. I was told to do that - by the dining room staff (or whomever responds to emails at that address). Not going to sit at a big table with others - no interest in that whatsoever. I'd go to the buffet before that. Hopefully our suite concierge can maybe assist once we hear from him/her. I guess dining room seating is not something they get involved with though. Table for two or nothing. 

Funny how people are different, We always ask for a large table for 6 or 8, always late TD and usually one of the last tables to leave.  We usually have a 3 or 5 night dining package for together time.  MTD seems like it is for the eat quick and get out crowd, we love a calm lesiuerly 90 minute dinner. 

[Starry Eyes]

59 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

I'm just leery of how all this will play out. Having just cruised with Viking spoiled me - walk in to dinner anytime (except for specialty dining). They don't do any of that TD or MTD. 

I understand, but you work with the tools you have on the bigger cruiseline.  You seem to have a good attitude, so you’ll be fine.  Since your party anticipates a table alone, the waitstaff will allow you to set your own pace through dinner, so you can move quickly if you have a tight timing for a show or slowly if you want a leisurely dinner.

 

As poocher mentioned, you could consider the UDP, though if you are on Adventure as I seem to recall, I’m not sure you’ll find enough specialty restaurants to make it worthwhile.  It is worth a look; maybe the menus and price will be right for you.

[LobsterStalker]

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

Two weeks out, you are right in the sweet spot, email royal and ask for a table size to fit your party.  Give them your name, reservation number, ship and cabin number.

rcldining@rccl.com

Curious, y do u say 2 weeks out is right in the sweet spot for that ?

Would it not be "the earlier the better "for any requests ?

[taglovestocruise]

1 minute ago, LobsterStalker said:

Curious, y do u say 2 weeks out is right in the sweet spot for that ?

Would it not be "the earlier the better "for any requests ?

From what people here on CC have posted it seems that requests to far in advance get lost. Your request to RCLdining gets forwarded to the ship a week or so before the cruise when the MDR manager starts setting up table sizes for the next cruise.  We have made many requests two weeks out and things always work out.  For those with inquiring minds, we always ask for a large table on the balcony. In January we asked to be seated, and was granted,  on the second level of Navigator  which was for the unvaxed. I thought that the vaxed deck , which would be in the American icon grill would be packed. It was with way to many two tops jammed together.  We also went to all the shows and sat in the unvaxed sections which were always empty. 

[OnTheJourney]

16 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

We always ask for a large table for 6 or 8, always late TD and usually one of the last tables to leave.

Each to his/her own for sure! Nope...I'd not be liking that arrangement at all. I don't mind talking to people on the ship at all. It's not that - but - just prefer a quieter setting for dinner onboard. Our least favorite thing about the sole river cruise we did was having to eat in a large group. The inevitable..."so where have you traveled?" types of questions put me off as well - it can become a "bring and brag" session, especially for those folks who seemingly have been just about everywhere. 

 

12 minutes ago, LobsterStalker said:

Would it not be "the earlier the better "for any requests ?

The email I got back from RCL dining indicates to contact them again at 14 days before embarkation to confirm a table reservation. 

 

21 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

MTD seems like it is for the eat quick and get out crowd, we love a calm lesiuerly 90 minute dinner. 

I'm ok with a leisurely meal - especially if with a glass or two of wine - but yet another reason to start early! 7:30 - 8:00 dining start, coupled with - as you say - a 90-min. overall timeframe - puts me in the dining room till around 9:30. Too late. At home we generally try to eat by 5:00. 

[taglovestocruise]

1 hour ago, OnTheJourney said:

I'm just leery of how all this will play out. Having just cruised with Viking spoiled me - walk in to dinner anytime (except for specialty dining). They don't do any of that TD or MTD. 

Serving 900 passengers on a Viking ship may be a little difficult. Serving close to 7000 on a Oasis Class is a little more challenging.