Can I preregister for my time dining without prepaying gratuities?

[NavarreCruiser]

The next 2 cruises we are taking with RCCL will each have a $200 onboard credit. We would like to use part of this credit for tips, so I don't want to prepay tips with a credit card. I know we can sign up for MTD as soon as we board, but I am fearful that as MTD gets more popular space may not be available after boarding. Does anyone have knowledge of a way to request MTD with prepaying gratuities?

[Moondawgie]

According to RCI and my TA, if you sign up, the tips are prepaid. They told me I could sign up on board, which is what I plan to do. If you get there the first day, it shouldn't be a problem.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

The next 2 cruises we are taking with RCCL will each have a $200 onboard credit. We would like to use part of this credit for tips, so I don't want to prepay tips with a credit card. I know we can sign up for MTD as soon as we board, but I am fearful that as MTD gets more popular space may not be available after boarding. Does anyone have knowledge of a way to request MTD with prepaying gratuities?

 

I wish I could say I did.

 

Our experience has been that when you sign up for MTD before final payment the gratuities are added to the final payment amount and are due with final payment. If you sign up after final payment you are charged for the gratuities right then.

 

For our Aug/Sept '09 b2b cruises on the Jewel we waited and signed up for MTD on the ship. I think we were lucky...........as there was still plenty of space. :) With MTD growing in popularity I don't know I wonder how much space will be available for onboard sign-ups.

 

Now we don't take a chance as we love MTD and don't want to risk not being able to get it.

[patseacruiser]

When I went to book my cruise the other day I was asked if I wanted main, late or mytime and if mytime gratuities had to be prepaid.

[NavarreCruiser]

Thanks for the replies, that is pretty much what I thought. I just hope they continue to expand space for MTD as the demand increases.

[Powriv]

Thanks for the replies, that is pretty much what I thought. I just hope they continue to expand space for MTD as the demand increases.

 

that is assuming demand will increase.

 

I like the seating times as they are as you get to know fellow passengers and get the same wait staff each night

[cruisinmom1]

We signed up for MTD on the first day-not a problem; however, maybe as the demand increases it may become an issue. LOS said that MTD may take over the entire 5th floor dining area.

[Gingerbint]

that is assuming demand will increase.

 

I like the seating times as they are as you get to know fellow passengers and get the same wait staff each night

 

 

We were on the Navigator in June and people were wanting to change to MTD and were told no, it was full.

I feel it will become more popular as being able to eat when you want suits alot of people nowadays, rather than just 2 set times.

Although its MTD if you request it you can usually get the same staff and if you want to sit again with the same passengers, Just tell the head waiter all your room numbers and he'll sit you together.

[Ausgirl]

As far as I understand Royal Caribbean is the only line that requires prepaid tips for MTD. A friend went on Diamond Princess last year, had MTD, and paid her gratuities at the end. She preferred to pay whatever amount she wanted to whomever she wanted. We won't be able to prepay tips for a family of 5 so am reluctantly accepting late seating.

 

Powriv - can you tell me which seating you had, as you said you prefer traditional. Hoping to get some feedback from you as to which seating was good and why. Thanks so much.

[PrincesScuba]

As far as I understand Royal Caribbean is the only line that requires prepaid tips for MTD. A friend went on Diamond Princess last year, had MTD, and paid her gratuities at the end. She preferred to pay whatever amount she wanted to whomever she wanted. We won't be able to prepay tips for a family of 5 so am reluctantly accepting late seating.

 

Powriv - can you tell me which seating you had, as you said you prefer traditional. Hoping to get some feedback from you as to which seating was good and why. Thanks so much.

Princess adds $10 to your onboard account automatically every day, regardless of your dining arrangements.

[sidari]

Ausgirl ..... Princess has Anytime Dining .... which means you can show up whenever you want to eat within the opening times as we did on the Ruby last year..... :D

 

RCI ... have Mytime dinng which means you pick a time and book with the Dining room as we did on our recent Med cruise.... :)

 

 

If anyone is considering MTD book before you go and that way you will not be dissapointed and also sure that you will get to eat at a time you want to.

[MAZANDSTEVE]

We had MTD a few weeks ago and had to pre pay, also we were given 2 times to choose from, so didnt really think it was MTD. They also like you to make a reservation. The one night we didnt we had a half hour wait, not a problem, we went to the casino for the half hour.

[Ausgirl]

Seems like MTD is pretty popular, so it might be wise to book it sooner rather than later if we are going to. Although my DH is keen to do late dining as he doesnt want to rush back from port days, wants time to chill out before dinner, etc. He also doesn't want to prepay tips, being Aussie tipping is foreign to us, but he says he would rather tip at the end to those that give good service and not have it allocated for him. I guess that makes MTD a no-no for us... pity.

 

Our kids are not that young - 16, 13 and 11 so they should hopefully be ok with late dining. If not they can always eat without us at the buffet.

 

This is our first cruise ever, so excited, but a bit unsure of what would work best for us with everything.

[sidari]

Maz and Steve ..... quite suprised you say you only had 2 choices of times to eat? during our cruise we ate at 7-30, 8-00, 8-30 and 9 pm ! i know you were on the same Med cruise but a week later than us which really shouldnt have made any difference.

 

Ausgirl ..... you can eat as late as 9 pm on MTD which would be suitable for you, that is one reason we chose it because we too wanted to rest after our port days ... :D the prepaid tips go to your cabin steward and the Dining room staff .... so i guess if your hubby wanted to tip someone else as well he can do.

[Jsme]

I think the only way to get MTD and not prepay is by doing it one the ship. You will need a credit card on your account because OBC does to show up until a day or two.

 

I have 2 cruises book with MTD and I had to prepay my tips.

[numberguy]

Unfortunately, you're better off selecting MTD earlier rather than later. I have a cruise out of Sydney on Rhapsody on Dec. 1, and I tried to sign up about 2-3 weeks ago, and I was put on an MTD waiting list--they were full.

 

My understanding for the reason for prepaying is that there's not guarantee you'll have the same waitstaff each night. If you end up with a different waiter for one night out of your seven, and you tip them yourselves on the last night, that means you'll need to track down the "extra" waitstaff you had for that one night to tip them (assuming they deserve it, which they probably do). It makes sure all their staff is properly covered.

 

Now I need to go read my travel guides for Australia, if tipping is a foreign concept for Aussies. Maybe this means I shouldn't necessarily tip in Australia . . .

 

--Michael

[Gracie115]

I sure wouldn't wait to sign up till onboard. It was full on our Jewel cruise. I won't take a chance just because they want prepaid tips. This is becoming more and more popular and we loved it so we'll happily prepay tips to make sure we have MTD. If it's what you REALLY want do it now or you may well be disappointed.

[sandancer]

We had MTD a few weeks ago and had to pre pay, also we were given 2 times to choose from, so didnt really think it was MTD. They also like you to make a reservation. The one night we didnt we had a half hour wait, not a problem, we went to the casino for the half hour.

We did MTD and pre-paid the gratuities but were never asked to choose a time to dine. We turned up any time between 6.30 and 9 and never waited more than a few minutes. We requested a window table after the first night and always got one, not always the same one. It may have been that a party of 2 is easier to accommodate. Some nights we sat at a larger table if we felt like having company. Will never go back to traditional dining. We are just waiting now for Celebrity to follow suit and we will be very happy.

[alphakitty]

We did MTD and pre-paid the gratuities but were never asked to choose a time to dine. We turned up any time between 6.30 and 9 and never waited more than a few minutes. We requested a window table after the first night and always got one, not always the same one. It may have been that a party of 2 is easier to accommodate. Some nights we sat at a larger table if we felt like having company. Will never go back to traditional dining. We are just waiting now for Celebrity to follow suit and we will be very happy.

 

Celebrity IS following suit....starting in September, they will have open seating dining available. :) http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=68333869.blog

[Powriv]

Powriv - can you tell me which seating you had, as you said you prefer traditional. Hoping to get some feedback from you as to which seating was good and why. Thanks so much.

 

My fiance and I always choose late seating. Even though on land we eat at 530pm most days. It is nice not having to be ready for dinner for the early seating. With an 8pm dinner time it also cuts down on needing to eat at the late night snack/buffet items that are provided

[LeesSummitCruiser1]

that is assuming demand will increase.

 

I like the seating times as they are as you get to know fellow passengers and get the same wait staff each night

 

 

Amen thats why we dont sail NCL.

[Ausgirl]

Now I need to go read my travel guides for Australia, if tipping is a foreign concept for Aussies. Maybe this means I shouldn't necessarily tip in Australia . . .

 

--Michael

 

Michael - Tipping is not part of Australian culture at all, people do tip occasionally, at high end restaurants for example if you get really good service, but other than that no need to tip at all. Service staff here are paid a reasonable salary and don't rely on tips, and its not the norm at all. If you really want to tip, 15% as you do in the US would be excessive. Cab Drivers, delivery people, waiters etc generally do not expect to be tipped.

[Ausgirl]

Sounds like good enough reasons. Does anyone know if late seating is 8pm or 8.30 on the Rhapsody?

[numberguy]

Amen thats why we dont sail NCL.

 

And that's why we do!! :D

 

--Michael

[MAZANDSTEVE]

We did MTD and pre-paid the gratuities but were never asked to choose a time to dine. We turned up any time between 6.30 and 9 and never waited more than a few minutes. We requested a window table after the first night and always got one, not always the same one. It may have been that a party of 2 is easier to accommodate. Some nights we sat at a larger table if we felt like having company. Will never go back to traditional dining. We are just waiting now for Celebrity to follow suit and we will be very happy.

 

 

There were only two of us too, this was the same for another cruiser who posted and he was on the cruise before us. I guess it differs on different ships and staff, who knows?:)