My time dining - charges for your whole party???

Katenewbie · #1 January 25th, 2012, 08:39 AM

I've been told this twice, now, so I must believe it is true... but I'm still just kind of incredulous about this policy.

As it has been explained to me, if you choose to do My time dining (for 2 kids to eat fast and leave early), your tips are prepaid... ($45 pp). But the charge applies to your entire dining party.

So, since we are going with my in-laws (3 of them), and we have 5 in our party (2 adults, one baby, and the 2 "my time" kids), ALL EIGHT of us would be paying $45 per person?? Can someone explain the rationale behind this? For a 4 night cruise, I understand that the recommended tipping for dining staff would be $3.75 pp for waiter, 2.25 for assistant, and .75 for head waiter. For a 4 night cruise that is about $30 pp. So, for 8 people, it is about $120 more to do "my time".

I could understand charging per kid. Or even for the 5 of us in my family. But really, for all 8 of us?

I must be missing something here. Can anyone set me straight?

megs51877 · #2 January 25th, 2012, 08:46 AM

All of the gratuities are pre paid when you do My Time dining, including your stateroom attendant. Hope that helps clear up the confusion.

baggal · #3 January 25th, 2012, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megs51877

All of the gratuities are pre paid when you do My Time dining, including your stateroom attendant. Hope that helps clear up the confusion.

This is true. It includes ALL gratuities. You will not have to give any other tips at the end of cruise to anyone else.

bajathree · #4 January 25th, 2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katenewbie

I've been told this twice, now, so I must believe it is true... but I'm still just kind of incredulous about this policy.

As it has been explained to me, if you choose to do My time dining (for 2 kids to eat fast and leave early), your tips are prepaid... ($45 pp). But the charge applies to your entire dining party.

So, since we are going with my in-laws (3 of them), and we have 5 in our party (2 adults, one baby, and the 2 "my time" kids), ALL EIGHT of us would be paying $45 per person?? Can someone explain the rationale behind this? For a 4 night cruise, I understand that the recommended tipping for dining staff would be $3.75 pp for waiter, 2.25 for assistant, and .75 for head waiter. For a 4 night cruise that is about $30 pp. So, for 8 people, it is about $120 more to do "my time".

I could understand charging per kid. Or even for the 5 of us in my family. But really, for all 8 of us?

I must be missing something here. Can anyone set me straight?

I think you may be confusing My Time Dining with MY FAMILY TIME DINING where the kids leave early to go to Adventure Ocean. I don't believe that MFTD requires all in the party to pre-pay gratuities.

bajathree · #5 January 25th, 2012, 08:58 AM

Here is a link to MFTD http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac....do?exCode=702

Cruise_Kitten · #6 January 25th, 2012, 09:01 AM

Both above posters are correct, the pre paid gratuities are for all members who you should tip, Head waiter, assistant waiter, the person who stands at the desk and smiles at you when you enter the restaurant and your cabin steward. So the $45 covers everyone.

At the end of your cruise you will be given the envelopes as usual and you put in a voucher and then hand it to the person. You don't have to do this as their tips have already been paid but it's a way to still say thank you. If you so wish you can still add more to it if you have had some outstanding service.

Hope this clears it all up

CK x

ARCruisinNana · #7 January 25th, 2012, 09:04 AM

It would apply to all those with linked reservations whether MTD or MTFD. You can't combine reservations if some have traditional dining and some have MTD, You prepay all tips, not just dining room.

travlDR · #8 January 25th, 2012, 09:14 AM

It costs ZERO extra to choose MTD. You just prepay the same amount of tips that are standard. Why would it be just for the kids-- its for everyone that chooses MTD. The reason, of course, is that in MTD you might not be served by the same waiter each night, like in regular dining- so it would be too confusing to tip each waiter seperately- and to be honest many people wouldn't do it at all!

dagored · #9 January 25th, 2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katenewbie

I've been told this twice, now, so I must believe it is true... but I'm still just kind of incredulous about this policy.

As it has been explained to me, if you choose to do My time dining (for 2 kids to eat fast and leave early), your tips are prepaid... ($45 pp). But the charge applies to your entire dining party.

So, since we are going with my in-laws (3 of them), and we have 5 in our party (2 adults, one baby, and the 2 "my time" kids), ALL EIGHT of us would be paying $45 per person?? Can someone explain the rationale behind this? For a 4 night cruise, I understand that the recommended tipping for dining staff would be $3.75 pp for waiter, 2.25 for assistant, and .75 for head waiter. For a 4 night cruise that is about $30 pp. So, for 8 people, it is about $120 more to do "my time".

I could understand charging per kid. Or even for the 5 of us in my family. But really, for all 8 of us?

I must be missing something here. Can anyone set me straight?

This includes your cabin steward also. There is your difference. It does not cost more to use MTD. In fact, many people find this much easier.

bajathree · #10 January 25th, 2012, 09:32 AM

My Family Time Dining is NOT My Time Dining.....MFTD is still traditional dining (must choose early seating)...it just allows the option for kids (ages 3 to 11) to be served their meals within 40 minutes so they can leave early to go to Adventure Ocean.

peteukmcr · #11 January 25th, 2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katenewbie

I've been told this twice, now, so I must believe it is true... but I'm still just kind of incredulous about this policy.

As it has been explained to me, if you choose to do My time dining (for 2 kids to eat fast and leave early), your tips are prepaid... ($45 pp). But the charge applies to your entire dining party.

So, since we are going with my in-laws (3 of them), and we have 5 in our party (2 adults, one baby, and the 2 "my time" kids), ALL EIGHT of us would be paying $45 per person?? Can someone explain the rationale behind this? For a 4 night cruise, I understand that the recommended tipping for dining staff would be $3.75 pp for waiter, 2.25 for assistant, and .75 for head waiter. For a 4 night cruise that is about $30 pp. So, for 8 people, it is about $120 more to do "my time".

I could understand charging per kid. Or even for the 5 of us in my family. But really, for all 8 of us?

I must be missing something here. Can anyone set me straight?

The guidelines are:

Stateroom attendant / housekeeping $5 per day per guest
Dining Room waiter $3.75 per day per guest
Assistant waiter $2.15 per day per guest
Head waiter $0.75 per day per guest

So for accommodation in a cabin category of JS or less, this is $11.65 per guest per day. For a 4 day cruise this works out to $46.60 per guest.

If you are in a cabin category of GS or above, the guideline for stateroom attendant increases by $2.25 per guest per day making it $13.90.

Hope that helps clarify the charges being suggested.

Katenewbie · #12 January 25th, 2012, 11:16 AM

Thank you thank you! You have helped immensely everyone!

It makes total sense to me now, if it includes the cabin steward,, and if it really is MTD versus MTFD... why it includes everyone in the party.

We are fine with the regular early seating... I was mostly thinking that the kids would have MUCH more fun eating quickly and heading off to Ocean Adventures... so I'm really glad we can do that regardless.

Thank you for clarifying it!

Katenewbie · #13 January 25th, 2012, 11:20 AM

Oh wait... It looks like only certain ships have the My Time FAMILY Dining? Does Jewel of the Seas have it? I can't tell...

maudde · #14 January 25th, 2012, 11:38 AM

I chose mtd for our upcoming cruise on Allure because the traditional dining was not available. From reading all the info. About mtd, it sounds great. I was a little disappointed when traditional was already full, but I tHink This will work out. I had no idea all gratuities were prepaid. I thought this was just for the dining staff. Thanks for the info. These boards are so informative.

Thanks
Karen

sunnysavannah · #15 January 25th, 2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katenewbie

Oh wait... It looks like only certain ships have the My Time FAMILY Dining? Does Jewel of the Seas have it? I can't tell...

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...r=R&exCode=702
When you click see ships with this feature you get this link. It's basically all of the ships, right? What's missing? Jewel is on there.

Katenewbie · #16 January 25th, 2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnysavannah

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...r=R&exCode=702
When you click see ships with this feature you get this link. It's basically all of the ships, right? What's missing? Jewel is on there.

Yeah, but... The link says, "click here to see which ships offer this feature." Which, to me, implies some offer it and some don't. So the link takes me to all the ships. I click on Jewel, but I see no mention about MTFD. Does that mean they don't have it? Or does that mean I'm just not looking in the right place?

booksbythepool · #17 January 25th, 2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katenewbie

Yeah, but... The link says, "click here to see which ships offer this feature." Which, to me, implies some offer it and some don't. So the link takes me to all the ships. I click on Jewel, but I see no mention about MTFD. Does that mean they don't have it? Or does that mean I'm just not looking in the right place?

It just means that RCI's website is stupid. The same thing happens if you try to click on a link to see which ships go to a certain port. They all come up. To figure it out definitively, I would call customer service.

Mid43 · #18 January 26th, 2012, 11:53 AM

So if I am reading this correctly, for MTD you are charged $11.65 per day per person?
Is this in fact a real number? We are staying in just an inside cabin.

Thanks!

galavant3 · #19 January 26th, 2012, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mid43

So if I am reading this correctly, for MTD you are charged $11.65 per day per person?
Is this in fact a real number? We are staying in just an inside cabin.

Thanks!

It isn't so much that you are being charged the 11.65, you are just prepaying the recommended amount for gratuities. We usually prepay ours even when we do traditional dining...very convenient.

bajathree · #20 January 26th, 2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katenewbie

Oh wait... It looks like only certain ships have the My Time FAMILY Dining? Does Jewel of the Seas have it? I can't tell...

Yes....Jewel has My Family Time Dining...just call Royal and tell them you want MFTD for your kids... remember you have to choose early seating traditional dining for this option....enjoy