My Time Dinning on Radiance of the Seas

[alaskaherewecome20151]

Hi all! I'm new here. I'm going to be taking my second ever cruise next May with my Mom to Alaska on Radiance of the Seas (9 Night Alaska Northern Glacier Cruise). I've been seeing that with My Time Dinning on larger ships such as Oasis, people have experienced waiting up to an hour before being seated for dinner. My question is if anyone has had any experience with My Time Dinning on a smaller ship such as the Radiance of the Seas (I'm correct in saying that Radiance is smaller than Oasis, right?). If so, could you share your experience with waiting times?

 

We'd prefer not to have to wait a long time for dinner, if possible. When we booked, there was only My Time Dining available, but the agent said that traditional dining would likely open up later. So I'm wondering if we should try to change to traditional.

 

Any suggestions welcome!!

 

Thanks!

 

P.S. The first cruise I took was a long time ago before the start of My Time Dining, so we had the traditional first seating at dinner.

[Cookiecookie]

My husband and I were on Radiance 3 years ago in Alaska. We did struggle to get a table for 2 on 3 or 4 nights of the cruise. This summer we were on Rhapsody ( same size ) and never had any trouble, I honestly think it's the luck of the draw and how accommodating the staff are. Enjoy Alaska we did.

[LABCHICK]

We just sailed on the Radiance to Alaska the end of June. We had MTD. There was just a few folks in line ahead of us. The line moved fast. We near waited no more the 2 minutes. There were 5 of us and we chose to eat around 6 p.m. We had the same table and same waitstaff every evening.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[taglovestocruise]

The long wait on Oasis is usually for people that have no reservations or will wait for a table for 2. We tried MTD on Radiance several years ago, horrible experience, tables packed together closer then traditional dining, waiters that know they need to turn tables as quick as possible. it seems like most MTD are in a hurry to get out. We did it one night, I will give them slack because it was the first night, we sat for about 15 minutes without being noticed by the wait staff and then got up and headed to Windjammer for dinner. We asked the headwaiter if we could go back to MDR for the rest of the cruise and he set us up for traditional MDR for the rest of the cruise.. We like to sit and talk and have a long dinner with a table for 6-8, never again MTD.. happy cruising

[cb at sea]

Radiance is a MUCH smaller ship. You shouldn't have big issues!

[Biker19]

We'd prefer not to have to wait a long time for dinner, if possible. When we booked, there was only My Time Dining available, but the agent said that traditional dining would likely open up later. So I'm wondering if we should try to change to traditional.

 

Yes, if waiting is an issue for you, call them back and ask to be put on the early traditional wait list.

[QueenofEverything]

I can't add anything to the discussion on MTD, but I will encourage you to join our roll call. There are alot of us on that cruise and there is already a meet and greet set up. Here is the link for the roll call page:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2320586

 

Look forward to meeting you onboard!:D

[cruisingcanadian]

I have just returned from the Serenade OTS,where we had MTD. In general bad experience. Lots of confusion,long waiting with the pager...But what I disliked the most was absolute indifference of the door staff when we (or other people)waited and later being showed to their table;never greating or welcoming to the dining room. In all my 20 cruises I had never experienced this. Service staff had been wonderful.

[Travelmoon]

We booked our June Alaska Radience of Sea last November. There was only MTD available. We were on waitlist for traditional dining and were able to get that within 2 months. We were a large group of 14.

[Biker19]

Lots of confusion,long waiting with the pager.

 

Do tell, this is the first I heard of a pager being used on any RCI ship.

[impatientlywaiting]

We just got off Radiance - 29 days Vancouver, B.C. to Sydney, Australia. We had 6:30 MTD (there were 6 of us). With the exception of 2 nights where the hostess screwed up, we were at our assigned table (314) every night with the same waiters. MTD is so popular it was moved from Deck 5 to Deck 4. The regular dining times of 5:30 and 8:30 are either too early or too late. When we were done eating (usually a little over an hour each night), the line for the non-reservations was ridiculously long and we heard lots of grumblings as we walked by them when we left the dining room.

[Desert Cruizers]

We had MTD for the first time last Oct on the Serenade and two other couples joined us. I had made reservations for 6 PM and I did notice in comparison to our Radiance Cruises, that we were not greeted like we were on the Radiance. We do prefer Main dining with the same people and staff each night so doubt we will ever go back to MTD.

[NancyIL]

I will also be on your 9-night Alaska cruise. :) We prefer My Time Dining, and we show up when we want to eat - willing to share a table. We had no problems on our Serenade cruise in October 2015.

[DisneyDatknee]

I love MTD. On the Radiance, it's best to eat early or late. We went around 6:30-7and we couldn't get a table immediately as it was full, so if you are used to Early Dining or Late Dining, it really wouldn't make a difference. Just go like you usually do (Early or Late). Also, you can make reservations. We did towards the end of the cruise and sat down right away. I'm pretty sure now you can make reservations on the cruise planner too!

Edited October 23, 2016 by DisneyDatknee

[Langley Cruisers]

Have sailed Jewel, Brilliance, and Serenade (her sister ships) and have not encountered a wait for MTD as we prefer to join others at a larger table. In my experience, the wait can be if you want a table for 2 or for just your own party. If you are willing to share, you should be able to be seated right away.

 

Just a suggestion. :)

Edited October 23, 2016 by Langley Cruisers

[4774Papa]

Does it matter if you want to dine with others at a large table?

[Clarea]

Does it matter if you want to dine with others at a large table?

You may have to wait longer to get seated at a table with others. There has to be another table with folks that want to share.

[4774Papa]

You may have to wait longer to get seated at a table with others. There has to be another table with folks that want to share.

 

We do Select Dining on Celebrity, which is open dining and normally don't have too wait at all. I would think that if we were willing to dine with others as well as have our own table that would provide more options for seating.

[Langley Cruisers]

We do Select Dining on Celebrity, which is open dining and normally don't have too wait at all. I would think that if we were willing to dine with others as well as have our own table that would provide more options for seating.

 

Please see my post 15, just above your first post today. We have never waited to join others - there are always those who want to share. If the shared tables are full, they just start a new one and you are there first waiting for others, neat and sweet.

.