2013 Adventures, Boarded the Cruise Ship!

[TifffanyD]

I'm here!


We are doing my time dining on our RCCL trip next year. NCL is all freestyle and we loved just walking in. Did not know about the reservations for 'My Time'... grrrr. Our last DCL cruise we stopped going to dinner after day 3 bcz it interrupted stuff and we didn't care that much about our tablemates

 

[dgbg100106]

My Time Dining has me a bit confused. Otherwise are you assigned a dining time? On Disney you either have early dining at 6:00 or late dining at 8:00. Or you can always walk in to the buffet restaurant that turns into a sit down for dinner.

So on RCL those are consider traditional dinning times, and they are 6:30 and 8:00 pm. these occur in the main dinning room.

The My Time is a different section of the MDR away from everyone else, and it open to any time during their open hours of 6 to 8:30, but they want you to make a reservation. Which to me defeats the purpose. If I want to dine at my time, that means I don't know in advance what time I want to eat. How can I make a reservation?

According to everything I have read, you can make a reservation at any time, and it can be different every night.

You can always walk into the windjammer and eat at anytime, but the food is different. In the My Time, you are eating in the MDR, and eating the items off the menu.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I am thrilled Enchantment is getting Park Cafe. They have fantastic breakfast sandwiches and their roast beef on weck is excellent. We ate there every morning on Oasis.

I think I want to do My Time Dining next cruise. We've always done traditional seating, but this last cruise was the first time I truly hated to stop what I was doing to get ready for dinner.

 

[dgbg100106]

Which leads me to my FIRST...but surely not my LAST...Silly newbie question(that I can't seem to find a definitive answer to).

How exactly does dining work?
Is everything scheduled?
Is there anyway to just go eat when you feel like it?

I don't know if cruising would be for DH if he has to think ahead of time what time he may want dinner.(This is why we haven't made it to The World as a family. He doesn't like vacations that require too much planning)

So you can eat anywhere you want, the Main Dining Room (MDR) has two seating's and you must choose at the time of booking if you want early (6:30) or Late (8:00) seating. And you just show up every night to eat and at the same table with the same people through out your cruise.

You can go to the buffet for a wide range of foods, italian, mexican, asian, etc....any time you want without reservations.

You can also order room service, burgers, sandwiches, etc anytime you want...

Or you can go with My Time Dining, that is eating in the MDR, with the MDR Menu of the evening, and pick which time you want to go as long as you make a reservation. They can be made every day at different times, with a different amount of people. They do mark it on your cabin card, and only people who have signed up for it have access to it.

 

[dgbg100106]

I'm late to the party as well but I'm here!

Glad you made it!

 

[dgbg100106]

You can do the traditional dining where you are assigned the time and will hav the same waitstaff.

Or, you can do My Time Dining where you have the flexibility to choose the time you want to eat each night between 6:00pm and 9:30pm. It's suggested that you make a reservation each day when you've decided on a time, though you can walk in. On the Oasis of the Seas, there was a separate line for walk ins and people with reservations.

Right, they tell you that there might be a wait if you don't make a reservation, but to me it is like going to any restaurant on land, you might have a wait. But I have heard that they really don't like it if you don't make a reservation and just show up.

 

[dgbg100106]

I'm here!


We are doing my time dining on our RCCL trip next year. NCL is all freestyle and we loved just walking in. Did not know about the reservations for 'My Time'... grrrr. Our last DCL cruise we stopped going to dinner after day 3 bcz it interrupted stuff and we didn't care that much about our tablemates

I have had bad tablemates before and just asked to be moved. David and I are both high enough in the cruising program that they tend to put us by ourselves, they try and match you up with similar people. And sometimes it is truly a bad match.

I found that early dinner is just too early and late is just too late... I mean after later dinner I was usually so tired I went to bed, which is not good on a full stomach!

Early and I was falling asleep in the shows... Ha-Ha

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Gotcha! Thanks for the info!

 

[dgbg100106]

I am thrilled Enchantment is getting Park Cafe. They have fantastic breakfast sandwiches and their roast beef on weck is excellent. We ate there every morning on Oasis.

I think I want to do My Time Dining next cruise. We've always done traditional seating, but this last cruise was the first time I truly hated to stop what I was doing to get ready for dinner.

I will have to check it out and report back on how it was. I am excited about the changes, but disappointed that they are moving Enchantment out and bringing Grandeur back to Baltimore.

 

[dgbg100106]

Gotcha! Thanks for the info!

Anytime, please ask anything anytime... I need all the prompting I can get.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I will have to check it out and report back on how it was. I am excited about the changes, but disappointed that they are moving Enchantment out and bringing Grandeur back to Baltimore.

Grandeur has gone through a big rehab, including adding all those dining options, so it could be really good. I guess it's time to book a cruise and check it out!

I love RCCL, so I'm enjoying your report.

 

[dgbg100106]

Grandeur has gone through a big rehab, including adding all those dining options, so it could be really good. I guess it's time to book a cruise and check it out!

I love RCCL, so I'm enjoying your report.

true, but It seems that as soon as we get a nice ship they move it out and bring an older ship in.

I just wanted us to have the NEW ship for awhile.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Alot of people forget to factor in the tips, which I think is mandatory, I am not sure why they don't just put it in the price to begin with....

This cruise for us I am paying for my tips up front. I rather like it that way. I do tip more as I go. I wish it was included in the price as well.

 

[wdwmom2]

Enjoying your thread!!!

We did MTD on the Allure, with no reservations. We just walked up, and were seated within maybe 2 minutes. The only time we had a real wait was 2nd formal night (lobster night). We waited maybe 10 minutes. We loved MTD and would definitely do it again. And, personally, I liked pre-paying our tips.

DH and I are cruising in April on the Explorer out of Bayonne, NJ. First time for us not having to fly to the port. We are driving up to Staten Island the day before, about a 4 hour drive. We are taking our motorcycle on board and then tour Bermuda, St Thomas, St Martin, and San Juan on our bike. This is a very small TA group cruise, 35 bikes max. All the riding escorted by police or local motorcycle clubs. We are so looking forward to our cruise!!!

If you have never been to Maho Beach, you will love it. Watching the planes come in is quite exciting!!! The Sunset Bar and Grill serves up a great burger and fries. I will be bringing back a couple bottles of guava berry rum from this island. I fell in love with the guava berry coladas on the Allure.

This will be my first time in San Juan and Bermuda. Can't wait to see what sights these islands have to offer.

Happy cruising

 

[TifffanyD]

I have had bad tablemates before and just asked to be moved. David and I are both high enough in the cruising program that they tend to put us by ourselves, they try and match you up with similar people. And sometimes it is truly a bad match.

I found that early dinner is just too early and late is just too late... I mean after later dinner I was usually so tired I went to bed, which is not good on a full stomach!

Early and I was falling asleep in the shows... Ha-Ha

Yup! I was never hungry by early dining either. I've found skipping dessert at late dining helps a lot... dessert pushes me over the edge and sends me into sugar coma.

Yeah I am sure we could've asked... but I also didn't feel like going to dinner at 8:15 anymore

 

[dgbg100106]

I love RCCL, so I'm enjoying your report.

So I must say that I am a Celebrity person. To me they are much better than Royal. Just in treatment and food.

We are Diamond on Royal and Elite on Celebrity, so we love the extra perks.

Here are the Diamond Perks for Royal

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus (This is the OBC I talked about earlier)

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers (THis includes, free pictures, % off on Coffee and Ice Cream, Free Specialty coffee with dinner (Think Germ Killer), free bag of laundry, free $$ in casino, free bingo cards, since David and I both are Diamond we both get a sheet of all of these)

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party (So all of the Crown and Anchor people get a party with cheap champagne and canapes)

SeaPass Card recognition (On your Cabin card it says what level you are, so those that are waiting on you can see how high up in the program you are)

Meet the Stars! (This is a backstage tour)

Priority check-in (this means we get our own line, also on a previous cruise, if there is a problem with ship and you can't board yet, they put you in a different area and give you food and drinks)

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast (This is usually in a room with the C&A Director and coffee, juice, tea and pastries) We skip this and go to the MDR and eat.

Exclusive Trivia (I have no idea what this is....)

Exclusive Top Tier Event (This is a cocktail party for Diamond and Diamond Plus people with the officers)

Robes for use onboard (These are really nice plus ones, I think everyone else gets these thin waffle types)

Signature lapel pin (This is what it says!)

Welcome Gift/Amenity including choice of beverage (They give us a Diet Coke (1 Can))

Milestone recognition (A commemorative gift will be delivered to you during the sailing on which you attain your 140, 210, 280 and 350 cruise points and on every 70 cruise points thereafter.)

Chef's Choice Gift/Amenity(last time, this was trail mix, maybe 3 oz)

Priority wait list for Shore Excursions/VitalitySM Day Spa services (we never use this)

Diamond Lounge (Breakfast is a light pastry and coffee or tea, bloody mary's, bellini's, up in the MDR; for dinner it is complimentary wine, champagne (sparkling wine) and fountain drinks, and a 'happy hour' discount of 25% off beer and drinks with liquor for 3 hours (5 to 8 pm), up in the Viking lounge)

Priority departure (just what it says, you can get off the ship first)

Entertainment Tour (Behind the Scenes Tours including the Galley, Bridge, and enhanced Entertainment Tour )

Quarterly Saving Certificates online (to use to book cruises)

Priority notice on special offers, new ships and itineraries (Email)

Set your upgrade preferences online (This is your gift, you can change from Diet Coke to Coke, or juice)

Discounts on Balcony and Suite staterooms

ChoiceAirSM Plus fee waived (we just used this as part of the Spain cruise) I will get to that later this week

Priority waitlist seating request in the main dining room

Complimentary Upgrades (when available, we have received this before)

Reduced Rate Upgrades (when available, we have never done this!)

DOUBLE Cruise Points for purchasing suite accommodations (again we have not done this on Royal)

 

[dgbg100106]

This cruise for us I am paying for my tips up front. I rather like it that way. I do tip more as I go. I wish it was included in the price as well.

This cruise for us, I will prepaid the tips also, but b/c the my time dining requires it.

 

[dgbg100106]

Enjoying your thread!!!

We did MTD on the Allure, with no reservations. We just walked up, and were seated within maybe 2 minutes. The only time we had a real wait was 2nd formal night (lobster night). We waited maybe 10 minutes. We loved MTD and would definitely do it again. And, personally, I liked pre-paying our tips.

DH and I are cruising in April on the Explorer out of Bayonne, NJ. First time for us not having to fly to the port. We are driving up to Staten Island the day before, about a 4 hour drive. We are taking our motorcycle on board and then tour Bermuda, St Thomas, St Martin, and San Juan on our bike. This is a very small TA group cruise, 35 bikes max. All the riding escorted by police or local motorcycle clubs. We are so looking forward to our cruise!!!

If you have never been to Maho Beach, you will love it. Watching the planes come in is quite exciting!!! The Sunset Bar and Grill serves up a great burger and fries. I will be bringing back a couple bottles of guava berry rum from this island. I fell in love with the guava berry coladas on the Allure.

This will be my first time in San Juan and Bermuda. Can't wait to see what sights these islands have to offer.

Happy cruising

I cruised out of Bayonne, back in 2006. We were on a 14 day cruise and left our car in the parking lot of the cruise terminal. When we got back, we found that our car and every car in the lot, was painted Battleship Gray, it was over spray, they had painted a ship in the dock and every car in the lot had paint all over it, it took a year, but they finally paid for the clean up of the car, 1500.00.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your MTD experience, I am looking forward to it. I just did not like having to pick a time, so the fact that you walked up without a reservation is nice.


We both ride also, so the fact that you are getting to take your bike is awesome, I would love to hear how that works out.

We have never been to Maho Beach but our friends went last time and loved it and talked us into to going with them this time. I will take a bunch of pictures and share when I get back.

 

[dgbg100106]

Yup! I was never hungry by early dining either. I've found skipping dessert at late dining helps a lot... dessert pushes me over the edge and sends me into sugar coma.

Yeah I am sure we could've asked... but I also didn't feel like going to dinner at 8:15 anymore

I hear you.... That is so us.

My very first cruise with my now DH but at the time we were engaged. We left out of Galveston and went to Panama Canal, I told our waiter on the first night that I could not chose between two different ones, and he said go ahead and order both... I laughed and said maybe I want them all. He grabbed my menu and brought every desert to the table.

Every night after that he brought all the deserts, I never even got to see the menu, he just brought them all out. I was really funny.

 

[TifffanyD]

I hear you.... That is so us.

My very first cruise with my now DH but at the time we were engaged. We left out of Galveston and went to Panama Canal, I told our waiter on the first night that I could not chose between two different ones, and he said go ahead and order both... I laughed and said maybe I want them all. He grabbed my menu and brought every desert to the table.

Every night after that he brought all the deserts, I never even got to see the menu, he just brought them all out. I was really funny.

Omigosh... Lolol