During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean is known to offer pre-cruise discounts on various aspects of the cruise experience, including specialty dining. Like what you see? The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. Anytime dining can be anywhere from 5:30 to 9:30 pm, but it will vary depending on the cruise line. 25 must-read Royal Caribbean dining secrets, What to do if your Royal Caribbean dining preference is not available, First time cruisers: What to know before booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, Video: 19 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do on Royal Caribbean, First time cruisers: comparing Royal Caribbean's Oasis class to Voyager class, When is the best time to book a Royal Caribbean cruise, Video: Worst Royal Caribbean advice you will get. There are several dining options that are included in your cruise fare with Royal Caribbean. And you can always cancel and rebook if prices drop! If you have selected My Time Dining for your next Royal Caribbean Cruise vacation, here's everything you need to know about how to book My Time Dining and secure your nightly dining reservations. MTD has been called basically a **** show lately. and the answer is "it depends." Try the toasted herb focaccia with a braised meat dish or hearty stew! Traditional dining allows you to select one of two assigned seating: the early seating or the late seating. We always book MTD on big ships because they schedule entertainment at all times. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. In addition to traditional restaurants, Royal Caribbean offers on select ships dining events, including a Chef's Table experience, mystery dinner and prohibition party. The excursions you choose and activities on board the ship may make your decision more complicated. Traditional Asian cuisine is artfully prepared and presented at Izumi. Once onboard the ship, it can be more challenging to make this change, but not impossible. For dinner, you'll be assigned to a specific time if you select set seating and choose to eat in the main dining room. My Time Dining allows guests to pick a dining time anytime between 6:00 and 9:30 pm (times vary by ship) each evening. some shows are done during the afternoon, and be sure to hit JR for a free breakfast at least once. On some ships, youll also get to enjoy spots like Sorrentos Pizza, Solarium Bistro and Park Caf free of charge, and thats not even scratching the surface of all the choices you have. Dine My Way is all about personalizing your cruise dining experience. *Delivery fee and gratuity charge applies for Room Service. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. The MDR is always open for dinner, and depending on the cruise line, passengers will have their choice of set seating or anytime dining (an assigned dining time at the same table with the same waiter each night, versus dining any time between set hours at the first available table). For an additional charge, you can start your day with unlimited bubbly by taking part in the Sip, Tour, Brunch. If you want to change your traditional dining time, you can contact your travel agent (or Royal Caribbean if you booked directly) to have the change made. Your group can dine out at a restaurant or have it to themselves with our buy-out option. When making a reservation you will be offered "My Time" or traditional dining times (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). If I'm in need of that kind of entertainment I'll show up, take as much as I can stand, then leave. The program starts the second evening youre onboard. Youll be wowed by the fresh ingredients, delicate flavors, and gorgeous plating of Izumis sushi, sashimi, ishi-yaki plates, and more. Sharing the title of the world's largest cruise ship with her sister ship the Oasis of the Seas, the ship brings back some favorite dining venues and adds several novel ones that cruise travelers will love. Capacity: 60. And who does not want to give their opinion on food? Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, Circled by oranges, vineyards, & blueberries. You will not be able to make your choice until the last step in the booking process; all passenger names will have to be entered first! Traveling on a Royal Caribbean cruise with picky eaters, disinterested teenagers, first timers, a stressed out spouse? Perfect for after a workout or any time you need a quick refuel, Vitality Caf whips up fresh smoothies, specialty wraps, and healthy snacks like fruit and yogurt. The best reason to book dining in advance is to guarantee a spot for you and your family, as well as break up the total cost of the cruise. Reservations are strongly recommended. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent Today -get to watch the ship set sail. I'm leaning more towards the 830pm time but I've looked at some cruise compasses (from 2018 mind you) and it looks like they have fun stuff activities going on at that time such as family feud or other games. Simply put, the best way to ensure you get into any Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant that you want is to make a reservation in advance. The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas has 26 diverse dining options for its guests to savor and enjoy. It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. If booking my time dining just be sure to not screw it up as I did! Med sailings MTD for sure. We have never missed a show. All Royal Caribbean cruise ships serve complimentary dining in the, Specialty dining, like the contemporary American steakhouse Chops Grille, Izumi Japanese Cuisine, and Jamies Italian by Jamie Oliver, serve guests for an additional charge unless you purchase a, WHERE TO FIND THE BEST BREAKFAST ONBOARD YOUR CRUISE. The good news is that every show is walking distance from the dining room so you don't have to worry about much travel time like at home. Then the waiters are not getting offended thinking they have done something wrong when they havent. On the complimentary side, Windjammer, Solarium Bistro and the Main Dining Room are all great lunch options where youll find lots of delicious variety. The Windjammer on Radiance and Quantum class ships offers an area at the rear of the ship to enjoy any meal with a fantastic view of the ship's wake. Heck, you might even consider going to a restaurant and politely asking if there are any specials or discounts if you want to book something. You can even switch from My Time Dining to Traditional if you booked before understanding the differences, but you might end up with late dining depending on when you make the change, as early tends to book up quickly. Read more:Ten Royal Caribbean dining mistakes. Royal Caribbean offers a tremendous amount of flexibility for the most part when it comes to making substitutions or accommodating dietary needs. What drinks are included with your Royal Caribbean cruise? If you have a dietary restriction, special need or just prefer to have your food prepared in a certain way, your best bet is to let Royal Caribbean know about those kinds of requests prior to your cruise. Less likely to be seated with other guests. CC Help Jenn Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Located in the multi-level Royal Promenade at the heart of our ships and the best spot for people-watching Caf Promenade serves coffee, snacks, pastries, and sandwiches around the clock. And really the difference between 545 guarantee seating and the 630 you are hoping for is not worth the hassle. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, Let us know which you usually reserve and why in the comments below! The people responsible for provisioning cruise ships have the logistics down to a science, so there's little waste. Keep a few small bills handy for delivery tips. Taking away dining? Maybe you didn't care to see them anyways, but I think they sound fun! We always choose early. On Oasis Class ships, it even offers hibachi-style seating where you can watch talented chefs prepare your meal right in front of you. No problem Royal Caribbean makes it easy for you to still enjoy fantastic flavor on the go as you zip between decks and attractions. Impressive and delicious options might include watermelon and raspberry soup, crab cakes with corn and peppers, shrimp cocktail and escargot as appetizers; horseradish-crusted Atlantic salmon,. A standard rule of thumb is to avoid jeans on these nights, or you might be asked to dine in the buffet instead. It truly depends, though. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. We strongly recommend reserving your dining times through Cruise Planner prior to your sailing as dining times may fill up. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. If youre not sure which restaurants on your sailing are complimentary and which are considered specialty dining, take a look at your Cruise Compass once youve checked into your stateroom. For us, we've always chosen the later dining time. Reservation are strongly recommended. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By The approach of early/late dining is inconsistent with the way they run entertainment. On boarding day, each stateroom may bring up to two 750 ml bottles of wine or champagne, as long as one guest is of legal drinking age. Enjoying . If you need to change or cancel a reservation for any reason, you will have to go into the specific order and cancel each reservation separately before you are able to rebook. Read more:Top Ten Royal Caribbean Dining Tips. We are also doing a Mediterranean cruise with our kids (teens) this summer, and we chose later because I don't want to rush back from the ports. The larger the ship, the more options you'll have. If you plan to drink a lot of these, cruise lines sell beverage packages for a set per-person daily charge that can offer a cost savings if you drink enough. Believe it or not, you do not have to pay an extra dime onboard for beverages on your Royal Caribbean cruise. As mentioned above, dining is free at the buffet and in the main dining room. Pasted as rich text. If you are traveling with more than eight people, My Time Dining might become a hassle. Feel free to go back for seconds or thirds. All Royal Caribbean cruise ships serve complimentary dining in the Main Dining Room, Caf Promenade and Windjammer Caf or Windjammer Marketplace (the name varies depending on which ship youre sailing on, but the dining experience is the same). The culinary staffs on most mainstream cruise lines' ships are adept at catering to special dietary requirements. Spoke to my Costco travel. Always a late dinner, aways a large table, always a pre request for a table near the balcony railing. When you book your cruise, youll get to choose between traditional dining and My Time Dining. How long does that take? Royal Caribbean offers two packages: 3-restaurant plans and the unlimited option, which includes discounts for wine bottles. -get dinner out of the way and can do whatever you want for the whole night, -could go to buffet after dinner if you're still hungry, -may have to rush to make this dinner after getting back on the ship, -may miss the boat leaving the port which is fun to watch, -will be missing the last hours of sunlight on the cruise as it's in May and sun probably sets around 830, -get more daylight on the deck of the ship, -may miss fun activities going on that night, -may be hungry and ruin dinner by going to buffet or eating snacks prior, -will have to go to late shows even if tired from the day, or miss them altogether. (It's a nice service on port days when you might be crunched for time before early-morning excursions.) Assuming there is availability, you can move from one of the traditional dining times to the other, or opt for My Time Dining. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! If you want to catch your favorite sports match or follow up lunch with round of Skee-ball or Connect Four, head to Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade for icy-cold brews, burgers, wings and more on Symphony, Navigator and Mariner of the Seas just make sure to save room for the colossal four-scoop Touchdown Sundae, served in a mini football helmet. Not only is the Windjammer very accommodating in tastes, it also offers a wide variety of choices and we have found the food quality to be quite good. Capacity: 60. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent I'm a late traditional sort of person, and there are a handful of activities you do end up missing, but all-in-all, I think it is still the best option for me. You can order it by filling out the order form in your cabin and hanging it outside your cabin door before you go to sleep. First, travelers looking for something quick and casual can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and between-meal snacks at the self-serve onboard buffet. My Time Dining uses the same menu as traditional seating. Paste as plain text instead, During breakfast, you will find classic American fare (just like the other meals), including pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, eggs, French toast and more. Many Royal Caribbean guests are opting for dining packages, which allow guests to get a discount on multiple specialty restaurants. The best way to ensure that everyone has a great time on the cruiseis to make them all feel invested in the trip planning. Royal Caribbean also offers dining packages. Dont want to take time out to sit down and savor a meal? Leftover prepared food is disposed of in several ways, which include incineration, offloading in port as compost or fertilizer, and grinding it until it's liquefied enough to be released into the ocean (far away from land) as fish food. Enjoy juicy steaks, fresh seafood, hearty side dishes, and sumptuous desserts in the elegant, classic Chicago atmosphere of Royal Caribbeans popular signature steakhouse. Soda, bottled water, specialty coffees, smoothies, milkshakes, most juices, energy drinks and alcohol cost extra. Display as a link instead, Now I just have to plan accordingly for show's. -get more daylight on the deck of the ship. And if you want to keep lunch on the lighter side, Vitality Caf offers healthy specialty wraps, fresh fruit and yogurt, and all kinds of wellness-inspired smoothies to power up your day. Think of it as a restaurant in your home town. Yes, all mainstream oceangoing cruise lines feature some sort of room service. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By These cooking stations not only offer the freshest food choices, but they will make it exactly to your taste. If you are celebrating something or want to surprise someone with a special treat, just speak to the staff and theyll be happy to help make your dinner even more memorable. Not sure what time it was but we did see the Love and Marriage show. In the morning, this usually takes the form of an omelet station and each evening, there is a different choice offered. Many Royal Caribbean guests are opting for dining packages, which allow guests to get a discount on multiple specialty restaurants. A very common question we receive is, "when can I start booking specialty restaurants on my Royal Caribbean cruise?" The best way to fully take advantage of the My Time Dining program is to make your reservations before you board the ship! Check with your cruise line for more details and pricing. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Though its a specialty restaurant, Johnny Rockets serves a classic American breakfast free of charge on Oasis, Allure, Harmony and Symphony of the Seas. Reservations are encouraged, especially if you can pre-book before your cruise, but you have the ability to choose a different time each day. On days you may return to the ship early then grab diner at the buffet, solarium bistro, El loco or one of the other pay places such as playmakers then attend your game shows, etc. But I don't know which dining time is better. Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. Pro The Main Dining Room is also a great choice for complimentary breakfast thats available fleet wide in the morning it offers a buffet filled with classic hot and cold dishes, plus an a la carte menu. Thanks again for your help. Some evenings our main show was before dinner instead of after. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); From cupcakes to California rolls, finger foods to a five-course gourmet meal, a Royal Caribbean cruise is a journey of culinary discovery. Copyrights |, www.royalcaribbean.ae is part of Royal Caribbean Arabia owned by Safeen Tourism LLC the Sole Middle East Representative of Royal Caribbean International, 2023 All Rights Reserved | ROYAL CARIBBEAN ARABIA. Choosing between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining On our Southern Carib cruise this past Dec on Vision we were late seating for dinner. Plan ahead and treat your favorite person to a signature dinner at 150 Central Park or Chops Grille. LauraS With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! There are so many epic things to see and do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, its easy to find yourself racing from one thrilling activity to the next. We averaged about 70 minutes or so with 2 adults and an 11 year old. DINING OPTIONS ON RADIANCE OF THE SEAS Main Dining Room with complimentary, multi-course dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner Complimentary Park Caf Complimentary Boardwalk Doghouse for custom hot dogs More complimentary options including the Windjammer Caf, and room service* DESTINATION PORT/CITY EXCURSION TYPE Awards FOLLOW US We always go for the early seating. We also do not like to miss the earlier activities like trivia & live music. Looking to get a list of what is included and what we'd have to pay extra for. cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. TREAT THEM TO SOMETHING THEYLL LOVE AT THESE RESTAURANTS, Little ones can be hard to please, especially if theyre picky eaters. Pick MTD -- if you like your "My Time" can be as late as the Late MDR. You will most likely be tired after long port days. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? In addition to the array of food available in the Windjammer buffet, there are also cooking stations that offer custom-made dishes. I don't think we want to bother with my time dining. Like really? It's just our personal preference. There will be a head waiter on duty to speak with, and that person can confirm they have your dietary needs on file and make any necessary changes too. Price: $$$$. Put me on waiting list. Nonetheless, the cost savings offered by the dining packages is perfect for someone who wants to experience many of the best Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants. Mtd -- if you like your `` My time dining uses the same menu as traditional seating when. Most likely be tired after long port days when you might be crunched for time before early-morning excursions ). 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For a Royal Caribbean dining tips your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone usually... We 'd have to plan accordingly for show 's juices, energy drinks and alcohol cost extra sailing dining. Cruise lines feature some sort of room service in front of you 'd like to sail to not screw up... Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly of all aspects of the Seas has diverse! Always cancel and rebook if prices drop it as a link instead, I.