My Time Dining

[Luv my furbaby]

How does this work? Is it best to make reservations? Can they be made before booking?

If you like your wait staff can you request a table with them for the week?

[GUT2407]

How does this work? Is it best to make reservations? Can they be made before booking?

If you like your wait staff can you request a table with them for the week?

 

We have never made a booking, and never waited more than a few minutes at most.

 

And yes we had the same waitstaff for about 30 nights (tried a few other restaurants the other nights), we didn't even need to ask, just mentioned that we thought they were great.

[dforeigner]

How does this work? Is it best to make reservations? Can they be made before booking?

If you like your wait staff can you request a table with them for the week?

 

You can make reservations but no guarantee that your table will be ready at time requested. You cannot make the reservations before (boarding?) booking. Yes, you can request the same staff but there may not be tables available at the specific time your are requesting.

[gcvt]

We have never made reservations and have never waited long enough to even finish a drink at the bar. We usually eat around 8:00pm and walk straight to our table 95% of the time. Often times, we never ever stop walking as we approach the dining room.

Edited April 21, 2016 by gcvt

[reedprincess]

How does this work? Is it best to make reservations? Can they be made before booking?

If you like your wait staff can you request a table with them for the week?

 

For what it's worth, it's called AnyTime dining in Princess. MyTime is Royal Caribbean's name.

It's much easier in Princess, and really is more AnyTime. You cannot make reservations in advance of boarding. You can - possibly - make reservations once onboard, it will depend on the head maitre'd for that ship. Some allow reservations made day of, some allow guests to make a standing reservation with only some specific times and some don't really allow reservations much at all. Best thing to know is that on all ships (except Pacific, Island and Coral, and if I'm missing one, please let me know), there are three main dining rooms in three locations. One dining room will be strictly traditional set dining times. One dining room will be always AnyTme dining, and one dining room will be split, as in it will be an early traditional set dining, then about 7/7:15 becomes an AnyTme Dining room for the remainder of the night.

If you like to dine early, ie 6 or earlier, be ready to go by 5:15-5:20, early seating usually has a short line. Showing up at 6:00/6:30 will likely see a short wait, but space opens up more again around 7 and later. If you're a later diner, ie 8 or later, usually no wait at all. YMMV. Those are what we've observed over our cruises..

If the maitre'd allows a standing reservation, great, go for it...if they only allow day of, then you'll need to check early ro see if the time you want is available.

Moat AT dining rooms will give you a pager if there's a wait, so you can go to a nearby lounge or bar to wait rather than stand around.. It's a bit more civilized, in our experience, than MyTime dining on RCCL....

Hope that helps.

[lbfluffy]

We typically go around 730 and never waited more than 5 minutes.

[easyboy]

If you like your wait staff can you request a table with them for the week?

At first instance, write the name of wait staff and table nos. he cover.

You can specify the name of waitstaff at door reception each night, if you are unable to book him for your preferred period.

You have a better chance for your choice on 2nd seating.

[wishfulone]

Only ever made a reservation once and that was for New Years Eve - a table for 10 - and it was easily accommodated in the Main Dining Room with the staff we were often seated with. If the Maitre de is any good he knows exactly what you like from the first night - number at your table (sometimes sharing, sometimes alone), position and wait staff.

[skynight]

How does this work? Is it best to make reservations? Can they be made before booking?

If you like your wait staff can you request a table with them for the week?

 

Most of your questions have been answered, but here is a little additional information.

In case you are not aware, Traditional Dining and Anytime Dining (ATD) have the same menus (different each evening) and same dress requirements.

In the U.S. market, Caribbean/Mexico/Hawaii, the DR is normally full by 6pm, but is wide open starting around 7:30. If you are on the Royal or Regal Princess they have additional capacity, and it seems there is never much wait whatever time you choose to dine.

If you are in Europe or South America, the tendency is to dine later, with no problems getting a table early or late.

As stated, no pre-cruise reservations. Most ships do accept reservations by calling the DINE line, but reservations times are set times like 5:30, 5:45, 7:30, 7:45.

You can speak with the Head Waiter or Maitre'd to request the same table for the week, but if you wish to do that then why not opt for traditional dining, either early or late seating.

 

Above comments refer to the MDR's. If you wish to dine in one of the surcharge restaurants you have to make reservations once on board. Again no pre- cruise reservations. You either call the DINE line or visit the restaurant. Some specialty restaurants fill quickly, so visit them on boarding day.

 

What we do is read the Princess Patter, then plan our evening's activities/shows. Our dining time is based on the activities and shows and can vary each evening.

Edited April 21, 2016 by sknight