Can you have guest from another dining time if room?

[mattR]

Traveling with some family, unfortunately one family booked later so are wait-listed for early dinner.  One night Grandma and Grandpa are taking the grand kids out to a specialty restaurant.  On that night can we invite our other family to join us since there will be extra room at our table? 

[Ourusualbeach]

9 minutes ago, mattR said:

Traveling with some family, unfortunately one family booked later so are wait-listed for early dinner.  One night Grandma and Grandpa are taking the grand kids out to a specialty restaurant.  On that night can we invite our other family to join us since there will be extra room at our table? 

Can’t see any reason that won’t work. 

[Merion_Mom]

IMO, you should ask your waiters the day before.

[Clarea]

There are tip distribution issues.

[Merion_Mom]

35 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

IMO, you should ask your waiters the day before.

 

24 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

There are tip distribution issues.

 

That was my thinking, too.  🙂 

 

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Host Clarea said:

There are tip distribution issues.

 

So if we go to WJ every night, the MDR staff gets nothing? Bummer

[PhoenixCruiser]

Agree with John, we keep the daily tips in place but never eat in the MDR. If someone shows up at our table why would that be a problem?

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[PhoenixCruiser]

Traveling with some family, unfortunately one family booked later so are wait-listed for early dinner.  One night Grandma and Grandpa are taking the grand kids out to a specialty restaurant.  On that night can we invite our other family to join us since there will be extra room at our table? 

Matt, have those that booked later keep checking as people are always cancelling. If this hasn't been fixed before you sail visit the MDR once on board.

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[ReneeFLL]

We always have MTD but often eat in the Windjammer. Where are my tips going? I would think they would get divided among any/all food employees. What if we were to only eat in the Park Cafe? How would Royal know where we're eating and how to distribute the tips?

[kernow]

I think you will be able to do it but speak to your MDR waitstaff the day before to confirm. 

On one cruise we were at a table for 6 with 2 other couples. One night us and one of the couples decided to go to Chops, the other couple didn't want to join us. They had made friends with a couple on MTD but asked our wait team if it would be possible to invite them to the table the night there was space and were told it was no problem. 

 

We always do pre paid tips so assume it made no difference.

[123funcruiser]

I don´t quite get the Point About tips. 😕

 

I agree you should speak to the head waiter / Maitre D´ and ask for permission. If permitted you should inform your waitteam and yes I think you should tip them some extra for it.

 

Other than that I don´t see any issues.

[ReneeFLL]

1 hour ago, kernow said:

..........We always do pre paid tips so assume it made no difference.

That's what I was thinking. Why would it make a difference where you eat regarding the tips?

[cruisinfanatic]

9 hours ago, mattR said:

Traveling with some family, unfortunately one family booked later so are wait-listed for early dinner.  One night Grandma and Grandpa are taking the grand kids out to a specialty restaurant.  On that night can we invite our other family to join us since there will be extra room at our table? 

I see no reason anyone would object. Tips are already paid for those empty seats

[John&LaLa]

Well they do ask your room number for MTD and CK, so there is some relationship to where you eat. And obviously they know your room number if you are in a speciality venue. Do those folks earn some of your prepaid is even another question 

 

I was more curious if you go to a venue where they dont ask your room number

[spookwife]

officially the answer is no  guests may not switch dining times or between   MTD and  Fixed Dining.  that being said, asking the Maitre d' is advisable.  all they can do is say no.  

[banderboo]

11 hours ago, mattR said:

Traveling with some family, unfortunately one family booked later so are wait-listed for early dinner.  One night Grandma and Grandpa are taking the grand kids out to a specialty restaurant.  On that night can we invite our other family to join us since there will be extra room at our table? 

Call Royal and ask them to link your reservations together. With linked reservations, they 'should' be able to just seat you at a bigger table. (at least that has been my experience when linking reservations together even when they weren't booked at the same time)

[BNBR]

Just ask the waiter, I really don't think they would care.  Just mention you have some family that you would like to join you tomorrow evening, is that ok?

[Merion_Mom]

To me, it's basic courtesy to ask your waitstaff.

[123funcruiser]

1 hour ago, banderboo said:

Call Royal and ask them to link your reservations together. With linked reservations, they 'should' be able to just seat you at a bigger table. (at least that has been my experience when linking reservations together even when they weren't booked at the same time)

This doesn´t work when they are not on the same Dining time. 

[Clarea]

5 minutes ago, 123funcruiser said:

This doesn´t work when they are not on the same Dining time. 

 

Correct, bookings cannot be linked until they are on the same dining type.

[banderboo]

17 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Correct, bookings cannot be linked until they are on the same dining type.

I've had luck getting dining type changed when we've linked the reservations but that may not happen in all cases.

[123funcruiser]

13 minutes ago, banderboo said:

I've had luck getting dining type changed when we've linked the reservations but that may not happen in all cases.

 

As the OP stated their Family is waitlisted for their (early) Dining time. So it´s not possible for them to Change Dining times at this time and thus they can´t be linked, at least not until they clear the waitlist. 

[3CatsInMA]

I agree that you should give the waiters a 24-hour advance warning of your plans.

 

I also don't see why the waitstaff would have any problem at all with a one night change like this.

[John&LaLa]

58 minutes ago, 3CatsInMA said:

I agree that you should give the waiters a 24-hour advance warning of your plans.

 

I also don't see why the waitstaff would have any problem at all with a one night change like this.

 

Do you tell your waiter if you aren't planning on coming the next night?

[John&LaLa]

Is it fair to the waiter to book traditional dining if you know you won't be going to the dining room on multiple nights?

 

We've been booking MTD for the past few years for that very reason