MyTime Dining reservation time changes?

[buc fan]

I have a cruise set on Independence in September (hopefully it goes) and Explorer in March.

When I tried to set up MyTime Dining reservations for both, the earliest times I could was 730p, and ending at 930p.

Is this the new normal, as it used to start by 6p (I believe)?

I assume you can still walk up and wait in line, or has the times changed?

Thanks

[AlohaLivin]

2 hours ago, buc fan said:

I have a cruise set on Independence in September (hopefully it goes) and Explorer in March.

When I tried to set up MyTime Dining reservations for both, the earliest times I could was 730p, and ending at 930p.

Is this the new normal, as it used to start by 6p (I believe)?

I assume you can still walk up and wait in line, or has the times changed?

Thanks

I noticed that change also. No idea why this was done, I assumed that they were opening the less popular times and then 60-120 days out would open the full range? For one cruise in late fall the options were open except between 6-7. On the other (also for late fall), as you described, the times were exclusively 7:30 and later (only for MDR). 

Edited April 28, 2020 by AlohaLivin

[blueridgemama]

On my Mariner cruise I am able to reserve 5:30pm time slots but for my Oasis cruise MTD didn't start until 6:45pm

[Ourusualbeach]

Many ships have now gone to later MTD starts so that they can use all 3 dining rooms for early seating. 

[Starry Eyes]

I have seen the PP’s MTD schedule, too.

 

When MTD was introduced, my time dining opened half an hour before early traditional dining started.  So, with or without reservations, my time diners were eating before traditional even started.  On those sailings if we had MTD, we could get early reservations if we wished.  Worked well for me.

 

On Harmony this year it was quite different.  MTD started much later.  That dining room was first used for early traditional dining.  Once early seating guests were leaving, they began to seat the my time guests at the vacated tables.  We were among those early dining guests, and sometimes there were long lines waiting for MTD (bother reservation and no reservations) as we exited.  It thought it was a terrible system, as MTD guests could not eat in the dining room early and then catch a show, etc.  

 

I wonder if Indy will be using Harmony’s MTD schedule.  If so, I suggest you consider switching to traditional dining.  If you stay with MTD, you cannot dine early.  You likely will have to stand in line to be seating at close to the same time as late dining.  

[AlohaLivin]

36 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Many ships have now gone to later MTD starts so that they can use all 3 dining rooms for early seating. 

Doing my best Johnny Carson imitation - I foresee lots of in-cabin dinners in our future.... 🔮

[Ourusualbeach]

3 minutes ago, AlohaLivin said:

Doing my best Johnny Carson imitation - I foresee lots of in-cabin dinners in our future.... 🔮

At least its a nice cabin.

[AlohaLivin]

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

At least its a nice cabin.

True, true 😁 and you would know  - that MDR menu does make one more willing!

Edited April 28, 2020 by AlohaLivin

[boscobeans]

I called and the rep. said the MTD still has times starting at 5  or 5:30, but you can't access on cruise planner or on the phone,  only once you get on board... 

Sounds dumb to me

Edited April 28, 2020 by boscobeans

[Ourusualbeach]

4 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

I called and the rep. said the MTD still has times starting at 5  or 5:30, but you can't access on cruise planner or on the phone,  only once you get on board... 

Sounds dumb to me

I seriously wonder if that rep has current information.  It's been well documented here on several ships that MTD is not available until later.

[Starry Eyes]

4 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I seriously wonder if that rep has current information.  It's been well documented here on several ships that MTD is not available until later.

I wonder, too.  How would the rep know what the MTD schedule will be on that ship in the future?  Personally, those reservation times would sway my thoughts more than some phone rep’s words.

 

There were a lot of people standing in lines waiting for MTD to open to open on Harmony.  Sometimes there were so many people waiting for MTD when we left early dining that we could barely get to the elevators and we could not navigate the crowd to reach the stairs.  People with MTD looked very frustrated; some were lining up as we entered for our early dining, even though MTD would not begin until early dining was over.  Before the cruise, I read on CC that MTD on Harmony was disorganized, so I selected traditional dining.  I am glad we had traditional dining because disorganized was a severe understatement.  To me, they totally ruin MTD when they start it utilize all seats for early dining; MTD becomes just a variation late dining (a variation where one must stand in line for a different table at slightly different time).  I’ll stick with traditional dining after witnessing that.

[boscobeans]

Called once again on another topic and once that was settled asked once again about the late times for MTD.

 

I was again told there are earlier times but they must be reserved on board, OR ( get this ) YOU MIGHT TRY CALLING 30 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE???

 

From the days of traditional early and late,  to MTD,  to Dynamic with four different but the same restaurants and making specific reservations often months in advance the whole system has become at times frustrating? 

 

I guess it's just a matter of standing in line at the podium waiting to make reservations on day one and hopefully being able to dine when we want. LOL

[Starry Eyes]

30 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

Called once again on another topic and once that was settled asked once again about the late times for MTD.

 

I was again told there are earlier times but they must be reserved on board, OR ( get this ) YOU MIGHT TRY CALLING 30 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE???

 

From the days of traditional early and late,  to MTD,  to Dynamic with four different but the same restaurants and making specific reservations often months in advance the whole system has become at times frustrating? 

 

I guess it's just a matter of standing in line at the podium waiting to make reservations on day one and hopefully being able to dine when we want. LOL

I really do hope you will be able to done when you want if you keep MTD.  I just cannot fathom how a telephone rep could know with certainty that earlier MTD reservation times will be available when you board.  So much is in flux now.  At least you are forewarned that MTD has significantly changed on some ships and, if it has changed on yours, MTD begins only after early traditional diners have finished their meals.

[boscobeans]

1 hour ago, Starry Eyes said:

  At least you are forewarned that MTD has significantly changed on some ships and, if it has changed on yours, MTD begins only after early traditional diners have finished their meals.

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[Sunshine3601]

I have 5 future cruises booked and I have reserved MTD for 5:30 pm for each of them.    I do this when making the booking by phone (usually thru casino royale CSR desk).   

Anthem, Adventure, Jewel and Rhapsody.     We have always picked this time and did so in January on Allure and Serenade.   

[Starry Eyes]

18 hours ago, boscobeans said:

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Do you need further clarification?  MTD schedules have changed on some ships (ruinously, IMHO, that is why I am trying to forewarn you of the possibility).  I’ll try to clarify.

 

Now on some ships, every seat in every dining room is utilized for traditional early dining. On those ships, when the early diners finish their dinners and leave what will become the MTD dining room, only then does MTD actually begin. 

 

On this ships, that means no option of catching an early meal in the dining room if one has MTD.  Also, there is a huge backlog of MTD people wanting dinner by the time MTD opens, so long lines of discontent people with and without reservations may form when MTD does open.  Personally, I would not want MTD on those terms; I’d just pick early or late to miss the hassle.  Your cruise, your choice.

 

I do not know if your sailing will have the old MTD schedule (I really hope so) or the revised one.  Still, when even months in advance one does not see any 5:30-6:00-6:30 MTD reservation times any night of the cruise, one might consider the possibility that that ship might be going to the altered MTD schedule.  

 

[davekathy]

On 4/28/2020 at 12:11 PM, boscobeans said:

I called and the rep. said the MTD still has times starting at 5  or 5:30, but you can't access on cruise planner or on the phone,  only once you get on board... 

Sounds dumb to me

On 29 April I made reservations (6:00 PM) for MTD for our 6 March and 13 March 2021 Rhapsody cruise thru my CP. 

[gatour]

7 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

Do you need further clarification?  MTD schedules have changed on some ships (ruinously, IMHO, that is why I am trying to forewarn you of the possibility).  I’ll try to clarify.

 

Now on some ships, every seat in every dining room is utilized for traditional early dining. On those ships, when the early diners finish their dinners and leave what will become the MTD dining room, only then does MTD actually begin. 

 

On this ships, that means no option of catching an early meal in the dining room if one has MTD.  Also, there is a huge backlog of MTD people wanting dinner by the time MTD opens, so long lines of discontent people with and without reservations may form when MTD does open.  Personally, I would not want MTD on those terms; I’d just pick early or late to miss the hassle.  Your cruise, your choice.

 

I do not know if your sailing will have the old MTD schedule (I really hope so) or the revised one.  Still, when even months in advance one does not see any 5:30-6:00-6:30 MTD reservation times any night of the cruise, one might consider the possibility that that ship might be going to the altered MTD schedule.  

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

So in essence they have turned the MDR on the ships that have implemented this back into set time dining.

 

I haven't seen this mentioned on other threads.  Sorry ourusualbeach.

[AlohaLivin]

I say it’s a vast conspiracy to get us all into suites on the larger ships in order to opt for “whatever time works for you” dining in the Coastal Kitchen 🤔😬

Edited May 2, 2020 by AlohaLivin

[Desert Cruizers]

We may be to early to get our times for next April on the Ovation, didn't see any time options.