What time does MTD actually start?

[dianajo67]

In the past, we’ve never had a problem setting up MTD for 545 or 600 pm.  Over the last few years, it seems cruise planner never offers anything earlier than 730.  I don’t believe the earlier times are already gone.  I’m on here every day and make my dining reservations the day they are released.   I also don’t believe they actually make people wait until 730 to eat at their “preferred dining time”.  
 

Going on Explorer in late November/December from San Juan ( if it goes).  Does anyone know when MTD actually starts?  It’s not just this cruise.  I have stuff booked all the way to March of 2023 and same issue getting earlier MTD times on every ship.  Ive started booking earlier traditional (530), but that not ideal because we’d only be in the dining room like 3 nights during the week.  Hate doing that to the servers.  If MTD actually starts at 6-630, we’ll do that even if we can’t reserve ahead.  Hate screwing over the main dining staff by rarely being there.

[Jasukkie]

I have MTD on my next cruise (Ovation) and made reservations for 7pm each night but it looks like it opens on my sailing at 6:45pm. Not sure if that is a glitch or real life.

[dianajo67]

Just now, Jasukkie said:

I have MTD on my next cruise (Ovation) and made reservations for 7pm each night but it looks like it opens on my sailing at 6:45pm. Not sure if that is a glitch or real life.

Thank you.  I did get a 7 pm on one of my cruises too.  Just find it hard to believe that families can’t MTD earlier than 645 if they need that flexibility.  I travel with my elderly parents (healthy 80s) most of the time and they want to eat early.  It’s crazy to advertise MTD as eat when you want, but only have later times….especially with the windjammer closed for dinner until who knows when.

[ONECRUISER]

Before CV I'd been on Royal ships started at 515, 530 and 6. Depended on Ship and Sailing. Do only B2B or longer and one week Early Main Dining would be 5:30, the next 6:00. One week MTD started before, next after, In CV times unfortunately more limited. Good Luck!

[poocher]

I would just take the early dining & let them know (or not) when you won’t be there.  If the servers know not to wait for you, not sure how they are impacted.

Edited August 27, 2021 by poocher

[Jasukkie]

17 minutes ago, dianajo67 said:

Thank you.  I did get a 7 pm on one of my cruises too.  Just find it hard to believe that families can’t MTD earlier than 645 if they need that flexibility.  I travel with my elderly parents (healthy 80s) most of the time and they want to eat early.  It’s crazy to advertise MTD as eat when you want, but only have later times….especially with the windjammer closed for dinner until who knows when.

Maybe it's related to no one under the age of 12 being able to have MTD? Or maybe there will be availability once onboard. 

 

I usually book traditional dining but it wasn't available as a choice when I booked the cruise. 7PM works fine for us though. 

 

 

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, dianajo67 said:

 Does anyone know when MTD actually starts? 

Most reports indicate 6:30 being the earliest available for booking online. 

[HicksRA]

I’ve noticed this as well.  In the past I’ve always reserved MTD early (as in @ 5:30). Lately the earliest possible is around 7:00 so I don’t bother to make a reservation. We have a suite coming up on the 5th so I’ll ask the concierge when he sends an email what is the earliest he can reserve for us. 
Maybe they’re just saving all early seating for walk ups.  

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, Jasukkie said:

Maybe it's related to no one under the age of 12 being able to have MTD? Or maybe there will be availability once onboard. 

 

I usually book traditional dining but it wasn't available as a choice when I booked the cruise. 7PM works fine for us though. 

 

 

we have a 10 yo with us and I booked 6:45 for MTD for every night.

[Jasukkie]

20 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

we have a 10 yo with us and I booked 6:45 for MTD for every night.

Really?

I thought MTD was for vaccinated passengers only. Are you on Ovation? Maybe they use two separate dining rooms? If it were up to me I'd take all my meals outside at the Windjammer but that's not an option. 

[ampurp85]

My understanding was that the CP will let you book MTD but when you board those dining option go out the window and you are designated to the unvaxx dining area of the MDR.

[read2learn]

On Adventure last month the earliest was 6:45. They explained that MTD was sharing the same space as regular dining . The 3rd level of dining room was not being used. So there was a 5 or 5:30 dining time then MTD then 8 dining time. This was a fully vaccinated cruise.

[HicksRA]

33 minutes ago, read2learn said:

On Adventure last month the earliest was 6:45. They explained that MTD was sharing the same space as regular dining . The 3rd level of dining room was not being used. So there was a 5 or 5:30 dining time then MTD then 8 dining time. This was a fully vaccinated cruise.

Not real happy about that, but it makes sense. 

[Jerseygirl1416]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Most reports indicate 6:30 being the earliest available for booking online. 

I was able to make 6:30 reservations for our 9/26 Oasis cruise.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

2 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

Really?

I thought MTD was for vaccinated passengers only. Are you on Ovation? Maybe they use two separate dining rooms? If it were up to me I'd take all my meals outside at the Windjammer but that's not an option. 

We are on Harmony in November.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

2 hours ago, ampurp85 said:

My understanding was that the CP will let you book MTD but when you board those dining option go out the window and you are designated to the unvaxx dining area of the MDR.

the only unvaxxed people will be kids, and since it's a Thanksgiving cruise, there will be tons of them...

[dianajo67]

Okay.  Sounds like my fears are true at the moment.  If Id known when I booked the cruises that there would be no windjammer and that MTD wouldn’t start until 645, I would have selected early traditional for every cruise.  Not like you can see cruiseplanner ahead of time.  Now I’m stuck paying for specialty dining or room service to eat dinner at 6 pm.  0530 traditional doesn’t always work because of shore excursion end times and everyone needing to shower.  I know certain people will sling darts my way anyways, but MTD is a complete fraud at the moment.  There is nothing “my” in the way they have it set up.  They should offer a limited windjammer buffet if nothing else….especially on the smaller ships without a la carte dining options.  Only option available to change to is late dining which is even worse for my family.  We’ll survive I’m sure.  It’s hard being the family cruise planner….especially these days!

[Docbizarro]

On adventure out of Nassau we had 6:45pm as the earliest option, we showed up early (as much as 25-30 minutes) and had no problem being seated (at the same table with the same staff)

 

I would recommend booking the earliest time and just show up when you want

[StrikeEagle]

I just got off Independence of the Seas August 15th sailing date.   I asked this question to the host at MTD entrance why I can not reserve before 7:00 pm and what time does MTD opens ?   He said that MTD opens as early as the traditional dinning time at 6:00pm,  the online reservation for MTD is for 7:00 pm and afterward.   Before that just come to MTD and it is first come first serves basis.

[Jasukkie]

35 minutes ago, dianajo67 said:

Okay.  Sounds like my fears are true at the moment.  If Id known when I booked the cruises that there would be no windjammer and that MTD wouldn’t start until 645, I would have selected early traditional for every cruise.  Not like you can see cruiseplanner ahead of time.  Now I’m stuck paying for specialty dining or room service to eat dinner at 6 pm.  0530 traditional doesn’t always work because of shore excursion end times and everyone needing to shower.  I know certain people will sling darts my way anyways, but MTD is a complete fraud at the moment.  There is nothing “my” in the way they have it set up.  They should offer a limited windjammer buffet if nothing else….especially on the smaller ships without a la carte dining options.  Only option available to change to is late dining which is even worse for my family.  We’ll survive I’m sure.  It’s hard being the family cruise planner….especially these days!

No darts slung. I'm a big fan of the Windjammer for dinner. It's a big hole to me not having it. I'm not a fan of the snack bar pizza and there really aren't any other options from late afternoon on. I'm a value minded cruiser so I really don't feel like spending money on specialty restaurants that I've found to be underwhelming in the past. 

 

Everyone has different things that matter to them. They could close the casino and not run any shows and I wouldn't care. Obviously, it's not keeping me from cruising but I'm right there with you on this.

[ampurp85]

@Itchy&Scratchy Children under 12 are consider the unvaxx. Saw plenty of people on FB complaining about this on Adventure, Freedom and Allure so far. Also heard about people who brought the Key because it was available in CP but later cancelled because of protocols. RCG says families with children cannot use MTD.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

8 minutes ago, ampurp85 said:

Children under 12 are consider the unvaxx.

they are not just considered unvaxxed, they are actually unvaxxed.

We don't know yet about how things will go in November.

[ampurp85]

@Itchy&ScratchyFirst of all I love the Simpsons and when they visit Itchy and Scratchy land is in my  top 10 episodes.

 

Now I am one of those people who have been a realist about this whole thing. When people thought sailings would return in 2020, I know summer of 2021 would be earliest. In June when the first sailings started and people kept saying how things will change daily and rapidly I laughed. I knew that protocols released in July would be pretty much it for 2021. I let everyone in my party know that mask, test, limited ports etc. might be a thing. The Sept protocols are stricter than July/Aug and I am 95% sure that they will remain the same until maybe Jan 22' the latest. I don't think flu season will see the letup of protocols.

[VegasVic14]

Reserved 6:45, the earliest time available, for all nights on our B2B next July.

The problem I'm having, yet to be resolved by RCI, is that each cruise is 8 nights and the reservation system on the Daily Planner only recognizes 7 nights. Their email to me says the Planner has been "repaired" to allow for 8 nights. My return response to them was that the problem still exists. 
Looks as if I'll have to call them.
 

[GTO-Girl]

7 hours ago, dianajo67 said:

In the past, we’ve never had a problem setting up MTD for 545 or 600 pm.  Over the last few years, it seems cruise planner never offers anything earlier than 730.  I don’t believe the earlier times are already gone.  I’m on here every day and make my dining reservations the day they are released.   I also don’t believe they actually make people wait until 730 to eat at their “preferred dining time”.  
 

Going on Explorer in late November/December from San Juan ( if it goes).  Does anyone know when MTD actually starts?  It’s not just this cruise.  I have stuff booked all the way to March of 2023 and same issue getting earlier MTD times on every ship.  Ive started booking earlier traditional (530), but that not ideal because we’d only be in the dining room like 3 nights during the week.  Hate doing that to the servers.  If MTD actually starts at 6-630, we’ll do that even if we can’t reserve ahead.  Hate screwing over the main dining staff by rarely being there.

Pre-Covid the problem was they were utilizing the MTD dining room to seat some Traditional dining from about 5pm until 6:15.  So all those who wanted early MTD and those wanting 6:30-7:00pm MTD would all be at the dining room doors at the same time.

 

This was on the Oasis class of ships and I have no idea why they changed it.  We have stopped booking MTD and gone back to early Traditional.  It was a mess and we got tired of it.