cellfree Posted November 29, 2023 #1 Share Posted November 29, 2023 Well, live and learn for me! Upcoming cruise Sunday, four days out, first Royal cruise in a long time. Chose (or were given it as reservation was made so long ago I forget) My Time Dining. What I did not know was that you can go on the App and reserve your dining time early, I discovered this today. As a result what is now left are times later than 7:30/7:45, too late for us. I suppose we will be experiencing the Buffet for dinner more often than not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #2 Share Posted November 29, 2023 6 minutes ago, cellfree said: Well, live and learn for me! Upcoming cruise Sunday, four days out, first Royal cruise in a long time. Chose (or were given it as reservation was made so long ago I forget) My Time Dining. What I did not know was that you can go on the App and reserve your dining time early, I discovered this today. As a result what is now left are times later than 7:30/7:45, too late for us. I suppose we will be experiencing the Buffet for dinner more often than not. The times you are seeing are now the times MTD starts. No early time slots for MTD like pre shutdown. Reason why we switched back to early TD. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted November 29, 2023 #3 Share Posted November 29, 2023 1 minute ago, doghog said: The times you are seeing are now the times MTD starts. No early time slots for MTD like pre shutdown. Reason why we switched back to early TD. MTD starts at 6:45 on most ships. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #4 Share Posted November 29, 2023 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Another_Critic said: MTD starts at 6:45 on most ships. Still too late for us. TD of 5:30 is also a dumb move by RC. Edited November 29, 2023 by doghog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted November 29, 2023 #5 Share Posted November 29, 2023 3 minutes ago, doghog said: Still too late for us. Dumb move by RC. I agree, but maybe "everyone" was booking MTD for the same time as early, so they just decided it made more sense to expand early into the MTD area. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovesthebeach2 Posted November 29, 2023 #6 Share Posted November 29, 2023 9 minutes ago, doghog said: The times you are seeing are now the times MTD starts. No early time slots for MTD like pre shutdown. Reason why we switched back to early TD. Same for us, we switched back to Early dining. We used to always do MTD, which we would book for 6 and usually get there around 545. Now early dining says 530, but they want you there at 5. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovesthebeach2 Posted November 29, 2023 #7 Share Posted November 29, 2023 20 minutes ago, cellfree said: Well, live and learn for me! Upcoming cruise Sunday, four days out, first Royal cruise in a long time. Chose (or were given it as reservation was made so long ago I forget) My Time Dining. What I did not know was that you can go on the App and reserve your dining time early, I discovered this today. As a result what is now left are times later than 7:30/7:45, too late for us. I suppose we will be experiencing the Buffet for dinner more often than not. Last month on our cruise there were many empty tables in our area during early dining, and so within half an hour they were bringing in MTD guests. So get in line early and you may get in. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #8 Share Posted November 29, 2023 2 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said: Same for us, we switched back to Early dining. We used to always do MTD, which we would book for 6 and usually get there around 545. Now early dining says 530, but they want you there at 5. Not happening for us. We'll still be sitting in the CL enjoying a cheese snack and a drink or two. Then we'll slowly walk into the MDR between 5:30 and 5:40. We'll have a two top. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #9 Share Posted November 29, 2023 7 minutes ago, Another_Critic said: I agree, but maybe "everyone" was booking MTD for the same time as early, so they just decided it made more sense to expand early into the MTD area. I don't know. I have read different reason here on CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crzndeb Posted November 29, 2023 #10 Share Posted November 29, 2023 Many have had luck with going to the podium around 6, and being seated at tables that Early Traditional did not show up for. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONECRUISER Posted November 29, 2023 #11 Share Posted November 29, 2023 (edited) 10 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said: Same for us, we switched back to Early dining. We used to always do MTD, which we would book for 6 and usually get there around 545. Now early dining says 530, but they want you there at 5. Early Main Dining at 530 but they want you there at 5? What does that mean?... Early Main Dining has been 500 or 515 on my cruises. Little early for those on West Coast time. was like eating at 2pm for my Daughter and Grand Daughter, me it was no biggie. MTD started at 615 last month, with a long line forming going back to Cetrum on many nites. When I started Cruising Royal Early was 6 or 630, 2nd seating was 830 or 9 Edited November 29, 2023 by ONECRUISER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donsyb Posted November 29, 2023 #12 Share Posted November 29, 2023 35 minutes ago, cellfree said: Well, live and learn for me! Upcoming cruise Sunday, four days out, first Royal cruise in a long time. Chose (or were given it as reservation was made so long ago I forget) My Time Dining. What I did not know was that you can go on the App and reserve your dining time early, I discovered this today. As a result what is now left are times later than 7:30/7:45, too late for us. I suppose we will be experiencing the Buffet for dinner more often than not. You don’t have to have a reservation, you can just get in the no reservation line around the time (or before) the time You prefer to eat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #13 Share Posted November 29, 2023 9 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said: Early Main Dining at 530 but they want you there at 5? What does that mean?... Early Main Dining has been 500 or 515 on my cruises. Little early for those on West Coast time. was like eating at 2pm for my Daughter and Grand Daughter, me it was no biggie. MTD started at 615 last month, with a long line forming going back to Cetrum on many nites. When I started Cruising Royal Early was 6 or 630, 2nd seating was 830 or 9 Early TD for our upcoming Radiance cruise starts at 5:30. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #14 Share Posted November 29, 2023 3 minutes ago, Donsyb said: You don’t have to have a reservation, you can just get in the no reservation line around the time (or before) the time You prefer to eat I've seen those long non reservation lines for MTD. No way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-leg5 Posted November 29, 2023 #15 Share Posted November 29, 2023 33 minutes ago, doghog said: Still too late for us. TD of 5:30 is also a dumb move by RC. What time do you want TD? Doesn’t exact time vary from ship to ship depending where it is sailing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellfree Posted November 29, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted November 29, 2023 Sounds like a lot of craziness. So now my question is, can I change dining request prior to cruise or is it easier to try and do so once on board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted November 29, 2023 #17 Share Posted November 29, 2023 49 minutes ago, doghog said: The times you are seeing are now the times MTD starts. No early time slots for MTD like pre shutdown. Reason why we switched back to early TD. Indeed, as you know....we as well. And no lines to wait in. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovesthebeach2 Posted November 29, 2023 #18 Share Posted November 29, 2023 19 minutes ago, doghog said: Early TD for our upcoming Radiance cruise starts at 5:30. Which Radiance cruise? We also have an upcoming cruise on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted November 29, 2023 #19 Share Posted November 29, 2023 22 minutes ago, doghog said: Early TD for our upcoming Radiance cruise starts at 5:30. Mine as well on Serenade. 🙂 Now that I had to jump through several hoops to get it. 😮 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted November 29, 2023 #20 Share Posted November 29, 2023 22 minutes ago, doghog said: I've seen those long non reservation lines for MTD. No way. Was extremely bad on Jewel last year. A huge line of very upset pax almost every night. Happy we had early TD! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovesthebeach2 Posted November 29, 2023 #21 Share Posted November 29, 2023 31 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said: Early Main Dining at 530 but they want you there at 5? What does that mean?... Early Main Dining has been 500 or 515 on my cruises. Little early for those on West Coast time. was like eating at 2pm for my Daughter and Grand Daughter, me it was no biggie. MTD started at 615 last month, with a long line forming going back to Cetrum on many nites. When I started Cruising Royal Early was 6 or 630, 2nd seating was 830 or 9 Yes the early time was 530 and the sign outside said 5:15 but our servers said it would be good if we came at 5. We didn’t but they asked if we could. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #22 Share Posted November 29, 2023 1 hour ago, lovesthebeach2 said: Which Radiance cruise? We also have an upcoming cruise on it I should have said future cruise. March 2025. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #23 Share Posted November 29, 2023 1 hour ago, island lady said: Was extremely bad on Jewel last year. A huge line of very upset pax almost every night. Happy we had early TD! I remember it was that bad on our March 2022 B2B cruise on the Explorer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted November 29, 2023 #24 Share Posted November 29, 2023 2 hours ago, c-leg5 said: What time do you want TD? Doesn’t exact time vary from ship to ship depending where it is sailing? Like it use to be. Early TD and MTD at 6 PM. I have no idea as we haven't cruised fleetwide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelblu Posted November 29, 2023 #25 Share Posted November 29, 2023 3 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said: Last month on our cruise there were many empty tables in our area during early dining, and so within half an hour they were bringing in MTD guests. So get in line early and you may get in. That has been my experience on my last 4 sails no matter which deck I was dining at. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now