My Time Dining versus Show times

[rjp50]

We recently booked a cruise on the Allure.  I am confused about the times available for My Time Dining and in particular how that works with show times.  It appears that the earliest you can get into MTD is 6:45.  Even if that were possible for us (it isn't since the first available reservation isn't until 8:00), how could we possibly eat and still see shows like the Abba show that starts at 8 PM?  All of the other early shows are also impossible to see with MTD.  Any other cruise line that we have sailed on allows open dining as early as 5:30 so that you can still see the early shows that start at 7 PM.  Am I missing some secret sauce to allow eating earlier without the constraint of fixed dining at 5:15 which seems too early for us?

Edited January 11 by rjp50

[TheDawg79]

On the days when you want to see a show that doesn’t jive with your MTD time, you have 4 options:

1) Go to the MDR stand by line

2) Make a speciality dining reservation

3) Buffet

4) go to a different free dining option

 

also, many shows have both an early and a late showing each day. 

Edited January 11 by TheDawg79

[taglovestocruise]

1 hour ago, rjp50 said:

We recently booked a cruise on the Allure.  I am confused about the times available for My Time Dining and in particular how that works with show times.  It appears that the earliest you can get into MTD is 6:45.  Even if that were possible for us (it isn't since the first available reservation isn't until 8:00), how could we possibly eat and still see shows like the Abba show that starts at 8 PM?  All of the other early shows are also impossible to see with MTD.  Any other cruise line that we have sailed on allows open dining as early as 5:30 so that you can still see the early shows that start at 7 PM.  Am I missing some secret sauce to allow eating earlier without the constraint of fixed dining at 5:15 which seems too early for us?

MTD is open until 9pm, show is only 45 minutes.  We have sailed on most Oasis Class ships with late traditional and have never missed out on any show.  

[Edward51]

57 minutes ago, rjp50 said:

We recently booked a cruise on the Allure.  I am confused about the times available for My Time Dining and in particular how that works with show times.  It appears that the earliest you can get into MTD is 6:45.  Even if that were possible for us (it isn't since the first available reservation isn't until 8:00), how could we possibly eat and still see shows like the Abba show that starts at 8 PM?  All of the other early shows are also impossible to see with MTD.  Any other cruise line that we have sailed on allows open dining as early as 5:30 so that you can still see the early shows that start at 7 PM.  Am I missing some secret sauce to allow eating earlier without the constraint of fixed dining at 5:15 which seems too early for us?

Cannot wait to hear the responses.  I was about to post the same question.  We are a group of six with two younger children 11 and 8.  The earliest we can get my time on Symphony is 8:15.  As you say, other cruise lines allow “my time” to lineup when it opens.  Even their own sister line, Celebrity allows booking and lineups to begin at opening.

 

Why RCL has “our time dining” instead of “my time dining” is beyond me. Parents with small children do not want to wait until 8 pm.  Yes, the Windjammer is a choice but we are paying for a meal that comes with a wait staff.  Also I am sure that RCL has specialty restaurants but that can get expensive with children.  Just wondering if anyone knows why it is RCL time and not my time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rjp50]

For health reasons by several members of our party, late dining is not an option.  I was hoping that I was just missing something but based on the responses so far, we are very disappointed in Royal.  I've never been on any cruise line that doesn't open up the any time dining room until 6:45 and then is booked solid to 8 PM.  I just checked about switching to 5:15 traditional dining and that is booked.  I can't believe we will be paying that kind of money and have to eat in a cafeteria.

[Edward51]

3 minutes ago, rjp50 said:

For health reasons by several members of our party, late dining is not an option.  I was hoping that I was just missing something but based on the responses so far, we are very disappointed in Royal.  I've never been on any cruise line that doesn't open up the any time dining room until 6:45 and then is booked solid to 8 PM.  I just checked about switching to 5:15 traditional dining and that is booked.  I can't believe we will be paying that kind of money and have to eat in a cafeteria.

Our TA put us on an early sitting wait list.  Fingers crossed.

[shipgeeks]

OP, Are you not willing to do Early Traditional dining?

[LeeW]

The 645 start (varies a bit by ship) has been around since before the restart.  Royal uses the Mytime dining room for early early seating at around 515 and this is the average time those folks get done eating.  Once a significant number leave they open the doors to Mytime.  Since we eat at the same time each night we get in the reservation line at around 630 and wait for doors to open.  After a few days they either wave us to the table we normally sit at or put us at another in the same server area.

 

Generally the reservation line moves faster than the no-reservation line.  Also if the lines are getting long one of the greeters will walk down both lines and ask if anyone wants to be seated immediately on another floor.  If so, they escort them there.  Lines can still be long on the first night and formal nights but with a 645 reservation we are normally being served by 7.  And some nights they ask us to show up earlier than normal to help adjust that surge when they open.

 

When you first get onboard, go to the main dining room that is open for lunch seating.  The host can adjust or make dining reservations for you.

[Edward51]

21 minutes ago, LeeW said:

The 645 start (varies a bit by ship) has been around since before the restart.  Royal uses the Mytime dining room for early early seating at around 515 and this is the average time those folks get done eating.  Once a significant number leave they open the doors to Mytime.  Since we eat at the same time each night we get in the reservation line at around 630 and wait for doors to open.  After a few days they either wave us to the table we normally sit at or put us at another in the same server area.

 

Generally the reservation line moves faster than the no-reservation line.  Also if the lines are getting long one of the greeters will walk down both lines and ask if anyone wants to be seated immediately on another floor.  If so, they escort them there.  Lines can still be long on the first night and formal nights but with a 645 reservation we are normally being served by 7.  And some nights they ask us to show up earlier than normal to help adjust that surge when they open.

 

When you first get onboard, go to the main dining room that is open for lunch seating.  The host can adjust or make dining reservations for you.

Thank you so much.  That was very helpful.

 

 It is not ideal but sounds much better than I thought.  Like you said, seeing the maitre’d on the first day may help.  Again thanks.

[Pinballs83]

I MTD at 7 or 730 and have no issues seeing all the shows on Oasis class, same on Odyssey.  One night the water show started at like 10pm, giving you plenty of time.  You should nave no issues making the 9 or 930 shows.  I am usually done at eating in an hour. Something tells me your Abba show will be on at 8 and 10 and a recent review on cruise critic seems to agree with that.  They normally shows at least two times in one day and the water and ice show on many different days.

Also you can tell your waiter you are in a hurry.  They will accommodate for you and bring food fast.

You should be fine, no worries!

Edited January 12 by Pinballs83

[Edward51]

14 hours ago, LeeW said:

When you first get onboard, go to the main dining room that is open for lunch seating.  The host can adjust or make dining reservations for you.

Our TA put us one the early wait list a few days ago.  She just confirmed our party of 6 has been moved to early from open on the SOS for Feb 4.  Perhaps having an 11 and 8 year old in the group helped.

[rjp50]

17 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

OP, Are you not willing to do Early Traditional dining?

There are no reservations available at the 5:15 seating.  While my original concern was just the shows, I realize now that one member of our party of 6 is severely diabetic and can't wait until 8 PM to eat.  We are trying to escalate the situation with Royal.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

1 hour ago, rjp50 said:

There are no reservations available at the 5:15 seating.  While my original concern was just the shows, I realize now that one member of our party of 6 is severely diabetic and can't wait until 8 PM to eat.  We are trying to escalate the situation with Royal.

I'm sorry, but escalate it for what?  It sounds like you want one of two things to happen...

1) You get put in TD at 5:15.  Assuming all the tables are full (hence the wait list), who should Royal bump out of their reservation to give you the table?

2) Moved "up" to earlier than 8p on the MTD dining list.  Again, who should be bumped off their reservation?

 

Take things into your own control...

1) Have a late lunch/snacks so you & diabetic party member CAN wait until 8p.

2) Eat in the WJ

3) Line up for MTD at 6 in the "non-reservation" line.  Heck, I'd even try 5:30, hoping some TD folks don't show up and they open those tables early. 

 

All of the above are free.  If you want to spend money (and I totally understand not), make reservations at a specialty restaurant or order room service. 

[Edward51]

2 hours ago, rjp50 said:

There are no reservations available at the 5:15 seating.  While my original concern was just the shows, I realize now that one member of our party of 6 is severely diabetic and can't wait until 8 PM to eat.  We are trying to escalate the situation with Royal.

 

18 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

I'm sorry, but escalate it for what?  It sounds like you want one of two things to happen...

1) You get put in TD at 5:15.  Assuming all the tables are full (hence the wait list), who should Royal bump out of their reservation to give you the table?

2) Moved "up" to earlier than 8p on the MTD dining list.  Again, who should be bumped off their reservation?

 

Take things into your own control...

1) Have a late lunch/snacks so you & diabetic party member CAN wait until 8p.

2) Eat in the WJ

3) Line up for MTD at 6 in the "non-reservation" line.  Heck, I'd even try 5:30, hoping some TD folks don't show up and they open those tables early. 

 

All of the above are free.  If you want to spend money (and I totally understand not), make reservations at a specialty restaurant or order room service. 

If you have a Travel Agent have them put you on a wait list.  Can’t hurt to try.  Worked for us.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

8 minutes ago, Edward51 said:

 

If you have a Travel Agent have them put you on a wait list.  Can’t hurt to try.  Worked for us.

Yes, sorry, I should have included going on a wait list.  I was more commenting on "We are trying to escalate the situation with Royal."  What do they want Royal to do? 

[rjp50]

3 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

I'm sorry, but escalate it for what?  It sounds like you want one of two things to happen...

1) You get put in TD at 5:15.  Assuming all the tables are full (hence the wait list), who should Royal bump out of their reservation to give you the table?

2) Moved "up" to earlier than 8p on the MTD dining list.  Again, who should be bumped off their reservation?

 

Take things into your own control...

1) Have a late lunch/snacks so you & diabetic party member CAN wait until 8p.

2) Eat in the WJ

3) Line up for MTD at 6 in the "non-reservation" line.  Heck, I'd even try 5:30, hoping some TD folks don't show up and they open those tables early. 

 

All of the above are free.  If you want to spend money (and I totally understand not), make reservations at a specialty restaurant or order room service. 

We just got a response back from our request to Royal.  They found a table with 3 elderly couples, all of whom were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and having their vows renewed onboard.  They were able to bump them in our favor.

 

Naah, I'm kidding.  However, like any large operation, they must keep some tables reserved for special circumstances such as this.  It never hurts to ask and Royal delivered.  They also volunteered to have a special refrigerator in the diabetic's room for her insulin.  I never would have thought of that.

[Edward51]

1 hour ago, rjp50 said:

We just got a response back from our request to Royal.  They found a table with 3 elderly couples, all of whom were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and having their vows renewed onboard.  They were able to bump them in our favor.

 

Naah, I'm kidding.  However, like any large operation, they must keep some tables reserved for special circumstances such as this.  It never hurts to ask and Royal delivered.  They also volunteered to have a special refrigerator in the diabetic's room for her insulin.  I never would have thought of that.

I love happy endings…with a bit of humour😀

[Mom*3]

We book our cruises about 6 months in advance and often times, our preferred dining time (Early traditional) is full. The last few times I’ve even been told the wait list is full. I immediately book the earliest MTD times that the system allows, so I have something in the system.
As the cruise gets closer, I start calling about once a week. I’ve eventually been successful in switching from MTD to Early traditional every time. But, if I wasn’t successful, my plan would be to head to the Maitre d’ as soon as I board and make my request for Early dining, realizing that I may have to wait until night 2, after things start to shake out. While I was at the Maitre d’, I would also ask if they could adjust my MTD reservation times to the earliest available.

I think you will be successful in switching to Early once on board, even if it takes until Night 2 or 3. Good Luck!

[Softball20]

Sailing on the Allure next month with our grands, ages 4&5. We had MTD, which would have been fine but for trying to figure out how to make a 7:00pm show and the dining room not opening until 6:45. Luckily today I found out that we were able to get early dining, which will be great for that night with the show. We have one specialty dining night booked, too. My question, though, is for the other two nights can we show up for the MTD?  Even at the kids’ ages, 5:15 is a bit early for all of us!  

[rncruiser]

We were recently on Odyssey. The earliest MTD reservation we could get was for 7:15, which would make getting to an 8 pm show impossible. As I have  gotten older it is too difficult for me to stay awake for a 10 pm show. We went to the dining room when MTD started at 6:45 and were told to get in the line for those with reservations. We were seated with no difficulty every night. 

[taglovestocruise]

3 hours ago, Softball20 said:

Sailing on the Allure next month with our grands, ages 4&5. We had MTD, which would have been fine but for trying to figure out how to make a 7:00pm show and the dining room not opening until 6:45. Luckily today I found out that we were able to get early dining, which will be great for that night with the show. We have one specialty dining night booked, too. My question, though, is for the other two nights can we show up for the MTD?  Even at the kids’ ages, 5:15 is a bit early for all of us!  

Almost always the answer would be no. What you choose is what you get. You can consider Windjammer, we always skip a night or so in the MDR and do WJ instead.  WJ has a pretty good dinner selection.

[jojo412]

On 1/12/2024 at 5:23 PM, rjp50 said:

We just got a response back from our request to Royal.  They found a table with 3 elderly couples, all of whom were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and having their vows renewed onboard.  They were able to bump them in our favor.

 

Naah, I'm kidding.  However, like any large operation, they must keep some tables reserved for special circumstances such as this.  It never hurts to ask and Royal delivered.  They also volunteered to have a special refrigerator in the diabetic's room for her insulin.  I never would have thought of that.

Hi there! Can you share who you contacted to get this accommodation? I have the same situation, with one of our party being diabetic and also having 2 small children in our party as well. Would greatly appreciate the info!

[Edward51]

See my original response #11.

 

Our Travel Agent (TA) first put our group of (4 adult 2 children) 6 on a waiting list and one day later we were moved to early dining on level 4 for 5 pm.  if you do not have a TA phone RCL directly.

 

  If you have not been able to change see the maître’d when you board.  You might have to wait until day two for the change.  We have been onboard for five days and have seen many changing their times or tables.  They seem to be very accommodating.
 

I can report that the food has been great.  All service, staff has been top notch.  Do not miss the diving show!  Book your entertainment before you go.  We usually travel Celebrity but with grandchildren opted for RCL.  All of the group have been very, very pleased.  What a beautiful ship.  Enjoy

[kpjb]

This is disappointing to hear.  We just booked our first cruise on RCL for a trip to Alaska in June.  We've cruised many times on NCL and we're sort of used to just walking up to a restaurant and being seated.

The only set time dining available is 8pm.  We're from the east coast, so I prefer not to eat at what is essentially midnight for us.  We got the My Time dining, but the earliest reservations available are 7:15-7:30.  So what I'm understanding here is that either we eat late or it's the buffet every night?  Please let me know if I'm missing something here.

 

[Edward51]

11 minutes ago, kpjb said:

This is disappointing to hear.  We just booked our first cruise on RCL for a trip to Alaska in June.  We've cruised many times on NCL and we're sort of used to just walking up to a restaurant and being seated.

The only set time dining available is 8pm.  We're from the east coast, so I prefer not to eat at what is essentially midnight for us.  We got the My Time dining, but the earliest reservations available are 7:15-7:30.  So what I'm understanding here is that either we eat late or it's the buffet every night?  Please let me know if I'm missing something here.

 

As I mentioned, RCL seemed to be very accommodating.  Phone them.  Get on a wait list.  Failing that see the maitr’d on the first day.  You should be fine.