Yet more of those first time cruiser questions!

[Shoegazer73]

Only a few weeks now until we board our first cruise on Voyager of the Seas (Western Med) and I have a few nagging questions for you good folk. 

 

Do I select a dining time for the MDR in advance, or when I board the ship? How flexible are they with the timings? (There will be 5 adults in total). 

 

I have purchased the deluxe drinks package already and want to know how to get bottled water for the cabin. 

 

Is the ship essentially cashless except for the casino? Trying to judge how many $'s we need to bring with us. 

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[njkruzer]

Just now, Shoegazer73 said:

Only a few weeks now until we board our first cruise on Voyager of the Seas (Western Med) and I have a few nagging questions for you good folk. 

 

Do I select a dining time for the MDR in advance, or when I board the ship? How flexible are they with the timings? (There will be 5 adults in total). 

 

I have purchased the deluxe drinks package already and want to know how to get bottled water for the cabin. 

 

Is the ship essentially cashless except for the casino? Trying to judge how many $'s we need to bring with us. 

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ship is cashless except for tips.  Did you pick mtd? You can pick a time but can also just show up.

[Shoegazer73]

19 minutes ago, njkruzer said:

Ship is cashless except for tips.  Did you pick mtd? You can pick a time but can also just show up.

Thanks for the reply, and pardon my obvious ignorance, but how would I be able to tell if I picked mtd? 

[firefly333]

4 minutes ago, Shoegazer73 said:

Thanks for the reply, and pardon my obvious ignorance, but how would I be able to tell if I picked mtd? 

When you booked did you pick a time. You have either early or late or anytime. If early or late the time is already fixed and you cant select other times. Early or late it says your table on your sea pass card and which deck. Only if you have any time dining can you select other times. There is no way we would know. Call whomever you booked with if you dont know. 

[taglovestocruise]

24 minutes ago, Shoegazer73 said:

Only a few weeks now until we board our first cruise on Voyager of the Seas (Western Med) and I have a few nagging questions for you good folk. 

 

Do I select a dining time for the MDR in advance, or when I board the ship? How flexible are they with the timings? (There will be 5 adults in total). 

 

I have purchased the deluxe drinks package already and want to know how to get bottled water for the cabin. 

 

Is the ship essentially cashless except for the casino? Trying to judge how many $'s we need to bring with us. 

 

Thanks in advance. 

1 minute ago, Shoegazer73 said:

Thanks for the reply, and pardon my obvious ignorance, but how would I be able to tell if I picked mtd? 

 

You should have picked your dining choice at the same time you booked the cruise.  You would have been offered MTD, fixed late or fixed early.  Call your TA or Royal to find out what you have, it has already been picked for you. Make a change now if you do not like what you have, waiting to do it after you board the ship is a bad idea.  With the drinks package you just get bottled water from any bar and take back to your cabin. 

[smokeybandit]

Look at your invoice or in the app to know what you have picked for dining time.

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, Shoegazer73 said:

How flexible are they with the timings?

With fixed, you don’t (the app may list the timing). With MTD you have a range from about 6:30 till closing. 

Edited July 17 by Biker19

[OCVTSGIRL]

1 hour ago, Shoegazer73 said:

Thanks for the reply, and pardon my obvious ignorance, but how would I be able to tell if I picked mtd? 

If you picked a time, it is on your confirmation from RCCL.  Under the "guest information" section it says "dining" and your time is there.

[alfaeric]

2 hours ago, Shoegazer73 said:

Only a few weeks now until we board our first cruise on Voyager of the Seas (Western Med) and I have a few nagging questions for you good folk. 

 

Do I select a dining time for the MDR in advance, or when I board the ship? How flexible are they with the timings? (There will be 5 adults in total). 

 

I have purchased the deluxe drinks package already and want to know how to get bottled water for the cabin. 

 

Is the ship essentially cashless except for the casino? Trying to judge how many $'s we need to bring with us. 

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If it’s regular dining, the time was kind of selected when you booked it, most likely. But when you board, you can change it if there is space. 

[Mum2Mercury]

Another way to check your dining time -- and something you probably don't know to do -- is to check the app on your phone.  I'm going to throw out several thoughts -- again, some of which you probably don't know to ask: 

 

- Each adult should download the Royal Caribbean App to his or her phone RIGHT NOW.  If you have My Time Dining, you should reserve your dinner times NOW via the app.  Once you're onboard, you can change your times -- or you can cancel your dinner time and go to the buffet or one of the smaller venues.  We like the MDR but don't necessarily want to eat in the same place 7 nights in a row.  Especially after a island stop, we sometimes just want to put on shorts and eat pizza.  

- You can also get show times, titles of movies they'll be showing, and other entertainment on the phone app.  

- 45 days ahead of your cruise, you need to use the app to reserve a check-in /boarding time.  

- About being on time for dinner:  If you're in Early or Late Traditional Dining, you need to be on time -- it's considered Bad Manners to arrive early or late.  In Traditional Dining, everything's set up to serve Appetizers all at once, Entrees all at once, Desserts all at once.  If you arrive early or late, you'll throw the servers off their game.  On the other hand, My Time Dining is a whole different program, and it's a little more flexible; you don't even have to claim the same dining time every evening.  

- Another thing you'll get on the app is your Muster Drill information.  You should do this safety drill as soon as you board the ship /get it out of the way.  This is literally the law.  

- Five of you aren't sharing a cabin /aren't on the same reservation.  Have you "linked" your reservations?  If not, you should -- this'll help you be assigned to the same dining table in the MDR.  

- When you want a water bottle, go to any bar and ask for one.  If you've bought the very expensive drink package, you've paid for the water bottles, but -- for future reference -- know that the water on the ship is purified just like bottled water.  You can also pick up a glass of ice water at the buffet (or other eating places).  Know, too, that you're allowed to bring 12 non-alcoholic drinks onboard.  And a bottle of wine. 

- Your drink package includes a plastic tumbler, which will make the soda machines work.  The first time you go to any bar onboard, you should ask for your tumbler -- then you're set.  I suggest you bring some stickers so you can tell your drinks apart.  I also suggest you bring a little bit of dishwashing liquid.

- Since you've purchased the drink package, you've already tipped for your drink purchases, but many people opt to bring a stack of single bills and tip $1-2 each time they get a drink.  You're not wrong if you skip this.  

- We don't spend much on the ship, but we do bring $30ish for tips onboard.  

- We bring more cash for off-ship spending.  We prepare an envelope for each island stops; we write our plans /meeting places on the outside and count out cash for tours, lunch, taxis, tips -- whatever we think we'll need -- inside the envelope.  We always pack small bills for tips, which allows us to hand over what we want without needing to ask for change.  

- If you need to know things once you're onboard, ask your Cabin Steward.  He knows everything (or can send you in the right direction).  

 

 

 

 

Edited July 18 by Mum2Mercury

[tashaaa]

I opened this thread and thank you all for very useful information. 

 

We booked a NZ cruise in march 2025 via a TA, and as I got the booking, I don't see my dining time.

Tried to check the app and my cruise planer, but I can't see it written anywhere.

Maybe a suggestion, before I call the TA?

 

It's really nice to be part of this forum, and to see all the helpful tips.

 

 

 

 

 

[Cruise a holic]

9 minutes ago, tashaaa said:

I opened this thread and thank you all for very useful information. 

 

We booked a NZ cruise in march 2025 via a TA, and as I got the booking, I don't see my dining time.

Tried to check the app and my cruise planer, but I can't see it written anywhere.

Maybe a suggestion, before I call the TA?

 

It's really nice to be part of this forum, and to see all the helpful tips.

 

 

 

 

 

Call your TA.  They are paid and need to provide you with all you need to know.

[Shoegazer73]

9 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Another way to check your dining time -- and something you probably don't know to do -- is to check the app on your phone.  I'm going to throw out several thoughts -- again, some of which you probably don't know to ask: 

 

- Each adult should download the Royal Caribbean App to his or her phone RIGHT NOW.  If you have My Time Dining, you should reserve your dinner times NOW via the app.  Once you're onboard, you can change your times -- or you can cancel your dinner time and go to the buffet or one of the smaller venues.  We like the MDR but don't necessarily want to eat in the same place 7 nights in a row.  Especially after a island stop, we sometimes just want to put on shorts and eat pizza.  

- You can also get show times, titles of movies they'll be showing, and other entertainment on the phone app.  

- 45 days ahead of your cruise, you need to use the app to reserve a check-in /boarding time.  

- About being on time for dinner:  If you're in Early or Late Traditional Dining, you need to be on time -- it's considered Bad Manners to arrive early or late.  In Traditional Dining, everything's set up to serve Appetizers all at once, Entrees all at once, Desserts all at once.  If you arrive early or late, you'll throw the servers off their game.  On the other hand, My Time Dining is a whole different program, and it's a little more flexible; you don't even have to claim the same dining time every evening.  

- Another thing you'll get on the app is your Muster Drill information.  You should do this safety drill as soon as you board the ship /get it out of the way.  This is literally the law.  

- Five of you aren't sharing a cabin /aren't on the same reservation.  Have you "linked" your reservations?  If not, you should -- this'll help you be assigned to the same dining table in the MDR.  

- When you want a water bottle, go to any bar and ask for one.  If you've bought the very expensive drink package, you've paid for the water bottles, but -- for future reference -- know that the water on the ship is purified just like bottled water.  You can also pick up a glass of ice water at the buffet (or other eating places).  Know, too, that you're allowed to bring 12 non-alcoholic drinks onboard.  And a bottle of wine. 

- Your drink package includes a plastic tumbler, which will make the soda machines work.  The first time you go to any bar onboard, you should ask for your tumbler -- then you're set.  I suggest you bring some stickers so you can tell your drinks apart.  I also suggest you bring a little bit of dishwashing liquid.

- Since you've purchased the drink package, you've already tipped for your drink purchases, but many people opt to bring a stack of single bills and tip $1-2 each time they get a drink.  You're not wrong if you skip this.  

- We don't spend much on the ship, but we do bring $30ish for tips onboard.  

- We bring more cash for off-ship spending.  We prepare an envelope for each island stops; we write our plans /meeting places on the outside and count out cash for tours, lunch, taxis, tips -- whatever we think we'll need -- inside the envelope.  We always pack small bills for tips, which allows us to hand over what we want without needing to ask for change.  

- If you need to know things once you're onboard, ask your Cabin Steward.  He knows everything (or can send you in the right direction).  

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and this information is incredibly valuable to a first time cruise like myself. I've now established that we are My Time Dining, and think I understand what that means! We have booked 2 separate cabins, and would like to dine together so how do I go about linking the bookings to make it easier to do that? 

As a Vegas regular I'm well used to tipping, so will have plenty of $1 bills to hand, although we have pre-paid our gratuities. 

And yes, we have bought the expensive drinks package! 

 

Many thanks once again. 🙏

[Sunshine3601]

You could ask your TA to link the cruises or should be able to do on the App.

 

Keep an eye on prices for drink pkg, internet, specialty dining or any other items on cruise planner.   If there is a sale you can cancel existing and rebook these items at the new lower price.   Black Fridays are traditionally the best sales.

 

If you buy internet it is usually cheaper to buy for 1 person and select multiple devices vs each person buying 1 device.

 

In the casino you can use your seapass card to make room charges for $$$.   Make sure to tap or input your card in slot machine to earn your casino points.  

 

[Biker19]

2 hours ago, tashaaa said:

Maybe a suggestion, before I call the TA?

Check the invoice, it should list it.

In the online planner, go the dining tab and assuming MTD is listed, try to make reservations - if it works, you have MTD, if it doesn't you likely have fixed dining (the RCI invoice and maybe TA one as well, would list either early or late - the timing of which would depend on the ship and itinerary).

Edited July 18 by Biker19

[Mum2Mercury]

3 hours ago, tashaaa said:

Tried to check the app and my cruise planer, but I can't see it written anywhere.

Maybe a suggestion, before I call the TA?

- Open the app. 

- At the top, see three white icons on a blue field -- a ship, a calendar, a person. 

- Click on the person.  

- Scroll down -- see your name, stateroom -- then the date you can sign up for a check-in date -- then your dining assignment + any reservations you've made (mine says My Time Dining + 7 reservations).  At the end of this page, I see a link to my daughter /son-in-law's account (because our reservations are linked).  

 

Knowing you have My Time, go ahead and make your reservations.  If you want to change them (or cancel them for the buffet or another venue) once you're onboard, you can do so -- but the longer you wait, the harder it is to get reservations.  Or, the harder it is to get good reservations.  

 

With My Time, they're a little more flexible -- show up a few minutes early, a few minutes late, they'll seat you.  But My Time people with no reservations will wait.  

 

Okay, this is a real newbie note -- not to insult anyone, but you do know that My Time vs. Traditional ONLY refers to dinner, right?  For breakfast or lunch you can walk into the MDR and you'll be seated.  (Lunch in the MDR is only on sea days.)  

 

You can see menus right now on the phone app, and once you're on board you can see menus on a TV screen outside the MDR.  

 

Also, you can see your dining options on the phone app, and they'll be printed on the Daily Compass.  

3 hours ago, Shoegazer73 said:

We have booked 2 separate cabins, and would like to dine together so how do I go about linking the bookings to make it easier to do that? 

Easy!  You give your booking number to your son-in-law, and he makes it happen.  Seriously, I don't know HOW to do it, but I looked this up:   https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/05/16/how-link-royal-caribbean-cruise-reservations-together 

 

When you're 2-3 weeks out, you should also email dining@rccl.com -- include your ship name and sailing date in the tag line -- and ask to be seated together.  Since you have My Time Dining, you'll walk in together, and it shouldn't be difficult, but I like to cover all my bases.  

[tashaaa]

Thank you again 🙂

 

I checked and i don't see the My dining option in the cruise planer, so I guess I have a traditional dining.

will check with my TA about the time.

 

 

 

[Woozisuzi]

Same, i have stateroom details, check in details and any reservations but nothing regarding dining. Can i assume I am MTD?

[Biker19]

4 hours ago, Woozisuzi said:

Can I assume I am MTD?

If you can make MTD reservations in the planner, yes.

[Woozisuzi]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

If you can make MTD reservations in the planner, yes.

no i can't make any reservations nor can i see anything that says i'm earlyor late dining.

[Biker19]

25 minutes ago, Woozisuzi said:

no i can't make any reservations nor can i see anything that says i'm earlyor late dining.

The RCI invoice lists the dining type - you'll have to get that to confirm.

[Mum2Mercury]

This is too much confusion.  If you're unsure of your dining assignment, call Royal's Customer Service at 1-866-562-7625.  Be ready with your booking number (or at least your ship and sailing date) and ask them.  

 

Call early in the morning or late at night, and you'll get right through.  

[Tree_skier]

You can find it on your invoice from Royal.  In the second section on the first page you will see something like this 👇

 

 

 

It'll either list a dining time or say MTD

[mkrr1123]

On 7/18/2024 at 5:40 AM, Shoegazer73 said:

 We have booked 2 separate cabins, and would like to dine together so how do I go about linking the bookings to make it easier to do that? 

 

And yes, we have bought the expensive drinks package! 

 

Many thanks once again. 🙏

Linking reservations is not easy as I can attest too.  We have attempted to link reservations with the other families we travel with on the last 3 cruises and it was never done correctly for any of the trips.  We have not used a travel agent so there is that.  When we board I go directly to dining and make sure we are all seated together.  This past cruise they had to move our time from early to a 6:45 time slot but it worked out great. 

 

I know everyone says how expensive the drink package but I got ours for $74.99 a day and my children definitely hit that mark.  They had mixed drinks, multiple coffees, waters and sodas a day.  Drinks are usually $14 a pop and the coffees would be $5 so when they had 5 drinks and 1 coffee they had hit the mark.  They easily had 5 drinks a day.  This did not include the water as I made them get a bottle of water with each drink.  The bar tender would automatically give them a water by the second day.  

 

Have an incredible trip.