What is Royal Caribbean My Time Dining? Info & Tips

If you are ready for your next Royal Caribbean Cruise and curious about My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean. This overview offers an insight into Royal Caribbean My Time Dining. 

Royal Caribbean provides its cruise passengers with two dining options. Traditional dining, which has fixed meal times (5:30pm or 8:00pm) and assigned seating. Other is My Time Dining, which is more a flexible and highly popular dining choice 

We talked about the main differences between traditional and My time dining on cruise ships before. Now, let’s look at the details of Royal Caribbean My Time Dining program. 

What is Royal Caribbean My Time Dining and How does My Time Dining Work on Royal Caribbean? 

My Time Dining Royal Caribbean offers a liberating dining experience, allowing guests to tailor their meal schedules according to their preferences. It provides a flexible dining option, giving guests the freedom to select their meal times and dining partners.

Royal Caribbean My Time Dining differs from the traditional dining setup, where fixed meal times and seating arrangements are assigned to each guest. 

You will have a specific dining area reserved for passengers on the flexible plan, which will be indicated on your Sea Pass cruise card. Apart from specific venues, nothing else is assigned.

You are free to choose your dining time within the specified serving hours of the My Time Dining rooms each day. You can choose when to eat between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.  

The exact times may change depending on the ship and schedule. You can check the details on the Royal Caribbean app, your cabin’s interactive TV, or the Daily Cruise Compass. 

Royal Caribbean My Time Dining Gratuities

To use My Time Dining, you need to pay tips upfront. It costs $9.75 per day, covering both the wait staff and room steward. The tips are combined to avoid confusion.

The gratuities are shared equally among the wait staff. If you prefer to tip generously each night, you can do so instead of paying in advance for the service.

How to Reserve My Time Dining Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean My Time Dining reservations is a simple and effortless process. Passengers can reserve My Time Dining by following two ways:

Online Reservation

It is recommended to book your My Time Dining online before your cruise with Royal Caribbean WiFi for best dining experience. You can easily reserve your dining times through the Cruise Planner on their website.

Onboard Reservation  

If you decide to make a reservation for Royal Caribbean My time dining after boarding the ship, just head to Guest Services or the main dining room.

Guests in the Star Class Suite can ask their Royal Genie for help with reservations. Guests in Grand Suites and higher can also ask the suite concierge in the suite lounge for reservations on certain ships. 

Through a Travel Agent 

If you use a travel agent to book your cruise, ask them to arrange Royal Caribbean My Time Dining for you.

Do I Need to Make Reservations for My Time Dining?

You do not have to make a reservation for My Time Dining Royal Caribbean, but it’s a good idea to do so. If you book ahead, you can enjoy a dedicated, fast-track line at the dining room entrance. Some people like to eat at the same time every night, but others may want to choose when to eat based on their plans or the menu. 

• Once you log in to the app, you will see your upcoming cruise or a screen that says Let us find your cruise.  
• Tap Browse our ships at the bottom of the screen.  
• Choose your ship and select a date.  
• You can view dining choices and menus for that date. 

Where can I Eat When I Choose My Time Dining?

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks: You are free to eat your breakfast, lunch, and snacks at any restaurant on the ship while they are open. 

Dinner: You have the option to eat dinner in your assigned dining room, the buffet, or other casual dining areas, or you can choose a specialty restaurant (but it’s recommended to book ahead).

How to Change My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean?

You can change your dining schedule for your Royal Caribbean cruise on their website or by calling the dining hotline from your stateroom phone.

To switch between My Time Dining and traditional dining, contact Guest Services within the first two days of your cruise to avoid limited availability.

What Restaurants are Included in My Time Dining Royal Caribbean?

The Main Dining Room on the ship offers My Time Dining, which requires reservations and has set dining times. The Buffet restaurant allows you to dine at your convenience without reservations. Specialty restaurants also require reservations but offer flexible dining times. 

If you prefer the buffet restaurant, you may not be interested in the Main Dining Room’s schedule.  

Without selecting Royal Caribbean My Time Dining within the first two days of your cruise, you will be assigned traditional dining times, limiting your flexibility to choose when to dine in the Main Dining Room.

Even if you plan to eat there only occasionally, opting for Royal Caribbean My Time Dining gives you more control over your dining schedule. 

Can I Choose My Time Dining for every Cruise?

You have the flexibility to choose between My Time Dining or traditional seating, and you can switch between them depending on your preferences for each cruise.

Keep in mind that dining options may become limited as the cruise gets booked up, which could result in you being assigned a different dining option than you wanted. If this occurs, it’s recommended to visit the main dining room as soon as you board to see if any changes can be made. 

How My Time Dining is Different from Traditional Dining on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean My Time Dining vs Traditional Dining: Traditional Dining on a cruise means you have a set dining time and table. You eat with the same group and have the same waiter every night.

My Time Dining lets you choose when you want to eat during the main dining room hours, based on what is available. 

Is the Dress Code Same for My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean?

My Time Dining has a casual dress code, but formal wear is still required on certain nights. This option offers a more relaxed cruise experience. 

Families with kids are picking My Time Dining more, so the dress code is getting more relaxed on certain nights. You still cannot wear swimwear, ripped jeans, athletic clothes, or shorts. 

Are the Menus Same for Early and late Dinners as they are for My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean?

Yes, the main dining room menus are the same for both traditional and My Time Dining groups every evening.

This ensures that all guests have access to the same delectable dishes and culinary experiences regardless of their preferred dining style.  

FAQs – Royal Caribbean My Time Dining