Thread: "Your Choice Dining"

We are very familiar with Anytime Dining on Princess and assume Your Choice Dining will work the same way on Carnival.

Some friends are on a wait list for Your Choice Dining on a upcoming cruise to Bermuda on Fantasy! Has it become that popular?

Gotta be better than "earlies" otherwise known as "tea time"!!

The option was available on our last cruise, and they used the upper level of one of the two restaurants. Some people liked the option to go on their own schedule, especially if you get back late from an excursion or just don't want to get ready at your "assigned" time. However, we liked having the same waiters every night, since they get to know your preferences throughout the week. Some people like to meet new people each night, and this option allows you to do this. I just wonder how the galley can handle this, after seeing the "assembly line" process to prepare meals within a given schedule. Also, how would you "tip" the servers - once a day?

Originally Posted by Sandie

Also, how would you "tip" the servers - once a day?

Sandie, their tip is part of the Automatic Tip Carnival charges to your account.

Hi we have had the open seating last 2 cruises on Carnival really like it we had the same waiter and table we do eat early but works for us.Carl

It is good for some people ,but i will stick to early dinning in the MDR>

Originally Posted by LuLu

Sandie, their tip is part of the Automatic Tip Carnival charges to your account.

That's the same as what happens to casino cashiers........all of the tips go to one bucket to be equally distributed. But if you have a good waiter one night but not the next, how do you reward the better waiter (however many there may be), similar to what you might do with an "extra tip" on the last night? People in the casino may tip for quick & accurate service by one cashier, but everybody gets their share of the tips equally. There's no "going to the Purser's desk" to adjust the tip at a casino, and no extra cash can change hands.

Originally Posted by Sandie

That's the same as what happens to casino cashiers........all of the tips go to one bucket to be equally distributed. But if you have a good waiter one night but not the next, how do you reward the better waiter (however many there may be), similar to what you might do with an "extra tip" on the last night? People in the casino may tip for quick & accurate service by one cashier, but everybody gets their share of the tips equally. There's no "going to the Purser's desk" to adjust the tip at a casino, and no extra cash can change hands.

Who tips the casino cashiers they are paid more then the waiters and do not work for TIPS.
Sounds like a scam to me.

Originally Posted by Securityman

It is good for some people ,but i will stick to early dinning in the MDR>

Actually, both Traditional Dining (early or late seating) AND My Time Dining are in the MDR (main dining room).

No problem having dinner early when you wish in the MDR with My Time Dining.

Originally Posted by Securityman

Who tips the casino cashiers they are paid more then the waiters and do not work for TIPS.
Sounds like a scam to me.

I wasn't talking about casinos onboard. (sorry about that!) I had worked for Harrahs at one point in my life, and any tips given to cashiers were put in a common box, then split equally on the next paycheck. Some people would tip if they received good customer service, such as handling check cashing efficiently, keeping the line moving, etc. Others who weren't as friendly or as quick to resolve problems would still get the benefit of splitting the tips.

Onboard, with prepaid gratuities, I assume the all the tips are spread equally, and those who exceed the service expectations may get an extra envelope on the last night. (That can't happen at a casino!) So the point gets back to the fairness if the "anytime dining" waiters only get the standard gratuity and nothing else.......vs............waiters for normal dining times who serve the same table(s) and people for a full week.