DU no longer booking air?

[Rogillio]

I just priced a Jan 2013 cruise - 2 rooms on the Dream with RT air out of HSV for $6,080.

I then went to get a quote from DU to see about getting the OBC. Their website say for a $6k cruise in 2013, we'd get $300 OBC. Awesome! Only when I requested a quote I see that DU no longer books air with the trip.

The problem is, and hopefully I've got this wrong, when I book thru DCL the motorcoach transfer from Orlando to the port is included. But if I have to book transfers thru DU, it will cost $70 pp x 4 people = $280. That is almost all of the OBC. I can get $50 OBC booking thru DCL's website.

I hope I'm mistaken. Can anyone offer any insight?

~Mike

 

[NancyIL]

You need to compare DCL's air price that includes transfers to the best airfare you could book on your own plus transportation. If you book your air through DCL- you'll probably fly to Orlando the same day the ship sails, and on flights of their choosing. If you book your own air, you can arrive the day before (which I would strongly suggest) and on the flights you choose.

Rather than pay $280 for DCL transfers, I'd book two one-way rental cars between MCO and the port. Another option is a town car service.

*Is the $50 OBC for booking on DCL's web site because of the Disney Visa? If so - that is also available if you book through DU and pay with your Disney Visa.

 

[truck1]

I was playing with DCLs site the other day before using DUT. DCL bus transfers, and DCL trip insurance, is NOT included, on DCLs site, unless you specifically click on the transfers and insurance. When I got the price page, from DCL and the quote from DUT, they were exactly the same. No transfers, and no ins. (My request. Im using someone other then DCL for ins, and driving ourselves to the port area the day before the cruise. We live local.)

 

[NancyIL]

I was playing with DCLs site the other day before using DUT. DCL bus transfers, and DCL trip insurance, is NOT included, on DCLs site, unless you specifically click on the transfers and insurance. When I got the price page, from DCL and the quote from DUT, they were exactly the same. No transfers, and no ins. (My request. Im using someone other then DCL for ins, and driving ourselves to the port area the day before the cruise. We live local.)

DCL transfers are complimentary when you book the air through DCL.

Step 1: Customize Your Cruise – Air Travel

Let Disney Cruise Line make planning your dream vacation as easy as possible by arranging your flights, and when you do, enjoy the convenience of complimentary ground transfers.

 

[truck1]

Just played on DCLs site for a second. When you get past the selct your cruise, and you see you have x amount of sailing dates. Select the sail date that you want. It will give you a breakdown on the right side for Pass 1 pass 2, port fees taxes etc. Look on the left side. Vertically it will say

Getting Started,
Staterooms
1 selected

Dining
Second seating

Air Travel
none Selected

Resorts
none selected

Ground Transportation
None selected

Vacation Insurance
None Selected

Add on Package
None Selected

Special Request
None Requested.

Yould have to click on the specific tabs to add any of the additional items, past the Stateroom already added to your page.

 

[mcorbo]

DCL transfers are complimentary when you book the air through DCL.

That's what they want you to think, but it is included in their overpriced airfare.

 

[truck1]

DCL transfers are complimentary when you book the air through DCL.

Never really looked at with air. Im used to not booking air.

 

[NancyIL]

That's what they want you to think, but it is included in their overpriced airfare.

Of course it is! That's why I said Mike needs to compare the price of DCL's air that includes transfers, to the price of air he could book on his own, plus transportation to the port.

 

[DLW8]

It is very easy to book air on your own, and then you have control over which airlines and which flights.

If you do book air through Disney (which as PP have mentioned is very overpriced), you have no control. If you wish to select a flight, you pay $50 per person for EACH SEGMENT.

While I know it's nice to have a whole package, booking airfare on your own is really easy.

 

[Rogillio]

Of course it is! That's why I said Mike needs to compare the price of DCL's air that includes transfers, to the price of air he could book on his own, plus transportation to the port.

Well I did afterwards. My OP was before I checked booking air on my own. So air on my own is about $1,500 and thru DCL $2,200. So yeah, the 'complimentary' transfer is in there and then some.

So looks like booking thru DU and getting the $300 OBC and then booking out own air is the way to go.

Hadn't thought about getting one way rental but or the car service but that's not a big deal. I agree flying the night before would be a good idea.

Thanks!

Now would you please call my wife and convince her this is a good cruise plan! ;-)

 

[NancyIL]

I just priced a Jan 2013 cruise - 2 rooms on the Dream with RT air out of HSV for $6,080.

I then went to get a quote from DU to see about getting the OBC. Their website say for a $6k cruise in 2013, we'd get $300 OBC. Awesome! Only when I requested a quote I see that DU no longer books air with the trip.

The problem is, and hopefully I've got this wrong, when I book thru DCL the motorcoach transfer from Orlando to the port is included. But if I have to book transfers thru DU, it will cost $70 pp x 4 people = $280. That is almost all of the OBC. I can get $50 OBC booking thru DCL's website.

I hope I'm mistaken. Can anyone offer any insight?

~Mike

Is $6,080 DCL's price including air for 4 people? If so - DU's OBC would be based on the total price (including transfers and insurance), but without air. In that case, I'm guessing the cruise cost would fall within $5,000-$5,999, and the onboard credit would then be $250.

It should be easy to figure out what DCL charges for the air, so compare that to airfare you could purchase.

*I see you already figured out DCL's profit margin! Just wanted you to know that the OBC from DU might not be $300.

**To answer my question above - of course $6,080 includes DCL's airfare. Otherwise - those are 2 mighty fine cabins you booked @ $1,500 pp for 4 nights!

***My new guess is that the cruise cost is just under $4,000, and DU's OBC is $150. If booking the DCL transfers @ $280 for 4 people will bring your cruise price to $4,000 or more, then you'll get an additional $50 OBC from DU.

 

[Rogillio]

Is $6,080 DCL's price including air for 4 people? If so - DU's OBC would be based on the total price (including transfers and insurance), but without air. In that case, I'm guessing the cruise cost would fall within $5,000-$5,999, and the onboard credit would then be $250.

It should be easy to figure out what DCL charges for the air, so compare that to airfare you could purchase.

*I see you already figured out DCL's profit margin! Just wanted you to know that the OBC from DU might not be $300.

**To answer my question above - of course $6,080 includes DCL's airfare. Otherwise - those are 2 mighty fine cabins you booked @ $1,500 pp for 4 nights!

***My new guess is that the cruise cost is just under $4,000, and DU's OBC is $150. If booking the DCL transfers @ $280 for 4 people will bring your cruise price to $4,000 or more, then you'll get an additional $50 OBC from DU.

Well crud! I forgot about that. Yes, the $6k is including airfare...and so if we book with DU w/o air the price would be ~$4k. Rats Nancy, you just cost me $150. ;-)

 

[WebmasterJohn]

I just priced a Jan 2013 cruise - 2 rooms on the Dream with RT air out of HSV for $6,080.

I then went to get a quote from DU to see about getting the OBC. Their website say for a $6k cruise in 2013, we'd get $300 OBC. Awesome! Only when I requested a quote I see that DU no longer books air with the trip.

The problem is, and hopefully I've got this wrong, when I book thru DCL the motorcoach transfer from Orlando to the port is included. But if I have to book transfers thru DU, it will cost $70 pp x 4 people = $280. That is almost all of the OBC. I can get $50 OBC booking thru DCL's website.

I hope I'm mistaken. Can anyone offer any insight?

~Mike

Sorry - just saw your post.

Yes, Dreams Unlimited Travel can book your airfare for your cruise. If you want air added to your quote you can contact the agent that priced the reservation for you originally.

As others have said booking DCL air is not always the best way to go.

At Dreams we strongly recommend people book air on their own for their cruise for many reasons. As you can see from you own research you can almost always find air cheaper on your own. In addition, DCL buys 'bulk' air so you will not know exactly what flight/schedules/seats you have until much closer to your sail date. We had one client insist we book DCL air after trying to pursuade them not to and the seats on the plane for their family of four were all in different rows. I'm not saying this will happen to you, and I beleive this was a very rare case, but it can happen.

Just to clarify - if you book your DCL air through a TA like Dreams Unlimited Travel we do receive commission on it. If you book air on your own we do not. We would rather lose that commission and have you get the exact air/flight schedule that best suites your needs.

 

[NancyIL]

Well crud! I forgot about that. Yes, the $6k is including airfare...and so if we book with DU w/o air the price would be ~$4k. Rats Nancy, you just cost me $150. ;-)

Haha! No, Mike, I saved you $700 (minus the cost of transfers) by suggesting you book your own airfare!

So - did you convince your wife that this cruise is a good idea?

 

[Rogillio]

Haha! No, Mike, I saved you $700 (minus the cost of transfers) by suggesting you book your own airfare!

So - did you convince your wife that this cruise is a good idea?

Good point. I owe you lunch if we ever cruise together.

And now, Mrs Rogillio has not yet bought into my idea.....yet.