Best to book a Disney Cruise through...

[JimGA]

With any Disney vacation, if you're a Disney fan and know or are interested in doing your own research and planing then I would book directly through Disney. I have always found Disney CMs are more than willing to give you info. on any special deals or offers if you ask and always have the patience to price your trip using different scenarios. If you enjoy the planning I think this is the best way to stay on top of your trip.

I am going on my first Disney Cruise in a few weeks (Have been to Disney World many, many times and have also been on many non-Disney cruises). This cruise was a suggestion of an inlaw who is using her friend travel agent and I am not happy at all as this travel agent doesn't seem to know squat and I know I could have planned everything much better on my own through Disney. But I'm keeping my mouth shut as to not "cause any waves". In fact I called DCL directly to confirm my reservation number and some information as it was less than a month from my trip and I had heard nothing from the travel agent. The DCL agent was very helpful, but could only do so much as my trip was planned thru a travel agent and they had to take care of certain things.

This travel agent is so daft that when we finally got our cruise books I read thru it and went online to do all the pre-registration and check out the shore excursions and register my son etc. as suggested. When my husband spoke to his sister asking if she looked at the book yet and if she had any opinions on the shore excursions she said her friend the travel agent told her she didn't have to do anything all she needed was the book. My husband said technically you don't have to do anything, but if you want to preresgister for things and have everything together for when you check in and board you should read the book.

I want to prepay my tips, but it says if you book with a travel agent you have to prepay through them and I don't trust her at all so I'll wait until we get on the ship.

So my opinion is do it yourself if you want the control or make sure you find a very good and reputable travel agent to help.

Intersting, I booked my cruise through a travel agency and have wonderful results so far, 5 months away from my cuise so I have not had the opportunity to book excursions yet. Before I booked through them they gave me a 5 day hold on a room to what I specified I wanted, so I got to research the location before I committed.

After I committed, I asked for my DCL reservation number and confirmation so I could log onto to the Disney Cruise Line web site under my reservation, I got that number. So I make my payments through them, but I got my DCL cruise line reservation number as well. I have had no issues, plus $150 on SBC waiting on me.

 

[Billinaz]

With any Disney vacation, if you're a Disney fan and know or are interested in doing your own research and planing then I would book directly through Disney. I have always found Disney CMs are more than willing to give you info. on any special deals or offers if you ask and always have the patience to price your trip using different scenarios. If you enjoy the planning I think this is the best way to stay on top of your trip.

I am going on my first Disney Cruise in a few weeks (Have been to Disney World many, many times and have also been on many non-Disney cruises). This cruise was a suggestion of an inlaw who is using her friend travel agent and I am not happy at all as this travel agent doesn't seem to know squat and I know I could have planned everything much better on my own through Disney. But I'm keeping my mouth shut as to not "cause any waves". In fact I called DCL directly to confirm my reservation number and some information as it was less than a month from my trip and I had heard nothing from the travel agent. The DCL agent was very helpful, but could only do so much as my trip was planned thru a travel agent and they had to take care of certain things.

This travel agent is so daft that when we finally got our cruise books I read thru it and went online to do all the pre-registration and check out the shore excursions and register my son etc. as suggested. When my husband spoke to his sister asking if she looked at the book yet and if she had any opinions on the shore excursions she said her friend the travel agent told her she didn't have to do anything all she needed was the book. My husband said technically you don't have to do anything, but if you want to preresgister for things and have everything together for when you check in and board you should read the book.

I want to prepay my tips, but it says if you book with a travel agent you have to prepay through them and I don't trust her at all so I'll wait until we get on the ship.

So my opinion is do it yourself if you want the control or make sure you find a very good and reputable travel agent to help.

I agree, most travel agents dont know a thing about DCL. In this age of internet search engines, and comparison tools I dont see how travel agents can stay in business.

Booking thru DCL just forfeits the benefit you can get from credits from placed like Costco or Dreams Unlimited..... in fact our benefit is close to $1000.

You can set everything up with DCL, and tell them you want to name X as your travel agent and get the reservation number. Have that agent process the deposit and youre set. Now you have everything set up the way you want it and you also get the added benefit.

When you're paid in full, you can still get on the DCL website and pre register and book excursions.

To add $ to your onboard account you can fill out the gift form and on the bottom right is a place to add money to a room account. Fax that in and you will have that credit on your account when you board.

 

[Bear3412]

.... in fact our benefit is close to $1000 ....

It would take us 8 months to spend that @ Costco. I needed help with a cc bill.

 

[Wendybird55]

I agree that with the right trvel agent you can hav a wonderful experience and I'm glad yours is. I have this great travel agent I've used for cruises and she is wonderful! Unfortunately this entire trip is my SIL's idea and plan and her friend made her "an official Disney travel agent" which is funny because I know so much more than she does, so to keep peace I hd to tle her book the trip and I feel we coul dhave done much better on our own or with a knowledgeable travel agent.

 

[wildzootv]

Thanks. I would of never known about Costco and some of the other details.

I set up a reservation via Disney online, have a reservation number, applied for a costco membership. Now trying to figure out my next step. I guess call disney and tell them Costco is my travel agent? Then call Costco and give them my disney reservation number??

 

[wildzootv]

Oye vay. Well my deposit is due today via Disney but I can't call to tell them about Costo because it's a holiday. WHat happens if you don't pay the deposit on time?

Should I just try to make the reservation via costco then?

 

[Billinaz]

It would take us 8 months to spend that @ Costco. I needed help with a cc bill.

I might have to take 2 trips!

I see you can also get cash from them for the card amount and walk out....

 

[Lisa Lisa]

I've booked both of our DCL cruises directly with DCL, but the extra OBC from Costco sounds good. The part I don't understand is Costco paying the deposit after the reservation is made. Did I read that correctly? If I book another cruise while onboard in March, don't I have to pay the deposit immediately? I know that's what I did when we were on the Dream in February.

 

[Billinaz]

I've booked both of our DCL cruises directly with DCL, but the extra OBC from Costco sounds good. The part I don't understand is Costco paying the deposit after the reservation is made. Did I read that correctly? If I book another cruise while onboard in March, don't I have to pay the deposit immediately? I know that's what I did when we were on the Dream in February.

You have to name Costco as your travel agent onboard.

I havent done that in years since DCL eliminated the discount for booking a suite onboard.

Call Costco and ask them..... just to be sure. My experiences lately have been setting up the reservation and then transferring to booking to Costco, then I call them to put the deposit down.

 

[Marshay]

You have to name Costco as your travel agent onboard.
.

Thanks for the info on naming Costco! I didn't realize they offer a more generous offer. We do our first DCL on Dream in two weeks and if we decide to rebook, I now know who to name.

 

[canadiandisneycruise]

Canadian's are unable to book through Costco travel, so we have used a travel agent - All Seas Travel. We have had excellent service, and everyone was so helpful. We booked two DCL cruises through them, and their help in selecting rooms, etc. was fabulous. They also helped us book pre and post transportation - much more economical than Disney, and it took us right to the cruise, even offering us a stop if we needed it. All Seas also gave us a great on board credit. We spoke to Janice, and she checked out the rooms when they sailed on the ship prior to us booking. Lots of great information and help from her!

Good luck!