Where to book cruise? Disney Cruise website?

[nvrenoughdisney]

We are just starting to consider a cruise and I'm wondering where everybody books their cruise. Is it all through the Disney website or is there a better (i.e., cheaper) alternative? Thanks! Just trying to become more educated!

 

[newdismom]

We are just starting to consider a cruise and I'm wondering where everybody books their cruise. Is it all through the Disney website or is there a better (i.e., cheaper) alternative? Thanks! Just trying to become more educated!

I am sure other , more experienced, disney cruisers will have a better perspective than I buy I booke our upcoming dcl cruise through disneys website. My regular travel agent couldn't beat thier price and was actually more expensive. We are sailing out of galveston on the magic in 3 weeks on the kids sail free promo.

 

[myxdvz]

You can book thru the site or thru agencies.

DCL doesn't really let travel agencies discount their tours so they will all have the same price (or worse).

If you've already booked thru DCL, you CAN transfer it to a TA. Some provide better perks than others. You can get either additional OBC or if with Costco, cash cards.

Since we're with Costco, we go with cash cards. I've scouted other TAs and their OBCs are less than what Costco is giving.

*Note: you can only transfer your booking IF you haven't paid in full yet. Note too that some TAs give more OBC if the original booking is thru them vs a transfer.

 

[luvndizny]

We booked ours through DreamsUnlimited...we got the OBC Disney was offering PLUS an additional OBC with DU for a combined total of $250. Also...should you decide to book another cruise while onboard, you can usually get even better deals and still switch the booking to your travel agent of choice again. For instance, we went on a 7 night Caribbean cruise in Mar/April 2011. While on board, we booked another 7 nighter during Christmas this past year and it would have been less than the initial trip! (Christmas trips are pretty much, if not, the most expensive cruises.) I say would have been but we had to cancel the trip due to hubby getting military orders for us to move which we had to do over the holidays. So if while you are on this upcoming trip and decide to do it again:1) book while on-board 2) book as early in the trip as possible to avoid the longer lines.

 

[nvrenoughdisney]

What is OBC?

 

[GoinPlaces63]

You can use the Disney Cruise website or Small World Travel. The latter gives huge room credits... Which can be used to pay for Palo or Remy depending upon the ship, shore excursions, gift shop purchases, etc. we've used both and are fine either way.

Once you've cruised you are able to reserve on the ship with an additional discount.

 

[Summerl30]

What is OBC?

on board credit.

Its a credit to your account that you can only use onboard for things like excursions, spa, photopackages, drinks, extra dining, basically it gets applied to your account onboard so it can be used to pay off anything that can be put on your credit while you are on the ship (even gratuities)

 

[stsomewhere]

We book through DCL because we like to have control of our reservation.
If you book through a travel agent, all changes have to go through them. DCl won't talk to you.

 

[tweis]

We are just starting to consider a cruise and I'm wondering where everybody books their cruise. Is it all through the Disney website or is there a better (i.e., cheaper) alternative? Thanks! Just trying to become more educated!

On our first Disney cruise we booked with a local Travel Agent that answered all of my questions but did not offer any kind of perks at all. This time around I did research and currently have 2 Disney cruises booked with Dreams Unlimited. Beth is our agent and she is great about answering any questions I have and very quick to make any changes that I want. We are also receiving significant onboard credit for both sailings that I can use to purchase things onboard such as adult dining, excursions, drinks, souvenirs, pay gratuities, spa, etc. The service is more important than the OBC and so far I have received great great service. As a PP said, Disney does not allow TAs to offer discounts on their cruises so what you see on the Disney site should be the same price you see everywhere but if you want perks and great service I would use a great TA.

 

[nishijb]

On our first Disney cruise we booked with a local Travel Agent that answered all of my questions but did not offer any kind of perks at all. This time around I did research and currently have 2 Disney cruises booked with Dreams Unlimited. Beth is our agent and she is great about answering any questions I have and very quick to make any changes that I want. We are also receiving significant onboard credit for both sailings that I can use to purchase things onboard such as adult dining, excursions, drinks, souvenirs, pay gratuities, spa, etc. The service is more important than the OBC and so far I have received great great service. As a PP said, Disney does not allow TAs to offer discounts on their cruises so what you see on the Disney site should be the same price you see everywhere but if you want perks and great service I would use a great TA.

As a first time cruiser, I am curious what kind of changes you make after reserving your cruise. I reserved my trip through DCL and it was my understanding that if I transferred my reservation to a TA, that I would still have access to my reservation in the DCL website to make on-board reservations, sign the kids up for the kids club, and make excursion reservations... Is this correct?

 

[jahber]

As a first time cruiser, I am curious what kind of changes you make after reserving your cruise. I reserved my trip through DCL and it was my understanding that if I transferred my reservation to a TA, that I would still have access to my reservation in the DCL website to make on-board reservations, sign the kids up for the kids club, and make excursion reservations... Is this correct?

Yes, you can book excursions and make reservations for on the ship. But things like requesting a dinner rotation or a different room or trying to apply a kid sail free discount (for example) must go through the TA. Also, you process payment through the TA, although some TAs allow you to pay DCL directly somehow (or so people here have reported). I've used a TA 2 times just for the perks and because it provides jobs in the travel industry, so why not? Of course, my last TA messed up my ressie, so I'll be shopping for a new TA!

 

[mmouse37]

Please remember to use the ful URL of any website you are posting about to ensure the board filter can do its job properly.

Obviusly Dreams Unlimited we know is not a banned site since it is the sponsor of these boards but any other website must have the full URL posted. If you use the full URL and it comes up ********* that means it is a banned site and NOT to be posted creativiely to get around the board filter on the main boards or through PM. Thanks.

www.smallworldtravel.com


MJ

 

[tweis]

As a first time cruiser, I am curious what kind of changes you make after reserving your cruise. I reserved my trip through DCL and it was my understanding that if I transferred my reservation to a TA, that I would still have access to my reservation in the DCL website to make on-board reservations, sign the kids up for the kids club, and make excursion reservations... Is this correct?

Yes, this is correct. Even though I am booked through a TA, I will be able to go online and book excursions, adult dining, kids clubs, etc. when my booking window opens and after I am paid in full. So many people say that you give up control using a TA but I disagree. Any changes I want made I simply let Beth at Dreams Unlimited know and she takes care of it for me. For example, last week we decided we wanted to change categories and wanted a specific room on our upcoming Fantasy sailing, I simply emailed Beth told her the changes I wanted and she took care of it within a matter of hours. The only difference is she was the one on the phone with Disney instead of myself.

 

[madelyn]

First time cruiser and just booked on-line myself through Costco travel. For our family of 5 booked a 4 day from Galveston for December in 2 inside cabins. For the approximate $4K we are spending, we will get $310 in Costco cash cards (Costco gift cards) AFTER we cruise. I did a lot of my own research and felt comfortable booking w/out talking to an agent.

 

[tweis]

It's really not a matter of it being difficult to book your cruise or not. To me having a TA means having someone there to help take care of any situations or problems that may arise, 24 hours a day. If you have a problem while on your cruise and have a TA, they are most likely going to be able to help you with it. As to whether you use Dreams Unlimited or someone else is entirely up to you, no one has a lower price. If you want the gift card that a PP mentioned then obviously you would need to book with them. However, if you want OBC then I would recommend Dreams Unlimited or another TA that offers higher OBC. If you aren't interested in OBC or gift cards, or anything else then I would recommend booking directly through DCL and not transferring to a TA. Like I said, booking it yourself is not difficult, you just don't get any of the perks.

 

[madelyn]

As a first time cruiser, I am curious what kind of changes you make after reserving your cruise. I reserved my trip through DCL and it was my understanding that if I transferred my reservation to a TA, that I would still have access to my reservation in the DCL website to make on-board reservations, sign the kids up for the kids club, and make excursion reservations... Is this correct?

I believe you only have access to your reservation in the DCL website AFTER you make full payment if using an agent. I should add that I still booked on Costco travel after my sister told me she used Costco Travel for a multi-generational family reunion cruise to Alaska (not Disney) with her husband's family and they had issues (with some of the excursions) and he will never book through Costco Travel again. We have only 1 stop in Cozumel and I don't even know that we will book an excursion so I felt OK w/ not having an agent's help.

 

[tweis]

I believe you only have access to your reservation in the DCL website AFTER you make full payment if using an agent. I should add that I still booked on Costco travel after my sister told me she used Costco Travel for a multi-generational family reunion cruise to Alaska (not Disney) with her husband's family and they had issues (with some of the excursions) and he will never book through Costco Travel again. We have only 1 stop in Cozumel and I don't even know that we will book an excursion so I felt OK w/ not having an agent's help.

Hmmm....not sure what you mean about access to your reservation after PIF with an agent? I am booked through Dreams Unlimited and I can pull up both of my reservations on the DCL website. If you mean book excursions and make Palo/Remy reservations then "no" you can't access those until you are PIF and your booking window opens but that is the case whether you have a TA or not. As a first time cruiser you will be able to make reservations for Palo/Remy and book excursions at 75 days out IF you are paid in full.

 

[madelyn]

Yes, sorry, wasn't clear. Yes, meant couldn't book reservations/excursions until paid in full. But is that true for any reservation even if you book directly w/ DCL?

Hmmm....not sure what you mean about access to your reservation after PIF with an agent? I am booked through Dreams Unlimited and I can pull up both of my reservations on the DCL website. If you mean book excursions and make Palo/Remy reservations then "no" you can't access those until you are PIF and your booking window opens but that is the case whether you have a TA or not. As a first time cruiser you will be able to make reservations for Palo/Remy and book excursions at 75 days out IF you are paid in full.

 

[tweis]

Yes, sorry, wasn't clear. Yes, meant couldn't book reservations/excursions until paid in full. But is that true for any reservation even if you book directly w/ DCL?

Yes, that is true no matter how you book. DCL will not let you book excursions/reservations until you have paid in full and your booking window opens. For first time cruisers if you have paid in full, then at 75 days before your sail date the booking window opens and you can book any reservations and excursion through DCL. Some people go online at midnight to book excursions/reservations to ensure they get them. Platinum members get to book at 120 days out/gold is 105/silver is 90 and as I said before, new cruisers is 75 days out. Hope this helps.

 

[madelyn]

Thanks, you have been very helpful. I just booked yesterday through Costco but did not think until reading your post that I would be able to retrieve our cruise reservation on the Disney Cruise website. Sure enough, on the .pdf file emailed to me from Costco Travel was a reservation number that I used to retrieve our cruise reservations. Was quite reassuring to me to be able to verify our reservations really are there. The description of the cruise from Costco calls it an "Alaskan" cruise even though it is leaves from Galveston and now the cruise we booked isn't even available on the Costco Travel site for some reason. We have additional family members considering booking the same cruise. Guess all of this could have been avoided by not booking through Costco!

Yes, that is true no matter how you book. DCL will not let you book excursions/reservations until you have paid in full and your booking window opens. For first time cruisers if you have paid in full, then at 75 days before your sail date the booking window opens and you can book any reservations and excursion through DCL. Some people go online at midnight to book excursions/reservations to ensure they get them. Platinum members get to book at 120 days out/gold is 105/silver is 90 and as I said before, new cruisers is 75 days out. Hope this helps.