Dreams Unlimited Gift Basket

[Dislaney4n6]

All of this talk about great baskets and great service made me want to check out DU. I will be cruising out of LA in December for the 2 week Panama Canal cruise and in previous post said I was keeping my fingers crossed that the baskets would make their way out there, as that is a definite incentive for us. When I checked out transferring my existing reservation from DCL I was surprised to hear the amount of the OBC. I knew it would be less than if it were not a transferred res, but half of what was advertised and then told that I could split it between the two separate reservations I had inquired about transferring, how ever I saw fit (mine an my parents- completely separate, but linked reservations) basically making it 1/4 of the advertised OBC... I am now rethinking transferring: low OBC, only online communication and probably no basket, as it is out of LA. The woman that emailed me seemed really nice, but what do all of you DU veterans recommend? I am quite torn now.

I enjoy the email communication. There is always a paper trail. My TA from DU is Tracey H and she has been amazing w/ communication. Very quick to respond, even at 6something AM on a Sunday!!! I know you can call in your payments if you prefer not to do online payments.
As far as the 1/4 OBC. Say it is only $100 so you would get $25, based on what you were saying. That is $25 more than you had before the transfer!

 

[mdvlprof]

Hmm.
Was my understandng that currently only the longer cruises out of Canaveral get the gift baskets.

 

[mickeyfan1]

When you transfer a reservation to an agency, DCL does not pay the full amount of commision to them, so any OBC they offer is reduced. This is true of mosts TAs. THe gift baskets are done by a local Cape Canaveral Florist, she has been in the gifyt baskets to cruise ship business for several years. So far, no one has reported seeing anyone like her in the other ports. That doesn't mean they are not there. I prefer to use a TA whom I can call pretty much anytime, in addition to emails. But that is a personal preference. I have yet to have any issues with any reservation made using my DCL Specialist TA. Some folks say they won't use a TA as they "lose control". I have yet to understand what that means. If I have a question about my cruise fare, payment dates, etc., I call my TA and get the answer. either right then or with in a very few minutes via call back. I still make all my own reservations for port excursions, Palo dining, etc. I do get a small OBC, but that isn't why I use them.

 

[Brittwoman]

To bad DU is not doing anything for us NY cruisers This is my 3rd cruise booked through DU using Merrie (who is great)

 

[DisneyStateofMind]

WOW!

Love this!!!!

 

[barbeml]

That gift basket looks amazing, and what a lovely gesture from DU!

We have been using DU for nearly 10 years with flawless results. All of our agents have been wonderful, but I can't say enough about Merrie...she has handled many WDW trips for us and now our first DCL (June 10 from NYC to Canada).

Perks are wonderful...but it is the friendly, reliable service that keeps us coming back to DU.

 

[yucaipagal]

Based on all of your awesome experiences...I think I am ready to transfer my ressie. Ahh, a bit scared and nervous. I hope I get one of the great agents whose names you have mentioned. I'll keep my fingers crossed

 

[snelsonbrown]

Based on all of your awesome experiences...I think I am ready to transfer my ressie. Ahh, a bit scared and nervous. I hope I get one of the great agents whose names you have mentioned. I'll keep my fingers crossed

Look yucaipagal if you have any concern, just drop John from DU a note and I can guarantee you he will put your mind at ease. I have known the team for a number of years and I can say with honor that they really do so well by the clients and that is their main concern.

Drop John a note at john@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com

It may take him a couple of days to get back to you since he has been out of town, but he will set your mind at ease.

always
Shirley

 

[Dislaney4n6]

Based on all of your awesome experiences...I think I am ready to transfer my ressie. Ahh, a bit scared and nervous. I hope I get one of the great agents whose names you have mentioned. I'll keep my fingers crossed

I am not sure how it works, but if you want to try to email Tracey H directly (traceyh@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com) to see if she can get your ressie.. You will NOT be disappointed!

 

[Chee Chick]

I am hoping these great gift baskets find their way to Texas for the Magic 7-night cruises leaving from Galveston. They look great!

 

[jenkh]

Wow. What an amazing and generous gift. Our cruise isn't until Dec (the podcast cruise) But I cant wait to see all the goodies. Thanks so much DU! (and Shirley)

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Hi! Kelsie, Can you believe I am finally taking that cruise in two weeks that I booked in 2008 with a dummy date?

Just to let you know I will be doing that again so when Trish graduates from 8th grade in 2014 she'll have a cruise.

You've been wonderfully patient and all of your responses have been prompt, friendly and informative.

I'm ordering another set of baskets from Shirley so I'm just gathering information on what to put in them. I'll let her know I'm also a DU customer so I don't order duplicates.

 

[disneyholic family]

any chance DU will extend the baskets to the Dream cruises out of PC?

 

[belle41379]

any chance DU will extend the baskets to the Dream cruises out of PC?

Beth,

It's my understanding that they hope to extend it, but right now are trial running with just the certain sailings.

 

[dvcdisney]

Some folks say they won't use a TA as they "lose control". I have yet to understand what that means.

Sorry, off topic. I just wanted to comment on this post. I'm one of those who don't use a TA because of losing control of the reservation. But I think it would be fine with me if I am able to book the original reservation and be able to choose the cat and stateroom and have a TA handle the rest. I'm okay with that. But that's not how it works. If I want to book a reservation as soon as my booking window opens (lowly silver for now), I would have to wait for the TA to do that. I NEED to make my own reservation. I need to go online and choose the room. Plus, I'm only handling my reservation. A TA would have to reserve quite a few and I'd be too nervous to wait.

However, if a TA would offer a website where we could book our own directly with DCL but through their own website (thereby giving them the commission), I would be all for that.

When I tried to contact a TA to transfer, I was told that they would not provide the full OBC and so there is no point.

 

[schimj]

I knew there was something I was forgetting! I wanted to post that we really enjoyed the Gift Baskets from DU on our last cruise (just returned Saturday). The basket looks pretty much like the one pictured alllllll the way back on the first page of this thread. We had candy, 2 reusable coffee mugs (which we weren't planning on keeping since we're trying to keep clutter down at home, but then I saw that they were imprinted w/ the DU logo), 5-color highlighter (great for navs), dry erase board & marker, extension cord, anti-bac sanitizer gel & hand wipes and probably some other goodies I don't currently remember.

We made good use out of most things, and even the ones we didn't need, we understood the purpose of adding them. The coffee mugs made great drink shakers for in-room cocktails (just remember to plug the holes before shaking!), and for poolside drinks. My parents also booked the cruise thru DU (at our suggestion), and were pleasantly surprised by the basket (we didn't mention it, and they don't read the Boards).

Keep up the great work, Team DU, and we look forward to the next cruise we have booked with you...PCC 4.0!!!!!!!

 

[ksloane]

I think I already asked this, but if there was an answer I missed it.

I leave Friday. Cruise out on Sunday out of NYC. Plan to rebook onboard. Would like to name DU as the TA, but don't actually have a TA as I haven't used them in a long time. Will I have to name a person? Or is just the company enough? Do I need to know anything besides just the name?

 

[mickeyfan1]

Nope, just say you are using Dreams, they are qused to only the agency name.

 

[ksloane]

Nope, just say you are using Dreams, they are qused to only the agency name.

Great Thanks

 

[TLSnell1981]

Hmmm....we just got off the Dream, booked through DU. We rebooked onboard and named DU. No gift basket on our cruise, maybe well receive one on our next?