booking cruise with expedia?????

[mikewdw]

never does a cruise at all. my wife really wants to do Disney Cruise. someone showed me where rates on expedia were much cheaper than what we have looked at online. is it safe to go through them or should we only look to go through official site. not even sure if we would go unless could get some cheap rates since we have 5 in party.\
any help appreciated
mikewdw

 

[jilljill]

You will find the prices to be the same from Expedia, the DCL website or another TA. You have to make sure you are looking at the bottom line and the fare includes all taxes and fees.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you book through Expedia, they are essentially your TA. How is their customer service? Are they hard to reach when an issue arises? Do they charge a booking fee? change/cancellation fees? How do they handle sending you your documents?

Personally, I like a TA that specializes in cruising and is very knowledgeable about DCL. She offers us an onboard spending credit instead of a discount.
I'm not saying you'll be ripped off, you just might not get very personalized service. It's a lot of $ to take a risk with.

How much savings is it?

 

[mikewdw]

not even sure of savings, prices were listed about 450 per person and seemed cheaper than the price i remember checking one time. i know i havent looked into it enough to know the difference. i came here to ask if it was even worth investigating going through them. if we do it, i wont take any chances just to save a few bucks. i had someone show the price to me last week in school and thought i would ask the experts here.
also, where is best place to begin reading about if cruise is even right for us now? we are two adults, kids 7, 5, 5.
thanks for help,
mikewdw

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

not even sure of savings, prices were listed about 450 per person and seemed cheaper than the price i remember checking one time. i know i havent looked into it enough to know the difference. i came here to ask if it was even worth investigating going through them. if we do it, i wont take any chances just to save a few bucks. i had someone show the price to me last week in school and thought i would ask the experts here.
also, where is best place to begin reading about if cruise is even right for us now? we are two adults, kids 7, 5, 5.
thanks for help,
mikewdw

You've come to the right place. Judging by your siggie, you're a WDW veteran. DCL is a great way to enjoy a love of Disney but in a more relaxing, pampered way. Instead of searching for an empty table with a tray full of food, your dining room servers pull out your chair, put your cloth napkin in your lap and say, "Hi P****, how was your day?"
They cut my son's meat and crack his lobster. There's much more character interaction since the ship isn't nearly as huge or crowded as the parks.

Beware, it's very addicting.


eta: make sure when comparing prices that all taxes are included and that it's truly the total cost. Some websites don't give you the real total til the very end. Royal Caribbean's come to mind but of course, they don't sell DCL cruises. Just saying, some initial shopping may be deceiving.

 

[MTmomma]

For me, on my first, I decided to use a travel agent that was incredibly knowledgable about DCL. I lucked out on finding my TA (I do not remember how I found her?) but she is nothing short of awesome! For me, The "first time" I would much rather have someone steering me through the process, and making sure that I have my poop in a group..... It is a bonus that her agency gives on board credit.... and well, frankly, I never expected my travel agent to spend the time, or the money to send me a christmas card! For my first cruise, I want to relax, and enjoy the whole thing, from the planning day, till the day we come home....

 

[Billinaz]

Whatever you do ..... do NOT use Expedia.

We used them on our first cruise.... what a nightmare. The final straw for me was when DCL mailed them my cruise docs weeks before the cruise, and Expedia delivered them to me 2 days after we flew out for the cruise.


Horrible customer service was my only experience with them!

 

[jsrj21]

For me, on my first, I decided to use a travel agent that was incredibly knowledgable about DCL. I lucked out on finding my TA (I do not remember how I found her?) but she is nothing short of awesome! For me, The "first time" I would much rather have someone steering me through the process, and making sure that I have my poop in a group..... It is a bonus that her agency gives on board credit.... and well, frankly, I never expected my travel agent to spend the time, or the money to send me a christmas card! For my first cruise, I want to relax, and enjoy the whole thing, from the planning day, till the day we come home....

I have a two-fold issue here; my wife and son are eager to go on our first ever cruise but I am afraid of my motion sickness.... Although my DR told me I should be ok but I may want to stick to a short cruise first. I am looking for a cruise besides Disney for our first time. We're waiting for my son to graduate high school for that.

My question is, whom should I use to help us with the planning etc? I have planned all of our trips to WDW and used AAA several times but other than that, I've done them myself. Cruises though....never been on one and surely never planned one.

My goal is to leave out of Port Canaveral [so I can justify sneaking a few days at WDW]. I just don't know which cruise line to choose or which ones are family friendly etc.

Any help would be welcomed with open arms...

Thanks.

Jose
Norwalk, CT.

 

[BBQMommy]

We are about to have our first cruise with DCL and we booked through Expedia. I have had several questions along the way and called their CS number and all questions were answered. Documents arrived at our home by way of Expedia 30 days before departure. We booked with Expedia this Summer and will receive a $500 Onboard Credit. So far, I am very happy with Expedia.

Caryn

 

[Billinaz]

I have a two-fold issue here; my wife and son are eager to go on our first ever cruise but I am afraid of my motion sickness.... Although my DR told me I should be ok but I may want to stick to a short cruise first. I am looking for a cruise besides Disney for our first time. We're waiting for my son to graduate high school for that.

My question is, whom should I use to help us with the planning etc? I have planned all of our trips to WDW and used AAA several times but other than that, I've done them myself. Cruises though....never been on one and surely never planned one.

My goal is to leave out of Port Canaveral [so I can justify sneaking a few days at WDW]. I just don't know which cruise line to choose or which ones are family friendly etc.

Any help would be welcomed with open arms...

Thanks.

Jose
Norwalk, CT.

We have the same problem, and the answer is simple. Bonine (Meclizine). Really cheap if you get the generic, and non drowsy. Take one a day starting the day before you leave.

Has been working for us the past 8 cruises.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am not a fan of Expedia. It's an 'online TA' so thier humans aren't really very knowledgable.

I would look for a good TA who has GOOD coverage and specalizes in cruises. (By good coverage I mean (a) a PHONE LOL! (b) 24/7 coverage for emergencies.. and that should not be a call center that can only take payments!

Ask some questions about "what happens if there is a crisis after hours or on the weekends?" "Have you done cruised with families?" "which lines have you personnaly cruised" "how many of these do you book" etc...

 

[Gilland18]

AAA also does DCL planning, claiming to have DCL experts. I believe our first cruise was arranged by AAA (my parents took us so wasn't much involved in $ end of things). It went very well and sometimes there are AAA percs.

 

[Cmbar]

We are about to have our first cruise with DCL and we booked through Expedia. I have had several questions along the way and called their CS number and all questions were answered. Documents arrived at our home by way of Expedia 30 days before departure. We booked with Expedia this Summer and will receive a $500 Onboard Credit. So far, I am very happy with Expedia.

Caryn

Did Expedia give you a $500 on board credit for one room or do you have multiple rooms or is that a combined credit? That sounds high.

I also thought Expedia didn't have any better prices. Did you determine if you prices were cheaper on Expedia? Would love to know if I should check them for a future cruise. Thanks!

 

[Cmbar]

I have a two-fold issue here; my wife and son are eager to go on our first ever cruise but I am afraid of my motion sickness.... Although my DR told me I should be ok but I may want to stick to a short cruise first. I am looking for a cruise besides Disney for our first time. We're waiting for my son to graduate high school for that.

My question is, whom should I use to help us with the planning etc? I have planned all of our trips to WDW and used AAA several times but other than that, I've done them myself. Cruises though....never been on one and surely never planned one.

My goal is to leave out of Port Canaveral [so I can justify sneaking a few days at WDW]. I just don't know which cruise line to choose or which ones are family friendly etc.

Any help would be welcomed with open arms...

Thanks.

Jose
Norwalk, CT.

To answer some of your questions. Royal Caribbean and Disney get probably the highest marks for a Family friendly cruise. Carnival tends to be a younger, single crowd and Norweigian tends to be older crowds.

Why wouldn't you just choose a shorter Disney cruise? The three or Four day cruises give you a nice taste of the cruise experience and you can't go wrong with Disney.

A couple of suggestions on sea sickness. My experience is that it is over exaggerated by most and for those who have not taken a cruise it seems daunting. I get terribly sick in the car. But as another poster has said I love Bonine. You pick it up at walmart, start it on either the day before the cruise or on the morning of. I only take it on the morning of the first day. It has worked incredibly well. Some people take it every day. I find that we (my DD has motion sickness too) only need it the first day.

Now we have only done the Western Caribbean. I will tell you that crossing the gulf stream on the first night is the worst of the carribean trip. The only time we feel the ship is on that first night and we have also felt it on the return over the gulf stream (the last night). You will be amazed that you don't really feel the ship. I disagree with the Doctor because just as you get used to the ship you have to come home!

I wouldn't let motion sickness deter you from trying a longer trip (say a week or even the 5 day).

Some practical things. Book a cabin low and in the middle of the ship. Less movement and better for seasickness. Book a first cruise that sails the caribbean because the waters are calmer most of the time. Use the bonine it really does work.

Good luck!

 

[BBQMommy]

Did Expedia give you a $500 on board credit for one room or do you have multiple rooms or is that a combined credit? That sounds high.

I also thought Expedia didn't have any better prices. Did you determine if you prices were cheaper on Expedia? Would love to know if I should check them for a future cruise. Thanks!

It was for just one room, a Cat 7. The OBC deal was industry wide from Expedia, not just for DCL. We caught it on the last day, Aug. 2. They based the OBC on the cost of the cruise. We are going on an 11 day one and it was enough for their max OBC.


Caryn

 

[jodeja]

I also thought Expedia didn't have any better prices. Did you determine if you prices were cheaper on Expedia? Would love to know if I should check them for a future cruise. Thanks!

For the cruise I am looking at, Expedia has a much better price than booking through the DCL website.
Alaska, 7 night
June 21-28
1 adult, 2 kiddos
Category 10B

Expedia price = $3,165.12 including all taxes & fees
DCL website = $4,237.68 including all taxes & fees

I would personally prefer to book through DCL directly, for all the reasons stated by others above – but I don’t prefer it enough to pay $1,000 more. I book most of the travel for the company I work for and I use Expedia when it’s cheaper than booking directly with the airline/hotels. We’ve only once or twice in 5 years had a slight hassle with Expedia and that was when a change in itinerary was needed. Expedia said to call the airline to make the change and the airline said to call Expedia, etc. But, we did get it resolved.

So, I'll be taking my chances and book my first ever Disney cruise on Expedia! Now, I just need to find the perfect staterooms...

 

[kcashner]

My thought on reading your post was..."WHY?" NO travel agent is able to undercut any other on Disney. The prices are all the same. You do have to be careful as some sites do not list the full taxes, etc. till you get to the "check out" page. Also, be sure you are comparing "apples to apples"--whether you are looking with or without insurance, transfers, etc. just be sure you are seeing the same thing.

Many TAs offer an onboard credit for booking with them. I feel that the service they can give is FAR more important than the credit, although it's certainly nice to have the credit. You can get far better TAs than Expedia--places where all the agents have sailed on DCL, where they are happy to speak with you on the phone before and after your booking, etc. ANY TA can get you all the same deals the you'll get directly thru DCL (credit for online booking, etc) as well as any OBC they give. I just wouldn't want to trust the service with Expedia!

To above poster--I'd really check the "apples to apples" and be sure that the Expedia price includes all taxes and port charges. There's something wrong with what you are seeing. FYI, I just put in your dates and your sailing on Expedia and got a quote of $4017 (using hypothetical kid ages!) Might differ with correct ages.

 

[Billinaz]

Did you get the Dreams Unlimited price?

I would never, ever book Expedia again after they made a mess of our first cruise.....

 

[jodeja]

Did you get the Dreams Unlimited price?

Thanks for the suggestion! I just filled out the form to get a quote from them.

 

[Billinaz]

You will find it to be a much better experience than Expedia. I have used DU before and had great service and great rates.