Booking onboard: help! now what?

[EWL]

Ok, so we booked another cruise while onboard-- basically just picked a date in late 2006 without being certain if that is when we really want to go or if we want to move it to sometime in 2007 when those dates come out.

I have seen others talking about moving the reservation to a travel agent and perhaps getting a rebate on top of the onboard 10% off/$200 room credit deal. A few questions-- should we move the ressie now, or leave it with DCL until we are sure when we want to go, and then first change the dates w/DCL? Or should we move it to a TA now since many are offering rebates, and have them change the dates later? If the TA is offering a better rate than DCL, does the 10% discount also apply to that, or only to DCL's rates (trying to figure out whether we should be shopping for rates?) And finally, can any other discounts/credits be combined with the onboard deal, i.e., the current $50 booking credit by 1/31, or any other credits?

Just trying to figure out how to do this right (and whether to tell the TA we used this time now that we rebooked, or shop around first!).... thanks for your help!

 

[Kaa]

If you transfer your existing reservation to a TA for rebates, your reservation will remain the same with the onboard booking discount and shipboard credit intact. If you shop around for better pricing and book at the better rate, you lose the discount AND the shipboard credit. Those only remain with the shipboard booking. DCL will not combine any other discounts or shipboard credits with your existing discount and shipboard credit.

 

[EWL]

Thanks Tammy! But I can still change dates without losing the discount/credit, right?? In which case the discount is off the current rate? Is it better to change dates before or after transferring to a TA?

Many thanks!

 

[Kaa]

You can change dates and retain the discount and shipboard credit. You are correct that the discount is taken on the prevailing cruise fare (not the entire reservation total).

I don't know that it matters when you transfer the reservation to a TA. I guess that would be a personal preference.

 

[DOOGIERUNNER]

We transferred reservations, then later changed our dates. DCL honored our onboard discounts with the new reservation and we retained the discounts through DU.

 

[EWL]

Thanks for the info! About TA rebates-- do TAs routinely offer these? (i.e., I notice that DU says the rebates are for ressies made "now thru 1/31/05"--?) Are those really something likely to expire or do are they usually available all the time? That is part of why I was wondering if I need to transfer it to a TA now...