Cruise Newbie ~ Help!

[jennifer03878]

We have booked though Disney twice for trips to WDW (both times online both times everything went relatively perfect) but this is our first time even thinking about a cruise. I don't know if it's best to book directly through Disney or if it's smarter to go through a Travel Agent. What is the benefit of a TA? Are there certain TA's to avoid due to shaddy dealings? I don't want to forget anything and really don't want to be in a "bad" room (is there such a thing on something Disney related?) We are looking to take either a 3 day or 4 day cruise in September of this year. We are leaving the child at home. DH and I want to take a small vacation where we don't have to do anything but lounge by the pool or by the ocean if we so desire.

I am looking for any help/advice from those of you that have taken cruises through both Disney and TA's.

Thanks in advance for your assistance

 

[Anal Annie]

We booked thru DCL directly the first time & this time I emailed for a quote from Dreams Unlimited. It was exactly the same price but we got the onboard credit from D.U. PLUS they booked it on the DCL website & got that credit too - so it really just ended up giving us more onboard credit - but HEY, I'll take it!!

I went on the DCL website & researched the available cabins & when I submitted my request to D.U. I noted which I wanted as my first and 2nd choices (in case my first choice was gone by the time they got to it). You could do the same thing - that way you're not just given a number, any number if you'd like to select a specifc stateroom. Takes a little of the waiting / guesswork out of it. D.U. actually put a hold on the stateroom for us for like 3 days until we paid the deposit so the cabin was held for us.

Once we paid the deposit they emailed us our DCL confirmation number - so now I can look it up on the DCL website just like I'd made it directly with them!

 

[jennifer03878]

I found the DU link earlier and sent them my request for quote. I received an email back from them about 1/2 hour later (very nice) just letting me know that they will be looking for the best price/staterooms etc and will get back to me tomorrow.

Seems like DU is the way to go to make sure everything is taken care of.

Thanks for your response DH and I so want to do this cruise. He's going to our local Post Office tomorrow to pick up the documents for our Passports (neither of us have every had the need for one). Now the big thing is how much it'll cost and how to pay for it

 

[Anal Annie]

I found the DU link earlier and sent them my request for quote. I received an email back from them about 1/2 hour later (very nice) just letting me know that they will be looking for the best price/staterooms etc and will get back to me tomorrow.

Seems like DU is the way to go to make sure everything is taken care of.

Thanks for your response DH and I so want to do this cruise. He's going to our local Post Office tomorrow to pick up the documents for our Passports (neither of us have every had the need for one). Now the big thing is how much it'll cost and how to pay for it

Good job! And don't fiddle around with those passport applications - I'm hearing that it's taking 12-14 weeks for them to get processed...(I think they're like $90 something each BTW...) Have fun planning and Good Luck! (check out this site to see some good pictures of diff. balcony types / rooms: click here )