? Deposit and payment with agent

[NMPensFan]

I’ve looked and can’t seem to find the info…

is the deposit and payment structure/time the same when booking with a DU agent as it is through Disney direct? I’ve never used an agent before and thought it might be helpful since it would be our first Disney cruise.

any help welcome.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Yes, TAs follow DCL's rules when it comes to payment, cancellations, refunds, etc. They simply handle the payment on DCL's behalf but my cc charge always says Disney Cruise Line, not the name of the agency.

 

[Disneypeach]

My TA, Costco, takes the PIF payment about 2 weeks before it’s due for DCL. Their reasoning is to give enough time to fix any potential payment issues…rejected cc for instance. I think you might be able to set the timeframe differently with Costco but I never have. Everything else is just as tho dealing directly with DCL.

 

[NMPensFan]

Thank you both so much. just the info I needed. Requesting a quote now!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thank you so much. Requesting quote now!

Keep in mind, once you book through a TA, any changes you'd like to make must be done through your TA. Change cabins, dinner time, etc.

You can still book activities online once you're paid in full. That is still the same regardless whether you book direct or through a TA.

 

[orum]

Keep in mind, once you book through a TA, any changes you'd like to make must be done through your TA. Change cabins, dinner time, etc.

You can still book activities online once you're paid in full. That is still the same regardless whether you book direct or through a TA.

I was able to change my dinner seating time myself on the deck web site.

 

[NMPensFan]

This is all very helpful! I usually like to plan and schedule myself so going with a ta is a bit scary.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This is all very helpful! I usually like to plan and schedule myself so going with a ta is a bit scary.

In some ways it makes it easier. I just email my TA instead of sitting on hold with DCL. It's especially convenient when DCL is about to release new itineraries/dates when hold times exceed an hour. It's like feeding time at the zoo. I simply come home from work and read my email.

 

[n2mm]

I use DU and it’s been great. I’m a big planner, DVC member, have trips booked up to september 2022. Using a TA is great for my cruises. I don’t have to sit on the phone opening day to convert my placeholders. My TA takes care of my requests. Plus, right now, so much changes daily, so I have someone to ask questions for me. I do still book my own excursions through the dcl site. Payments are made through DU via a link or phone call. You can make payments whether credit card, gift cards or even Disney rewards money. The DU rep makes your payment to dcl on your behalf. And on a side note,if you cancel, your refund comes straight to you, not DU, though they can check on the status for you (been there from a hurricane cancellation)

 

[NMPensFan]

how does booking Palo or other up charges work? Are all available to book after the cruise is paid off? The ta does this or can I on the website? What are placeholders? I am trying to research this all but I just decided to cruise Disney yesterday

 

[OKW Lover]

Another vote for using DU. We are DCL Platinum and have booked all but our first DCL cruise (2001) through them. We also have two more DCL cruises booked for next year on the Wish. Again through DU. Our agent there, Tracey, has always bee responsive and answers questions quickly.

Payment reminders from DU are usually sent out a few days ahead of the actual due date, IIRC. This is so Dreams can be sure your payment gets in on time and you don't lose your cabin.

 

[OKW Lover]

how does booking Palo or other up charges work? Are all available to book after the cruise is paid off? The ta does this or can I on the website? What are placeholders? I am trying to research this all but I just decided to cruise Disney yesterday

You can book Palo yourself once your are PIF through the DCL website.

Placeholders are cruises booked on board for a future, unspecified place. People do this when sailing to take advantage of any special deals on board but don't know exactly when they will cruise again. Once the decide they then use the placeholder deposit for that sailing.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Just to add onto what pp said, there is usually a discount and/or onboard credit when booking a future cruise while on your cruise. Currently it’s 10% off the pretax cruise fare and a $200 obc if your future cruise is 7+ days, $100 obc if the future cruise is 6 days or shorter. Subject to change, as always but the obc is stackable so if your TA gives you $200 and DCL gives you $200, you will have $400 to spend while on the future cruise that was booked onboard.

Current onboard deal was precovid. Someone please correct me if it has recently changed.

 

[orum]

Just to add onto what pp said, there is usually a discount and/or onboard credit when booking a future cruise while on your cruise. Currently it’s 10% off the pretax cruise fare and a $200 obc if your future cruise is 7+ days, $100 obc if the future cruise is 6 days or shorter. Subject to change, as always but the obc is stackable so if your TA gives you $200 and DCL gives you $200, you will have $400 to spend while on the future cruise that was booked onboard.

Current onboard deal was precovid. Someone please correct me if it has recently changed.

I thought the onboard credit went away in 2019. I still have it attached to my upcoming cruise due to cancellations / moves of the cruise.

 

[lanejudy]

I thought the onboard credit went away in 2019. I still have it attached to my upcoming cruise due to cancellations / moves of the cruise.

Agree. The OBC did go away. The Onboard Booking offer as of pre-covid included a 10% discount off the fare, and a reduced deposit (10% instead of 20%) for cruises 7+ nights. The placeholder was a flat $250. I didn't hear that anything changed since the Dream restart - except you can only make a placeholder onboard and will need to convert it to an actual date after you get home.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Darn it. That stinks. I guess I would have been in for a big surprise when we use our placeholder. It was booked in Sept 2019.

 

[orum]

Darn it. That stinks. I guess I would have been in for a big surprise when we use our placeholder. It was booked in Sept 2019.

That one may have the on board credit still as it was discontinued at the end of Sept 2019.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

That one may have the on board credit still as it was discontinued at the end of Sept 2019.

Oh good! It sailed 9/1/19 so crossing my fingers.
Who knows, maybe they will raise incentives if they can’t get the ships as full as they like.
I remember when the obc varied according to CC tier. We turned platinum right before our Alaskan cruise when the obc was $350/cabin and our TA gave us $200/cabin so we had $1100 in obc.
Maybe now they have too many platinum cruisers to do that, and too much demand to need it.

 

[n2mm]

I’m still using several older placeholders. I have 4 cruises booked for 2022, 3 of them have the extra $200 obc. Dcl let us push them up to sept 2022.

 

[NMPensFan]

I truly appreciate all this info. After going back and forth we finally choose a sailing (I think). Just waiting to hear back from DU.