? Deposit and payment with agent

[Intr3pid]

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.

If you are a DIY planner, I wouldn't use a DU agent or any other agent that would slow you down. They are handling dozens of others and can never act as fast as you can on your own.

I do recommend using Costco as a TA, however, for the substantial savings you can get if you are a Costco customer. That's the only instance where we have used a TA. Not for the planning part - but for the savings.

 

[n2mm]

If you are a DIY planner, I wouldn't use a DU agent or any other agent that would slow you down. They are handling dozens of others and can never act as fast as you can on your own.

I do recommend using Costco as a TA, however, for the substantial savings you can get if you are a Costco customer. That's the only instance where we have used a TA. Not for the planning part - but for the savings.

I disagree. my DU TA is fantastic. Just the other night I got my gty cabin assignment and did not like it. I took a look at availability and sent her a text. Told her what I wanted and within minutes my next cabin was assigned to me. she lets her clients text her when it’s important. Btw, I consider myself a diy planner. As a DVC member I’m always booking, changing rooms, booking, changing dining. If I wasn’t completely satisfied with my TA it would’ve been a one and done for me. Also, if your cruise gets canceled because of a hurricane or pandemic, having a TA is worth their weight in gold to take care of everything for you. You definitely don’t want to be booked through Costco in a situation like that.

 

[Intr3pid]

I disagree. my DU TA is fantastic. Just the other night I got my gty cabin assignment and did not like it. I took a look at availability and sent her a text. Told her what I wanted and within minutes my next cabin was assigned to me. she lets her clients text her when it’s important. Btw, I consider myself a diy planner. As a DVC member I’m always booking, changing rooms, booking, changing dining. If I wasn’t completely satisfied with my TA it would’ve been a one and done for me. Also, if your cruise gets canceled because of a hurricane or pandemic, having a TA is worth their weight in gold to take care of everything for you. You definitely don’t want to be booked through Costco in a situation like that.

Most of us planners don't book GTY rates.

So, I went online, looked at availability, texted her, and she called DCL or changed the room online for me. Which part of it could not be done by me? Or faster when time would be of essence? Why would i want to involve a third person in this process?

If you want to pay someone to be on call to do your work, that's actually fine. Many folks don't need control. But that's daylight removed from what I call DIY planning.

 

[n2mm]

Most of us planners don't book GTY rates.

So, I went online, looked at availability, texted her, and she called DCL or changed the room online for me. Which part of it could not be done by me? Or faster when time would be of essence? Why would i want to involve a third person in this process?

If you want to pay someone to be on call to do your work, that's actually fine. Many folks don't need control. But that's daylight removed from what I call DIY planning.

Wow, you do know no one pays for a TA, right? Using a TA is free. There is no cost involved and they actually pay us, the client, in onboard credit to use on the ship.

Many planners booked GTY cruises a year or more out. we like a certain category, 5E and 4E. Often these rooms are gone on opening day for Gold and Silver, so we have no choice but to book a GTY5E just to get our desired location.

don’t confuse a GTY bookings with a VGT, OGT, IGT which are last minute bookings. These are 2 different things

I am indeed a planner, a platinum member, who books with placeholders on opening day. If you have a placeholder, it requires you call to convert it to a new cruise. I’m happy to have my TA get this painful task…that she does at no cost to me.

 

[NMPensFan]

If you are a DIY planner, I wouldn't use a DU agent or any other agent that would slow you down. They are handling dozens of others and can never act as fast as you can on your own.

I do recommend using Costco as a TA, however, for the substantial savings you can get if you are a Costco customer. That's the only instance where we have used a TA. Not for the planning part - but for the savings.

I did look into this. I tried to make an apples to apples comparison by doing it myself and through Costco. When counting in the Costco gift card but not the 2%, Costco was a little more. Maybe I did it wrong. I’ll look into it again. It was a bit more incentive at du than the Costco card. Still waiting for the du quote though to really compare that.

 

[lanejudy]

Still waiting for the du quote though to really compare that.

The actual cost should be the same whether you book direct with DCL, through DU, Costco, or any ither TA. If you find a difference make sure what is included. Some things that may or may not be automatically included by one are taxes and fees, trip insurance, gratuities, and same number/letter stateroom category.

The Costco cash card comes aftrr the cruise; DU’s OBC is received onboard. Neither impact the amount you will need to pay.

 

[OKW Lover]

So, I went online, looked at availability, texted her, and she called DCL or changed the room online for me. Which part of it could not be done by me? Or faster when time would be of essence? Why would i want to involve a third person in this process?

So you don't have to sit on hold while waiting to talk to somebody at Disney?

 

[Intr3pid]

Wow, you do know no one pays for a TA, right? Using a TA is free. There is no cost involved and they actually pay us, the client, in onboard credit to use on the ship.

Many planners booked GTY cruises a year or more out. we like a certain category, 5E and 4E. Often these rooms are gone on opening day for Gold and Silver, so we have no choice but to book a GTY5E just to get our desired location.

don’t confuse a GTY bookings with a VGT, OGT, IGT which are last minute bookings. These are 2 different things

I am indeed a planner, a platinum member, who books with placeholders on opening day. If you have a placeholder, it requires you call to convert it to a new cruise. I’m happy to have my TA get this painful task…that she does at no cost to me.

So you don't have to sit on hold while waiting to talk to somebody at Disney?

For us to give up control of our bookings, the savings have to be substantial. Properly stacked, a Costco booking can give you back ~10% of the fare - which is 2x any other TA's if booking direct and 4x if transferring over. For anyone like us dropping $30K-$40K annually on cruises, that's extra savings of $2K per year. So, if you are instead looking for a TA "who you can text" or ask to be on call, understand the math behind what you are giving up - or, as I referred to, 'paying'.

The only sailings whose rooms go GTY in opening days (like Hawaii's) are the ones where availability will be remain scarce until maybe after the PIF date. Texting a TA to change the room won't help.

 

[OKW Lover]

For us to give up control of our bookings, the savings have to be substantial.

Booking through Dreams doesn't mean you give up control of your bookings.

 

[NMPensFan]

Well I just recieved my quote. I can't explain it but I will not be using a ta. It feels like a rush to get the deposit in 2 days when I haven't even spoken to anyone about my options or questions. I can see that they may not want to waste time on someone who might then not book, but I wanted a ta to help me find the best options before I put down a deposit.

Maybe that's not the business model. I've never used a ta for anything so I'll chalk it up to my misunderstandings.

 

[lanejudy]

You should be able to contact that agent back with your questions. Feel free to ask about different stateroom options on that date, or other options for other cruises (different ship, different itinerary, etc.). They'll help you. They may need to refresh your quote after you get through with your questions, but definitely ask. They are highly trained in DCL.

The 2-day thing is DCL -- probably when the TA checked for your quote, they put a hold on a reservation which essentially "holds" the price. That hold expires in 3 days (DCL's terms). Cruises are priced in tiers, and when X% of staterooms are booked the price increases. They would just need to reprice the cruise for you after you get your answers and take time to think about things -- and that price may or may not have changed, but they can't guarantee it longer than the hold.

Or maybe you would prefer a TA that you can contact by phone or walk into their office to sit down and discuss possibilities. No harm in either of those options, either.

 

[Intr3pid]

Well I just recieved my quote. I can't explain it but I will not be using a ta. It feels like a rush to get the deposit in 2 days when I haven't even spoken to anyone about my options or questions. I can see that they may not want to waste time on someone who might then not book, but I wanted a ta to help me find the best options before I put down a deposit.

Maybe that's not the business model. I've never used a ta for anything so I'll chalk it up to my misunderstandings.

The collective knowledge of the folks on this forum goes well beyond that of any TA. You have taken the first step right. Now, continue to ask questions, read the posts, and do your research. It's much more fun this way, and you will learn from actual guests - people who cruise DCL.

Then, once you are ready to pull the trigger, book it through a TA and grab the credits. You will lose the ability to DIY change/cancel the reservation - or manage payments directly with the cruise line - but, at that point, it won't matter.

 

[NMPensFan]

Yes. I will continue to research on my own. Its a bit hard since there isn't a lot on actual info on the wish since it's not running yet. Youtube has been helpful. I will be on here a bunch. Think I will book sooner rather than later though since I worry prices will go up as it gets closer. But who knows now with the Bahamas vaccine rules. Prices might go down.

 

[lanejudy]

Think I will book sooner rather than later though since I worry prices will go up as it gets closer.

True. Keep in mind your deposit is fully refundable until the PIF date — usually ~4 months prior to sail date. And we’re all in the same situation wanting to know more about the Wish.