Do I need a travel agent ?

[Betsyp]

I always plan my own vacations, but I know cruises are a different animal. I don’t recall using a TA for my Alaskan Cruise, but maybe Disney is different?

The problem is that the two dates I’m looking at for 7 day Eastern Caribbean on Fantasy - either 2/3 or 2/17- are not that far away, only 3 months. My parents have a TA that I’ve used, and she’s very good, but I don’t think she’s a cruise specialist; I’m not sure if that matters? Anyway, since those dates are coming up, and I’d need to make reservations at, say, Palo and Remy, I fear waiting a few days before actually booking. I feel like I need to book ASAP...

Is the big reason for using a TA the stateroom assignment? I imagine booking excursions is fairly straightforward ...

Thank you!

 

[o&smom]

I always plan my own vacations, but I know cruises are a different animal. I don’t recall using a TA for my Alaskan Cruise, but maybe Disney is different?

The problem is that the two dates I’m looking at for 7 day Eastern Caribbean on Fantasy - either 2/3 or 2/17- are not that far away, only 3 months. My parents have a TA that I’ve used, and she’s very good, but I don’t think she’s a cruise specialist; I’m not sure if that matters? Anyway, since those dates are coming up, and I’d need to make reservations at, say, Palo and Remy, I fear waiting a few days before actually booking. I feel like I need to book ASAP...

Is the big reason for using a TA the stateroom assignment? I imagine booking excursions is fairly straightforward ...

Thank you!

I do not think you need a TA. All of the things that you mentioned can be done at time of booking or are booked online when your booking window opens. You can choose a specific stateroom either online or calling into DCL. Once your booking window opens, you book port adventures, Palo, Princess gatherings, online or in the app.

 

[byanks7]

I always plan my own vacations, but I know cruises are a different animal. I don’t recall using a TA for my Alaskan Cruise, but maybe Disney is different?

The problem is that the two dates I’m looking at for 7 day Eastern Caribbean on Fantasy - either 2/3 or 2/17- are not that far away, only 3 months. My parents have a TA that I’ve used, and she’s very good, but I don’t think she’s a cruise specialist; I’m not sure if that matters? Anyway, since those dates are coming up, and I’d need to make reservations at, say, Palo and Remy, I fear waiting a few days before actually booking. I feel like I need to book ASAP...

Is the big reason for using a TA the stateroom assignment? I imagine booking excursions is fairly straightforward ...

Thank you!

Fo me , the big reason to use a TA is that they give on board credit. My last cruise our TA gave us 500.$ in on board credit

 

[CamColt]

You will have access to the same available rooms as a TA. While you may not "need" a travel agent, the on board credit you get from many, like Dreams Unlimited (who sponsor these boards), is free money for you. I can't see any reason not to use them to get that. Dreams Unlimited also offers a gift basket full of goodies you can use on your cruise, and if you are like me, you will be using some of the items for years to come.

 

[Betsyp]

I do not think you need a TA. All of the things that you mentioned can be done at time of booking or are booked online when your booking window opens. You can choose a specific stateroom either online or calling into DCL. Once your booking window opens, you book port adventures, Palo, Princess gatherings, online or in the app.

Great, thank you so much !!

 

[Betsyp]

Fo me , the big reason to use a TA is that they give on board credit. My last cruise our TA gave us 500.$ in on board credit

Wow, thank you! ! But surely paying a TA costs more than what you get back in credit?

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Wow, thank you! ! But surely paying a TA costs more than what you get back in credit?

You legit don’t pay anything extra I use TraceyH@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com she’s never guided me wrong!

 

[Betsyp]

You will have access to the same available rooms as a TA. While you may not "need" a travel agent, the on board credit you get from many, like Dreams Unlimited (who sponsor these boards), is free money for you. I can't see any reason not to use them to get that. Dreams Unlimited also offers a gift basket full of goodies you can use on your cruise, and if you are like me, you will be using some of the items for years to come.

Oh, I honestly hadn’t considered any of that...! Wow, the credit and a gift basket ?
I took at look at the website - they are very thorough! I can’t think of a reason not to use them ....thank you!

 

[Betsyp]

You legit don’t pay anything extra I use TraceyH@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com she’s never guided me wrong!

the site is amazing - how great that you can choose your agent ! They are responsive? Like I mentioned, there’s a bit of a time crunch..

thank you!

 

[Lesverts]

You legit don’t pay anything extra I use TraceyH@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com she’s never guided me wrong!

Disney also has (or use to) a rule that agents couldn’t charge an upfront commission. Everything is back paid by Disney or the other tour operators.

I’ve done both. Comes down to price. If I can get a group booking that saves me money I take it. If I can’t I opt for the control of booking it myself.

 

[CarolynFH]

Wow, thank you! ! But surely paying a TA costs more than what you get back in credit?

TAs are paid commission by the cruise line and share it with you via onboard credit and gifts.

 

[Betsyp]

TAs are paid commission by the cruise line and share it with you via onboard credit and gifts.

That’s fantastic...I could used some free money

 

[dwg]

The only negative that I see to using a TA (at least for me) is the fact if you are using a TA from what I have seen on these boards DCL wants you to make any changes through the TA. I have read on these boards instances where payments have not been made close to the final payment date and the cruiser could not get in touch with the TA. This would stress me out and not be worth the cruise credit to me. This type of issue may be a mute point in your case as you are so close to the sailing date that it will not matter. So the only advantage of the TA that I see is the cruise credit that you might get through the TA. I personally prefer to be able to contact DCL for any questions or changes without having to go through a TA and wait for them to get back to me.

 

[Betsyp]

The only negative that I see to using a TA (at least for me) is the fact if you are using a TA from what I have seen on these boards DCL wants you to make any changes through the TA. I have read on these boards instances where payments have not been made close to the final payment date and the cruiser could not get in touch with the TA. This would stress me out and not be worth the cruise credit to me. This type of issue may be a moot point in your case as you are so close to the sailing date that it will not matter. So the only advantage of the TA that I see is the cruise credit that you might get through the TA. I personally prefer to be able to contact DCL for any questions or changes without having to go through a TA and wait for them to get back to me.

You mean the TAs haven’t made the final payment? Oh my god, that would completely stress me out - I’d freak out, honestly. You make a good point, though - it probably wouldn’t be an issue for me

I don’t like the idea of waiting for 3 hours to speak to someone, but then, I also generally like to be in control - which is why I never use a TA (even on my Alaska cruise). I don’t see myself as making many - any- changes, to be honest. I think if my cruise were many months away, I probably would (mostly with excursions), but not now

 

[tvguy]

I always have. A GOOD Travel Agent knows the ins and outs of the cruise, the ground transportation the flights and the excursions. You get the service of a professional, they wait on hold for ever how long necessary, and there is no charge to you.
HOWEVER, do your due diligence. Just because someone has a following for videos on YouTube doesn't mean they know there stuff. There are a few that have only been involved with cruising for five or six years and they post some on some of the boneheaded mistakes they make on their own trips. Basic stuff, like knowing your Passport in many instances has to have at least six months left before expiration that I would expect ANY Travel Agent to know. Actually, I suspect the software they use likely would flag something like that. How they missed it, I don't know.

 

[Betsyp]

I always have. A GOOD Travel Agent knows the ins and outs of the cruise, the ground transportation the flights and the excursions. You get the service of a professional, they wait on hold for ever how long necessary, and there is no charge to you.
HOWEVER, do your due diligence. Just because someone has a following for videos on YouTube doesn't mean they know there stuff. There are a few that have only been involved with cruising for five or six years and they post some on some of the boneheaded mistakes they make on their own trips. Basic stuff, like knowing your Passport in many instances has to have at least six months left before expiration that I would expect ANY Travel Agent to know. Actually, I suspect the software they use likely would flag something like that. How they missed it, I don't know.

I was going to use the TA that my family is using for their upcoming cruise, but it looks like they’d closed today …and I can not wait any longer because my cruise is either early February …or I might choose 3/2-3/9. Regardless, I need to book ASAP because my window to reserve restaurants and excursions is probably open now

My one concern about DU - which I’ll contact now- is that they are only e-mail, and I worry about how responsive they’ll be. Are they open today? It’s a holiday weekend. Do they handle restaurant reservations and excursions?

I guess I should also ask - should I worry about spring break crowds? Different regions have different spring breaks, and I don’t think there’s any way to avoid them unless I go after April, which I don’t want to do.

Thank you!

 

[dwg]

You mean the TAs haven’t made the final payment? Oh my god, that would completely stress me out - I’d freak out, honestly. You make a good point, though - it probably wouldn’t be an issue for me

I don’t like the idea of waiting for 3 hours to speak to someone, but then, I also generally like to be in control - which is why I never use a TA (even on my Alaska cruise). I don’t see myself as making many - any- changes, to be honest. I think if my cruise were many months away, I probably would (mostly with excursions), but not now

In the end the payments may have been made in time but it caused stress for the person cruising because DCL would not talk to them. I was just trying to point out that once you decide to use a travel agent DCL will only want to talk to the travel agent regarding important changes or making payments, etc. I am sure they will still answer basic questions that you may have but in the instance of the payment I believe they indicated that DCL would not accept a payment from them since she was working through a TA. I too like being in control and being able to research and handle things I my own so I have never used a TA. We had one instance where we had to cancel within 90 day of an upcoming cruise. Any refunds came back to us directly. I believe with a TA you are paying them not DCL so any refund would come back through them.

 

[Betsyp]

In the end the payments may have been made in time but it caused stress for the person cruising because DCL would not talk to them. I was just trying to point out that once you decide to use a travel agent DCL will only want to talk to the travel agent regarding important changes or making payments, etc. I am sure they will still answer basic questions that you may have but in the instance of the payment I believe they indicated that DCL would not accept a payment from them since she was working through a TA. I too like being in control and being able to research and handle things I my own so I have never used a TA. We had one instance where we had to cancel within 90 day of an upcoming cruise. Any refunds came back to us directly. I believe with a TA you are paying them not DCL so any refund would come back through them.

Thank you! I just read up on DU and it looks like they just handle booking, rooms, etc…reservations are up to the traveler. In that case, with my window probably already open, I might just go it myself. $200 credit is nice, but I don’t think I want to wait however many days before I know I’m booked.

 

[tvguy]

Thank you! I just read up on DU and it looks like they just handle booking, rooms, etc…reservations are up to the traveler. In that case, with my window probably already open, I might just go it myself. $200 credit is nice, but I don’t think I want to wait however many days before I know I’m booked.

Never used Dreams. One of the Moderators posted a list of all their agents with e-mail address and I THOUGHT their phone numbers.
Again, since I have never used Dreams, not sure what they may not handle for you. My initial reactions is I expect a Travel Agent to book EVERYTHING for me, that's what they are getting paid a commission. HOWEVER, one of the YouTubers I follow did make a comment once that seemed to indicate that he doesn't book his clients air travel. What good is that? Every Travel Agent I have used was a Full Service Travel Agent. I just wrote the check and took the vacation.

 

[Betsyp]

Never used Dreams. One of the Moderators posted a list of all their agents with e-mail address and I THOUGHT their phone numbers.
Again, since I have never used Dreams, not sure what they may not handle for you. My initial reactions is I expect a Travel Agent to book EVERYTHING for me, that's what they are getting paid a commission. HOWEVER, one of the YouTubers I follow did make a comment once that seemed to indicate that he doesn't book his clients air travel. What good is that? Every Travel Agent I have used was a Full Service Travel Agent. I just wrote the check and took the vacation.

That’s what I thought a TA does, too….

I actually really don’t need one, come to think of it…