Dreams Unlimited VS. Booking onboard

[DIS NURSE]

I am a little confused as to what are our options in wishing to book a cruise far away in time (Nov., 2006) BTW, this is the special 11/11/06 7 noc cruise to Costa Maya....

We will be on board THIS November and could book then. What exactly do you save or get as perks? What is my finacial obligation at that time of booking?

Is it better to see if Dreams Unlimited can be a better price....but wait until at least Novmber to look ahead for that Nov, 2006 qoute?

Thanks.....

 

[Mommy Poppins]

As long as you can swing the deposit, I would book now with Dreams Unlimited. If you can get a better deal on board in November, you can always cancel the DU reservation. You would not lose any money because you are not anywhere near the final payment.

Booking early is always the best discount!

 

[garytam]

Hi DIS NURSE

When you book on-board, you will get 10% off the cruise and $200.00 on board credit. DU will not be able to match that. But I guess the catch is if there are any availiability when you cruise in Nov and what is the price difference between now and Nov.

 

[DIS NURSE]

That's a really good point...and to complicate it, we booked our upcoming cruise through a friend of mine who works for Cruise One and at the time she seemed to undercut Disney's price by like $700! Now I see our very cruise listed available for $200 less than what we are paying.....so who truly DOES have the best deal and when?....This is what really confuses people, I think.

Honestly, I think I am getting a little ahead of myself...already looking to book again and I have never even sailed! I think I have got the planning bug and that Costa Maya cruise with 2 different Castaway Cay stops looks tempting!

Just one last part of my question I still don't know.....the minute I rebook for the future cruise when I am on ship this November, what is my financial obligation...just put x-amount on the VISA and it's up to me? Is it $250 per person like this last one through Cruise One?
And would final payment be somewhere around August like this one I am working on?

Just want to dream about making the extra $$$$ pulling extra shifts to be able to afford the next one, that's all!

 

[lbgraves]

I would contact your TA & tell her of the price difference. I know that if the price goes down & you have your resi thru DU, they will automatically change it for you.

 

[aphoenix]

The other trick you can do is to book it on the cruise, get the discount and shipboard credit. Once you hit dry land, give your TA a call and give them your reservation number. They can take over control of the reservation and manage it for you. You keep the pricing and credit and get a TA's service, and they can manage it all for you.

We did this with a family reunion cruise coming up in November. We booked last year on board, and our travel agent made the change for us.

Tony

 

[DIS NURSE]

Great advise and I thank you for that...as many other people I am sure don't realize that! What on earth is the incentive for the TA...he/she doeasn't get any $ and I am surprised DCL allows this...

All this travel related ambiguity drives people crazy, I am sure! For instance, rental cars are in a category of their own! The prices vary sooooo much and all you have to do is sneeze the right direction and they lower the price sometimes..other times you are getting reemed and everyone knows it but you just deal with it!

We will plan on booking while on ship I suppose...again....anyone out there who can tell me that for a family of four (2 kids/ 2 adults) the price charged on your VISA that day is $250 pp=$1,000 total? Do you get it in writing that you got the 10% discount and are assured a $200 onboard credit?

Thanks again.....

 

[aphoenix]

The TA does get the commission - and the onboard DCL rebooking rep told us about it. I was stunned when she told me that, and I asked a second time just to be sure. I also asked our travel agent afterwards, and she told me the same thing.

Actually, my understanding is that the commission from a cruise is some of the best a travel agent can get. That is how a lot of the travel agencies can rebate part of your cruise - they are giving you some of their commission.