Dreams Unlimited vs. everyone else

[TiggerInNY]

Hi,

I'm just getting some prices together for the 7-night May 27, 2006 special Western sailing from various TA. I would LOVE to get a Category 4, but would definetly take a Category 6. Anyway, DU came in the lowest so far and by quite a bit of cash. I was just leary about why they are so low? I know they buy in bulk and you can't pick your cabin at booking, but is that the only differences from other TA? Below I will show you the prices that I'm getting:

All Seasons
Cat 4 $7,600
Cat 6 $6,480

DCL
Cat 4 $7,700
Cat 6 $6,816

BJ's Wholesale Club
Cat 6 $6,980 + $50 shipboard credit + $200 BJ's gift card

Interval Int'l. (Timeshare Exchange)
Cat 4 $7536
Cat 6 $6,416

Dreams Unlimited
Cat 4 $5,550 + $50 shipboard credit
Cat 6 I haven't received their quote as of yet.

Now, see what I mean? In some cases it's $2000 more at other TAs. How many of you actually book with DU and are happy with them? And I've heard that some of you transfer and existing ressie to another TA for additional credit. Can someone explain?

Thanks.

TiggerInNY
Maria

 

[izzinmac]

Can't answer why the big price variation, but I can vouch for DU service! I would definitely take the DU reservation. We have used them often and they are very reliable!

 

[daisy112878]

We have two cruises booked with DU right now. They have been wonderful. We get timely responses when emailing them and also very helpful. We booked a July 2006 cruise and found out last month we needed to change it to October 2006. It was no problem and was changed within a couple of hours. No hassle or anything. Also they were the lowest with both our cruises. Oh and we didn't like our room for our Sept 2005 cruise and we asked to be moved. It was no problem and they moved us without question. Once you pay for the deposit, the online ressie will show your room number.

 

[shelly3girls]

In my experience DU was lower, but not that much lower. We have used them for several trips now and are extremely pleased with their service. Regina is coordinating a large group for us and has been wonderful!

Check to make sure that you are comparing apples to apples. Ask if each quote includes insurance, taxes, and transfers to and from the airport. All of these things add up quite a bit. I am not saying that it is not possible that DU is that much cheaper but you just need to make sure that you are really comparing similar trips.

 

[TiggerInNY]

Thank you everyone for getting back to me.

Shelly3girls: The DU includes all taxes, etc. I'm not even sure if the other higher quotes include that. They could even be higher!!! Imagine that?

Have anyone used another TA that I haven't listed? I don't think anyone is going to beat this price from DU, but I want to make sure. Not like the cruise is tomorrow.

Thanks for all your help.

Maria

 

[CarolA]

Maybe it is volume. DU does a lot of Disney stuff. At least with some cruise lines that gets the TA a discount.

 

[bratray]

hi
when i booked my cruise with DU i got a price $1000 cheaper then directly through disney!! i got this great price because DU had booked blocks of rooms as a "group cruise"...i gave a request for what room i would prefer to be in and was very lucky and got that cabin number after i made my deposit...the service has been excellent, prompt and very friendly....the only draw back was that because this was a DU "group booking" that i couldn't get the $50 credit for first time DCL cruisers or the $50 credit for booking with my disney card but.....not a biggie as i saved a ton and did get a DU credit- i am very glad i booked with dreams unlimited

 

[CajunGirl2]

Could it be that DU locks in at the early booking rate? TiggerInNY, we're booked on that cruise and the rates have gone up significantly since I booked in Oct. 2004. We're in a cat 8 and the price has gone up about $1400. So maybe DU locked in before the rates went up. That could explain the price difference. I didn't use DU. I used micdan.com and was very pleased with their price. They were lower than other TAs that I checked. You may want to check them out too.

If you do decide to book that cruise, come on over to the Cruise Meets board.

 

[logan1_2000]

I think the OP is making sure that the quotes are not a case of "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is".. Very valid concern. And it looks like you've had great advice in making sure you are comparing apples to apples, that the quotes all contain the same elements, that there is no transfer, airfare, trip insurance, tax or port fees differences.

Which leaves a major issue that many on these boards can answer--is DU legit? Yes. They are. My next ressie is with them. They sponsor these boards. I have spoken directly to the Castaway Club line at DCL and they have told me that they do a lot of business with DU, talk to them daily, and regard them very highly. Go for it--grab the quote and book it.

Only thing that caught my eye was the issue of not knowing your stateroom number until after you have booked. I did not experience that because I booked directly with DCL then moved the ressie to DU, so I already had a stateroom. Looks like others are telling you that is standard DU procedure. Since you are looking at a Cat. 6, I do urge you to make sure you are going to get a plexiglass & railing verandah, not a solid walled verandah in the aft portion of the ship. I just had a solid walled Cat. 5 and really, it is not the same, and I would not want to unknowlingly pay for a verandah and get the solid wall unless I was informed up front that I was booking a solid wall, and then it would be my decision.

But DU is very good and very responsive and very real.

 

[TiggerInNY]

I know that this has been an issue on these boards, but the verandahs are safe, right? I have two boys, 10 & 6 when we cruise and am going crazy about it wondering if it's a good and safe move or not.

Also, who has had a Category 4 and how much bigger and better is it than the Category 6? I've heard that the split bathroom is a plus. Any other imput?

Thanks.

Maria

 

[ivanova]

both categories you're considering have the split bath....

The verandahs are safe, but I would NEVER let a child out there without immediate adult supervision.

Like others have said, the lower DU price is probably because they have a block of rooms booked at a group rate. Once you've verified no one else can beat the price, go for it.

If you do want a specific room assigned, book directly with DCL first. Get a room number assigned to the ressie. THEN transfer the ressie to DU to get the lower price.

 

[logan1_2000]

contrary to those who think I have no regard for safety, I completely agreed with Disney's own printed safety policy that children should never be on a verandah w/o adult supervision present. This warning is also part of the "safety" video shown on the in-room TV on embarkation day, and I know it appears in print in the literature.

And when I did take DS out on the balcony, which has a 4 foot high wall, my rule was that he had to have two feet flat on the floor when he looked over, and that DW or I had to be there of course.

I have transferred a ressie from DCL to DU, so can vouch for that procedure as well, as can many. In my case however, I had the early booking price from DCL and DU was the same, but DU had an extra rebate so I made the switch but getting a lower fare while keeping stateroom was not my own experience.

 

[DrCavin]

Something does not look right on the cat4 pricing from DU.... That is a huge difference in price even if that is compared to all others cat 6 pricing. I would check with DU again to make sure, because if that is correct I would JUMP on that in a second!!.

 

[magiroux]

I second what DrCavin has said. That price difference just doesn't look right. DU maked an oops with my ressie couple years back. Before the dates opened for a cruise I asked for a quote. When the dates were released I again asked for a quote but less one adult. They did not catch my change and quoted me WAY too high. Stuff like that happens and they are just honest, human mistakes.

That being said, DU is the best. I contacted Tammy many times with special requests, link different ressie numbers with DIS friends, changed the links and basically was a pain in the neck to Tammy. She was great. Always helpful and more importantly, always prompt and very competent. They do all business via email but always get back to you within 24 hrs.

I will always book with them with confidence.