Is there any reason NOT to book with a travel agent?

[ghtx]

It seems like, even if I know exactly what cruise I want to go on and I can book it myself online at the DCL site, I might as well book through a travel agent to at least get some onboard credit or maybe even a discount on the price. Is that right? Am I missing anything?

 

[Praying Colonel]

DW and her sisters recently went on a cruise they booked through a travel agent (great deal--pre-cruise stay at a 4-star hotel, lots of add-on packages while on the cruise, etc.). Her biggest source of frustration was trying to find out info ahead of time and the cruise line not wanting to deal with her directly because she booked through the travel agent. Maybe other cruise lines handle it differently, but that was DW's biggest headache. It could've been avoided if she'd booked directly with the cruise line, but she wouldn't have got as a good deal, either (she checked beforehand), so there were pros and cons for her.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

The biggest reason people don't book with a TA is so they can control the reservation and make changes without having to contact the TA. As long as you are okay giving up that control, and get an attentive TA, then I really don't see a don't see a downside. I book with a TA solely for the OBC, but I will say it is nice when I'm trying to book on opening day to just send my TA an email and let her sit on hold with DCL.

 

[Billinaz]

No. Get the best perk you can. All the payments ultimately go thru DCL, and in the rare event you want to move cabins, the TA can do it with you on the phone at the same time with DCL.

We used to get an OBC form a TA but it was pretty low compared to the Cash card we get from Costco. It is 8-9% of your cruise cost. In our case we have gotten a $900 cash card when all we would get from a TA is $150 OBC...

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

1/ You never ever loose any control, just speak to a different person.
2/ You can still book, Palo, Remy, port trips, spa direct.
3/ You get money back, OBCs why burn money up?
4/ Get a TA who you can vonsct by phone, and email, who work weekends.
5/ On opening days, they do the hard work and long waits for you often getting best rooms.
6/ If anything goes wrong they support you, yes it occurs.
7/ They have clout with DCL like a work Union, many clients together, if you do not use a TA your on your own, actually less control.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Get the 'right' TA. Mine booked my cruise for me and will do something if I ask, but no perks, no offers for anything else. I'm disappointed, because I could have just gone to Costco or someone else. That said, being this was my first time booking a cruise and I knew essentially nothing about it, her services for that were valuable to me. Next time, I'll check out where I'm going for help before giving them my business.

 

[dcassetta]

The one control issue I can think of is making a stateroom change yourself, without having to wait for the TA. Perhaps you have a preferred stateroom that is not available on the day you book. Later you see it come available, but in the time it takes to contact your TA and have them look for it, the stateroom is taken by another.

 

[The Grays]

The Cash card you get from Costco is it only to be used at Costco? or any place?

 

[bumbershoot]

If you are a person who wants to make changes exactly when you want to make changes, and no amount of delay is going to work for you, do NOT book through a TA.

Some of us have differing definitions of "losing control". To me the definition is "I cannot talk to a cruiseline employee and make changes right then". Therefore, you DO lose some control. You have to call, for example, Costco when their Travel agency is open, or call Dreams Unlimited when your agent is available, and then they call the cruiseline and make the changes. In the meantime someone who booked directly was on the phone, making the change for their own booking.

If this would bug you, then don't book with a TA.

It doesn't bug me at all. It IS losing control, AND it doesn't bug me.


But there's plenty you can do on your own. You do online checkin, you choose PAT, you do your dining. I have called to request a cord and water for DH's CPAP (the key there is to tell them what you want BEFORE giving your booking info...otherwise they shut down and won't talk with you about anything). There's a lot of changes you can make with the employees, and a TON that you will just do on your own online.

But if you want to move staterooms the moment you can connect with a cruise line employee, that is something that will cause you frustrations.

Her biggest source of frustration was trying to find out info ahead of time and the cruise line not wanting to deal with her directly because she booked through the travel agent.

Cruise lines have this policy. Can I suggest that if she has questions about cruises in the future she can look on cruisecritic.com's message boards? Not specific for her exact booking, but just about any question a person has, people there have answers.

The Cash card you get from Costco is it only to be used at Costco? or any place?

It's a Costco cash card. To be used at Costco. SOME stores will change it out for actual cash, but I would never do that.

 

[Billinaz]

The Cash card you get from Costco is it only to be used at Costco? or any place?

Its a Costco cash card. You can use it at Costco.

 

[Billinaz]

The one control issue I can think of is making a stateroom change yourself, without having to wait for the TA. Perhaps you have a preferred stateroom that is not available on the day you book. Later you see it come available, but in the time it takes to contact your TA and have them look for it, the stateroom is taken by another.

They can call DCL right when you see it, they dont have to look.

 

[Hundredacre]

The one control issue I can think of is making a stateroom change yourself, without having to wait for the TA. Perhaps you have a preferred stateroom that is not available on the day you book. Later you see it come available, but in the time it takes to contact your TA and have them look for it, the stateroom is taken by another.

This happened to us. First time using a ta too. The price changed (up about $500) in the 45 minutes it took her to book it (not her fault of course), whereas if I had just done it when I saw it online... but I think that's rare. I'm very happy so far otherwise.

 

[dcassetta]

They can call DCL right when you see it, they dont have to look.

Yes, the TA can call, but there may be some delay. As an example- you are booked in stateroom 1, but would prefer 2. You notice at 10am that stateroom 2 has become available. You call or email your TA, who doesn't get the message right away, because they are away from their phone or working for another guest or on a cruise themselves. By the time they see your message, the stateroom has been taken by another. If you booked direct, you could have made the change as soon as you saw the availability. This would be an instance where not having control of the reservation is an issue. I do not think this is a big issue or happens all that often, but people here do sometimes complain about their TA not responding quickly enough.

 

[dcassetta]

This happened to us. First time using a ta too. The price changed (up about $500) in the 45 minutes it took her to book it (not her fault of course), whereas if I had just done it when I saw it online... but I think that's rare. I'm very happy so far otherwise.

Happy with mine too, especially on the most recent opening day

 

[Billinaz]

This happened to us. First time using a ta too. The price changed (up about $500) in the 45 minutes it took her to book it (not her fault of course), whereas if I had just done it when I saw it online... but I think that's rare. I'm very happy so far otherwise.

I book the cabin I want with DCL and name Costco as the travel agent. I email DCL a form that gives Costco the reservation and make my deposit and payments with Costco.

This way I get my opening day choice and dont have to worry about a TA not getting it done in time.

 

[tink1970]

When I had a different TA I could not use my Disney Vacation Account. I don't know if this was her/her company's rule or if DCL has changed but now with DU I can call, give my account number and the CM will credit my account. I can then email my DU TA (lots of abbreviations, feel like I'm back in the Navy ) to let her know there's been a credit to my account.

That said, in the past with The Other Travel Agency I booked a couple of cruises myself after running to Target, buying a lot of Disney Gift Cards, loading my cards and then booking the military rate and using DVA myself. Saved quite a lot of $$ this way and didn't miss the OBC (one year it was a crazy amt off, something like 40-45% all said).

This is really the only circumstance I can think of when using a TA didn't make sense for me...

 

[The Grays]

When I had a different TA I could not use my Disney Vacation Account. I don't know if this was her/her company's rule or if DCL has changed but now with DU I can call, give my account number and the CM will credit my account. I can then email my DU TA (lots of abbreviations, feel like I'm back in the Navy ) to let her know there's been a credit to my account.

That said, in the past with The Other Travel Agency I booked a couple of cruises myself after running to Target, buying a lot of Disney Gift Cards, loading my cards and then booking the military rate and using DVA myself. Saved quite a lot of $$ this way and didn't miss the OBC (one year it was a crazy amt off, something like 40-45% all said).

This is really the only circumstance I can think of when using a TA didn't make sense for me...

I think that is because you are not paying DU directly. At least with us they took our credit card info and passed that right on to DCL.

 

[n2mm]

I used to book all my own cruises, then started using DU and am happy with them. I don't feel like I've given up any control. My DU TA booked my last couple of cruises and did a fantastic job. She keeps me informed of everything going on and sends out a monthly newsletter. She is quick to reply to my emails and when she's away or going on vaca she lets her folks know. I get some OBC, great service and I help a small business. A good fit for me!

 

[jdrobinson06]

I used to book all my own cruises, then started using DU and am happy with them. I don't feel like I've given up any control. My DU TA booked my last couple of cruises and did a fantastic job. She keeps me informed of everything going on and sends out a monthly newsletter. She is quick to reply to my emails and when she's away or going on vaca she lets her folks know. I get some OBC, great service and I help a small business. A good fit for me!

Who is your TA???

 

[n2mm]

I don't know if I'm allowed to say....wouldn't want to break any disboards rules.