Online Cruise Reservations

[UNH 1980]

Has anyone booked their cruise online at the Disney Cruise Line site? I'm getting ready to do so and would like the pros and cons. Did you get to select your stateroom? If not, when do you know which stateroom you are assigned to?

Also, it looks like category 12 inside rooms are directly beneath the adult nightclubs. Is the noise unbearable?!


Thanks in advance!

 

[Irishmom23]

I have used Dreams Unlimited for a cruise/land vacation, a 7 day Eastern cruise, and have just booked my WDW stay for 2004. I have never had a problem, and each time I have booked, they have searched for any discounts or specials that have come up, and I have received them right up until it was time for the trip. For my WDW stay this year, I actually was upgraded to a waterview AND saved an additional $1000!. For the cruises, I received the earlybooking discount and a rebate. They are most accomodating and help you with planning and any questions, no matter how trivial. We received our cabin assignment as soon as we booked. For my 7 day Eastern, I prefered the starboard side of the ship, and they searched and changed the cabin for me without any problem! Good luck!

 

[Diz-Me]

Hi UNH 1980

I booked our most recent DCL cruise using their website. (I booked our first DCL cruise over the telephone.)

I have been very happy booking directly with Disney. Whenever I have questions, requests or changes to make I like to be able to call DCL and get immediate responses.

BTW I used to use a local travel agent but he took forever to get back to me when I wanted info or changes for my vacations and that is why I now book directly with the cruise line.

 

[yvettpal]

I originally booked our land/sea vacation online on the DCL website. I did not get to select a specific cabin, but you will know what it is when you get the confirmation which is at the end of the process. You will be able to print it immediately. I have since switched my reservation to Dreams Unlimited after reading these boards and was able to get a rebate. I'm sure you can change your cabin just by calling DCL.

Good Luck.

 

[UNH 1980]

I feel better about booking online from all of your responses. I will also check Dreams Unlimited. We have "done" Disney World many, many times so now we are ready for something different. But not too different-we can't let a year go by without our Disney fix.

Thanks again!

 

[taswira]

I have booked directly through DCL's website, logging into the Castaway Club reservations (being a return cruiser). I like dealing directly with DCL. I also like being able to simply log in and make final payment. My reservations showed my Castaway Club benefits, Disney Club credit, etc. When it gave me a port side stateroom and I wanted starboard, I called and it was switched to the stateroom I preferred, with no problem. One caution: If you book online and then need to call DCL for anything, make sure you have not been logged into your reservation on the site for at least 45 minutes prior. If you have, they may be unable to access your reservation even if you have logged out.

 

[UNH 1980]

Thank you for the tips. I like the ease of making reservations online. I was just worried I wouldn't be able to talk to a human if I needed additional information. Once I make my deposit, can I mail in payments to DCL? I would rather pay on it monthly rather than having to send in a the whole balance at the due date.

Thanks.

 

[taswira]

You probably can, but the invoice they send you, with a part you are supposed to send back, shows the entire balance due. I know you can log in to your reservation on the DCL site and make payments as often as you like if you are paying by credit card.

 

[Irishmom23]

An additional plus to DU is the fact that all payments are made directly to DCL or WDW so that there is no middle-man and worrying if the deposit, etc. was credited, as you may experience with other travel agencies. I also like paying on my trips on a monthly or weekly basis and make regular payments so that by the time the last payment is due, it is all paid for.

 

[andicat]

With DU they will monitor any price changes or rebates for you and that's good, but I made my reservation on line at the Disney Cruise site and am very happy. That way there is no middle man at all, no agency of any kind except Disney. I feel better that way because if anything is wrong I can go straight to Disney Cruise line and never have to deal with anyone at an agency.

 

[dthogue]

What is the best way to book 2 rooms - online or call DCL directly?

Thanks,

tammy

 

[zurgswife]

We booked two rooms through DU and were very happy...

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by UNH 1980
Once I make my deposit, can I mail in payments to DCL? I would rather pay on it monthly rather than having to send in a the whole balance at the due date.

Thanks.

We paid it off over a year, I would put the money in my checking accont and then call them and tell them to put 250.00 (or however muchI ws paying at the time) on my debit card which number the had on file anyway since that is what I used to put the deposit down..it worked very well, when final payment was due it was only150.00!

 

[Cantw8]

I have always booked online directly through Disney and have never had a problem. However, I am starting to like the idea of DU searching up to the last minute for discounts. I am booked for the 4 day Wonder in Sept, Yvett-pal, how do you go about switching your reservation from Disney to DU? I have paid for the trip with AMEX will that still be noted if I switch over to DU (I don't want to lose the white glove bennies)

 

[yvettpal]

Cantw8--I requested a quote from DU (to see if there was any price difference). The price was the same as DCL, but DU was offering the rebate. When entering the info for the quote I told them that I already had an existing reservation w/ DCL. They provided me with the following link if I wanted to transfer my reservation to get the rebate. The link is: www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/reservations/transfers.htm.

I received an e-mail the next day confirming the transfer to DU and DU will give you a confirmation number, which will allow you to check your reservation on the DU website. All the info on my reservation was the same including the deposit I paid and balance due + it indicated I was eligible for the rebate.