Pros and Cons of Travel Agent

[MillauFr]

As far as I know Disney doesn't allow Costco or any other TA to discount their cruises. Are you sure about this???

Yes I am sure that you pay less with Costco. You pay the same for the cruise but they give you a cash card that is 9% of the cost of the cruise. The net amount means you pay less with Costco. This is complete nonsense. Why should you pay less with Costco than if you book direct?

 

[Ofinn]

I think they're referring to the fact that, if you book directly, you pay $XXX for a cruise while, if they book with Costco, they also pay $XXX, but get back some of it (so "getting back" some of the cost).

Yes I am sure that you pay less with Costco. You pay the same for the cruise but they give you a cash card that is 9% of the cost of the cruise. The net amount means you pay less with Costco. This is complete nonsense. Why should you pay less with Costco than if you book direct?

Not everyone is a member of Costco. Remember it cost money to join Costco, and Costco is not in every city. It's a perk that Costco gives it members for booking cruises through them. It's just another way for Costco to build it's membership. DCL has nothing to do with what Costco decides to give it's members.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not everyone is a member of Costco. Remember it cost money to join Costco, and Costco is not in every city. It's a perk that Costco gives it members for booking cruises through them. It's just another way for Costco to build it's membership. DCL has nothing to do with what Costco decides to give it's members.

I get that. I was just deciphering the comment about "why should booking direct with DCL cost more than booking with Costco?"

 

[MillauFr]

Not everyone is a member of Costco. Remember it cost money to join Costco, and Costco is not in every city. It's a perk that Costco gives it members for booking cruises through them. It's just another way for Costco to build it's membership. DCL has nothing to do with what Costco decides to give it's members.

Yes you are right that Costco is not in every city. I live in Seattle and there are many Costcos nearby and they pay me to shop there. They charge me $110 for an executive membership but they rebate me $150 to $200 dollars per year so in essence they are paying me to shop there.

 

[MillauFr]

I get that. I was just deciphering the comment about "why should booking direct with DCL cost more than booking with Costco?"

It shouldn't cost more but it does. You should pay less if you book directly with Disney than if you book with Costco.

 

[Flossbolna]

If Disney was giving some of the commission they pay out to the travel agents back to the customer, i.e. make it cheaper for people to book a cruise through Disney direct than through the travel agent, the travel agent industry would be up in arms about it. And DCL still needs the travel agents. If everyone would book through them, it would be a strain on their resources. There still are many people booking cruises who will require a lot of information etc. Disney is more or less outsourcing this to travel agents. Also, travel agents can be a great marketing tool.

 

[insureman]

I used to use AAA when they gave clients an OBC or even the photo package. Now I just do it on my own since they stopped giving any incentives because it gives me more control. I can see someone using a TA their first cruise but after that it's easier to do it on your own unless you're getting a decent OBC.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

If Disney was giving some of the commission they pay out to the travel agents back to the customer, i.e. make it cheaper for people to book a cruise through Disney direct than through the travel agent, the travel agent industry would be up in arms about it. And DCL still needs the travel agents. If everyone would book through them, it would be a strain on their resources. There still are many people booking cruises who will require a lot of information etc. Disney is more or less outsourcing this to travel agents. Also, travel agents can be a great marketing tool.

Part agree, but.

In the UK Virgin holidays / Virgin Cruises have their own franchises in stores and they regularly sell the VH holidays at a discount. The TAs here are not up in arms they cannot compete but still sell some holidays.

 

[MillauFr]

If Disney was giving some of the commission they pay out to the travel agents back to the customer, i.e. make it cheaper for people to book a cruise through Disney direct than through the travel agent, the travel agent industry would be up in arms about it. And DCL still needs the travel agents. If everyone would book through them, it would be a strain on their resources. There still are many people booking cruises who will require a lot of information etc. Disney is more or less outsourcing this to travel agents. Also, travel agents can be a great marketing tool.

Then why aren't the travel agents upset when Disney is doing basically the same thing letting Costco sell the cruises at a 9% discount?

People shouldn't expect full service for free. The full service travel agents do provide a valuable service and should be compensated for it. I just think the people using the full service travel agents should pay for the service not the people booking direct with Disney.