Quotes from Travel Agents

[Metsoskil]

Not sure if I'm going to get flamed for this, but I'm really not sure whether it's acceptable or not, so here's my question...

Knowing that prices on the new cruises may change during the day tomorrow depending on how frenzied the buying spree is, would it be wrong to request quotes/holds from two different travel agents? Because Disney-based TAs will probably be pretty busy tomorrow, I'm thinking that one may be able to get me a hold earlier in the day than the other and thus possibly cheaper, but I have no idea which.

Is this even possible, or will DCL see the same names/DOBs on the holds and not allow them.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Well, if you double-book, you are taking a spot of someone else. Do you think that's "right?"

It's an ethics/answer your own question situation imo.

- Dreams

 

[Metsoskil]

Well, if you double-book, you are taking a spot of someone else. Do you think that's "right?"

It's an ethics/answer your own question situation imo.

- Dreams

So, If I ask for a hold, they are reserving an actual room? I'm really not sure. I've never booked a cruise before. I guess that makes total sense, though.

I wouldn't think it's right to possibly lock someone out. That pretty much answers my question. Thanks.

 

[CodyBoy]

i know the TA i use Does hold a an acutal cabin for you, so they both might....only way to guarentee rate and it will be there especially for these cruises.

 

[Metsoskil]

So, when DCL raises prices when the ship hits X% capacity, is that number based on holds, or actual reservations w/ deposits?

 

[Disney Fans]

Please remember it is really not good to do this because then if there are a bunch of people doing this it causes the prices to go up faster then they should.

 

[Metsoskil]

Please remember it is really not good to do this because then if there are a bunch of people doing this it causes the prices to go up faster then they should.

I don't plan on it now that I understand a bit more now. Does this mean that the price goes up based on holds as well as actual reservations w/ deposits?

 

[CarolAnnC]

I don't plan on it now that I understand a bit more now. Does this mean that the price goes up based on holds as well as actual reservations w/ deposits?

Yes. They book in "tiers" and as they sell (or hold) the price rises. When the "holds" are cancelled, the price does not go down, they are then available at the highest tier price being sold at that time.

 

[Disney Dreams]

A "hold" means that they are holding that cabin aside for you to book. So, no, a held cabin cannot be sold to someone else until the hold is released. That's why it's a "hold." They are holding on to it for you. It's considered gone from the inventory until booked or released.

- Dreams

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Speaking for myself and probably the other TA's on the board.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not just hold more than one reservation on the same date with different TA's. Because what will happen is that one of them will cancel because it will be seen as a double booking and then when the other agent finds out when they go to hold the cabin they think you are going to book with them and the DCL Agent says oh no they are booked with another agency, that agent is not going to even bother because you already have something held. I would actually call back the client and ask them if that was true. I don't work for free and my time and knowledge is quite valuable so if you want to shop around fine, don't call me then.

I have several families that have called me since I let them know yesterday and they gave me their credit card to book their cabins.

You either can put a deposit down now or you can't. It's really that simple.

How would you feel if you wanted to book it but weren't able because someone else just wanted to "hold" more than one cabin.
I am just talking about fairness.

 

[HallsofVA]

It can be a double edge sword. You can help drive prices up on yourself (and others) by trying to overbook to cover your bases.

Check out the pricing information threads for the cruises you are interested in from today, and that will give you an idea of where prices are running. Ask your TA to hold the cruise you want. Starting in the morning you can also check online for cruises, and can do that to see things yourself, and update your instructions to your agent if your desires change.

By looking online, if you go as far as looking at available rooms in a category, you can create short 20 minute holds without realizing it since the DCL website will actually "hold" a room, or block others from reserving it, once it's allocated to your reservation for 20 minutes or so to give you time to complete the actual reservation. If you walk away or close the site, that temp. system hold will remain for 20-40 minutes before someone else will see that room as available. But still that's better than having an agent completely hold a room that you really don't want.

Once you put the 5 day hold on a room (which is what many agents will do when you ask them for a quote for a specific cruise) the only way to release that hold is to call DCL and release the hold, or to let the hold expire after 5 days. It's not an easy thing to do online!

 

[Metsoskil]

Thank you all for your replies. This has been very helpful and informative.

I have another question - Should I just look online for myself tomorrow morning at 8AM and book myself, or should I trust that my TA is going to get me the best deal? I've always understood that you are better off booking a Disney Cruise w/ a TA, but I'm worried that the volume of requests tomorrow might mean that prices go up before my request is done.

We're just looking at a 2 day out of NYC, so I don't think there's any bonus shipboard credit that I would get by going through a TA.

 

[HallsofVA]

Thank you all for your replies. This has been very helpful and informative.

I have another question - Should I just look online for myself tomorrow morning at 8AM and book myself, or should I trust that my TA is going to get me the best deal? I've always understood that you are better off booking a Disney Cruise w/ a TA, but I'm worried that the volume of requests tomorrow might mean that prices go up before my request is done.

We're just looking at a 2 day out of NYC, so I don't think there's any bonus shipboard credit that I would get by going through a TA.

TAs won't get you any better "deal" than you can get yourself online. If you're very particular, or are looking for a room and/or sailing that is likely to sell out, and you don't have an established relationship with an agent who will book your request first or before others, than you may be better off doing your own booking, and then transferring it to a TA.

When the Dream bookings first opened, I was looking for a very specific room that there were only 6 of on the entire ship, for a summer sailing that was likely to sell out. I was online at 7:30 that morning and saw my 1st choice room available and grabbed it, since I didn't think my agent at the time would be getting to my request any time soon. My category was selling in GTY status about 15 minutes after I booked, and hasn't come down since!

 

[NancyIL]

Thank you all for your replies. This has been very helpful and informative.

I have another question - Should I just look online for myself tomorrow morning at 8AM and book myself, or should I trust that my TA is going to get me the best deal? I've always understood that you are better off booking a Disney Cruise w/ a TA, but I'm worried that the volume of requests tomorrow might mean that prices go up before my request is done.

We're just looking at a 2 day out of NYC, so I don't think there's any bonus shipboard credit that I would get by going through a TA.

Booking yourself and having a travel agent put a cabin on hold has the same effect as having two travel agents book, and it drives up prices more quickly. Either trust your travel agent or do it yourself, but don't double book.

 

[Metsoskil]

Booking yourself and having a travel agent put a cabin on hold has the same effect as having two travel agents book, and it drives up prices more quickly. Either trust your travel agent or do it yourself, but don't double book.

I understand that. I'm asking if I should trust my TA

 

[JuneCleaver]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NancyIL
Booking yourself and having a travel agent put a cabin on hold has the same effect as having two travel agents book, and it drives up prices more quickly. Either trust your travel agent or do it yourself, but don't double book.

I understand that. I'm asking if I should trust my TA

Only you can answer that question! Have you worked with this person before or have you been sending in requests to several agencies and do not have a rapport and working relationship with any of them?

I love my TA and trust her completely, but I also communicate my needs directly to her and not on a message board!

If your TA reads the Dis board and sees your post and figures out who you are, well...you could have a very dubious relationship as of now because I would suspect he/she would be rather annoyed at the moment!

 

[NancyIL]

I understand that. I'm asking if I should trust my TA

Hard to say. Someone has to be at the bottom of the list when the travel agent calls Disney, and that person might not get the first-tier pricing.

I am generally a do-it-myself travel planner, but my Disney cruises have been booked with travel agents. Three out of four were group cruises that had to be booked with a particular travel agency to participate in the group's special events.

 

[newbydisney]

Yes. They book in "tiers" and as they sell (or hold) the price rises. When the "holds" are cancelled, the price does not go down, they are then available at the highest tier price being sold at that time.

I am sure this poster knows way more than me about this....so your responses are very welcome...but I have never seen prices really go up on a particualr category. I have often watched ( obcessively) prices on a cruise I am interested in and while certain categories sell out completely the other cats stay the same price. This seemed to be true even on a recent cruise we went on that was virtually sold out...out of curoiusity I watched the prices and they never seemed to change...thoughts?

 

[CarolAnnC]

I am sure this poster knows way more than me about this....so your responses are very welcome...but I have never seen prices really go up on a particualr category. I have often watched ( obcessively) prices on a cruise I am interested in and while certain categories sell out completely the other cats stay the same price. This seemed to be true even on a recent cruise we went on that was virtually sold out...out of curoiusity I watched the prices and they never seemed to change...thoughts?

The ships are booked in "tiers". There was already at least one report on this board today stating the pricing had increased on the particular category they were pricing.

Not sure what cruise line you have sailed in the past, but Disney definitely books this way...

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I understand that. I'm asking if I should trust my TA

Your TA is not purchasing a house for you or managing your estate. They are booking a cruise. Sorry to be so sarcastic but really what is the big deal about "trust"? The TA's want your business. They will do their best to get your requests. They aren't miracle workers. There are only so many phone lines. Take what the TA can book for you at the time. You can change it later. And thank them!!