Rebooking while on board--I'm happy now

[kcashner]

I just returned from the 7 night Magic, and booked thru Donna while on board in order to get the 10% discount and $200 stateroom credit. I told Donna that I had seen better internet rates than she was giving...she insisted that I was either wrong or the cost had gone up since I'd had internet access. Ok, it wasn't worth the arguement, and her price was still a few $ better than the internet (but not much). I got home, and found the lower rate on 3 different web sites....so I called DCL.

They were very nice, and changed my reservation to the lower rate that I found, and kept the 10% plus $200 onboard credit. They did say that the inventory changes daily or even hourly, so that the lower rate might not have been available when Donna checked (I doubt this, since we were talking about a September cruise date, but.....) In any event, they did match the on line deal plus the further discount for on-line booking.....total, I saved another $150 over what Donna was supposedly saving me . I'm happy! As soon as I get my written confirmation, I'll transfer the ressie to DU.

Incidentally, this is the second time I've found better rates on my own than what Donna had available. The first time, I just walked away and booked later on my own...but thanks to these boards, I'd seen reports of her matching internet rates.
Kathryn

 

[rae519]

WOW!
So glad you told us about this - it does pay to do your homework and be prepared when you get your cruises!

Thanks for sharing this!

Donna didn't happen to mention the 2005 mid May - September schedule now, did she?


Rae

 

[Padre Disney]

We had something simliar happen to us last year while on the ship. Early in the cruise I happen to be walking past and asked real quick about some rates for a March 2004 cruise. But for some reason I don't think it was Donna that I talked to. Anyway the lady was leaving in a hurry gave me an amount. I wrote the amount down on my paper but she did not give me a written qoute. We went down the last night and talked to Donna. I requested everything the same as before and the rate was almost $800 less for one of the rooms then I was told earlier in the cruise. So either the lady I talked to entered the info wrong and gave me the wrong rate or the rate had went done that much.

 

[lotsofboys]

Rae:

We were also on the 2/7/04 cruise and rebooked with Donna, I told my husband to "press" her hard about those months and he claims she wouldn't budge. (I wish now that I had gone with, but I think that's why he went without me ) We had rebooked this cruise in the summer of 2002 and ended up transferring it to Costco and saved over $150 per person and still got to keep the $200 credit in each stateroom. Back then Donna said here is the price go ahead and transfer it to Costco and did not even want to deal with matching the price. I'll have to call DCL for this times rebooking and see if I get the same deal as Kathryn!

 

[rae519]

You think that Disney would be more competitive than travel agents - especially with their repeat cruisers. For my two cents, keep the towel and give me the best price available!!

Rae

 

[lotsofboys]

I couldn't agree more. I often wonder if the percentage of passengers that use a TA other than DCL is so low that they don't match prices because of it?

 

[rae519]

I know that I get 7% off Disney's price from Bill at cruisetravelout.com, for the past 3 years he has always beats DU's quote - and I always ask!!

The travel agents get a 10% commission from DCL to sell the cruises, so when Bill gives me 7%, I know he only makes 3% on it when he takes over the transfer.

BE an informed consumer and ask, ask, ASK!
The only good part about booking on board is getting the room credit - or the DVC point reduction if you use points.

Rae

 

[ronandot]

Kathryn,
We too were on the 2/7 cruise and rebooked with Donna....man was she busy. Anyway, I did check DCL and the price was higher than what I signed up for. Do you mind sharing where you found the lower rates? Thanks!

 

[DisneyBill]

Rae, I couldn't resist looking into the prices from the source you mentioned in the above post, cruisetravelout.com. But I couldn't get a connection. Is there a chance this isn't the current link? Thanks! Bill

 

[rae519]

http://cruisetraveloutlet.com

Write Bill or Tami and ask them about the 7% - you can mention me, if you like.

I just used the link today because I needed to call them about another cruise.

Best wishes,

Rae

 

[kcashner]

The sites I used for cheap rates (all within $1 of each other) were vacationstogo.com, expedia.com, and allseastravel.com. DCL was very nice, and took the 10% off of these rates, while keeping the $200 stateroom credit.

BTY, when I called DCL, they offered me a GTY cabin. I had asked Donna for a GTY, and she flatly said it wasn't available. I prefer the GTY as it gives me the best chance of an upgrade. I've been in many areas of the ship, and seem to find advantages and disadvantages to each area. THus, the chance of the upgrade is well worth the "not knowing" where we'll be each time.

As soon as I get my written confirmation, I'll transfer the ressie to a discount agent for a little further savings. Sorry, but I'd rather have the "extra" 5-7% for tips or excursions. I don't feel at all bad using a discount agent since I've done all the work myself.
Kathryn

 

[Padre Disney]

ronandot,
Donna always seems very busy


Maybe this is DCL's way of not having very many passengers rebook and get the stateroom credit.
I would think that if DCL really wanted more people to rebook on board they would have a TA on the ship available for a longer amount of time.
Every time we looked at our navigator for the TA's time it wasn't for very long and when we did want to stop at her desk the line was 5 or 6 people deep.
I didn't like the thought of EVERYONE else sitting in line hearing about our vacation plans. It made us feel very rushed.

On our March 2003 trip we had this happen:
After waiting and waiting I decided I didn't care how long it took I was going to go down and rebook. When I arrived 3 others were waiting so I put my name on the waiting list and came back 15 minutes later. There were 2 other names ahead of mine. When I returned my name was next and a man was sitting in a chair waiting his turn. Since Donna was already talking with someone and this guy was waiting I knew I was next. The guy waiting was getting tired of waiting and was late for this and that complaining the whole time. As soon as I sat down to wait my turn he said very loud that HE WAS NEXT. I didn't say anything but waited and when Donna called my name saying I was next he was very upset until she explained that I had my name on the list. He said he knew exactly what dates he wanted and only needed 2 minutes. Since I am a nice person I let him go ahead even though he was an *******. In the end Donna thanked me and for letting him cut and we both rolled our eyes
Anyway I wish DCL would have rebooking times a little longer and maybe in a semi-private setting.

 

[jeanniec]

Rae -- Do you know how much of a DVC point reduction you get if you rebook on the ship? Also, if you are on a 7 day cruise, can you rebook a 3 or 4 day cruise with a cash or point discount, or do you have to rebook another 7 day to qualify? I hope that last question makes sense.

 

[disneygal58]

Well, I just got off the phone with DCL and no one was willing to change my rate. We were quoted $1670.00 for two people in a Category 11 for January 8, 2005. I found the same sailing for $1695.00 or thereabouts - that is with Port Charges/Taxes/Fees etc... and before a 10% DCL discount. I explained all of this to the Agent and her supervisor to no avail. I explained that other Repeat Cruisers had recently found similar lower rates online upon returning home and DCL adjusted the "Rebooking" rate and he said that it was impossible and the only way to adjust our current rate through DCL is to lower our category.
So, good luck to anyone else trying to do the same...
Dawn Hope

 

[kcashner]

I have the re-booking point chart from the 2/7/04 Magic cruise. The points needed depend on Eastern/Western Magic or Wonder 3 or 4 day...as well as category and season. If you want to e-mail me with specifics, I'll look it up on the chart for you. I do know that a cat 11 Eastern low season is 123 points per person, Western is 130 points. Anything else, I'll have to look up. You do need to mention the discount point chart when you book thru DVC. THis may be a dumb question, but how do they know that you got the discount point chart on the ship??????

Dawn Hope...sorry you didn't get a better response from DCL. Maybe I got lucky.
Kathryn

 

[ronandot]

It does seem like Disney would be able to find a better place to discuss rebooking than in atrium area where it is already crowded and noisy. We also made several attempts to "stop by" before we finally decided to wait it out. I still have some questions about the booking process. Our last cruise was last minute so there were not many options. This time around we have a year. Suppose I find an advertised price for our cruise at an internet site. Are you saying that Disney will accept that total and then additionally take off the 10%? I did find one price that would end up saving about $150 beyond what Donna had quoted if the above holds true. Also, once you have gotten the confirmation letter, what is the benefit of transferring the reservation to a TA? I obviously have a lot to learn but I am willing if someone has the patience

 

[jeanniec]

Kathryn -- I have sent you an email.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by jeanniec
Rae -- Do you know how much of a DVC point reduction you get if you rebook on the ship? Also, if you are on a 7 day cruise, can you rebook a 3 or 4 day cruise with a cash or point discount, or do you have to rebook another 7 day to qualify? I hope that last question makes sense.

With DVC, you can't rebook on ship. You ask for the receptionist for the rebooking sheet and can find your rate on that then you have 3 days from the day you disembark to call DVC and schedule your cruise. Yes, the 3, 4 and 7 nighters offer this - but it's only for the 3 days after you cruise and there is NO onboard credit.

The answer to the last question is YES - you can book whatever you want (3,4, or 7) after any 3,4, or 7 night cruise to qualify for the DVC point reduction (but again, that 3 day window!!!)

Good luck!!!

Rae