Switch to a travel agent?

[VeroBeachGirl]

I jut made my reservation through the DCL web site. I got a rate that I am really happy with. I have heard of people switching a self-made reservations to a travel agent. Why do people do this? What are the pros and the cons of switching to a travel agent. If it matters, this will be our fifth Disney cruise and we are very frequent travelers so don't really need any help booking things.
TIA for any guidance.

 

[gailg3horses]

Two words: onboard credit. As long as you haven't paid in full, most ta's will take your booking and offer you an onboard credit.

 

[SnackyStacky]

You may want to check about booking a whole new reservation with your travel agent of choice. You'd pay a new deposit and cancel what you've booked with Disney Cruise Line.

Disney Cruise Line changed the way agencies are paid commission on reservations that have been transferred into the agency as opposed to a direct booking with the agency. Depending on the agency, you may get a reduced shipboard credit or none at all when you transfer the reservation.

 

[kcashner]

The rate you will pay for your cruise is the same whether you book yourself on line, by calling DCL, or by using a travel agent. ANY deal you can get directly thru DCL, a TA can get for you. In addition to their service, many agencies give an onboard credit or other "thanks for booking with us" gift.

As above, if you transfer your reservation after you make it, the TA gets a reduced commission and may offer a reduced OBC. Others will give you their "normal" OBC in hopes of gaining your future business.

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

I get the onboard credit thing, but what are the drawbacks of an agent holding your reservation? What can't you do to your own reservation if an agent books it for you.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

You have to make any payments on your cruise to your TA. Any changes to your category, room, dining, transfers have be done through your TA.

You can still make port adventures, spa, palo and remy reservations through the site.

I'm sure I missed something, I think someone will fill in the gaps I left open.

 

[tynkerbell]

If you need to change or request anything you have to do so through the TA, you can't call Disney yourself. I found this to be very frustrating and no longer use a TA. I prefer to have the control of dealing with DCL myself.

 

[kcashner]

Basically, you can do all the on line stuff yourself--Palo/Remy/nursery/excursions/spa, etc., but anything that involves talking to DCL or money has to go thru your TA. I don't find this to be a problem, and actually I've found that DCL will answer "easy" questions that don't really involve the reservation if you sort of sweet talk them!

 

[Miz Diz]

When you pay through your TA, does the transaction show up for DCL or the TA? I thought the cruiseline, but want to double check because my Disney visa is offering 5% back on any Disney purchases or travel.

 

[Lynne G]

When you pay through your TA, does the transaction show up for DCL or the TA? I thought the cruiseline, but want to double check because my Disney visa is offering 5% back on any Disney purchases or travel.

I gave my TA my Disney Visa for payment, and my bill says the payment was to DCL. Great, though I did not get the 5% back, I did get 6 months to pay it off with free interest, and DCL gave me a Disney Visa OBC for using the Disney Visa for payment. Not bad either, as I also got 1% in money back that I will roll into a gift card I will have when I cruise. I don't mind having a TA. I can still do my ordering of things on the DCL site and see my account. I decided to use a TA for my upcoming cruise as she was offering a nice amount of OBC, and that was worth it to me. She also told me I received the DCL OBC for booking it online as she booked it online for me.

Bottom line, if you have a good TA and do not mind using another person to do some of the work in managing/making your booking, having TA's OBC is a nice thank you to have.

 

[999ghostslover]

THe payment goes to DCL. My daughter's school sells SCRIP gift cards and Disney is one of them. I just paid my TA in Disney gift cards. She just called in the numbers to DCL for me. After each card is applied I would get an email from her but generated by Disney detailing our cruise and my balance. I bought the cards in 100 and 500 increments and paid over time.
I think if you aren't one to like working with a TA you probably haven't found the right one yet. My TA was on the preview cruise, she called me beforehand and asked if there were any specific questions or pictures I needed. I gave her a list and she took the pictures. I wanted to verify that our room is right across from laundry and she went to the floor I will be on and took a video of how close we are. She donated a basket of Disney goodies and a gift card to my daughter's schools silent auction and she lives hundreds of miles away. And while I know they aren't supposed to be able to get better deals than we can when I went to the World in February and was booked at All Stars I kept searching for POP on my own the months before and told her in passing. Well, she called someone somewhere and got us POP. I live in central time and work as an RN in a hospital so when my ADR windows open I am usually 11 hours into my 12 hour shift. I work nights. Angela takes care of all of that and gets me everything I want. If you want her contact info send me a PM.

 

[MichelleVW]

When you pay through your TA, does the transaction show up for DCL or the TA? I thought the cruiseline, but want to double check because my Disney visa is offering 5% back on any Disney purchases or travel.

I paid my cruise off last week through the TA and it came up DCL on my credit card statement. 5% of 1586!! Woo HOO!!! Upgrading to the Premier card was totally worth it for me! Especially since I went to Disneyland last month and used it there!

 

[SandraLee]

I paid my cruise off last week through the TA and it came up DCL on my credit card statement. 5% of 1586!! Woo HOO!!! Upgrading to the Premier card was totally worth it for me! Especially since I went to Disneyland last month and used it there!

Yeah, I was looking at upgrading. I just hate to pay $49 yearly fee for a credit card. Drives me crazy. I did just put down my deposit of $1,083, so maybe I should revisit the Premier card. Any other thoughts about that?

 

[SnackyStacky]

Any reputable travel agent should make the payment directly to Disney Cruise Line.

The key word there is should. Double check with the agency before booking to find out. It's not a given that the payment will be made directly with Disney Cruise Line.

 

[MichelleVW]

Yeah, I was looking at upgrading. I just hate to pay $49 yearly fee for a credit card. Drives me crazy. I did just put down my deposit of $1,083, so maybe I should revisit the Premier card. Any other thoughts about that?

I don't like the fee either, but we did the math and it's totally worth it for us...especially with the first 90 days 5% on disney/grocery/gas/restaurants! We put EVERYTHING on the card and pay it off every month. Totally worth it for us.

 

[Gr00vyChc]

THe payment goes to DCL. My daughter's school sells SCRIP gift cards and Disney is one of them. I just paid my TA in Disney gift cards. She just called in the numbers to DCL for me. After each card is applied I would get an email from her but generated by Disney detailing our cruise and my balance. I bought the cards in 100 and 500 increments and paid over time.
PM.

Wow! That's great! I booked our cruise through Costco and they wouldn't let me use Disney gift cards! I too need to fulfill my scrips requirement for my daughter's school and was going to pay it off with Disney gift cards. . Maybe I need to speak with a Costco travel manager??? Any advise?