TA: I am still skaking my head

[RAC]

Hi Nik's Mom,

I sent you a PM.

 

[Buddy Bear]

then I got a package with a DCL video, DCL pen, shore excursion info, and some other misc. papers such as info on trip insurance.

Well, that just adds insults to injury. I didn't get any of the above.

 

[tink9285]

I wish you would share who they are so others may think twice before they use them so the same wouldn't happen to others.... also have you tried speaking to their supervisor maybe they can switch you to another rep?

 

[Joan1]

I wish you would share who they are so others may think twice before they use them so the same wouldn't happen to others.... also have you tried speaking to their supervisor maybe they can switch you to another rep?

She did share it was All SEasons Travel

 

[poconoboatniks]

We've used All Seasons in the past and have found them to be most helpful. Maybe, they were just having a bad day.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

One thing I can't understand is the varied levels of benefits that people using the same TA have experienced. We all know different people within the agency will have different personalities...some have a better fit with people and other's don't. But I don't understand the differences in what I will call "tangible" benefits. In other words, when you read about someone getting pens, info, etc. and the next person doesn't...it makes me wonder. Doesn't the TA have standard policies/procedures for people booking a Disney cruise with them? Unfortunatley, I've heard too often about these discrepancies with both AllSeasons AND DU. I totally understand when someone books a group of rooms...they deserve some extra perks. But when the average Joe books a room and compares what he got with the average Jane....they are different. What gives?

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Buddy Bear........our first 4 I booked with DCL directly.......and All of you who use a TA this is a MUST READ!!! And this is NO SLAM on DU.....this IS their site......

Our 03 Eastern sailing that was CANCELLED......here is a true story.....We booked thru DCL and another couple that we were sailing with booked thru a TA friend of theirs. We were to fly out Thursday morning spend 2 nights at WDW then sail on Saturday.......that is when people were getting sick on the ships.....I called DCL every day for 2 weeks just to make sure we were sailing....answer was always "yes, see you Saturday". Well Wednesday (night before Thanksgiving) we got back home from picking up altered dresses and on our voice mail the was a message from DCL, "we are sorry to inform you that the 11/20/03 Eastern sailing has been cancelled due to the norwalk virus that is on the ship, the ship will be cleaned and seralized that week and you money will be refunded in full". We called our friends and they recieved no such message....they called DCL and they said that yes its been cancelled but they must contact their TA......Wednesday night before Thanksgiving? What are the odds? Well I was able to get thru to DCL add another night at WDW then book the 4 night Wonder, and 2 more nights at WDW after. FINALLY our friends got ahold of their TA and their TA contacted DCL and "piggy backed" our ressies......what if they haden't been with us? They would have been on a plane to Orlando at 7 a.m. with no ressies! JMHO

 

[Papa & Mamaw]

Well, I have learned my lesson. I should have never posted what I received. I am sorry that you felt insulted over items such as a video and a pen.

There could be many reasons--maybe they changed their policy? Maybe I stated something in my e-mail that I had never seen a DCL Video? Maybe they only send it to first time cruisers? Maybe they only send it 60 days in advance of your cruise? Maybe some agents in the office send items like videos and brochures and some don't.

BuzzBoyMom--We hear about these types of discrepencies because of the internet. Prior to the internet, you really couldn't compare vacations unless you knew the person and it was word of mouth conversation. Now it is word of message board for the whole world to read.

 

[Buddy Bear]

Well, I have learned my lesson. I should have never posted what I received. I am sorry that you felt insulted over items such as a video and a pen.

I don't feel insulted over a video and a pen. I was just trying to point out that after I called up and they took my reservation number so they could take ownership of the reservation I received absolutely nothing or no contact.

It was like somebody said, "Thank you very much, Ba Bye" and that was that.

 

[off to neverland]

Well, I just told my husband today that one of the main indicators of a great company is one that offers the exact same service across the board. I truly dislike dealing with companies that have erratic and varying levels of service; I like to know that my level of service isn't luck of the draw and that I will get the same quality service as the Joe Schmoe who calls five minutes after I do.

I imagine that's where part of the OP's frusteration level is coming from, Papa and Mamaw. Not that you got the extra things so much as that the service seems inconsistent.

I recently yanked my DS out of a summer camp for this very reason. The quality of camp seemed to depend on what counselor the kid was lucky (or unlucky) enough to get. We registered elsewhere at a very highly recommendced camp, where everything is run very well and overseen by a supervisor so that all the groups had the same level of activities. IT cost us much more than the first one, but it was a great week for every child there.

 

[dencord7]

I Have to say since I being reading these boards I had heard such great things about DU so I swiched my Repo cruise over to them. I too feel like it was the bigest mistake I made. I Have had very little contact from them and when it was my time to book Palo and other ressie my DU agent was no help.I could not get the Disney site to let me book any Palo it was acting up. I contacked my Du agent and a few days later she e-mailed me back saying back to me that I should get in line once I get on the ship in wave bands and do it then. She could not do anything to help me get them before we get on the ship. I also had to request her to get my flight information. and waited two days and had to e-mail her again now our family of three are not sitting together on the plane we have to split up two and one. I really blame myself for thinking DU does so much Disney Cruise bussiness that they would have their own contact person at Disney and would be giving me extra tips and getting information out to me about when to book Palo and being on top of my flight information making sure we all are sitting next to each other. But they are calling the same pool as us and some are very good and some are bad. I also want to say I swiched with Sue Ellen and then was given a total different agent without even being told. I no longer can talk to Disney because Du has my ressie so I caint even get anyhelp with the flight or palo.

 

[arlenesp]

dencord7, I also had enormous trouble booking online until my son did it for me.
My internet browser is firefox and apparently dcl doesn't work well with it.
We don't let the grandkids use internet explorer as they have in the past downloaded some nasty viruses.
Check your browser, maybe this will help.Now I go thru my ie to access the dcl site.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Hi dencord7

I am sorry to hear of your less than positive experience with Dreams Unlimited Travel. I invite to you to write to me directly at john@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com to see if there is anything I can do to assist you.

Thanks
John

 

[Laurabearz]

I have two cruises booked with DU. I did it for the discounts they offer... no other reason. I dont have the warmest feeling towards them... but they are saving me money and slid me into a group cruise for extra savings and hopefully an on board gift.

I am sorry your having problems with your TA.... and I hope things resolve quickly.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LAMPSKIES, very interesting experience, thanks for sharing.

I prefer to book directly through DCL myself.

I'd also contemplated transferring my reservation to a TA to save $ but decided it wasn't worth it when the emails I was sent were sterile and nonchalant and the prices weren't significantly different. If I had a bad experience with the TA upon booking and then couldn't change it, it would sort of cast a shadow over the trip for me (we also have two other first time cruising families' reservations linked to ours so I felt a big responsibility to them for it to go smoothly). After reading some of these experiences it confirms to me I did the right thing. I try to pay attention to my gut and my gut says stay with DCL.

I also have a friend who's a TA who swore she could get me a better price on my upcoming 2006 cruise. I was doubtful but I gave her a copy of my reservation anyway and told her to go for it if she could do any better. That was in the spring and I still haven't heard back from her.

 

[Mjasp]

Buddy Bear...You can ask that your ressie be transferred back to DCL and most reputable TA's will do that for you. I have done that with a "chain" TA who I was unhappy with.

We just booked a cruise with Costa directly, I have 2 friends that booked with me and I told them to call either Costa directly OR All Seasons Travel since I read on their website that they have done a Costa cruise and have a group sailing scheduled for March of 2006. Plus, although I have NEVER personally used All Seas, I did recommend my friends Bobby and Cindy to them, they have since booked a total of 3 cruises with All Seas and they are very happy.

So one friend of mine called and spoke to an Andy, Andy said Costa was closed and she would call her in the morning, my friend said it was OK to leave any messages on her machine and she would get back to her, that was on July 7th and this is July 30th and she is still waiting to hear from her (she has caller ID so she is sure she didn't call) she has since booked her cruise through Sam's club. My other friend called and spoke with Chuck at All Seas and he told her all about Costa and how they all had a great time etc. etc. and that the price she got from another agency was a great price and he couldn't beat it (honest at least)
My issue is that I was going to transfer my ressie to All Seas, just in case I had a problem they would go to bat for me. But with hearing all the discrepencies, I will think long and hard.

So after all my rambling, my advice is that...I think you should nicely ask that your ressie be transferred back to DCL.

Good Luck and report back to us on how you made out
Joanna

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi, BuddyBear. I'm sorry you're disappointed with your TA. I've used the same travel agency several times. Each time I was completely satisfied.

I would not let this die. You have every right to expect the same level of service that everyone else recieves.

As for me, my requests are never easy. My family is always throwing monkey wrenches in the works, and I am forever calling to switch that cabin, add this person, switch dinner times, etc.

I have dealt with two agents at All Seasons Travel-Sandy and John. I thought they were great. Then there is the billing crew. Their names slip my mind, but again dealing with me is not easy. Sometimes I have to split up the payments among a few different credit cards, and I get confused. They always help me out.

Even if you never use them again, I hope this get resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[Mjasp]

Well...What did you decide to do??? Have you heard anything?

 

[Buddy Bear]

Well...What did you decide to do??? Have you heard anything?

I wrote to the owner a few days ago and explained my current dismay. In the PM (which I know he read) I told him I would have asked for the reservation to be transferred back to DCL, but I am afraid his company would screw it up.

There was no response by him so I will just leave it alone.