TA that actually gave a discount instead of OBC

[SL6827]

I have always read that TA could not discount Disney cruises at all, but they can give OBC, gifts, ect. Well I found one yesterday that did give a discount instead of OBC. The discount was equivalent to my OBC credit amount, so no difference.

But the gift they gave your cabin was one of what Disney sells, with a blanket and a welcome aboard package, so very cool. I would love to have that. But them selling the cruise with an actual discount was interesting.

 

[tvguy]

Hope Disney doesn't get wind of that. Their future as a Disney Cruise Travel Agent could be in jeopardy.

 

[SL6827]

Hope Disney doesn't get wind of that. Their future as a Disney Cruise Travel Agent could be in jeopardy.

Wow!!!!!!!!!

 

[dreamer17555]

I have always read that TA could not discount Disney cruises at all, but they can give OBC, gifts, ect. Well I found one yesterday that did give a discount instead of OBC. The discount was equivalent to my OBC credit amount, so no difference.

But the gift they gave your cabin was one of what Disney sells, with a blanket and a welcome aboard package, so very cool. I would love to have that. But them selling the cruise with an actual discount was interesting.

Any chance that it was a publicly offered discount they were just better at finding and applying it? Otherwise 100% against the rules and they risk their earmarked status.

 

[cruisehopeful]

There are many cruises on sale right now and some TAs make it sound like you can only get the discount through them. You can get the discount wherever you book.

 

[Mle8308]

You may want to get some clarity from your TA! Sounds like they may have just applied a discount to what you booked. Were you outside the cancellation period? Maybe they canceled and rebooked it at the lower rate and told you it was a discount instead of OBC.

 

[SL6827]

Any chance that it was a publicly offered discount they were just better at finding and applying it? Otherwise 100% against the rules and they risk their earmarked status.

I went in and priced my exact cruise and cabin and the discount was equivalent to my OBC.

 

[dreamer17555]

I went in and priced my exact cruise and cabin and the discount was equivalent to my OBC.

They are not allowed to do that (OBC? yes. Offer a special discount? No) and personally I would be very hesitant to do business with an agency who clearly does not value their relationship with Disney and would break their firmly set rules... If something sounds too good, it usually is

I would not trust an agency like that with my credit card info or reservation at all but that is just my take. The agency itself would have to be paying part of the cost to give you that discount. I could not even imagine the mess if you needed to change or cancel or port fees were refunded due to a change... Yikes

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

Hmm they way I look at this is OBC comes out of a TA’s commission. Seems to me she applied part of her commission to a lower cruise price vs OBC. I personally don’t know if DCL frowns on this or not. However I think it’s a pretty interesting concept nonetheless

 

[dreamer17555]

Hmm they way I look at this is OBC comes out of a TA’s commission. Seems to me she applied part of her commission to a lower cruise price vs OBC. I personally don’t know if DCL frowns on this or not. However I think it’s a pretty interesting concept nonetheless

It is 100% not allowed by Disney to offer a discount like this... Agency is taking a heck of a risk.

 

[vakamalua]

Our TA does not discount—charges full DCL price but rebates a portion of the fare.

 

[unrequited23]

Undercover Tourist offers this, but doesn't always have an in-room gift as a bonus. I've used them for years for better prices on WDW tickets and sometimes their resort discounts are better than booking direct.

 

[lanejudy]

The discount was equivalent to my OBC credit amount

So did the TA apply the value of the OBC to your cruise? As in they made a payment for you, reducing how much you owe. Or is the actual bottom line cost of your cruise (on the DCL confirmation) less? And it can be hard to determine that because it's possible you got the "last" stateroom in your category before a tiered price bump so when you go online now to check it's higher.

 

[DCLMP]

Is it possible the TA just paid the difference? I don't see anything wrong with a TA paying a few hundred dollars of your cruise. I would clarify with the TA.

 

[JAM9842]

I think I would be looking for a new TA. They are not supposed to do this and I would be worried what else they might do or not do that is not allowed.

 

[SnowWhite2]

My TA applies the OBC to my pre-paid tips. She would not do anything to lose her earmark status. I’m sure it is allowed. She gave me the option instead of the OBC to my on board account.

 

[jwalk03]

Speaking as a TA- there is no way for a TA to discount the price of the cruise beyond any regularly publicly available discounts.

The only thing they could do would be to make a partial payment on your cruise for you that then gives you a lower final payment amount (or lower deposit) I suppose. But there is no way for a TA to actually lower the fare.

 

[SL6827]

This is not my TA. I am booked with Dreams, which is excellent. I just looked at its site and seen what it said since I read that they will give you a discounted rate.

 

[Sleepyluke]

My TA applies the OBC to my pre-paid tips. She would not do anything to lose her earmark status. I’m sure it is allowed. She gave me the option instead of the OBC to my on board account.

From DCL side it is still an OBC, but your TA just told them where to put it. But in reality you could still go to guest services and remove the pre paid tips up until the night before you get off the ship and use it for your t shirts that you bought on board. it is still in the larger "pot" of OBC that gets used up in certain order before they get to your credit card on file.