This Stinks.. When did this start happening?

[son3disfan]

I just tried to transfer my Disney Cruise ressie to Dreams and this is what I received:


Thank you for considering Dreams Unlimited Travel.

We have received your request to transfer your current Disney Cruise Line reservations to Dreams Unlimited Travel and we are working on those now.

Due to changes in Disney Cruise Line policy that affect the commissions paid to travel agencies on transferred reservations we are unable to offer you the same shipboard credit on these reservations that we could if these were direct/new bookings with our agency. The shipboard credit amount we can offer you for these transferred reservations would be $50.00 per stateroom. Our offer does not have any effect on any discount or shipboard credit you are to receive from Disney Cruise Line.

Wow, $50.?
That's the same as AAA and I can actually talk to someone if I transfer to them.In person too.
Did everyone know about this or am I just out of the loop?

I should add that we have transfered to them twice already and received $100.00 for each room the last 2 times.

 

[kcashner]

No, you are not out of the loop. The story as I heard it is that a certain travel agency markedly increased the OBC that it previously had given in an attempt to get people to transfer reservations to them (ressies that had been booked directly with DCL). In response to a large number of transfers, DCL made a new policy--it pays less commission on a transferred reservation than on one that a TA makes originally (the exception is a booking made on board when the TA is named at the time of booking--that gets full commission).

Since it is not receiving the full commission, the agency has now decided to reduce it's OBC on transferred ressies. Other agencies have chosen to not accept transferred ressies. Some agencies still accept the transfers, offer good service, and hope that clients will book directly with them the next time.

You are right--I prefer to speak directly to my agent as well.

 

[son3disfan]

"......travel agency markedly increased the OBC that it previously had given in an attempt to get people to transfer reservations to them (ressies that had been booked directly with DCL)"............

Well, it worked because that is why we transfered our last two to them!!

$50.00 just doesn't have the same grab . It's still extra money, sure, so I will think about this one a little more. Too bad. I have received great service from Dreams, no complaints. BUT if it's the same as other agencies I would rather speak to someone too.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Hi Folks

Just for the record Dreams Unlimited Travel was not the agency kcashner was referring to in her post. We have never increased our SBC for the purpose of soliciting reservations from Disney Cruise Line.

son3disfan - the reason you were offered a lowered SBC for your transferred reservation is because DCL is paying agencies less commission on transferred bookings.

If you have any further questions please feel free to email me at John@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com

Thanks
John

 

[son3disfan]

Hi Folks

Just for the record Dreams Unlimited Travel was not the agency kcashner was referring to in her post. We have never increased our SBC for the purpose of soliciting reservations from Disney Cruise Line.

son3disfan - the reason you were offered a lowered SBC for your transferred reservation is because DCL is paying agencies less commission on transferred bookings.

If you have any further questions please feel free to email me at John@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com

Thanks
John

Got it.
That's too bad. It was a great deal.
You might want to add the reduced stateroom credit info on the transfer page though. I would like to have known this info before filling everything out.
Some surprises are not fun.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

I should have added to my post that we evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis to try to offer the most SBC based on the commission paid by Disney.

I thought we added wording to that affect on our forms but I see it is not there. I will look into that and make sure it gets added.

I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

John

 

[Anal Annie]

But this only affects NEW ressies from here on out, right? Those of us who already HAD ressies thru DU still keep the orig. credit, right?? And it does not affect rebookings made on the ship if they specify DU (or whoever) as the agent at the time of the rebooking?

 

[WebmasterJohn]

But this only affects NEW ressies from here on out, right? Those of us who already HAD ressies thru DU still keep the orig. credit, right?? And it does not affect rebookings made on the ship if they specify DU (or whoever) as the agent at the time of the rebooking?

You are correct - this only affects new transfers. Any bookings made onboard where you designate DU as your TA will get the full, current SBC being offered from DU as well as any perks (discounts, SBC, etc) from DCL for rebooking while onboard.

If at any time you want to review your DU reservation you can do so online through the Client Services area of our site. This will also show your current SBC from Dreams.

Please feel free to email me if you have any additional quesitons - John@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com

Thanks

 

[jilljill]

John thanks for clearing things up about transferrring ressies to a TA.

 

[PE_TCR]

I know some people said they woudl like to talk directly to a person. However, I have never had the excellent response from a person on the phone as I have gotten from my agent at Dreams. It seems that no matter what time I send an e-mail I get a reply back in less than 15 minutes. This coudl be at noon, 5 pm, or 2 am. I was starting to wonder if she ever left her computer. I have had several Disney vacations with Dreams and Cathy Miller is my agent and I couldn't be happier.

 

[mdvlprof]

You're not the only one. Switched WDW. Then booked pre-cruise. Was so impressed am in process of switching DCL resrve. Always get fast email response from Cathy. Even to odd-ball questions.

I know some people said they woudl like to talk directly to a person. However, I have never had the excellent response from a person on the phone as I have gotten from my agent at Dreams. It seems that no matter what time I send an e-mail I get a reply back in less than 15 minutes. This coudl be at noon, 5 pm, or 2 am. I was starting to wonder if she ever left her computer. I have had several Disney vacations with Dreams and Cathy Miller is my agent and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Desi]

hmmmmmm, glad I came across this. I was just thinking about transferring since I used them on our last cruise. I guess I'll just well enough alone.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

If you book on the ship I think you can nominate a travel agency there and then they get full commission. But you must do that there and then on ship.

 

[DLW8]

If you book on the ship I think you can nominate a travel agency there and then they get full commission. But you must do that there and then on ship.

That is correct - we booked on board and named DU as our agent and got the full OBC from DU.

 

[fridayfun]

Good to know about giving them DU name, since we plan to rebook on board next week. Cause we are Cathy Miller fans too! She is great!

 

[suzyqn]

When you book onboard and designate DU as your Travel Agent do you have to name a specific person? Also, can you request a specific person from DU and how do you go about doing that?

This was the first time we used a TA and we used DU but we do not have a specific person assigned to us - that I know of.

 

[Sinderelly]

We booked onboard last September for our upcoming eastern in Nov. We named DU at the time of booking. The CM onboard told me to contact DU when we returned from our cruise. I have had great service and quick responses to email from Kelsie!

 

[disneylove69]

When you book onboard and designate DU as your Travel Agent do you have to name a specific person? Also, can you request a specific person from DU and how do you go about doing that?

This was the first time we used a TA and we used DU but we do not have a specific person assigned to us - that I know of.

I just told them DU and she said no problem they deal with them all the time. Within a few days of coming home I had an email from a DU rep telling me they were in the process of taking care of my cruise. You can also give a name if you would like. DU even helped me when we changed from the Med to the Panama.

 

[Inkmahm]

You are correct - this only affects new transfers. Any bookings made onboard where you designate DU as your TA will get the full, current SBC being offered from DU as well as any perks (discounts, SBC, etc) from DCL for rebooking while onboard.

If at any time you want to review your DU reservation you can do so online through the Client Services area of our site. This will also show your current SBC from Dreams.

Please feel free to email me if you have any additional quesitons - John@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com

Thanks

Hasn't it actually been this way for quite some time? I know that I paid attention on our cruise in December and designated DU as my TA when making the reservation rather than just transferring the reservation when I got home. I knew then that the higher OBC came with booking with DU as the TA from the beginning.

 

[kcashner]

When you do a rebooking on board you name the AGENCY, not the agent. Who you are assigned to within an agency is not a matter that DCL is involved in; you can deal with that issue privately between you and the agency.

If you have a specific agent, I'd suggest contacting him/her in advance so she knows to look for that onboard ressie to come into their office. Don' t know how that would work if they have only a virtual office, but there's got to be a system!

My TA requests that if I return home and don't have an e-mail in my box confirming that they have received my on board ressie that I contact them to be sure it's all in order. It just closes the loop and makes sure everyone knows what's going on!