Travel agent abilities?

[FWRR3]

I have never used a TA for a cruise but wonder about their services. If you are looking for a cabin on a sold out cruise or maybe a type of cabin on a particular ship that doesn't seem available over a range of time do they have any better way to know when a cancellation pops up or do they just have to keep randomly searching everyday just like we would. (Wishing there was a waitlist situation.)

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I have never used a TA for a cruise but wonder about their services. If you are looking for a cabin on a sold out cruise or maybe a type of cabin on a particular ship that doesn't seem available over a range of time do they have any better way to know when a cancellation pops up or do they just have to keep randomly searching everyday just like we would. (Wishing there was a waitlist situation.)

I do 90% of my travel DIY but for cruises I only use a TA.

My main reason for using a travel agent for cruises is for the onboard credit. The big specialist Disney TA give a % of their Disney commission to their clients as onboard credit. Not all TA's give onboard credit, so you need to research before committing to a booking with a TA.

While they do have a special TA log in, they are accessing the same room availability at the same time as everyone else. If something is sold out, they just keep manually searching, the same as everyone else.

For Disney cruises I do all my own check in and activity booking. The more reputable TA's will give you the Disney Confirmation number so that you can log in and use the DCL App before the cruise.

One thing to note about TA's for cruises. Double check that their PIF date is the same as DCL PIF date.
If a TA has an earlier PIF date than DCL, it means that when you pay your instalments, the TA holds the money until the full amount is paid and will then pay DCL a lump sum from their bank account. This causes issues when the TA does not do the transfer in a timely manner and I have seen people on social media miss out on activity and excursions booking as the TA did not transfer the money in time.

 

[lanejudy]

If a TA has an earlier PIF date than DCL, it means that when you pay your instalments, the TA holds the money until the full amount is paid and will then pay DCL a lump sum from their bank account.

This is not necessarily true. Many TAs have an earlier PIF date but all payments are made directly to DCL. The early PIF is a cushion of time allowing the TA to contact the party and get the payment made before DCL cancels the reservation. It is NOT indicative that the TA holds payment.

 

[lanejudy]

do they have any better way to know when a cancellation pops up or do they just have to keep randomly searching everyday just like we would

No, TAs have access to the same inventory as everyone else.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

This is not necessarily true. Many TAs have an earlier PIF date but all payments are made directly to DCL. The early PIF is a cushion of time allowing the TA to contact the party and get the payment made before DCL cancels the reservation. It is NOT indicative that the TA holds payment.

Actually it is in in UK and Ireland highstreet bricks and mortar travel agents. The UK and Ireland highstreet travel agents hold the payments and then pay DCL from their bank account. There have been many issues on the UK sailings over the last number of years with passengers who have paid in full to their TA but the money has not been transferred to DCL in time and people have missed out on their activity booking.

 

[lanejudy]

The UK and Ireland highstreet travel agents hold the payments and then pay DCL from their bank account.

I didn’t say there aren’t TAs who do this. But your claim that TAs who have an early PIF date do this is inaccurate. Many TAs do have an early PIF but payments are made directly to DCL.

 

[xiphoid76]

Travel agents just add a layer of unnecessary middle man for your reservation. Much easier to control and do everything yourself.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I didn’t say there aren’t TAs who do this. But your claim that TAs who have an early PIF date do this is inaccurate. Many TAs do have an early PIF but payments are made directly to DCL.

You are not reading what I wrote. This is how UK and Ireland TA operate. It is not inaccurate. People need to know and be aware as Disboards ranks high on search results and huge amounts of people read here for information. Also there are many UK and Irish members of Disboards.

 

[lanejudy]

You are not reading what I wrote. This is how UK and Ireland TA operate. It is not inaccurate.

Your first statement made no reference to UK or Ireland. That’s what I said is “not necessarily true” because you made a blanket statement without qualifiers. Not all TAs with an early PIF keep payments in the TA account. Some do, but the vast number of US-based TAs do not.

The take-away is to know how a TA handles payments. Also be aware that some TAs may have a final payment date earlier than the cruiseline.

 

[OKW Lover]

FWIW, the sponsors of this board Dreams Unlimited Travel, do offer clients on board credits for booking through them. You also have the ability to plan your own vacation. The only thing you need to do through them is the initial booking and payment. When you pay for your cruise at Dreams they simply pass your CC info directly through to DCL. It does not go into a Dreams account before being sent to Disney.

 

[tvguy]

Travel agents just add a layer of unnecessary middle man for your reservation. Much easier to control and do everything yourself.

Yeah, they are the ones that wait on hold to make your specialty dining reservations, have access to discounted hotel rates. I have booked my last two cruises myself because my long time Travel Agents have retired and their businesses closed, and these days there are sooo many fly by night travel agents I haven't found a new one*. But I can't tell you how much I miss them. My next cruise, I have had to mark my calendar to make sure I booked air fare when it became available, I had to book transfers, I will have to book dining when it becomes available.
I can't tell you how much I miss using a Travel Agent. Where I told them what I wanted, they booked it all, all I had to do was write the check.

*There are an alarming number of "Travel Agents" these days who are Travel Agents only to get the discount on their cruises. They might book a few cruises to keep their status up. A lot of them also are YouTubers. They just don't know the basics of Travel. One was shocked to discover that generally speaking you should have 6 months left on your Passport before it expires when you travel. They think travel insurance is the answer for every crisis that could happen, not warning folks that some policies will REIMBURSE you for expenses, but you will have to have cash or credit available to pay those expenses up front and then submit a claim when you get home. Or recommending departure flights way too early.

 

[RedHead0186]

You are not reading what I wrote. This is how UK and Ireland TA operate. It is not inaccurate. People need to know and be aware as Disboards ranks high on search results and huge amounts of people read here for information. Also there are many UK and Irish members of Disboards.

You made that statement as a declarative statement, without any qualifiers, and because of that it comes across that all TAs do this. That is incorrect (as @lanejudy) pointed out. I too think the original statement you made is misleading because it sounds like all TAs do this. My TA (Dreams Unlimited) definitely does not-they make the payment directly to DCL as soon as I send them my cc info, they do not hold funds (nor do they actually 'take' any funds, as payment goes straight to DCL).

 

[RedHead0186]

As already noted, TAs won't have access to any 'special inventory' but they may be able to keep a closer eye on if/when things open up and make the booking for you. TAs will also spend the time sitting on hold for bookings, issues, payment, etc., which to me is quite valuable. My TA also helped with getting us on the waitlist to upgrade to concierge for the transatlantic sailing and helped facilitate us eventually being able to upgrade. As others have stated, the onboard credit is nice as well.

 

[keishashadow]

FWIW, the sponsors of this board Dreams Unlimited Travel, do offer clients on board credits for booking through them. You also have the ability to plan your own vacation. The only thing you need to do through them is the initial booking and payment. When you pay for your cruise at Dreams they simply pass your CC info directly through to DCL. It does not go into a Dreams account before being sent to Disney.

Good to know!

 

[tvguy]

As already noted, TAs won't have access to any 'special inventory' but they may be able to keep a closer eye on if/when things open up and make the booking for you. TAs will also spend the time sitting on hold for bookings, issues, payment, etc., which to me is quite valuable. My TA also helped with getting us on the waitlist to upgrade to concierge for the transatlantic sailing and helped facilitate us eventually being able to upgrade. As others have stated, the onboard credit is nice as well.

They may not have access to special inventory, but they may book group cruises where they get a reduced rate from the cruise line plus they give part of their commission back as on board credit. One guy who has a YouTube channel is just back from a group cruise without 200 people in his group.
And one of the Senior Citizen Travel Agencies here buys blocks of 30 staterooms at a shot at a reduced rate for their group cruises.

 

[FWRR3]

Thanks all for the responses the my question.

 

[Dug720]

They may not have access to special inventory, but they may book group cruises where they get a reduced rate from the cruise line plus they give part of their commission back as on board credit. One guy who has a YouTube channel is just back from a group cruise without 200 people in his group.
And one of the Senior Citizen Travel Agencies here buys blocks of 30 staterooms at a shot at a reduced rate for their group cruises.

Does Disney allow this? I had thought they didn't. I know other lines allow TAs to make "groups" that literally never do anything together; but it was my understanding that Disney doesn't do discounted group rates.

 

[VeronicaZS]

No, TAs have access to the same inventory as everyone else.

It seems when I look on Costco there is a ton more availability than when I look directly on the Disney Cruise website. I assumed Costco had access to blocks of rooms, is that not the case?

 

[tvguy]

Does Disney allow this? I had thought they didn't. I know other lines allow TAs to make "groups" that literally never do anything together; but it was my understanding that Disney doesn't do discounted group rates.

I have no idea. I guess if they don't allow it, I shouldn't be surprised. But OP didn't specify only Disney Cruise Line.

 

[lanejudy]

It seems when I look on Costco there is a ton more availability than when I look directly on the Disney Cruise website. I assumed Costco had access to blocks of rooms, is that not the case?

No. It's just the algorithm of the DCL booking site, it only shows maybe 8 staterooms in the category not all.