Travel agent with the most bang for my buck.

[Reneetubbs]

Hello! So tried searching for this but didn’t find anything. We want to do an Alaskan cruise in May. I’m saving every penny to afford it and hope to find an agent that can help find all the deals. any suggestions??

 

[BadPinkTink]

Dreams Unlimited

Onboard credit and gift basket, need I say more

Also when I booked I had researched staterooms and put in a request for any one of 3 specific rooms. When I did the booking with Dreams Unlimited, none of my requested rooms were available, so I accepted the next best available. However a few days later I was contacted by Dreams Unlimited to say that one of my requests was now available and would I like to be changed. Of course I wanted to be changed If I had booked direct with Disney or with a non specialised Disney Cruise travel agent, I would have missed this.

With Dreams Unlimited I was first given a login to the customer section of their website, so I could see my booking details. Then a few hours later, I was given the Disney confirmation number, so that I could log into My Disney Cruise website and App and see that yes the deposit was sent to Disney by Dreams Unlimited and I am officially booked on a Disney cruise.

My previous experience with Irish travel agents have been negative. One travel agent didn't forward the money to the airline , so I was denied check in and boarding. Another travel agent was clueless about Disneyland Paris, and didn't make sure requests were communicated to Disneyland Paris. Generally Irish travel agents are just generic travel agents, not specialised Disney. They also hold the money until about 6 weeks before departure and don't release travel documents until 4 weeks before departure.

Dreams Unlimited is very different, and I am pleasantly surprised by their service, even though it is still over 1 year to my cruise, I have only dealt with them by email and I have only paid the deposit at the moment.

 

[71 Truck]

Besides finding a travel agent that gives you on board credit you should check out the Disney Gift Card Deal thread. They give you ideas on how to purchase Disney Gift cards at up to 10% off or more. I wish I my DW had found that sooner. For us we had been taking advantage of the 0% financing on the Disney Chase card, but my wife was just able to buy $250 in gift cards with 10% cash back from the online site, then getting an additional 3% back from our credit card. Add that to the 10% with our OBB and $200 on board credit - I'm thinking we can save almost 25% off our next cruise. If you aren't able to do this - don't forget you can usually get 3% or more off on certain Disney Gift cards at the big box stores like BJ's, Sam's and Costco when they have them in stock

 

[lilsonicfan]

On a pure money basis, it's hard to beat Costco Travel as a travel agent for Disney cruises. You have to be a member. Lots of threads on this if you're interested.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

Costco, hands down.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Hello! So tried searching for this but didn’t find anything. We want to do an Alaskan cruise in May. I’m saving every penny to afford it and hope to find an agent that can help find all the deals. any suggestions??

Costco. The dinky $60 membership fee (around $100 for executive) is nothing compared to the whopping 8% rebate that you get off your base cruise cost. You get that money in the form of a Costco cash card after the cruise, which you can take to most Costco customer service departments and have them completely cash it out for you. That is a sweet rebate, especially since it can be added on top of any OBB benefits you might be getting from DCL. And if you're an executive member, you get an additional 2% rebate at the end of the year, in the form of a check.

 

[MillauFr]

Costco always has the cheapest prices so I always go with them.

 

[lanejudy]

hope to find an agent that can help find all the deals

Just to point out ... booking DCL isn’t like booking a WDW vacation. The best “deal” usually means booking as early as possible. There may be last-minute discount offers, but those may or may not be less expensive. Cruise fares increase as more staterooms get booked.

A TA typically will offer you an onboard credit. Costco gives a “Costco Cash Card” after the cruise. Some TAs may give a photo package or other onboard amenity. TAs do not offer their own discounts for a DCL cruises.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Reneetubbs]

I would have never known about Costco! We don’t have one close, but if the discount is big enough I will drive to one. Thank you

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I would have never known about Costco! We don’t have one close, but if the discount is big enough I will drive to one. Thank you

You only have to drive there to cash out your cash card. All of the vacation planning can be done over the phone with Costco Travel.

 

[MillauFr]

You only have to drive there to cash out your cash card. All of the vacation planning can be done over the phone with Costco Travel.

Yes or the website

 

[Wild4Walt]

On a side note, September through January is usually when the cruise lines start dropping their rates or offering higher incentive ( i.e. - onboard credit may get boosted to 100.00 vs. the original 50.00 ).

If you purchase now and the price drops, most cruise lines will give you a credit in the form of a shipboard credit. We've had this happen with both RCCL and Norwegian.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I would have never known about Costco! We don’t have one close, but if the discount is big enough I will drive to one. Thank you

Just a note though, you have to be a member when you book the cruise, sail, and afterward when you get the cash card. Also, I’ve heard not all Costco’s will allow you to cash out the cash card (ie you have to use it in their stores.)

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I’ve heard not all Costco’s will allow you to cash out the cash card (ie you have to use it in their stores.)

I've never seen a firsthand report of someone not being allowed to cash out the card, just people who don't use Costco Travel saying that the store legally doesn't have to let you cash out the card. Those who use Costco Travel & who have requested a cash out have consistently reported here that they got one.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I certainly think that as of the last 2 years or so no one has reported that. I remember seeing it though but perhaps over on FB. However, I’m in Canada and things are different here anyway. I also live 10 min from a Costco and shop there weekly.

I would just say that it’s worth thinking about. Say Costco doesn’t cash out the card - would the OP be prepared to spend the money there. For us it was $950, that’s a lot to spend at a store you don’t normally shop at.

 

[Happy99]

On a side note, September through January is usually when the cruise lines start dropping their rates or offering higher incentive ( i.e. - onboard credit may get boosted to 100.00 vs. the original 50.00 ).

If you purchase now and the price drops, most cruise lines will give you a credit in the form of a shipboard credit. We've had this happen with both RCCL and Norwegian.

Not something Disney will do if you are past your paid in full date. Disney also doesn't normally offer onboard credits.

 

[wombat_5606]

I would have never known about Costco! We don’t have one close, but if the discount is big enough I will drive to one. Thank you

You can use the Costco cash card for online purchases. You just cannot use it to purchase more travel, but you can buy just about anything else.

Just to reiterate, booking through Costco doesn't get you a discount, just an effective discount. The price of the cruise is the same as if you had booked with any Travel Agent or direct with Disney Cruise Line themselves. Costco just gives you part of their commission which they have received from DCL.

 

[msmama]

Disney doesn't really do many discounts on their cruises (if you look at their website under special offers you can see what's there now). And while I don't look often, usually they seem to be on cruises that are coming up quickly (like within a month or two). If you're Military, Canadian or from Florida they seem to have discounts regularly, too.

Most travel agents aren't going to give you a discount, but they will give you something. So really you're going to be looking for who gives you what. Like you've already learned, Dreams Unlimited (who are connected to these boards) gives you OBC (on board credit), Costco gives you a card to be used at Costco. If you want to see what kind of OBC you'll get from DU, it's under Disney Cruise Line and then Discounts and specials.

Good luck!

 

[Disneypeach]

My Costco here in Alpharetta Ga will NOT give cash for a gift card. Don’t know if that’s Georgia law or Costco managerial decision but “my” Costco will only give cash out for the executive membership rebate check.

 

[OKW Lover]

Dreams Unlimited Travel has been great for us. They offer an on board credit and also send a small goodie bag to you before you go. Please understand that the DIS Boards are sponsored by Dreams Unlimited. Why not support the people that bring you all this good information?