travel agent?

[joanie9766]

Hello, first time cruiser here----can anyone tell me the what the benefit of booking directly through DCL vs booking with a travel agent?
I always do all the work myself when booking WDW, but DCL is a new entity to me.

Thanks.

 

[Geomom]

Before cruising, the last time we used a travel agent was for our honeymoon in 1993. I'm used to doing all the work for our trips AND I enjoy all the planning. I use a TA for DCL to get OBC (on board credit). We use Dreams Unlimited who is a sponsor of these boards. They're basically email only--which works well for me. I still do the work ahead of time, figure out what cruise, what rooms I'd be happy with. Then I contact my TA to book it. All payments/changes to the reservation need to go through the TA, but I do all the online checkin stuff--picking the port arrival time, booking port adventures, free meet and greet tickets, drink tastings, etc.

The cost of the cruise is the same no matter who you book through, but some TA's offer the on board credit (free money!) Costco travel offers a gift card to use in their stores after the cruise (8%?) Booking directly through the TA will give you higher on board credit. Booking with DCL and then transferring (or doing an on board booking during your first cruise) will give you 1/2 the credit as the TA earns 1/2 the commission for those bookings. In addition to the OBC, Dreams Unlimited will also send you a gift basket before your cruise if you're in the US or Canada.

 

[MomOTwins]

Primary benefit of booking through a TA is you get onboard credit as an incentive (amounts vary by TA and cost of trip). Primary downside of booking through a TA is that if you need to cancel or change a reservation, DCL will not talk to you and will only talk to the TA (see numerous posts on this board re uncooperative TAs making this difficult).

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

Many travel agents give onboard credit, plus if there is an issue such as we are having right now, they will be the ones who will wait on hold, on the phone, for hours so they can make any needed changes for your trip. Trust me, they earn the small amount of commission they are paid by the travel suppliers (Disney, Universal, etc.).

Edited to add, many travel agents operate as small businesses and we need to help support our small businesses.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Costco will give you a shop card worth 8.5% of your base cruise price (the price before taxes, port fees, etc.) whether you initially book through them or if you book independently and then transfer the cruise to Costco within 30 days (the transfer might take a couple of days, so don't wait until day 30 to initiate it.) You'll get the card in the mail a few weeks after your cruise- we tend to use ours to either pay at the pump for gas, or to buy electronics. If you are an executive Costo member, you'll also get an additional 2% back on top of that at the end of your membership year. If you use a Costco Visa card to book, you also get additional benefits.

All of Costco's benefits are in addition to any discount you might get from DCL, such as the 10% onboard booking discount. If you have an executive membership and do an onboard cruise or placeholder booking through Costco, you're looking at a 20.5% total savings, and that's significant when you're sailing on such an expensive cruise line. That's why we use Costco.

I also like the fact that with Costco you're not tied to one specific agent. You just call in and speak to whichever agent answers the phone. Less personal that way, so no guilt about making lots of changes or cancelling the cruise. When I'm working with an individual agent, I tend to not want to bother them too much, and feel a bit sorry for them when I cancel. That's just me, though.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Primary benefit of booking through a TA is you get onboard credit as an incentive (amounts vary by TA and cost of trip). Primary downside of booking through a TA is that if you need to cancel or change a reservation, DCL will not talk to you and will only talk to the TA (see numerous posts on this board re uncooperative TAs making this difficult).

We have used Dreams Unlimited Travel since for as long as I can remember for both WDW and DCL vacations. Including our upcoming Mexican Riviera cruise in 2021 (our 10th DCL cruise). We have had numerous agents over the years and enjoyed them all. We like the onboard credit that you receive from them. Should you decide to do an onboard booking or placeholder while cruising; make sure you tell the Cast Member that Dreams Unlimited is your TA. If you don't do this and change your reservation over to DU once your home, you will receive only a portion of the onboard credit; not the whole amount. I guess this is a DCL rule not a DU rule. Lesson learned the hard way.

You will still be making your reservations online for excursions, upscale dining, and tasting classes once your booking opportunity becomes available. We have had nothing but very good service from our TAs thought the years. And I can't imagine what it must be like trying to contact DCL now for any inquiries related to cruising right now.

 

[joanie9766]

Thanks everyone--looks like I will probably use a TA. Definitely need the on-board credit.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

If you google you will find many Disney experienced travel agents ... or ask your friends. Look for ones who are an "Earmarked Disney Agency". They are not allowed to advertise here on disboards but if they are "earmarked" it means they are approved of by Disney and have gone through the Disney trainings. I, personally, like the smaller agencies where I talk with the same agent each time and that particular agent learns my family needs and takes care of me personally.

Smiles!