Who should I book a cruise through?

[thebecka]

Always be careful with on-line agencies...it's always good to have a referal. Personally I prefer to actually speak with a person and always get a written confirmation! Cruise Savers does this!
Man, I wish I made a commission for the referals...just let Felice know I made the referal. She'll get a kick out of it next time I speak with her.

 

[nedleycan]

I spoke with Irene from Cruise.com everyday to confirm everything. I checked to see how long they were in business, etc. I was nervous too.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

I booked through DCL. A question though, has anyone ever booked w/DCL and then transferred their ressie over to someone else? If yes, then why and how?

 

[thebecka]

I called DCL to see what rooms were available cause I wasn't seeing what I wanted on the internet...DCL, AAA as well as other sites... I had DCL hold a room and I told them that I had a travel agent and they advised me to have her call in. Felice called in with the cabin number I had requested and I'm booked for Jan 18th Magic.

 

[my3kids]

lovethatmouse....I did that with Costco. I booked with DCL because they had the exact rooms I wanted available. I didn't want t o hang up, call Costco and risk someone else booking the rooms. I called Costco with the reservation number and they called DCL, got the reservation and everything stayed the same except the price!

 

[jellymoon]

I would definately go with Costco!!!! Yes-- the documents come about a week later than everyone else's, but you can get all the info you need on this board. We booked with Costco and (maybe it is because we are CC members) we still called DCL directly with questions. We did find Costco to be helpful--- we got the seating time we wanted, and were successful at getting a 6-top table for our family of 6 (rather than a larger table).

Since we're a family of 6, we had to book two cabins, and we saved well over $1000 on our cruise cost. I didn't compare with Dreams Unlimited, but did compare with AAA and DCL direct. It beat it hands down-- even if you counted stateroom credit. That said, once you've cruised you'll realize the stateroom credit is nothing to sneeze at. If you get $300 in a stateroom credit, that will take care of a lot and still reduces your total cost. So, when weighing things be sure to include your savings from the stateroom credit.

For land, I'd encourage you to book your own hotel, and buy your tickets through AAA. We got a price break on 4 day park hopper tickets through AAA, plus the pass for parking in the AAA diamond lot--- saves you the need to use the tram at all of the parks. GREAT parking!!

 

[DopeysGal]

I just checked my Oct 2003 rate with Dreams Unlimited against the rate quoted on the AllSeasTravel website and the DU rate, with shipboard credit and rebate, was almost $200 cheaper. I have received excellent service from Dreams Unlimited, questions answered right away via email. Also, if there are 8 rooms or more booked through DU on your cruise, you get a stateroom gift. I would use them again anytime.

 

[kstelzner]

It maybe a early booking thing because All Seas Travel already has raised the rates for the very popular date of May 24 by $300 since we booked in August.

However, with that being said, I went and compared DU price and All Seas tonight and All Seas still comes in $479 cheaper!

Maybe I'm not understanding what the shipboard credit and rebate are from DU (if that's taken after the reservation).

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Wow - I have to check into those options. I do know AAA gives the free mugs - which we defintely use, so that would be a $105 savings. Do they give stateroom credits? I will also get the $50 DC credit, but that think I will get that with anyone right? - So I guess I am looking to save more than $155.

 

[my3kids]

lovethatmouse: See what your cruise fare is...not taxes, not port charges, etc. then deduct 10%. That is your Costco rate. I got the documents almost 2 months in advance, everything was printed correctly. No problems.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Thanks my3kids - will do.

 

[Melrosgirl]

lots of replies! always good to shop around!

 

[private 1965]

My family took a trip in September 2001 on a 7-day Disney Magic cruise at a wildly discounted price and this year are going on the 12/22/02 4-night CHRISTMAS cruise on the Wonder at a great discount.

For the September 1, 2001 cruise, we had Cabin #2564 and paid $739.00 each for two adults and $280.00 for one child. Total for that trip with travel insurance, port fees and taxes was $2,273.93 (3-people, 7day cruise!)

The 4-night Christmas cruise (ON THE BOAT FOR CHRISTMAS - I am sooo excited!) is priced at $760.00 each for the adults and $650.00 for our daughter, for a total (all charges and port fees) of $2719.75. (Cabin 7131)

The Christmas cruise costs more, but you are talking the MOST PRIME time to visit Disney! Nothing "off-season" about it and we still got a good price.

Another thing iCruise.com does( that not all travel services do...) is give you a bon voyage gift in your stateroom as a thank-you. Ours (and another iCruise customer who happened to be our dinnermates) received the Sail Away Celebration Steamer Trunk which is priced at $32.00.

I was wary of booking a cruise thru an online service, but I had a very nice experience with iCruise.

Good Luck!!