Would you book a cruise you don't intend to keep?

[dtk07]

We are currently have $1,600 tied up with a travel agent on a Disneyland trip that won't happen due to covid. We would be penalized for a cash refund but can book another trip without penalty. We are eyeballing early 2022 which won't be out till later this year.

We could leave the credit hang with the travel agent but I feel this might be a trying time for them financially. While they are a reputable company, i would hate to have a credit on file and have them go out of business. Is it wrong to think about booking a cruise just to park our money till the cruise we really want opens up???

 

[Naeher]

No, do it.

 

[AquaDame]

If you honestly think they may go out of business then it might be wise to take the ding and cancel. That aside,

not at all~! Before DCL started issuing placeholders people would book the cheapest cruise they could find to "park" a reservation for the OBB benefits. The agents typically had a cruise in mind for just that purpose as it was so common. It was totally normal.

 

[KittyKitty]

I would take the discounted refund.

 

[starry_solo]

Take the refund. If you think they might go under, it is unlikely they will put all the money down on your next trip, only the deposit. So you may be stuck still....

 

[dtk07]

Just to clarify, I don't have any reason to think they are going under. DCL is just the bigger company who has no risk of going under.

As to the above comment, Is it common practice for a travel agent to hold money put towards a cruise??

 

[insureman]

Where is the penalty coming from, Disney or the travel agent? Something doesn't sound right to me.

 

[tvguy]

Where is the penalty coming from, Disney or the travel agent? Something doesn't sound right to me.

Exactly. No credit, they need to give you 100% of your money back if they can't deliver the trip booked.

 

[plutolovr]

Never do business with a travel agency that holds your money, or one that has a cancel penalty independent of what the suppliers offer. Companies like Dreams Unlimited Travel, the owners of this board, don't keep your money. They submit all payments directly to Disney or the supplier. If you have to cancel, they go by the cancel and penalty terms of the supplier. For Disneyland, it would be a full refund up until 30 days prior to arrival for packages and 5 days prior to room reservations.

 

[clten]

As to the above comment, Is it common practice for a travel agent to hold money put towards a cruise??

No, it is not common practice for the TA to hold your money. There are very few circumstances where they would hold your money at the agency. They should be passing all your money to the vendor (DCL in this case) even if the amount of money is greater than the deposit required.

Never do business with a travel agency that holds your money, or one that has a cancel penalty independent of what the suppliers offer.

The first part of this I agree with. But the second part I don't. TAs are a business and if you cancel your trip, they've done work for you and then have to do more by cancelling with the vendor and ensuring money is returned and now won't get paid by the vendor. It should be a nominal fee but I wouldn't think less of a TA that charged a small separate cancellation fee - as long as it was stated upfront when the trip was booked.

 

[Quellman]

The first part of this I agree with. But the second part I don't. TAs are a business and if you cancel your trip, they've done work for you and then have to do more by cancelling with the vendor and ensuring money is returned and now won't get paid by the vendor. It should be a nominal fee but I wouldn't think less of a TA that charged a small separate cancellation fee - as long as it was stated upfront when the trip was booked.

DVC Rentals would be an example of this.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Never do business with a travel agency that holds your money, or one that has a cancel penalty independent of what the suppliers offer. Companies like Dreams Unlimited Travel, the owners of this board, don't keep your money. They submit all payments directly to Disney or the supplier. If you have to cancel, they go by the cancel and penalty terms of the supplier. For Disneyland, it would be a full refund up until 30 days prior to arrival for packages and 5 days prior to room reservations.

THIS.

 

[insureman]

The first part of this I agree with. But the second part I don't. TAs are a business and if you cancel your trip, they've done work for you and then have to do more by cancelling with the vendor and ensuring money is returned and now won't get paid by the vendor. It should be a nominal fee but I wouldn't think less of a TA that charged a small separate cancellation fee - as long as it was stated upfront when the trip was booked.

I have never heard of a reputable TA charging a cancellation fee. I also agree with the poster that said you want to deal with a TA that gives the travel company the money directly. They should not be holding it. I have heard too many stories where the travel agency shuts down and takes off with their clients payments. The story below is a good example.
https://www.frommers.com/tips/money-and-currency/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-agent-is-crooked

 

[DCLDVC1]

The first part of this I agree with. But the second part I don't. TAs are a business and if you cancel your trip, they've done work for you and then have to do more by cancelling with the vendor and ensuring money is returned and now won't get paid by the vendor. It should be a nominal fee but I wouldn't think less of a TA that charged a small separate cancellation fee - as long as it was stated upfront when the trip was booked.

Aren't agents still receiving commissions on the cancelled trips?

 

[BritneyBelle]

Aren't agents still receiving commissions on the cancelled trips?

Some of the travel companies protected commission, but not all. I think adventures by Disney didn’t, but I’m not positive on that.