Best place to book for best deal?

[CarnivalGirl3]

I see there are lots of website claiming to have the best prices, do they? Or should I stick with the Disney site to book?

 

Looking for the best deal on Disney Magic out of Gal on Dec 15th.

[Shmoo here]

I see there are lots of website claiming to have the best prices, do they? Or should I stick with the Disney site to book?

 

Looking for the best deal on Disney Magic out of Gal on Dec 15th.

 

As DCL doesn't allow anyone to discount their fares, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. Do the website quotes include all the taxes & fees that DCL does?

 

Also, some TAs will take a reduction in their commission and offer OBCs or other perks that DCL won't.

 

Generally speaking, the actual cost of the cruise will be the same no matter where you purchase it. Using a TA, you'll need to go through them for any money matters on the cruise. Booking yourself directly you maintain full control of your reservation.

 

:)

[DISNEY FANTASY]

As DCL doesn't allow anyone to discount their fares, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. Do the website quotes include all the taxes & fees that DCL does?

 

Also, some TAs will take a reduction in their commission and offer OBCs or other perks that DCL won't.

 

Generally speaking, the actual cost of the cruise will be the same no matter where you purchase it. Using a TA, you'll need to go through them for any money matters on the cruise. Booking yourself directly you maintain full control of your reservation.

 

:)

 

One terrible myth thats put around by a very few people is by using a travel agent you loose some control??? That is not true in any way whatsoever.

 

With DCL you can still make Palo and Remy reservations and shore trips, if you book with a TA or direct, you can make regular payments that are safe, and actually you 'gain' control as the TA bats on your side, if DCL do something wrong they will sort it out for you.

 

In fact this has happened to me a few times.

 

DCL changed my room number on one cruise, all I had to do was contact my TA they sorted it out for me, no hassle.

 

DCL messed up a Afternoon Tea booking for me, my TA got me a free one instead.

 

TAs do loads of things I cant post it all here as then people will expect it on their reservation.

 

On DCL popular cruises that sell out quickly I got best rooms best locations best prices by booking by TA and saving me the hassle of long waits on the phone, or online freezing out whilst I am at work.

 

You never loose any control whatsoever!!!!

[KirkNC]

We always use an online TA.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We always use an online TA.

 

Thanks for that, mine is online and also available by phone, letter, facebook.

 

Do you ever feel like you loose control?

 

I find having a TA gives me extra control ie someone with a lot of clout, batting on my side if anything goes wrong.

 

I have had the best rooms best locations and best prices booked for me with on board credits, and can access everything to book Palo, Remy, Shore Trips and make changes if required and they tell me about price drops new offers, and new releases, empowering me.

[CarnivalGirl3]

thanks.

 

We've never used a TA before. I've always just gone to Carnival website, picked the cruise and paid. The only request/issue is we require main dining time and a table for two (now three).

[DISNEY FANTASY]

thanks.

 

We've never used a TA before. I've always just gone to Carnival website, picked the cruise and paid. The only request/issue is we require main dining time and a table for two (now three).

 

And you can do that,

 

With DIsney you can book direct or book via a TA.

 

The TA if they specialise in DCL can give you significant on board credits that will reduce your overall cruise price, ie what they do is share some of the commission DCL pays them with you.

 

You never loose any control in fact your empowered as someone does all the work for you and is there on your side should something go wrong.

 

Do search out authorised Disney or DCL travel agents, google them there are a few.

 

Some offer 24 hour contact, mine is available by email, internet, and by phone and address so I never loose out.

 

I have had significant OBCs before ie like $300 each on my last two cruises.

 

Thats a lot, it might change subject to room and length of cruise.

 

You can transfer after booking direct but then the OBCs will be reduced as DCL gives less commission to the TAs if it was booked by you.

[jalves]

I see there are lots of website claiming to have the best prices, do they? Or should I stick with the Disney site to book?

 

Looking for the best deal on Disney Magic out of Gal on Dec 15th.

 

Its easy for any website to say they have the best prices on DCL - and they are all correct. That's because no matter how you book DCL you'll pay the same price. Us a regular TA, an on-line TA or just go directly to the DCL site and you'll get the exact same price.

 

The only difference is any extra's (typically an on board credit) offered by the TA. So, instead of looking at the price of the cruise, look at what extras the TA is offering.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Its easy for any website to say they have the best prices on DCL - and they are all correct. That's because no matter how you book DCL you'll pay the same price. Us a regular TA, an on-line TA or just go directly to the DCL site and you'll get the exact same price.

 

The only difference is any extra's (typically an on board credit) offered by the TA. So, instead of looking at the price of the cruise, look at what extras the TA is offering.

 

Agree!

[socalmommy]

DCL doesn't offer discounts --- unless they are running specials and they're not always easy to see on their website (I HATE their website by the way --- it's always crashing, the search feature gets stuck or is not programmed correctly, and it's slow --- for such a big company, they need to get it on a bigger server).

 

Anyways --- that being said, I found my wonderful TA through Mousesavers, and their company offered my group onboard credit, and she told me other offers they were running, best dates to go (from the dates I chose), and so forth. My group has been so darn happy with her that I will definitely recommend them to anyone and will be using them again for our next Disney Cruise.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DCL doesn't offer discounts --- unless they are running specials and they're not always easy to see on their website (I HATE their website by the way --- it's always crashing, the search feature gets stuck or is not programmed correctly, and it's slow --- for such a big company, they need to get it on a bigger server).

 

Anyways --- that being said, I found my wonderful TA through Mousesavers, and their company offered my group onboard credit, and she told me other offers they were running, best dates to go (from the dates I chose), and so forth. My group has been so darn happy with her that I will definitely recommend them to anyone and will be using them again for our next Disney Cruise.

 

I fully agree about their website its cobbled together and isn't very good, lots of reports when people book Palo or Remy or Cabanas it looking out and on release days for new cruises going slow, or freezing on the last screen or debiting the credit card twice.

[benvan2]

If I already booked thru disney can I cancel and rebook thru a ta. The prices are still the same and I am not in any penalty period.

[Shmoo here]

If I already booked thru disney can I cancel and rebook thru a ta. The prices are still the same and I am not in any penalty period.

 

You certainly may do this. You would, however, probably lose the stateroom you may have chosen.

 

:)

[Gon2hwe]

I see there are lots of website claiming to have the best prices, do they? Or should I stick with the Disney site to book?

 

Looking for the best deal on Disney Magic out of Gal on Dec 15th.

 

Just booked our cruise and saw a balcony for an ocean view on Disney cruise web site. for Galveston. Don;t know their dates though.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

If I already booked thru disney can I cancel and rebook thru a ta. The prices are still the same and I am not in any penalty period.

 

You certainly may do this. You would, however, probably lose the stateroom you may have chosen.

 

:)

 

Tell the TA they will sort this out for you, you may get a better room.

[KingHal]

If I already booked thru disney can I cancel and rebook thru a ta. The prices are still the same and I am not in any penalty period.

 

Don't cancel your existing booking - just pass the details of it on to your chosen TA and they will transfer it from Disney to them, and you will get whatever OBC they are offering for new bookings etc.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Don't cancel your existing booking - just pass the details of it on to your chosen TA and they will transfer it from Disney to them, and you will get whatever OBC they are offering for new bookings etc.

 

 

Do to changes in how DCL gives out commission, if you book it yourself and transfer your booking to a TA, you may get far less OBC.

 

If you get your TA to book they get full commission from DLC and can pass whatever they feel they can to you.

 

If you book onboard ship and nominate a TA DCL will give the TA full commission.

[croozymooner]

We got a $175 on board credit for our next cruise by booking with the online travel agency with the gnome commercials. I have booked all but one cruise with them because of offers like that.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The best I've been able to find is a $50 obc . I'm having a hard time finding/trusting reviews. It's so hard to know what are real reviews and what's shrilling (employees posting).

 

croozymooner-how much, if you don't mind, was your total cruise price? It seems the obc is simply based on the cruise price?

 

Still not sure why they act like they are giving me the best price, if the prices are the same from anyone...

 

Note

 

Best to delete reference to the travel agent before a host sees it, its against the CC forum rules.

 

Shop around ''google'' search ''Specialist Disney cruise line travel agency''. or 'Authorised Disney vacation Planner.'

 

Or Authorised Disney travel agency.

 

I must say mine doesn't come up with a search like that!!!

 

OBC is based on room category and the length of the cruise. So the cheapest rooms or deals will have lower OBC than longer cruises and say a suite.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I just book our DCL Mexican Rivera trip through . It was the cheapest because they gave me a $250 obc and I got a guaranteed veranda state room. The cabin price was the same through all the sites I looked including DCL and cheaper by $400 by 3 authorized Disney TA.Once booked, the next day I went to DCL.com and logged in with my reservation number and have already registered for Palo and shore excursions as well as a few onboard activities like the spa. I have also pre-boarded ourselves, signed my kids up for their areas, and put my credit card on file. So all I gotta do is call them a few days before I travel and pay for the gratuities. Also sent me my luggage tags already. So we are all set. Good luck!

 

Yes, I know another poster said you loose control but you can do everything online, as you say book palo, book shore trips, check in online as you say.

 

You might want to delete references to the travel agency as the hosts might tell you off.

[CarnivalGirl3]

I booked!

 

I also figured out the difference is pricing that I was seeing.

 

1-price for 2 people in the room

2-price for 1 person, fare only

3-price for 1 person, fare and fees/taxes

 

Know that would have made my searching much easier!!! The final price is of course the same, but listing the fare only is lower, of course.

 

Now, to pack and find swim suits and board animals and hope the short one doesn't scream the whole drive to port (we'll leave at like 4am, so most of the drive time she'll be asleep. I HOPE.)

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I booked!

 

I also figured out the difference is pricing that I was seeing.

 

1-price for 2 people in the room

2-price for 1 person, fare only

3-price for 1 person, fare and fees/taxes

 

Know that would have made my searching much easier!!! The final price is of course the same, but listing the fare only is lower, of course.

 

Now, to pack and find swim suits and board animals and hope the short one doesn't scream the whole drive to port (we'll leave at like 4am, so most of the drive time she'll be asleep. I HOPE.)

 

Congrats and enjoy

[CarnivalGirl3]

I love that admin/mods are called host here!

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I love that admin/mods are called host here!

 

Yes that's nice, isn't it.