Reasons to Use or Not Use a
Travel Agent
Top Reasons to Use a Travel Agent (TA)
The knowledge and understanding of everything DCL cruise take years of experience to learn and understand
It is their job to be the most up to date on cruises
Some travel agent companies receive information directly from DCL that the public does not receive
They sometimes go on many cruises or media cruises to learn more about the cruise line and each ship
If you book with a DCL agent, they will not email you reminders of when to sign up for activities for the cruise or provide you secrets with knowledge before or during the cruise
They take the stress out of planning your sailing
You can develop a relationship and use them for future cruises
Can see when a cruise has a new deal and can possibly refund you the new savings
They want you to be happy and am on your side
If something goes wrong on the trip, they can help you out (missed/cancelled flight etc.)
Experience
Travel agent becomes an advocate for you
They are a resource and always working on travel
Travel agent only needs to be your one point of contact
They will wait on phone for you and will have a special number to call
Relationships the travel agents have within cruising community
Secret rooms or knowledge of what excursions to do
Support a small business
Travel agents offer concierge planning services for your trip which includes things like arranging accommodations ore-cruise or post-cruise, transportation to and from the port, recommendations, and information about all the onboard fun and activities, details about the kids’ clubs, and even book port excursions and onboard experience. And all these services like booking, planning, recommending, and answering your every question are completely free.
Ask in the Facebook groups to find a good referral
Their host agencies will sometimes get group rates by bulk holding cabins that are not on the website but not every sailing has a group rate
Comfortable personally working with
Do you like hands on or hands off
Tell your travel agent what you expect of them
You must communicate with them
Save your time on the leg work
Discounts in the form of onboard credit
Might rebook to save money if an offer comes up
Access to group rates to save money
Don’t spend time on the phone for hours
Quick list
Knowledge and experience
Time saver
Cost saver
Personalized service
Assistance with emergencies
Someone to advocate for you
Top Reasons to Not Use a Travel Agent
You are an avid cruiser and do not want extra help
Had a bad experience using one and have decided to not try a new company
You do not like free gifts/credits/money
You do not know the benefits of using a travel agent
You know exactly what you want and how to book it
Quick List
Some charge fees
Lack of control
Limited options
You must find the agent
Risk of scams
Provide financial information via email, telephone, etc.
Misconceptions and Questions
It will cost you more money to use them
Travel agent commissions are included in your cost already and if directly book with the cruise line they just keep the money
Disney and other cruise lines have built the cost of their commission into the cost of the sailing therefore if you book directly with Disney, they just get to keep that extra money instead of getting some special travel agent service or some onboard credit
When can I add a travel agent or change mine?
A travel agent may claim/transfer the reservation within 30 days of the reservation creation and if the reservation is not paid in full
You can transfer it more than once within that 30-day window also
If you book a placeholder while on a Disney Cruise sailing, you have 30 days from the day it is booked to transfer/change travel agents
After that 30-day window you can change travel agents within the same company if needed
If I have a booked reservation, can I change travel agents or add a travel agent?
No is the short answer but you can change representatives within the travel agent company
To add a travel agent to my reservation that agent will have forms for you to sign and fill out
If outside that 30-day window
Other option would be to cancel/rebook pending availability and price change
Any financials need to be done through the travel agent once they have claimed the reservation
OnBoard Credit (OBC)
Some travel agencies do not or no longer offer on board credit therefore make sure to ask before booking with them if that is a priority.
A cruise booked directly by a TA is eligible for the full OBC. Reservations originally booked directly with Disney and transferred to a travel agent (which is what a placeholder is considered) are eligible for the lower rates. This is standard with agencies that offer OBC. Typically, ½ of the full OBC.
The reason is because Disney pays lower commission on transferred reservations (which includes placeholders) than it does on cruises booked directly by the TA
Placeholders are not transfers but are treated the same as transfers.
If I purchase a placeholder on a sailing book by my travel agent what happens
The DCL app will ask if you want to continue it use the same TA. If you say “yes”, the TA should automatically receive the confirmation, but it doesn’t always happen so it’s best to always forward the confirmation to your TA.
When it comes to OBC, by always purchasing a placeholder you will therefore always receive a lower OBC but a bigger discount on the sale (10%) by purchasing the placeholder.
Why use a TA? A TA has the expertise and experience to answer all your questions, help you save money where possible, and reduce the stress of planning your upcoming vacation at no cost to you! Our vendors pay us, so you don't have to!
You can use any agent located anywhere if they can book your reservation! Travel agents can work with you both remotely and someone locally can sit down with you. They can be hands on as much as you need or require of them
Share the Magic Travel Company
Cody & Nikki Lovett (Tennessee Local Agent)
TravelandLovett.com
Facebook.com/codyandnikki
615-516-9671
Sharethemagictravelcompany@gmail.com
Mickey World Travel
Wes and Alyssa Dauer (Northeast Agent)
Phone: 617-645-3233 (W)
Phone: 774-239-2396 (A)
www.MickeyWorldTravel.com
www.Facebook.com/MickeyWorldTravelWesAndAlyssaDauer
Onboard Placeholder with a Travel agent
