Booking on board then transferring to a travel agent

[birdmom]

so I booked a place holder on our last cruise. The dates to the cruise I wanted to sail were not released yet. When the dates were released I bought my tickets with my place holder and then called to transfer my booking to Costco. Disney then explains I could not do this because the 30 day count down starts when I bought the place holder. I could swear I see people booking on board and using it a year later still being able to transfer..... what did I do wrong?

 

[Dug720]

They transfer the placeholder as soon as they're home - or within the 30 days.

 

[birdmom]

What do you mean as soon as they're home, how can I transfer non existing reservation?

 

[teacher31]

They transfer the placeholder, not a specific cruise. So basically they give you 30 days before DCL has your reservation. A grace period, so to speak. Hope that helps.

 

[lanejudy]

A placeholder is a reservation - it has a reservation number just as if you had selected dates when making the OBB. The placeholder can be transferred to a TA; some may require that it be converted to a "dummy date" to hold in their system but I believe most will hold the placeholder without dates.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[kandt]

Can you name your travel agent when booking a placeholder onboard? My travel agent gives less obc when we transfer a reservation to her.

 

[Dug720]

Can you name your travel agent when booking a placeholder onboard? My travel agent gives less obc when we transfer a reservation to her.

If she booked the cruise you are on, I believe a new booking is automatically assigned to the agent on record.

If you booked on your own I don't know as I don't use travel agents.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

If she booked the cruise you are on, I believe a new booking is automatically assigned to the agent on record.

If you booked on your own I don't know as I don't use travel agents.

What if you booked with an agent but you want your onboard booking to go to a different one...for example my OBB I make in Oct I will want to transfer to Costco?

 

[Dug720]

What if you booked with an agent but you want your onboard booking to go to a different one...for example my OBB I make in Oct I will want to transfer to Costco?

I think you have to sign some kind of form, book independently, and then transfer

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Can you name your travel agent when booking a placeholder onboard? My travel agent gives less obc when we transfer a reservation to her.

Yes, you can, that's what we do. The OBC will be reduced, though, as is our experience.

 

[kiford]

Can you name your travel agent when booking a placeholder onboard? My travel agent gives less obc when we transfer a reservation to her.

I was asked if I wanted my placeholder to go the agent on record (agent we originally booked through) or if I wanted to change it. I kept it with our current TA and they automatically sent an e-mail to her without me having to look up any information. So if you know who you want to transfer it to and have that information with you, you can do it then. If you don't know you can ask to not transfer it then but then do it as soon as you get home. You'll also get an e-mail with the information.

 

[remlap]

We have had this same issue/question. Unless it has changed since we had the issue. If you are booked on the cruise from Travel Agent A, they will not onboard book either a reservation or placeholder with Travel Agent B. However, they will book you without a travel agent, and then as soon as you get home, you transfer it within the 30 day window. It was painless to do with Costco. I do not know if anything was "reduced" as it was just a place holder booking, that we eventually converted. I am not sure how the Costco gift cards work, but we were pleased and it was a much higher amount that the typical OBC.

 

[n2mm]

As soon as I book a placeholder the cruise CM sees that I have a TA and has always asked if I want the placeholder sent to her. As soon as I get home, I send an email to her to confirm she received it. She then sends me a reservation number for the placeholder. I can also log into my castaway club account and see my placeholder reservation there too. Once I'm ready to convert it to a dated reservation, my TA calls and books it. I've done this several times.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We have had this same issue/question. Unless it has changed since we had the issue. If you are booked on the cruise from Travel Agent A, they will not onboard book either a reservation or placeholder with Travel Agent B. However, they will book you without a travel agent, and then as soon as you get home, you transfer it within the 30 day window. It was painless to do with Costco. I do not know if anything was "reduced" as it was just a place holder booking, that we eventually converted. I am not sure how the Costco gift cards work, but we were pleased and it was a much higher amount that the typical OBC.

Thanks! The Costco GC is why we want to change to them for the next time. I wonder why dcl cares if you switch TAs.

 

[cruisehopeful]

When the dates were released I bought my tickets with my place holder and then called to transfer my booking to Costco.

From what I've read here, you can transfer a placeholder to an agent within 30 days, but Costco won't do that. In the future, if you want to book a placeholder and transfer it to Costco, I believe you'll have to book a dummy cruise (a cruise you know you won't take), transfer it to Costco within the 30 days and then change the cruise with Costco when your cruise dates are available.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

From what I've read here, you can transfer a placeholder to an agent within 30 days, but Costco won't do that. In the future, if you want to book a placeholder and transfer it to Costco, I believe you'll have to book a dummy cruise (a cruise you know you won't take), transfer it to Costco within the 30 days and then change the cruise with Costco when your cruise dates are available.

Ok, so instead of telling the OBB desk to book a placeholder, I just choose a random date. When I get home I call Costco and transfer that random date to them. At some point I decide the real date and move my fake date to the real date. Correct?

 

[Sytrace]

Thanks! The Costco GC is why we want to change to them for the next time. I wonder why dcl cares if you switch TAs.

DCL doesn't care if you switch TA's, they just need to know who to pay the commission to or if they don't have to pay a commission.

Using a TA doesn't cost the guest anything as the commission is paid thru DCL. So, whether you book thru DCL or a TA, you pay the same price regardless. The difference is that now DCL pays a percentage to a TA to book that cruise for you. You get the services of the TA, as well as other benefits (Costco cash card for example) but pay the same price.
Whether you use TA 1 or Costco, DCL is still paying commission on the cruise. If you don't use a TA, then they keep the full amount that you paid.

 

[Sytrace]

Ok, so instead of telling the OBB desk to book a placeholder, I just choose a random date. When I get home I call Costco and transfer that random date to them. At some point I decide the real date and move my fake date to the real date. Correct?

It is actually much less complicated to book a placeholder. That way you still have the benefits and time frame of 24 months to book. The confirmation/reservation number is the same whether it is a placeholder or an actual booked cruise.
Placeholder confirmation number ABC1234 is still going to be actual cruise confirmation number ABC1234.

When you are ready to use the placeholder you call DCL and give them that confirmation number as well as what actual date you want to sail. The number is now attached to a real cruise and you have not had to book a phony date knowing you are going to change it.

 

[Sytrace]

From what I've read here, you can transfer a placeholder to an agent within 30 days, but Costco won't do that. In the future, if you want to book a placeholder and transfer it to Costco, I believe you'll have to book a dummy cruise (a cruise you know you won't take), transfer it to Costco within the 30 days and then change the cruise with Costco when your cruise dates are available.

I have no experience with Costco but this seems odd. Costco travel is an agency just like AAA or other agencies. The reservation number on a placeholder is going to be the same as if it was an actual cruise. So there is no difference in how it would be accepted or processed via DCL.

 

[Sytrace]

What if you booked with an agent but you want your onboard booking to go to a different one...for example my OBB I make in Oct I will want to transfer to Costco?

Let them know that you don't want to use the agent you booked with and it will revert to DCL. Then when you are home, contact Costco and tell them you have a placeholder confirmation number to transfer to them. They will send the form to you to complete most likely via email or fax. Sign it and send it back to Costco.