Package Deal

[Pinevalleyite]

After reading many posts, I'm wondering if I made the wrong choice in booking the entire package through Disney. I know I could have gotten the air cheaper on my own but I was confused by how to do the transfers and the promise that if I booked through Disney, they would get me on the ship no matter what (delays, etc.). I also took their insurance which was about $400.00 for the 4 of us after getting scared by horror stories that if you get really sick and they have to airlift you off the boat, it can be a $30,000.00 charge! Also, if you have to cancel due to sickness or death in the family, you get your money back. I felt it was easier, yet I know not cheaper, to do it this way. Did I make a mistake?

[safety300]

I am wondering also, I just booked a package deal with Disney for a 3 day land and 4 day sea. I have cruised RCI in past and booked package with them 1 time, for same reasons mentioned. After doing this one I decided that I would do my own air, transfers and lodging the night before instead of going through cruise line and did for next cruise. With family including grandchildren going this time I opeted for the easier route, hope it is worth it.

[skybuffalo]

I am doing the same as Carson. We will be flying our son and his family from Alaska for a seven day cruise. Normally I do my own booking of flights but this time I will use the package deal. I have used one package deal in the past (Princess) and did my own (RCCL). As we get closer to the date I will keep an eye on the air prices and make my decision further later.

Ron

[vossjemi]

Its a tradeoff. You may be able to get it all cheaper by booking the components yourself, but then you are responsible for it all. With a package, the TA puts it all together for you, thus earning the extra cost of the package. Its basically what you prefer.

[kshabare]

We've booked our own air the last 3 sailings. We book our air but purchase the ground transfers from DCL. At the airport you hand over your luggage with the DCL tags. When you fly into Orlando you get on the DCL bus to the Port and your luggage is delivered to your stateroom. Works out alot better for us and we do save significantly more $$. We also like to purchase the air early and pick our own seats.

It might be a bad mistake but we've opted out of the insurance each time. I understand there are certain conditions of the insurance and we're ready for the risks. DCL is pretty reputable. AAA also offers insurance for less than DCL.

Kim

[Host Mick]

There's advantages and disadvantages to booking transfers through DCL.
Disadvantages:
It's more expensive than booking air and ground transfer on your own.
It's less flexible. they pretty much tell you the airline and departure time. You can ask them for a specific airline, but if it's not a prefered airline, they won't do it or they'll charge you more.

Advantages:
It's easy. One call and you're set. A lot of people are willing to pay a litle more for the convenience.
The baggage transfer is like magic. You put the special baggage tags on your bags and check them at your home airport. Pixies them magically transport them to your stateroom where you'll find them just after embarcation. The pixies know which flight you're on so they pick up your bags at MCO and take them to the ship. No schlepping bags around airports and onto busses. On your way home, you pick your bags up at customs, go through customs with them then the DCL employees load them into a truck where the next time that you see them is on the luggage conveyor at your home airport.
If you book transfers through DCL and your flight is delayed so that you miss the ship, DCL will get you to the ship.
The DCL coaches are many and frequent. There's no waiting around to get to the port or back to the airport.

I've done both and both worked well.

BTW, you can get travel insurance through a third party for a lot less with similar coverage. Do compare policies though, some leave out coverage for certain items like air evac and repatriation and missing the ship.