Best Way to Book A Cruise

[disney junky]

Trying to do some preliminary legwork. What is the best deal for booking a cruise? Costco? Small World Vacation? Others?

 

[Corfam]

Best deal is Costco, if you are a member and don't need full service Travel Agent. They give back 8% in cash cards after cruise is complete. Combine that with discounted Disney gift cards you purchase from Sams club or other sites and OOB credit of 10% discount (on next cruise) to maximize your deal.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Trying to do some preliminary legwork. What is the best deal for booking a cruise? Costco? Small World Vacation? Others?

Define "best". Getting something back (OBC, or perks)? Good service? Help with first time cruiser questions?

Many people prefer using a travel agent (be it Dreams Unlimited or other). Many others prefer booking themselves.

 

[lilsonicfan]

the best DEAL is through Costco as Corfam said. The best WAY to book a cruise is dependent on what you need.... if you want assistance with the planning, Costco isn't the way to go, as their TAs aren't necessarily super knowledgeable about DCL.

 

[cgolf]

We have gone with Dreams for 10 of our 14 cruises and have been pretty happy with the services provided. For most of our cruises we would book them onboard to get the discount and the list Dreams as our agent. The times where they really came in handy was for opening day pricing.

 

[LAX]

Best deal is Costco, if you are a member and don't need full service Travel Agent. They give back 8% in cash cards after cruise is complete. Combine that with discounted Disney gift cards you purchase from Sams club or other sites and OOB credit of 10% discount (on next cruise) to maximize your deal.

Don't forget the additional 2% as Executive member even though the eligible amount isn't entire cost of the cruise (based on some reports here).

LAX

 

[FSU Girl]

I prefer booking my cruises directly through Disney. It gives me complete control. I've never used a TA before, not sure I ever will. There are less perks doing it this way though.

 

[Corfam]

Don't forget the additional 2% as Executive member

Excellent point Lax! I forgot about Costco changing their Executive member policy last year to now provide the 2% back on Costco booked travel. Costco Visa card also gives you 3% back for travel so you could get this total 5% back with using direct credit card charging and NOT having to deal with the complication of buying discounted gift cards.

In summary, with Costco you have the maximum discount options as follows:

1) Previous cruise OOB of 10% off, 4~14% off from previously purchased discounted Disney Gift Cards, and 8% back from Costco after travel.

or​

2) Previous cruise OOB of 10% off, 2% off with Costco Executive member discount, 3% Costco Visa discount, and 8% back from Costco after travel.

This other current thread summarizes it nicely how you would get OBB discount with Costco as TA:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/placeholder-costco-question.3706095/

As others have stated, while Costco can help provide largest discount, that still may not be best option depending on your service need or desire.

 

[fredandkell]

Let me just tell you...I love planning and booking vacations. To me, planning is half the fun. But starting with my last cruise, I used Dreams Unlimited, mainly for the on-board credit. Well...that was the cruise where Hurricane Irma hit and ruined everything. My travel agent turned out to be worth her weight in GOLD by HER being the one who sat on hold, calling Disney and changing things around. For that reason alone, I will always book thru a travel agent in the future for cruises - saved me so much time not having to rearrange everything!!

 

[grantclaire]

We use Dreams Unlimited as well, they have been great! We usually have a placeholder cruise booked on board and then I try to book opening day. The DU agent does all the work! I just email them the cruise I am interested in. I also pay for the cruise with a travel rewards credit card and apply the points to the cost. BTW we also try to stop at the Disboards welcome center near the port if we have time, they can help with local directions, attractions etc.

 

[bumbershoot]

I prefer booking my cruises directly through Disney. It gives me complete control. I've never used a TA before, not sure I ever will. There are less perks doing it this way though.

Valid.

Though the only things you can’t do are things that change the value of the fare, really. (And the date) I’ve gotten a name misspelling corrected, and I ordered the distilled water for then-husband’s cpap, no problems. And of course you book all port adventures and dining on your own.

The only time I’ve ever felt stifled was when I looked at fares late at night when my TA was asleep and had to wait for her to snag that concierge room that was available for only $300 total over what we were paying. Nerve-wracking. And easily controlled in the future by NOT looking when the TA is closed.

My travel agent turned out to be worth her weight in GOLD by HER being the one who sat on hold, calling Disney and changing things around.

I would be far too aware that she might have 50 other bookings on that cruise and my priority wouldn’t be first. I would rather do it. But once you’ve booked with the TA you can’t change that stuff on your own.

 

[fredandkell]

Valid.

Though the only things you can’t do are things that change the value of the fare, really. (And the date) I’ve gotten a name misspelling corrected, and I ordered the distilled water for then-husband’s cpap, no problems. And of course you book all port adventures and dining on your own.

The only time I’ve ever felt stifled was when I looked at fares late at night when my TA was asleep and had to wait for her to snag that concierge room that was available for only $300 total over what we were paying. Nerve-wracking. And easily controlled in the future by NOT looking when the TA is closed.



I would be far too aware that she might have 50 other bookings on that cruise and my priority wouldn’t be first. I would rather do it. But once you’ve booked with the TA you can’t change that stuff on your own.

Good point - but, at the same time, the TA can call on behalf of all her people at the same time and just run down a list, thus saving 50 people from having to do it individually. I hear you about waiting on them to book/snag your room when you have a certain one in mind, but thus far it hasn't been an issue.