Book through a travel agent or no?

[MouseOfCards]

I used to book on my own, then saw the deal I could get transferring a booking to Costco, so now I use them.

You need a Costco account ($60 to join if you're not yet a member). Whether you book originally via Costco or transfer a booking to Costco within 30 days of the original booking, Costco gives you 8.5% of the base cruise cost back in the form of a Costco cash card. This is in addition to any OBC discount you might already have. You get an additional 2% on top of all that if you're an Executive Member, and an additional 3% if you pay for the cruise with the Costco Visa credit card.

I don't shop at Costco much, but I'm using the cash card for gasoline purchases, since Costco has a gas station. The cash back from our Alaska cruise will provide me with almost a year's worth of free gas.

Some people say you can get all or most of the cash card cashed out, but I haven't tried that.

You do online check-in and DCL activities/excursion booking independently on the DCL website if you book via Costco.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown of Costco benefits for the cruise!

 

[MouseOfCards]

I used to book on my own, then saw the deal I could get transferring a booking to Costco, so now I use them.

You need a Costco account ($60 to join if you're not yet a member). Whether you book originally via Costco or transfer a booking to Costco within 30 days of the original booking, Costco gives you 8.5% of the base cruise cost back in the form of a Costco cash card. This is in addition to any OBC discount you might already have. You get an additional 2% on top of all that if you're an Executive Member, and an additional 3% if you pay for the cruise with the Costco Visa credit card.

If you have the Costco Citi credit card and use it, you also 3% back on your credit card.

Besides the 3% back, is there any other advantage (or protection) for using the Costco Visa credit card?

 

[MouseOfCards]

Please check my Costco math:
Assume $10,000 price of cruise (7 day fantasy in July 2019, family ocean view for 5)
8.5% back=$850
2% executive cash back = $200
Pay with BJs gift cards at 4% off = $400

We are not Costco members, nearest one is 20 min away (no gas station there)
Executive membership for 2 years=$240

Net savings=$1210
(Plus whatever savings I get from shopping at Costco)

Further, I can book online at Disney cruise on opening day using the gift cards (to get my top choice for cabin asap), and then transfer to Costco within 30 days to get what I detailed above.

Is this all correct? Thanks.

That's quite a savings! Out of curiosity, for a family of 5, have you priced other room combinations besides just a single family ocean view cabin? For some cruises, we found we could get 2 verandah rooms instead of 1 family verandah for around the same price. That's twice the space for not a lot of pricing difference! We looked at different options including white wall and navigator's verandah.

 

[Shanti]

Besides the 3% back, is there any other advantage (or protection) for using the Costco Visa credit card?

I don't use their credit card, so I'm not that familiar with it. The booking agent did tell me that it offered travel insurance, but I suspect that would be pretty basic coverage.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

T

That's quite a savings! Out of curiosity, for a family of 5, have you priced other room combinations besides just a single family ocean view cabin? For some cruises, we found we could get 2 verandah rooms instead of 1 family verandah for around the same price. That's twice the space for not a lot of pricing difference! We looked at different options including white wall and navigator's verandah.

July 28, 2018 Fantasy
Family oceanview for 5: $10,694
Family veranda for 5: $11,407
Two standard insides: $12,046
Two guaranteed oceanview:$12,494
Two verandah: $13,250

 

[wanderlust7]

Pay with BJs gift cards at 4% off = $400

If you have a Discover Card, they have wholesale clubs as a rotating category. It's 5% cashback up to $1500.

I don't use their credit card, so I'm not that familiar with it. The booking agent did tell me that it offered travel insurance, but I suspect that would be pretty basic coverage.

The Costco Citibank travel insurance covers trip cancellation and interruption. No medical, evacuation, missed connection, etc.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Please check my Costco math:
Assume $10,000 price of cruise (7 day fantasy in July 2019, family ocean view for 5)
8.5% back=$850
2% executive cash back = $200
Pay with BJs gift cards at 4% off = $400

We are not Costco members, nearest one is 20 min away (no gas station there)
Executive membership for 2 years=$240

Net savings=$1210
(Plus whatever savings I get from shopping at Costco)

Further, I can book online at Disney cruise on opening day using the gift cards (to get my top choice for cabin asap), and then transfer to Costco within 30 days to get what I detailed above.

Is this all correct? Thanks.

Mostly. Your Costco cashback isn't on certain parts. When you look on their website, they'll tell you how much you get in gift cards before you even book, but it may not be that exact amount. Also, on the exec membership cashback, there is a portion that is "non commissionable" on which you don't get the cashback, as well as the taxes/fees. In fact, when you've booked, on your Costco membership site, it will say the cost is lower and fees higher than it would on the DCL site. This is because they break out the part they aren't paying the 2% on. It's still much better than getting nothing, though.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Mostly. Your Costco cashback isn't on certain parts. When you look on their website, they'll tell you how much you get in gift cards before you even book, but it may not be that exact amount. Also, on the exec membership cashback, there is a portion that is "non commissionable" on which you don't get the cashback, as well as the taxes/fees. In fact, when you've booked, on your Costco membership site, it will say the cost is lower and fees higher than it would on the DCL site. This is because they break out the part they aren't paying the 2% on. It's still much better than getting nothing, though.

Thanks.

I don't have the actual price yet, as summer 2019 isn't released yet. I plan on booking on dcl.com so that I can use Disney gift cards and still book online, as opposed to waiting on hold, and then call to transfer at my leisure (within 30 days).

But, the gift card and 2% back would be the same this way, as if I booked it with them initially, correct?

 

[FigmentSpark]

Assuming nothing changes between now and your cruise. You have to take the cruise to get the cashback cards and exec membership bonus.

 

[MelSpees]

Besides the 3% back, is there any other advantage (or protection) for using the Costco Visa credit card?

We use the Costco card as our main credit card. It gives you a percentage back on everything. Gas is 4% back, restaurants and travel is 3%, anything at Costco is 2% and everything else is 1% back. It really is a great deal for us. We use it for everything and pay it off each month.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm happy about booking via Costco because not only do they give the biggest amount of money back, regardless of whether you originally book through them or transfer within 30 days, they also always have someone available to handle inquiries during call center hours. I don't have to wait for one specific individual to get back to me.

Yep.

The one time we wanted to change anything on a cruise I was using a tiny TA and had to wait until the next day to hear back. So now I don’t think about changing things until the TA is open.

I can request distilled water, and make Dining and excursion plans, all through the cruise line without needing the TA. It’s just changing rooms and things like that where I have to go through the TA.

The perks through costcotravel are just too good.