Booking cruise while on cruise or through Costco?

[catali150]

We are planning our first cruise and already I’m thinking about the second one. We booked this cruise through Costco. Would we get a better deal on cruise #2 if we booked during the first cruise, or if we book again through Costco? Or is it impossible to tell what offers Costco might have at the time and therefore impossible to say now which will be the better deal?

 

[lanejudy]

Costco doesn't discount DCL cruises - nor does any TA as DCL doesn't allow it. They do offer a "Cash Card" that is given after the cruise.
While onboard your cruise, you can book a "placeholder" (no specific date) or a solid date and receive 10% off the fare of one future cruise. The future cruise must embark within 24 months; there are a few black-out dates. Offer is different if booking concierge. You can name Costco as your TA at the same time and still receive what Costco offers.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lilsonicfan]

The price with DCL is exactly the same no matter who you book with. If you book while on board you get a 10% discount off the future cruise. You can at that time choose to keep Costco as your TA and you’ll still get Costco perks (call them afterward to make sure they have the reservation in their system). If you aren’t sure what cruise you want to take make sure to book a placeholder while on board. You will again get to choose to keep Costco as your TA.

 

[cvjw]

It’s the best of both worlds - book onboard for the dcl 10% off discount and transfer the booking to Costco for all of their benefits. We do this every cruise.

 

[RX8]

We just booked a summer 2021 cruise. We have used Costco in the past and had a placeholder. I was concerned because Costco didn't list the summer 2021 cruises at Costco Travel. However, all we needed to do is call Costco and they booked the cruise with DCL. We got the 10% off the regular cruise price (from the placeholder) plus a Costco Shop card.

@lanejudy I just had a conversation with Costco this past week about their cash card they provide. Costco used to provide a Costco "Cash" card. You could use this cash card to purchase a $10 item at Costco and cash out the rest of the card. They don't do that anymore. Now you get a "Shop" card which is like a gift card for Costco. You can no longer cash it out.

 

[disneylove69]

I just found out you cant use the discount on IGT rooms.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just found out you cant use the discount on IGT rooms.

Correct. Onboard booking perks are not applicable to last minute restricted fares.

 

[tarheelz]

PrincessShmoo, Costco, and others on another thread have put me at ease.

Here is how we structured things:

• Book Placeholder.
• Either Name Costco when you Book or Transfer to Costco within 30 Days of Your Return. (The 30 day requirement is strict.)
• Book a Non-Black-Out Cruise Starting within 24 Months of Your Placeholder Booking via Costco. (Must book a room. Won't work with a *GT rate.)
• Book & Pay-in-Full with your Costco Credit Card.

Result:

• Receive 10% Discount Off Fare.
• Receive Costco Shop Card (varies but around 8.5% off base fare)
• Receive 2% Annual Reward Credit as Costco Member.
• Receive 3% Annual Reward Credit as Costco Credit Card User.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Won't work with a GTY rate.)

A bit of clarification:

There are 2 different types of guaranty reservations.

GTY - offered when a certain percentage of rooms within a specific category have been booked. You book a GTY room with a specific category identified (GTY 9A, for example). The price for a "regular" GTY booking is the same as if you book a specific room in a category. DCL assigns you a room at a later date.

*GT - last minute restricted fares. Usually offered if a cruise hasn't been selling as well as DCL likes. You can only book a TYPE of room Interior - IGT; Oceanview - OGT; or Verandah - VGT. Cost is lower than the prevailing price of the type of room, but you can't select a specific category. DCL assigns you a room at a later date.

Onboard booking placeholder/reservation CAN be applied to a GTY booking.

Onboard booking placeholder/reservation CANNOT be applied to a *GT booking.