Can you still transfer a reservation to a travel agent?

[MamaKate]

It's been a long time since I booked a Disney Cruise and I was wondering if I book the cruise myself on DCL website, can I transfer my reservation to Costco Travel for the Shop Card rebate?

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, as long as you do the transfer within 30 days of making the initial reservation AND it hasn't been paid in full. That includes a placeholder/OBB must be transferred within 30 days of when you were onboard even if no specific future cruise date was selected.

 

[Dug720]

I'd double check Costco's terms and conditions - at one point it was that transferred reservations either got significantly less on their card or no card. Too many people doing all the work themselves, not utilizing the Costco "agents", etc.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

I'd double check Costco's terms and conditions - at one point it was that transferred reservations either got significantly less on their card or no card. Too many people doing all the work themselves, not utilizing the Costco "agents", etc.

I think that was just people speculating based on the wording on Costco’s website. I’ve transferred 3 cruises to them and I’ve always received the full amount on the shop card. The latest transfer I did was in October and they quoted me the full amount.

 

[happycamper47]

I'd double check Costco's terms and conditions - at one point it was that transferred reservations either got significantly less on their card or no card. Too many people doing all the work themselves, not utilizing the Costco "agents", etc.

That makes no sense since the agent/COSTCO still get the full commission.

 

[MamaKate]

Great! I'll contact Costco to transfer. Fingers crossed I get the full card amount.

 

[MamaKate]

Another question about booking with Costco. Can you make payments with Disney Gift Cards?

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

Another question about booking with Costco. Can you make payments with Disney Gift Cards?

Yes, but unfortunately you’ll have to call Costco and then wait on hold while they call DCL, which used to not be a big deal but now is much more difficult due to insanely long hold times (for both Costco and DCL).

 

[Kwami]

That makes no sense since the agent/COSTCO still get the full commission.

Really? Most travel agents provide less onboard credit for a transfer than for a new booking. I always figured that it was because they received less in commission. Of course, that's when the onboard credits were pretty much the same everywhere and Disney was promoting the idea. It's not like that anymore.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Costco does so much business that it may well be that DCL gives them the full commission even on a transfer, but smaller agents may not get that.

 

[mousefan73]

If you book in foreign currency and want to transfer to a US agent- DCL won’t do it. Fir some reason I booked in EUR where I normally can also and do book in USD. You also cannot do insurance and I believe stateroom gifts

 

[soniam]

Really? Most travel agents provide less onboard credit for a transfer than for a new booking. I always figured that it was because they received less in commission. Of course, that's when the onboard credits were pretty much the same everywhere and Disney was promoting the idea. It's not like that anymore.

This was my impression too. I think one of the Dreams agents mentioned it on a podcast. I thought they said that they receive less money on a transfer, so you should just book with them to start.

 

[Dug720]

This was my impression too. I think one of the Dreams agents mentioned it on a podcast. I thought they said that they receive less money on a transfer, so you should just book with them to start.

Agree. IMHO it's bad form to transfer it after you've done all the work. You do the work, then transfer it and take part of their commission? Not cool.

Granted Costco is a stupid corporation, so...I guess sticking it to them is better than taking money from a small business/independent TA. But...just peruse these boards about the problems people have had with them - opening days are a mess with names and details being taken and people not being gotten back to, having to wait on the phone for Costco and then them keeping you on the phone while they hold for DCL - pretty much never getting the same "agent"...and when all the cancellations happened with the shutdown there were nightmare tales.

Give me my personalized assistance from my independent TA who is working through a small business ANY day.

 

[soniam]

Agree. IMHO it's bad form to transfer it after you've done all the work. You do the work, then transfer it and take part of their commission? Not cool.

Granted Costco is a stupid corporation, so...I guess sticking it to them is better than taking money from a small business/independent TA. But...just peruse these boards about the problems people have had with them - opening days are a mess with names and details being taken and people not being gotten back to, having to wait on the phone for Costco and then them keeping you on the phone while they hold for DCL - pretty much never getting the same "agent"...and when all the cancellations happened with the shutdown there were nightmare tales.

Give me my personalized assistance from my independent TA who is working through a small business ANY day.

I didn't actually realize this until I heard it. It made me feel a little bad that I transferred my DCL 2020 cruise to a TA after I had already booked it. However, when I booked it, I wasn't using a TA. I don't really like using TAs, but she's a friend and I like to support her business. However, she has gotten a ton of my business since but has had to deal with the multiple rebookings of that covid cruise. It's easier for everyone to just do it up front, if you know that's the route you want to go.

 

[lanejudy]

For most TA's, a transferred booking results in a lower commission. That is why many TA's offer reduced OBC for transfers. Costco apparently offers the same cash card value regardless of whether the booking was transferred. I don't know if they have such large volume of bookings that they negotiate a different commission structure with DCL, or if they simply absorb the difference.