Cruising showing as more expensive with Costco

[KLK622]

Hi-

I am currently looking on booking an Alaskan cruise for 2014 and the price on the Costco website is showing at about $700 more than when I look at the Disney website. I thought the prices of Disney cruises were set and should be the same when booked through Disney/TA/Costco, is that correct?

We have used a TA for our past two Disney Cruises, but now we are getting a Costco in our city so I am considering booking through Costco, but I will obviously stick with our TA if Costco is charging more for the cruise.

Has anybody had this happen? Should I call Costco directly? I have looked the past three days and triple checked my passenger numbers/ages and I always get the same price so I know this isn't a one time fluke.

Thanks!

 

[SuperDry]

Sorry to ask what may be an obvious question: are you sure you're comparing the exact same cabin type (i.e. 5a) as opposed to just "cheapest verandah?" There may be a situation where there's only one cabin of a particular category left, and it fluctuates between being available and not available as people browse and go partially through the booking process on various websites. Also, be sure that the same options as to port transfers and insurance are select for both quotes.

You are right in your expectations: assuming that all parameters of the quote are the same, the price should be the same regardless of provider. If the price isn't the same, then there's probably some difference that you're not noticing, or perhaps a web glitch, but it's not just that one provider is $700 more. Some may charge a booking fee that puts a price $25 more than DCL, but not much more than that.

 

[KLK622]

Sorry to ask what may be an obvious question: are you sure you're comparing the exact same cabin type (i.e. 5a) as opposed to just "cheapest verandah?" There may be a situation where there's only one cabin of a particular category left, and it fluctuates between being available and not available as people browse and go partially through the booking process on various websites. Also, be sure that the same options as to port transfers and insurance are select for both quotes.

You are right in your expectations: assuming that all parameters of the quote are the same, the price should be the same regardless of provider. If the price isn't the same, then there's probably some difference that you're not noticing, or perhaps a web glitch, but it's not just that one provider is $700 more. Some may charge a booking fee that puts a price $25 more than DCL, but not much more than that.

I am looking at a one bedroom, so it is pretty clear that I am selecting the same room-I have even gone as far as selecting the same cabin number on DCL and Costco to see if that was causing the difference for some reason, but the difference is still there....it just didn't make sense to me, so I thought I would ask here.

 

[DuckMom]

Is Costco adding insurance and you aren't?

 

[beaglefan]

If it shows up on the Disney website as a lower price, Costco can get the same price.

one time this happened to me, where Disney showed a VGT rate but Costco did not. I called Costco on the phone, explained what I saw, the called Disney, and 5 minutes later I had the same low price, but with great Costco customer service and gift card when I return!

I know you may be like me and researching after hours, but Costco Travel has friendly folks on the phone that can guarantee the same low price that is showing on the DCL website.

Good luck!

 

[Melcoug93]

I've found the Costco agents to be very helpful. You should call to see what they have to say. They should be offering the exact same price and offering a Costco Cash card post cruise.

 

[bumbershoot]

With $700 being the difference....are you sure you entered the correct number of people on both sites? Are you sure it's the same dates?

I've messed up both of those on occasion. That's why I think of it.

 

[KLK622]

Thanks so much everybody I just played with it some more and when I clicked through to actually book the cruise the priced dropped to the same price as Disney...and then if I search again it goes back up, so for some reason the initial website quote is high but when I actually go to book it matches Disney.

 

[drb116]

Thanks so much everybody I just played with it some more and when I clicked through to actually book the cruise the priced dropped to the same price as Disney...and then if I search again it goes back up, so for some reason the initial website quote is high but when I actually go to book it matches Disney.

Yes, I have noticed this before. Costco sometimes has something else going on, but when you continue on, it works out to be the same. I have never seen $700 differences, but I have routinely seen differences of $50 to $100, especially when Disney just did a price change.