Experience with Costco

[dopey617]

Hello. Yesterday my friend and I booked the Dec. 28th Treasure cruise through her Costco account. While I have travelled DCL, I have always handled my bookings. She will be driving and I hope to get DCL transportation to/from MCO. Will Costco work with me or will my friend need to call on my behalf to make the arrangements? Thank you

 

[cvjw]

I book thru Costco for all our cruises. I would have her call Costco travel and ask them, just in case. Since she is the Costco member.

 

[fly girl]

Before I joined Costco, my sister booked a few cruises for us. I was able to call and handle my reservation without being a Costco member. And it was very easy to go in with my Shop Card that you receive by using their travel services - never had issues using it without being a member.

This was a while back, but knowing Costco and their customer service I would be surprised if it has changed.

 

[dopey617]

I book thru Costco for all our cruises. I would have her call Costco travel and ask them, just in case. Since she is the Costco member.

Thank you!

 

[ppony]

Can I ask what you find beneficial to booking through Costco as opposed to directly through DCL?

 

[thegreatdonaldo]

Can I ask what you find beneficial to booking through Costco as opposed to directly through DCL?

You get a shop card (aka Costco gift card) after sailing. The amount depends on the price of the cruise, but it's typically $150++

 

[cvjw]

Can I ask what you find beneficial to booking through Costco as opposed to directly through DCL?

Costco travel gives you a Costco card for 8% of the cruise fare. If you are an executive member, you get another 2% back. If you pay with the Costco citi visa, it is another 3% back. Adds up quickly. Sailed last week and booked thru Costco travel. Cruise fare was $5000. Received around $650 back from Costco.

 

[ppony]

OMG! Thanks so much! We’ll upgrade to executive level before we book next year. Our cruise will be 8k, so I’m not missing that!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We did an ABD trip a year or so ago through Costco, and got a gift card that will keep us in paper towels and toilet paper from Costco for a very long time!

 

[ppony]

I’m assuming when booking through Costco you have to PIF right away?

 

[dcassetta]

I’m assuming when booking through Costco you have to PIF right away?

Only if you are booking a nonrefundable fare such as GT.

Otherwise, you pay just like booking direct.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Agree. Once we booked our ABD through Costco, we worked only with ABD and paid based on their schedule. Costco was basically involved in the very beginning, and then again at the end when we received the digital gift card. We really found no down side to going through them. They are very familiar with these Disney trips (ABD, DCL, etc), and handle them well with very little interference.

 

[ppony]

THANK YOU! I have to book a handicap accessible room, so I’ll pretty much be choosing my room in advance. This is exciting. My thanks to the OP for posting and all the responses.

 

[meliscan]

Costco travel gives you a Costco card for 8% of the cruise fare. If you are an executive member, you get another 2% back. If you pay with the Costco citi visa, it is another 3% back. Adds up quickly. Sailed last week and booked thru Costco travel. Cruise fare was $5000. Received around $650 back from Costco.

This is exactly why I moved to booking with Costco. I loved my travel agent and the onboard credit but the Costco Cash card and the combined 5% cash back help make a dent in the big price tag.

 

[catsrgr8]

THANK YOU! I have to book a handicap accessible room, so I’ll pretty much be choosing my room in advance. This is exciting. My thanks to the OP for posting and all the responses.

FYI there are times not all rooms will show up on Costco’s website (in case this happens with a handicap accessible room), but you can call Costco travel and tell them which room you want, based on availability on DCL website, and they can call Disney to get it for you.

 

[ppony]

ooo. Thanks for that tip. That way I won’t be freaked out if it doesn’t show.

 

[Pixarfans]

Keep in mind booking through Costco means you have to call them and then they call Disney for you. Example if you add on DCL transfers. Sometimes the waits are long and it’s some back and forth. You also have to pay in full about 2 weeks before DCL says. Lastly most of the “cash” back is on a Costco shop card and if you don’t actually buy that much at Costco it might not be worth it. I personally love Costco and we always book through them.

 

[happycamper47]

THANK YOU! I have to book a handicap accessible room, so I’ll pretty much be choosing my room in advance. This is exciting. My thanks to the OP for posting and all the responses.

Just remember it you access the cabin on the website it locks it out even though you don't complete the reservation. The system puts a temporary hold on it for a few hours, so if your TA looks for it right away it won't be there.

 

[CarolynFH]

Just remember it you access the cabin on the website it locks it out even though you don't complete the reservation. The system puts a temporary hold on it for a few hours, so if your TA looks for it right away it won't be there.

This applies to any cabin, not just HA, right? How far do you have to go - if you click a specific cabin to get a price, does that lock it even if you don’t go farther? Interested in this information for the next time we’re looking seriously!

 

[happycamper47]

This applies to any cabin, not just HA, right? How far do you have to go - if you click a specific cabin to get a price, does that lock it even if you don’t go farther? Interested in this information for the next time we’re looking seriously!

Can't answer for regular cabins since we never look at those. When we search ADA and the system picks the cabin(since they are limited), that is when we've had the issue.