Opening day, book through DCL or Costco?

[*pixie*]

I do not currently have a placeholder and would like to book tomorrow when Gold booking opens up. Should I book through DCL or Costco? If I'm understanding correctly, I think I can book through DCL and then transfer to Costco within 30 days? If I book through DCL, can I book online or do I still need to call since it's opening day?

 

[CampbellzSoup]

...so if you’re going to transfer it to Costco anyway why wouldn’t you just directly book with them? PLUS I think your cash back card is less if you transfer it

 

[lilsonicfan]

Book with DCL because you can do so online rather than going to Costco and calling (since Costco won’t have the online bookings up yet as this is for advance booking). Then yes transfer as you wish within 30 days (but don’t wait too long).

 

[lilsonicfan]

And the cash card is exactly the same whether you transfer or book directly with Costco. Still about 8% of cruise fare without taxes and port fees.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Can't you book on gold day (if you're gold) by calling Costco?

 

[randumb0]

Can't you book on gold day (if you're gold) by calling Costco?

Yes but you can't do it online

 

[o&smom]

Yes but you can't do it online

You can book online as long as it is not with a placeholder.

 

[randumb0]

You can book online as long as it is not with a placeholder.

The OP stated that they do not have a placeholder

 

[leannak]

How do you go about adding Costco as the travel agent? Do you contact Costco first or Disney, and how?

 

[99Wendy]

How do you go about adding Costco as the travel agent? Do you contact Costco first or Disney, and how?

Last year I booked opening day (silver). Made reservations via disney website then I just called Costco, gave them the info. They emailed me a form I signed and sent back. Easy peasy. There is a time frame, so make sure you call within a few days. I made the call that day

 

[*pixie*]

Thanks everyone!! I booked online through DCL and I will call Costco on Monday when hopefully the phone lines are quieter and transfer it to them. Hoping prices stay the same so I can rebook it onboard the Fantasy in June to get that extra 10%!

 

[lilsonicfan]

Can't you book on gold day (if you're gold) by calling Costco?

Yes but you can't do it online

Anyone wanting to book with Costco during the advance booking days for plat/gold/silver must call Costco rather than book online at costcotravel's website. I am not sure if they even have the itineraries uploaded by the time booking opens at DCL for everyone. The disadvantage for anyone who is calling Costco to book is that Costco then has to call DCL and wait on hold. If the OP did not have a placeholder, there is no reason to wait on hold with Costco/DCL - OP could just book online, and transfer to Costco later. It's the same as calling Costco to book, but far less time is needed.

How do you go about adding Costco as the travel agent? Do you contact Costco first or Disney, and how?

To add Costco after booking, there is a form to fill out. Google DCL transfer cruise booking to travel agent. I have reused the same form over and over again as Costco does not assign your booking to a specific agent. You send the form to DCL, and they transfer the booking, then you have to call Costco to finalize things.

 

[tahoe9813]

FYI...the last two cruises I had to transfer to Costco did NOT require a transfer form. All you have to do is call them with the reservation info.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Just reporting back that I am gold, and this morning booked our summer 2021 cruise on gold opening day by calling Costco. (I had to book this way as we were transferring an OBB cruise to this new one.) There was a longer than usual hold on the phone (no surprise there), but it wasn't insane and everything went perfectly with our booking.

Anyone wanting to book with Costco during the advance booking days for plat/gold/silver must call Costco rather than book online at costcotravel's website. I am not sure if they even have the itineraries uploaded by the time booking opens at DCL for everyone.

I didn't even know you could book any DCL cruises via Costco's website. I thought you had to call Costco to do that, or to book online via DCL and Then transfer to Costco.

 

[drcarr00]

Newbie here -- what is the advantage to having Costco involved? a discount?

 

[briternik]

I booked my cruise for November using Costco last year. At the time, i had a membership. Since then, I have not renewed my membership because they don't have a store in my area. Will I still get my gift card, or will I have to renew in order to get it? TIA

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I booked my cruise for November using Costco last year. At the time, i had a membership. Since then, I have not renewed my membership because they don't have a store in my area. Will I still get my gift card, or will I have to renew in order to get it? TIA

I think that's a question to ask Costco.

 

[Gentry2004]

Newbie here -- what is the advantage to having Costco involved? a discount?

Yes, a Costco Cash card after your cruise. For our upcoming cruise it’s a $425 Costco card for a $5600 cruise.

 

[Daisy7425]

@drcarr00 Another newbie here, but since nobody else answered, I'll try. We just booked our first Disney cruise through costco and they offer a "shop card," (costco gift card) which they mail 4 weeks after sailing. Our cruise total was about 14K and the shop card will be for $1,000.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I booked my cruise for November using Costco last year. At the time, i had a membership. Since then, I have not renewed my membership because they don't have a store in my area. Will I still get my gift card, or will I have to renew in order to get it? TIA

You have to be a member at the time you book the cruise, and sail the cruise and be a member when they actually mail out the shop cards. Read the terms to be sure but someone else had this problem before - he actually had to have membership for a third year in order to get the extra 2% executive reward.

Newbie here -- what is the advantage to having Costco involved? a discount?

Costco gifts back some of their TA commission in the form of Costco shop cards. It is about 8% of the cruise fare not including taxes and port fees. Plus you can earn more using Costco visa if you’re in the US and 2% back if you’re an executive member.