Question for the savvy cruisers

[mousefan73]

I always think that Dreams Unlimited should at least be mentioned on these threads. They are the sponsors of this board and offer a good credit. Since they do provide these boards, which I do enjoy, I figure they should at least have a chance to earn your business.

Agree they have a OBC and were wonderful on dealing with our cancelled Hawaiian Cruise. My agent was on top of things.

 

[auntlynne]

Not an OBC, but a savings:

Target - buy Disney Gift Cards with Target Red Card and save 5% at checkout. E-mail ”cards” can be bought in multiple denominations.

Sam’s & Discover Card - $75 packs of gift cards are sold with a 4% discount (larger denomination cards offer less savings). Currently, Big Box stores are the quarterly 5% Discover cash reward category.

I’m thinking you probably don’t need to pay off your cruise at this point, but getting the gift cards to cover gratuities, port adventures, Palo, ... is just a little more money in your pocket.

Bon Voyage.

 

[monkeydawn]

I just rescheduled my cancelled cruise through Costco this morning. They don’t do OBC but they offer a Costco cash card of 8% after your cruise is completed. You don’t have to spend it at Costco. You can take it to any Costco and they were will give you a check.

There was a big discussion on these forums a few months back that they are no longer allowing members to trade out the Costco Gift cards for physical cash like they used to. I tried to find the thread but couldn't so just keep this in mind when booking through this route.

I was the one that had issues cashing out my Costco cash card. I was one of the last cruises to receive a CASH card (verses a SHOP card) and my Costco just has horrible CS on any given day. The issue was more with my local store refusing to follow policy. I had no issues once I went to a non local Costco. I still have CASH cards (that were given to me as gift cards by a friend, not through a promotion). It was my understanding that I should be able to cash those out at any time as well, provided they say CASH on them.

But now be aware that Costco is only offering the 8% SHOP cards which must be spent in store (or at Costco.com). At our stations you cannot use the gift cards for gas. You would still get the 2% back at the end of the year and that is cashable (as well as the 3% if you use your Costco Visa).

 

[wombat_5606]

I was the one that had issues cashing out my Costco cash card. I was one of the last cruises to receive a CASH card (verses a SHOP card) and my Costco just has horrible CS on any given day. The issue was more with my local store refusing to follow policy. I had no issues once I went to a non local Costco. I still have CASH cards (that were given to me as gift cards by a friend, not through a promotion). It was my understanding that I should be able to cash those out at any time as well, provided they say CASH on them.

But now be aware that Costco is only offering the 8% SHOP cards which must be spent in store (or at Costco.com). At our stations you cannot use the gift cards for gas. You would still get the 2% back at the end of the year and that is cashable (as well as the 3% if you use your Costco Visa).

I just want to let everyone know that Costco told me that they had to change their policy since the Cash Cards were being used to launder money by large criminal organizations.

 

[itsdisneytime]

Thank you all so very much for your replies. I headed your very wise advise and after a lot of consideration, I did ultimately book with Dreams Unlimited Travel. Since it is just my daughter and I traveling the OBC was only $100 which is less than what I would have received back from Costco - but I was impatient and the Dreams Unlimited Travel had excellent customer service. Thanks for the tip.

 

[JM23457]

Many on here have stated that they will avoid booking with Costco in the future due to all the issues with Cancelling/Moving/Refunding cruises so just be forewarned that there have been some... hurdles lately for guests booking with Costco.

I use Costco Travel and have had to deal with a cancelled cruise / FCC, including a significant problem that Disney's accounting department caused, and they've always worked well with me. I will continue to use Costco Travel and to benefit from the 8.5% cash card & 2% Executive member bonus. It's a huge savings. The customer service is good. Win win.

 

[JM23457]

Not an OBC, but a savings:

Target - buy Disney Gift Cards with Target Red Card and save 5% at checkout. E-mail ”cards” can be bought in multiple denominations.

Sam’s & Discover Card - $75 packs of gift cards are sold with a 4% discount (larger denomination cards offer less savings). Currently, Big Box stores are the quarterly 5% Discover cash reward category.

I’m thinking you probably don’t need to pay off your cruise at this point, but getting the gift cards to cover gratuities, port adventures, Palo, ... is just a little more money in your pocket.

Bon Voyage.

Gift cards can never be refunded into cash, though. You basically make your trip nonrefundable from day one when paying via gift cards. And dealing with the cards can be a pain.

 

[auntlynne]

Gift cards can never be refunded into cash, though. You basically make your trip nonrefundable from day one when paying via gift cards. And dealing with the cards can be a pain.

Exactly. You are definitely committed to doing something Disney, eventually. Doesn’t have to be the trip you are planning, though - so I don’t view the trip as nonrefundable. I buy the cards when ready to pay in full. Since 2007, someone has done at least one cruise or Disney park each year except for three. I haven’t lost money from this and haven’t had a reservation cancelled and money go back to gift cards.

I have a cruise picked out for September 2020, so if this November’s cruise gets cancelled, I am taking the 125% FCC, not the refund. I decided that before buying gift cards this month to pay in full. We paid off the second cabin with cards, knowing we would take the refund and cover the balance on the more expensive cruise next year. It definitely takes some thought to make those decisions - rather locks you into future vacation planning; but next year is a wished-for itinerary with a good price (for Disney).

This is not a great plan for those who back out after paying, with no expectation of a near-future Disney vacation (or shopping).

And I have the time to enter those strings of numbers into the computer to pay off the balance. Might not work for super-busy people. The savings on yesterday’s purchase of cards and final payment is enough for dinner & tip at Palo’s. Yum.

Good advice you gave for those with tight financial and time limitations.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Not an OBC, but a savings:

Target - buy Disney Gift Cards with Target Red Card and save 5% at checkout. E-mail ”cards” can be bought in multiple denominations.

One thing that I found interesting that people don't seem to know: If you go through the Target website, you can purchase Disney E-Mailed gift cards in denominations of up to $500 instead of the 50 Dollar ones people buy in store. Just make sure to keep track of the numbers in case you need a refund/something happens.