Questions about booking with Costco

[CyndiLouWho]

We have never cruised before, so we have no status. Looking towards an Alaskan cruise in 2019. I understand booking opens for previous cruisers first, then public (first timers). If I book through Costco, can I book online when public booking opens? Do I need to call? Will it be hard to get through on the phone?

 

[NS8VN]

Costco booking opens the same day public booking opens. You can book online as soon as your cruise shows up, or you can call if you prefer.

 

[Ray4Fun]

Costco is as easy as it can be. Remember they will not have detailed info on a particular cabin, so be ready. With that in mind, do it,

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Costco is as easy as it can be. Remember they will not have detailed info on a particular cabin, so be ready. With that in mind, do it,

I can look on Disney's website for info though, right? Then go to Costcos website, or call? I am such a newbie, I'd have no ideas what questions to ask. Even after looking at the various rooms and decks online and reading the trip reports here, I have no idea which deck to choose. I only know I want an oceanview room.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Not sure which ship you want but here's a couple of sites that might help you:

http://cruiseadvice.org/CruiseShips/BestCabins.aspx?ShipName=disney+fantasy

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Disney-Fantasy

Yes, you can do research on the DCL site, then go to the Costco site to make your booking. Or call them. One thing to know is that the Costco site doesn't always show all the same availability of rooms that the DCL site does, but if you want a particular room that the DCL site shows, call Costco to make that booking. They will call DCL and get it for you.

Also, sometimes the Costco site looks like the prices are higher, but once you put in your membership number and start the booking process, the prices become the same as DCL. It's a system glitch, I guess.

Another thing you can do is book the room yourself through the DCL website or by calling. Then phone Costco Travel within 30 days and have the reservation transferred to them. They'll send you some paperwork to fill out and they get it done in about 3 days. That way, if you prefer to talk to the DCL agent yourself, you can.

Then again, they might not have all the answers, either. We were assured that 9112 on the Fantasy would sleep 5 and it only slept 4. The DIS website had it right, but 3 times I was assured by DCL that it would sleep 5. We didn't need to sleep 5, but we had wanted the Murphy bed.

That leads me to another link:

Once you have narrowed down the deck and some of the rooms that interest you, check out the following thread for some detail:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...pdated-list-of-rooms-needed-1st-post.3194826/

 

[bumbershoot]

I can look on Disney's website for info though, right? Then go to Costcos website, or call? I am such a newbie, I'd have no ideas what questions to ask. Even after looking at the various rooms and decks online and reading the trip reports here, I have no idea which deck to choose. I only know I want an oceanview room.

You can ask here, too.

Ocean view means no verandah. What else do you want in a room?

Or since it's your first time, just go with any oceanview room and don't worry about it.

Just because some of us obsess doesn't mean you have to.

 

[rpcvpanama]

We booked our first DCL through Costco. It was super easy. Same price as what the DCL website listed but we are getting a costco gift card too. We use Costco for most of our travel, including most other cruise lines. We have never had an issue. I believe we had to call to actually make the reservation but we we needed 2 rooms and wanted to make sure we got rooms that were next to each other.

 

[TheBigErn]

Costco Travel is great. We use them frequently including 2 Disney cruises. Their service is outstanding.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

You can ask here, too.

Ocean view means no verandah. What else do you want in a room?

Or since it's your first time, just go with any oceanview room and don't worry about it.

Just because some of us obsess doesn't mean you have to.

Yeah, veranda is out of our price range. Looking at Alaskan cruise, so I do want the view. I probably won't worry further since I have no idea what is different about each deck, room, or area of the ship, fore/aft, etc.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Not sure which ship you want but here's a couple of sites that might help you:

http://cruiseadvice.org/CruiseShips/BestCabins.aspx?ShipName=disney+fantasy

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Disney-Fantasy

Yes, you can do research on the DCL site, then go to the Costco site to make your booking. Or call them. One thing to know is that the Costco site doesn't always show all the same availability of rooms that the DCL site does, but if you want a particular room that the DCL site shows, call Costco to make that booking. They will call DCL and get it for you.

Also, sometimes the Costco site looks like the prices are higher, but once you put in your membership number and start the booking process, the prices become the same as DCL. It's a system glitch, I guess.

Another thing you can do is book the room yourself through the DCL website or by calling. Then phone Costco Travel within 30 days and have the reservation transferred to them. They'll send you some paperwork to fill out and they get it done in about 3 days. That way, if you prefer to talk to the DCL agent yourself, you can.

Then again, they might not have all the answers, either. We were assured that 9112 on the Fantasy would sleep 5 and it only slept 4. The DIS website had it right, but 3 times I was assured by DCL that it would sleep 5. We didn't need to sleep 5, but we had wanted the Murphy bed.

That leads me to another link:

Once you have narrowed down the deck and some of the rooms that interest you, check out the following thread for some detail:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...pdated-list-of-rooms-needed-1st-post.3194826/

Looking at the Wonder, to Alaska. Thanks for all the links, I will check them out. The thing is, without ever having been on a cruise ship before, I have no idea why one deck would even be preferred over another. As for the room, as long as it has a view, we're good. I would love a verandah, but out of our budget.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Looking at the Wonder, to Alaska. Thanks for all the links, I will check them out. The thing is, without ever having been on a cruise ship before, I have no idea why one deck would even be preferred over another. As for the room, as long as it has a view, we're good. I would love a verandah, but out of our budget.

Links for the Wonder:

Best Cabins:
http://cruiseadvice.org/CruiseShips/BestCabins.aspx?ShipName=Disney+Wonder

Deck plans:
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Disney-Wonder

Note that on each of the room plan overviews there are links to videos of specific rooms, which might interest you.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Links for the Wonder:

Best Cabins:
http://cruiseadvice.org/CruiseShips/BestCabins.aspx?ShipName=Disney+Wonder

Deck plans:
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Disney-Wonder

Note that on each of the room plan overviews there are links to videos of specific rooms, which might interest you.
View attachment 276290

Thanks! What would make me prefer one room or deck over another? Window. Check. Beds. Check... done? Lol
I did look at some deck plans and I probably wouldn't want to be on deck 5 with the kids clubs and stuff. Seems potentially busy/noisy. Otherwise, no idea.

 

[amalone1013]

Thanks! What would make me prefer one room or deck over another. Window. Check. Beds. Check... done? Lol
I did look at some deck plans and I probably wouldn't want to be on deck 5 with the kids clubs and stuff. Seems potentially busy/noisy. Otherwise, no idea.

We were aft on Deck 5 of the Dream, and there was never noise and we didn't really even see people in our hall. The only issue we had with the kids clubs was sometimes it was hard to walk by them because people were forming a mob instead of a line to check in on the first day.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

We were aft on Deck 5 of the Dream, and there was never noise and we didn't really even see people in our hall. The only issue we had with the kids clubs was sometimes it was hard to walk by them because people were forming a mob instead of a line to check in on the first day.

Good to know. I would assume more foot traffic given the stuff on that deck.
ETA. Btw, congrats on the wedding!

 

[wanderlust7]

Very generally - mid ship has the least amount of motion. Aft can have vibration from the engine sometimes, especially on lower decks (have experienced this). Have read that forward can have more up down motion. I look to see what's above and below the cabin I'm considering. Decks with only cabins above and below would have the least potential for noise. Near elevators would have more potential for noise.

After you have narrowed it down, you can then check the specific cabin(s) for specific issues here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/disney-wonder-room-reports.cfm

I also Google the cabin number...but that's getting a little obsessive.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Very generally - mid ship has the least amount of motion. Aft can have vibration from the engine sometimes, especially on lower decks (have experienced this). Have read that forward can have more up down motion. I look to see what's above and below the cabin I'm considering. Decks with only cabins above and below would have the least potential for noise. Near elevators would have more potential for noise.

After you have narrowed it down, you can then check the specific cabin(s) for specific issues here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/disney-wonder-room-reports.cfm

I also Google the cabin number...but that's getting a little obsessive.

So I assume higher decks are more $ but also better view. Midship would be ok, I want to be able to see Alaska scenery. None of us has ever had motion sickness. Never been on a cruise but on sailboats a number of time.

 

[wanderlust7]

So I assume higher decks are more $ but also better view. Midship would be ok, I want to be able to see Alaska scenery. None of us has ever had motion sickness. Never been on a cruise but on sailboats a number of time.

Yes, higher decks are usually more expensive. No personal experience with the ocean views, but have read that lower has better views of the wildlife (closer to the water).

Mid is usually a little bit more too. So since you're not concerned about motion sickness, you might want to consider aft or forward. I think it tends to be quieter than mid. I found the aft vibration sensation weird and took a little getting used to, so we're trying mid next time.

 

[apple9117]

Useful thread, we've never used costco before, but might try now.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Useful thread, we've never used costco before, but might try now.

Feel free to ask any questions you might think of. I'm sure I'll learn something as well

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Mid is usually a little bit more too. So since you're not concerned about motion sickness, you might want to consider aft or forward. I think it tends to be quieter than mid. I found the aft vibration sensation weird and took a little getting used to, so we're trying mid next time.

Glad you pointed that out as I have been just randomly checking prices on DCL website and the mid & forward were the same price. But when I go back and check, some dates it's the same price, some dates mid ship is more. Maybe we'll try forward.