Switching our 14 day cruise to Costco Question

[dreaminofdisney]

I have reading everyones comment's on these boards and i am a little taken back at first about switching. I also would like to save a little money on our 14 day cruise but had first started working with AAA. The agent did not get the room I wanted (all gone, not her fault) but I was quicker and I did. My rate is already very, very good. I was one of the first calers in. I was going to transfer to her for all the little AAA benifits they throw in. But now I was wondering if Costo is such a great savings maybe I could ask her to match. I don't think anyone has found out what their price would be before they transfers(correct?), but now I read you can transfer back? They said that? I guess I'm being a little paronoid and dont want to step on anyone's toes. I was just wondering everyone though and how I should handle it.
Thanks in advance!

 

[cats mom]

First, this info is just what I have read here - not personal experience, so take it as such.

My understanding is that you can easily switch your DCL reservation to costco - they say if you are not happy they will switch it back to DCL for you. Have not heard of anyone actually doing that - so don't know how smoothly it would work. I don't think you get a specific agent with costco (less toes to step on) but maybe someone else could verify?

One person posted that they got AAA to match costco price. I doubt that would happen often since AAA does offer a few extras that costco does not.

 

[Tandyc]

I talked to my AAA TA today and she said that there are on benifits for AAA members on the repo cruises or the West Coast cruises. I asked about the pop mugs and she was not sure, but doubted they would be available.

Can someone tell me first hand what the are getting from AAA, that you can't get directly from DCL?

Thanks!

Tandy

 

[disneycrazzzy]

We booked early like you did (currently $2200) less than the disney website shows for the August 2005 reposition cruise from CA to FL. I just finished switching to Costco and I saved $654 an my Category 6 room for 2 adults and 2 kids. That savings plus the savings by booking right away is $2754. My husband thinks I should not look at how much I am saving, but how much I am paying; but I look on the bright side of things when it comes to Disney. Good Luck!

 

[momto2dkids]

When I talked with Costco on Wednesday after I had booked with DCL(I was able to call and booked right after they opened them, so the price was already way better than it was a few hours/days later) to check on whether Costco could beat the price, I was told that Costco can't give the exact price until the reservation is switched, but was also told that Costco gives a % off the base price (before port charges, taxes, etc.) of the cruise and was given a much lower estimate.

Later, when I actually had the reservation for our 14 day FL to CA cruise switched from DCL to Costco the actual price was even lower than the estimate I was given on Wednesday for a savings of over $1300 for a Cat.4 family of 5(2 adult,3 children). Not only did they transfer the reservation easily between them, Costco was able to transfer the deposit I had put down for a 7 day cruise that we had had booked for two weeks earlier with no problem. Mike was professional and extremely helpful in all aspects. I recommend Costco travel to all. Yes, sometimes you have to wait to hold, but to me the savings make it more than worth it.

The total savings between being able to book very early Wednesday versus today and the Costco savings has totaled over $3000.

 

[dreaminofdisney]

OK here's what I did...
I called Costco Travel (wait time less than 10 min) talked with a great guy (Eathan) and he worked his magic with the rate and did a guestimate of savings for us to be about $376 dollars. He never even called Disney to figure it out. He said "to call DCL and tell them you are wanting to switch your reservation over to Costco Travel". I called DCL and told them what I wanted to do. The agent then made a note on my reservation. I then had to call Costco Travel back. (got LaJoy this time) She put me on hold while she called DCL. By the way DCL is a longer wait time than Costco Travel! She than told me my total price is now $4050.78. Eathan was right on at his guess! We are doing the CA to FL, 1 Adult 1 child(age 4 at sailing) in a reclassified Cat 7. I am so glad I called right away on Wednesday. We couldn't even get on the ship at the lowest level cabin at that price today. (If there was any available)

In the end my AAA agent (first time to ever use an agent) was dissapointed but understood. I did however make a deposit on my 3 day cruise she booked for me during the same call so all was not completely lost for her.

Thanks everyone for posting all there great info!
Can't wait to maybe meet some of you!