Transferring Cruise to Costco or Sams

[okeydokey]

I have heard that if you book a cruise with a cruise line you can transfer the booking to Costco and same some money. We are looking at an Alaska Cruise Summer 20174 with either Celebrity or NCL. Has anyone transferred once they booked with the line directly?

 

[ICF]

Is there a reason you just wouldn't book directly with Costco or Sam's club initially?

 

[havaneselover]

I did this with Disney because it was an onboard booking (10% off and $200 credit). Costco will give me a cash card after the trip worth 7% of the fare. No idea how it works for the other lines but if I hadn't done an onboard booking I would have started with Costco.

 

[okeydokey]

The prices currently look the same on both sites. I had heard that Costco will offer an additional incentive or category upgrade for a transferred booking.

 

[cruisers5]

We did this on our Celebrity Cruises, booked onboard and got what offers Celebrity was giving at the time, then transferred the booking (within 60 day time limit) to a travel agent and got perks that the travel agent was offering (extra on board credit).

 

[mickeyfino]

I have done this as well for several Royal Caribbean cruises. I book directly with RC, then transfer the booking to Costco within 60 days. The price is the same, but Costco offers OBC. It works out pretty well.

The reason I book directly with RC is I like to make the initial arrangements myself (choosing a cabin, dining times, etc), and once everything is "stable", I transfer the booking to Costco. Then I would call Costco only to apply payments to the cruise. I'm too much of a control freak and prefer to make my own travel arrangements, but the OBC from Costco is nice too.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have done this as well for several Royal Caribbean cruises. I book directly with RC, then transfer the booking to Costco within 60 days. The price is the same, but Costco offers OBC. It works out pretty well.

The reason I book directly with RC is I like to make the initial arrangements myself (choosing a cabin, dining times, etc), and once everything is "stable", I transfer the booking to Costco. Then I would call Costco only to apply payments to the cruise. I'm too much of a control freak and prefer to make my own travel arrangements, but the OBC from Costco is nice too.

I think you can chose your cabin and dining times when you book with a TA like Costco. We did switch out booking from NCL to Costco for OBC and a bottle of wine.

 

[cargo13]

For onboard bookings, the cruise line is supposed to honor the TA that booked your current cruise. Meaning that TA would get credit for your new booking. I think this rarely happens because most of the cruiselines have forms for 'booking transfer'. You can transfer onboard booking to a TA or among TAs --whichever has the best offers for OBC, amenities, etc. We never buy the travel insurance from the cruise line or a TA--go direct because to the insurance provider because if you have a claim the TA nor Costco nor the cruise line are going to help.

 

[mickeyfino]

I think you can chose your cabin and dining times when you book with a TA like Costco. We did switch out booking from NCL to Costco for OBC and a bottle of wine.

Yep, that is 100% true. What I meant is, I like to start the booking myself on the RC website instead of having the TA do it for me, especially since I usually do my vacation planning late at night.

 

[MarlaSingersLaundry]

Is there a reason you just wouldn't book directly with Costco or Sam's club initially?

You can transfer an OBB. For example, Disney offers 10% off, $200 OBC, and reduced down payment for OBB. If Costco wasn't your original booking agent, you can transfer and receive the additional cash card.

The prices currently look the same on both sites. I had heard that Costco will offer an additional incentive or category upgrade for a transferred booking.

I transferred a DCL reservation to Costco and did not receive anything additional other than the cash card.

For onboard bookings, the cruise line is supposed to honor the TA that booked your current cruise. Meaning that TA would get credit for your new booking. I think this rarely happens because most of the cruiselines have forms for 'booking transfer'. You can transfer onboard booking to a TA or among TAs --whichever has the best offers for OBC, amenities, etc. We never buy the travel insurance from the cruise line or a TA--go direct because to the insurance provider because if you have a claim the TA nor Costco nor the cruise line are going to help.

You can also ask the cruise line to not associate your current TA to your OBB if you want to go elsewhere. With DCL, you have the option of adding a new TA then, or transfer the booking within 30 days.

 

[Green Tea]

I just switched an Alaskan cruise from the line to Costco and will receive a nearly $800 OBC for doing so.

 

[lanejudy]

You can also ask the cruise line to not associate your current TA to your OBB if you want to go elsewhere. With DCL, you have the option of adding a new TA then, or transfer the booking within 30 days.

DCL no longer allows you to name a different TA when doing an OBB; you are allowed to name the TA who handled the cruise you are on or no TA (and transfer after). Also, DCL changed their commission structure and now most TAs only offer reduced OBC for transferred DCL bookings. However, Costco appears to offer the same cash card when booked through them or transferred.


OP -- I'm not sure that you can get anything more or different by transferring a regular reservation to a TA that you wouldn't get by going through them initially. I suppose maybe if somehow in the course of time between your initial booking and the transfer taking effect, if the TA had a new offer available. But whatever "perks" are offered by the TA are not likely to be more for a transferred reservation versus booked direct, and may be less (as is the case with DCL).

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[MarlaSingersLaundry]

Thanks for the correction!