Transferring from Costco -> AllSeas ???

[cruiser]

I currently have a reservation for a 7 night eastern in March with Costco travel. Allseas can beat Costco by almost $600, I spoke with Disney and they indicated that if Costco will release my reservation that I can transfer travel agents. I am considering doing this, but was curious if anyone else has been in this situation.

I plan to see if Costco can match the price first, but I doubt they can. Allseas purchased a large set of cabins when first available and they are still charging the early book rates. If anyone out there has done this in the past I would be very interested in your experiences with either Costco or Allseas.

Thanks

 

[SueEllen]

Most travel agents won't take over a booking from another travel agent out of professional courtesy.

If you are getting a much better deal why don't you book a new cruise and cancel the Costco Cruise?

Sue Ellen

 

[cruiser]

I thought about cancelling and re-booking, but I wanted to avoid having two deposits. I had to cancel a cruise last year and it took Disney about 45 days to refund my money. If I have to though, I will do this, it is just too much of a good deal to pass up..

 

[Otisp]

Just curious....If Allseas "purchases" a block of rooms, are those specific rooms? In other words, if you're after a specific room like a secret porthole or a secret navigators, can they get it for you at their reduced rate, or do you have to "settle" for one in their block?

 

[bigsky]

Otisp-

You have to settle for what they have. From what I remember, I think they picked our room for us. We didn't have much left when we booked since we had originally booked with AAA then changed to All Seasons. That was the only thing I didn't like. But we save money! What we all like to do!

Laura

 

[donnaMD]

I had booked with Disney for room 7120 which is a slightly obstructed full veranda that is charged as a cat 7 even though it was a cat 5 most of last year and was able to get the same stateroom from All Seasons at a substantial discount (at least $600 for the 3 of us). I was told to call All Seasons--make sure it is during their business hours--tell them I would immediately call Disney and cancel my reservation--All Seasons would wait 1/2 hr for the room to be put back in the system and try to get that stateroom. They did it! I got it and will sail on 8/30 7 day Western for about $3100 for the 3 of us in 7120. This does not include insurance, but is quite a deal I think.
All Seasons works very hard to please!
Good luck!

 

[Mjasp]

Interesting, I thought they would just block say 5 cat 5's 5 cat 6's etc. But I guess they block specific cabins.

I have heard also that out of courtesy TA's won't take another TA's bookings.

Joanna

 

[donnaMD]

We are hoping to book the $400 credit on our cruise to be used for a future cruise and then transfer to All Seasons Travel. Hope it works and we will not have to forfeit the credit.
Does anyone know?

 

[cbwgators]

We recently booked with All Seasons Travel (2nd cruise booked with them). I was told we could request a specific deck, but she would have to call Disney and DCL would make the room assignments, and I would find out later that day. I had a specific couple of rooms in mind -- you can find out which are available by going to Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline and going thru the process of selecting a cruise and room, etc. I mentioned a few rooms that I would like, and I got one of them. I don't think that All seasons travel had "blocked" the specific room that I got, because it was available for the public to purchase online at another website.

Incidentally the online pricing thru the other websites was at least $1000 more for the same 7 night cruise. All Seasons Travel has the best pricing!

 

[joanb]

My understanding is that Priceline, expedia and the rest only list 6 rooms at a time and once they have been taken they list a new six, so that there are actually many rooms available. Look at the deck plans on the DCL site and pick a room or rooms and then ask your TA to see if they can get that/those rooms. You may want to be aft or starboard what ever- but the rooms listed on the travel site are not the only rooms abvailable. Don't limit yourself -it's your trip and your money! Ask, they can only say no it's not available and check again 60 days out as that is when final payment is due and some cancel ( I had to last year) and a room you wanted may come available.

 

[Otisp]

The procedure All Seas seemed to use for you scares me a little....especially since I'm going for one of only 2 rooms on the ship (the non-ajoining SPHs) on a specific sailing. Last time I got quotes before the ressies were available and found Costco to be the cheapest by far (didn't know about All Seas). The day the ressies were released, I called Costco and the TA kept me on the line while she called DCL and nailed down the specific room. This time I was planning on booking with DCL, THEN shopping around before transfering to the cheapest TA, but now I'm not sure....

Originally posted by donnaMD
I had booked with Disney for room 7120 which is a slightly obstructed full veranda that is charged as a cat 7 even though it was a cat 5 most of last year and was able to get the same stateroom from All Seasons at a substantial discount (at least $600 for the 3 of us). I was told to call All Seasons--make sure it is during their business hours--tell them I would immediately call Disney and cancel my reservation--All Seasons would wait 1/2 hr for the room to be put back in the system and try to get that stateroom. They did it! I got it and will sail on 8/30 7 day Western for about $3100 for the 3 of us in 7120. This does not include insurance, but is quite a deal I think.
All Seasons works very hard to please!
Good luck!

 

[donnaMD]

It worked like a charm for me!
However, I did have a $100 credit with Disney--some comeback offer if you stayed at Disneyworld in 2002/2003 and All Seasons said they could not secure the $100 credit if I transferrred to them since I had to cancel Disney first.
Since there was about $600 difference (net $500) it seemed an easy choice for me to change to All Seasons Travel.
IF you want to be totally sure if you can transfer the identical room you want I would talk to Disney about this first. I am sure they run into it all the time. As long as the All Seasons travel agent is ready to make the reservation as soon as the room goes back in the system, it seems unlikely that you will not get the room you want.
Good luck!