Wow! DCL Through Costco

[janets]

with Costco and they quoted us a price of $3801.40 for 2 adults and 2 children (one is an infant) for a cat. 4 cabin. I called several other agents, including DU, Amex and I think cruiseonly.com and no one could come close. Cruiseonly.com actually told me, after saying that they will meet/beat any price, that they couldn't even begin to meet my Costco price and I should have a wonderful cruise.

I used them for our 7 day land/sea in August/September 2001 and they were fine. I make my own air, transfer and insurance arrangements, so I only need them for the cruise booking.

I think if you're saving several hundred dollars on your cruise, then the $45 membership is worth it. And again, it is refundable if you don't like it, so maybe after getting all your other quotes, you might join, get a quote and if it's worth it, keep it. Otherwise, cancel.

Good luck.

Janet

Disneyland 1991
Offsite 1992
CBR 1997
Swan/Contemporary Concierge 2001
Contemporary/DCL Wonder 2001
Contemporary 2001
Next Stop...The Magic 11/30/02

 

[simpilotswife]

You don't get a rebate on Travel with the Executive Membership. I just checked on this recently .

 

[mmouse37]

I also used cruises only before. The price was good but as Irish Cowboy stated, the service was not as good. Everytime I called I was assigned a new agent who did not know what the last agent had done. It was frustrating.

MJ

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

I personally do not feel it's a crime to try and get a quote without having to pay $45 for it. If the price were right, I would absolutely purchase a membership (which I may end up having to do anyway).

 

[my3kids]

Rumbly Tumbly-I'm over an hour away from the nearest Costco also, but I love the membership! Even with having to drive....you can get such great things at such amazing prices, it is worth the drive.

Anyway, join at costco.com and call the travel company for your quote. If it isn't what you'd hoped for, call Costco(a toll free number) tell them you hoped the travel company would make the membership worthwhile but it didn't so you'd like the membership fee refunded. They will be happy to refund the fee to join. They are always very willing to assist their "members." In my case it was hundreds saved, others have said $700, $1000......the membership fee is nothing compared to that, especially if you can get it refunded if you decide not to book the trip.

 

[happydays]

I just got off the phone with Costco. The quote they gave me for the Magic Western Carib. on August 16, 2003 for cat. 5 for two adults and two children was only $5 cheaper than what I already have with DCL. I book without insurance or ground transportation and made sure the Costco quote was without this as well. Why am I not getting the deep discounts that all you good folks are posting about?

 

[Wiggle]

I've got a 4-day 10/03 cruise booked through Dreams for our family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids). Cat 10. $1665 (after DU's rebate, no insurance, cruise only).

Costco came within $10, and that's it. The agent seemed genuinely surprised that I had a rate that matched hers. Sounded like that never, in all of carnation, had that happened before.

She said (as did another poster in this thread) that inside cabins are discounted 5% (at Costco), and outsides at 10%. So for kicks, I asked for the price for the same dates and same family in a Cat 8. $1973.40. I didn't compare to Dreams, though.

Maybe booking this early has something to do with the deep discounts available. So maybe booking something closer in will see a bigger difference in using Costco. Dunno.

 

[jen-n-greg]

Any chance someone could check and see what it would be for a family of 5 for 10/11/03 Category 4 on the Magic? When I called they wanted a member #, which I don't have. I will gladly get one though if it saves me $$

 

[Mjasp]

After reading Happydays post I called Costco Travel and the cruise I've been eyeing for august 2003 is $550 dollars cheaper through Costco. WOW can it be?

 

[Mjasp]

Sorry... I just want back on DCL and its $250 cheaper through Costco

 

[Wiggle]

Mjasp - did you get a quote from Dreams Unlimited? They're offering rebates if you book this month.

 

[happydays]

mjasp wrote:

After reading Happydays post I called Costco Travel and the cruise I've been eyeing for august 2003 is $550 dollars cheaper through Costco. WOW can it be?

Are you sure you are comparing apples to apples regarding the inclusion and/or exclusion of insurance and ground transportation? If you are, I am baffled as to why you are getting a discount that I am not - for the same month. Perhaps it has something to do with the itinerary ... maybe the 7-day Western cruises are not being discounted ...

Anyone else have any insight into this?

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

I had read here that the state you live in factors in; cheaper rates for certain states. Maybe that is why?

 

[Mjasp]

Wiggle... No I didn't get a price from DU. I haven't ever even cruised yet. We go 5/11 on the Inaugural for our first time ever. But if I like it the week I am eyeing for next time is in August 2003. BUT I had to call Costco to see the price after hearing all the bargain prices.

I am definitely going to ask DU for a price before I leave, so if I LOVE cruising like everyone says I will book when I get back.

There was NO Insurance OR transfers in the price quoted me from Costco.

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

Ok, I have an Apples to Apples comparison... Keep in mind, my quotes include early booking discounts, so I think that is why SOME of you aren't getting great discounts...I know I did. ALL my quotes are for EXACTLY the same thing, same category, same date, etc... These quotes are for the June 7, 2003 WESTERN cruise.

Through DISNEY, my quote for 2 adults, 1 child was $4066.31
SAME through Dreams Unlimited $3671.37
Through MyTravelCo $3540
Through Orbitz $3686.31
Costco $3353.31

Also, let it be known if I had made my reservation even earlier, I'd have gotten an even better rate. I know from seeing other peoples rates for the same general time, EXCEPT in all fairness to my quote, I'm going in the SUMMER, so my rate is going to be higher than other rrates I've seen for April, etc.. We used Costco for our last cruise in October of 2001,and we paid for the same people (2 adul. 1 kid) and same category only $1931 and some change...SOOO< if you book early, you WILL get substantial deals through Costco, and good service as well. By the way, the lady I made my reservations with at Costco DID tell me that at various different times, different cities get different better rates, but it's random and they can't tell you when what city will get a better rate.

 

[gscott8075]

To clarify the 2% discussed - If you are an Executive Member, you get a 2% rebate of merchandise purchases (does not include travel)

If you use your Costco American Express Card, you get up to 1.5% back on ALL purchases made anywhere + on the cruise you get white glove treatment.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

Okay, I had a friend help me out. I got a quote a bit ago and Costco was only going to save me $36 against the DCL quote (which for me was comparable all around; this was transfers included, no insurance). It was going to save my friend about $50.00 (outside oceanview cabin, Category 8, no insurance, no transfers).

Not so great of a deal for us.

 

[Mjasp]

Does AmEX have a yearly fee if you get the card from Costco?

 

[gscott8075]

If you are a Costco member, the AMEX card is free.

 

[my3kids]

For people with existing reservations, it might be hard to compare the Costco quote.....early booking savings disappear and the price increases. Try comparing the quote from Costco today with a quote from the DCL website today. I'm surprised the quotes people got today from Costco were so close to the going rates from DCL. When I used Costco, I booked the best rate I could from DCL then called Costco and transfered the reservation. The price dropped significantly with that phone call for the exact same reservation. Hopefully most, if not all, will save with Costco. Make sure if you have friends call that they are checking exactly what you checked yourself with DCL....no insurance, airfare....whatever you selected.