Can you book a cruise with a Disney Specialist and then transfer to Costco?

[Lmdg]

This will be our first cruise- can I book through a specialist and then transfer to Costco? Or is it only directly with DCL? Thanks!

 

[cvjw]

Bookings made thru DCL can be transferred to Costco within 30 days. If not paid in full. If by travel specialist, you mean travel agent, then your booking is assigned to that travel agent.

 

[Lmdg]

Thanks! I wasn’t sure. The Costco gift card is more than the on board credit being offered, so that seems more appealing!

 

[lilsonicfan]

Thanks! I wasn’t sure. The Costco gift card is more than the on board credit being offered, so that seems more appealing!

If you're being given on board credit, it sounds to me like you booked through a travel agent? If that's the case, I don't think you can transfer to Costco. Costco Travel essentially splits their commission with the customer, as I understand it, by giving the customer a Costco shop card. Other agents offer some on board credit as a little bonus to the customer. But if you are getting on board credit, it seems you didn't book with DCL directly...?

 

[OpieDoodle]

If you're getting onboard credit then you're likely talking booking through a travel agent in which case you cannot transfer to costco (another travel agent). If you booked on your own through DCL you can transfer it to costco within 30 days.

 

[jujubiee4]

I wasn't under the impression Costco gave onboard credit? The cruise we are looking at they are
only offering a Costco gift card. Is that the same thing? Do you book it then tell call Costco
agent to transfer booking?

 

[cvjw]

I wasn't under the impression Costco gave onboard credit? The cruise we are looking at they are
only offering a Costco gift card. Is that the same thing? Do you book it then tell call Costco
agent to transfer booking?

There is a form on the Costco travel website to fill out and request the booking to be transferred. Talking to an agent won’t help. Have to fill out the form.

 

[lanejudy]

I wasn't under the impression Costco gave onboard credit? The cruise we are looking at they are
only offering a Costco gift card.

For DCL cruises, Costco offers the Cash Card which is given post cruise. Some other TAs offer onboard credit for DCL cruises. Costco may offer onboard credit for some other cruise lines.

Different TAs have different offers based on cruise line and agency policies.

 

[Dug720]

If you're getting onboard credit then you're likely talking booking through a travel agent in which case you cannot transfer to costco (another travel agent). If you booked on your own through DCL you can transfer it to costco within 30 days.

I think you *can* request to have the original agent return the cruise to you - but that would be a very awkward conversation "I know you did all the work, but I want to take it back so I can give it to a box store that thinks it's a travel agency to get a gift card." Yikes.

The OP would be better off cancelling the original booking and then just booking through Costco at the prevailing rates.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I think you *can* request to have the original agent return the cruise to you - but that would be a very awkward conversation "I know you did all the work, but I want to take it back so I can give it to a box store that thinks it's a travel agency to get a gift card." Yikes.

The OP would be better off cancelling the original booking and then just booking through Costco at the prevailing rates.

I don't disagree with you as to the awkwardness or as to the best option for OP, i.e. cancelling with the original booking if it was through an agent.

I will disagree with "box store that thinks it's a travel agency". Costco Travel is a massive agency. Yes, it's not the small mom-and-pop agency in a nearby strip mall, or the mid-sized online agency that does a ton of work with Disney customers, but it's still an actual travel agency. The reason they can offer so much back in a gc is because they sell a ton of cruises. When I researched, I found DCL's highest commission level is around 16% for travel agents, and Costco's gc is worth about 7-8% of the cruise fare, so it makes sense that Costco essentially kicks back half of the commission while still making a tidy profit.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I think you *can* request to have the original agent return the cruise to you - but that would be a very awkward conversation "I know you did all the work, but I want to take it back so I can give it to a box store that thinks it's a travel agency to get a gift card." Yikes.

The OP would be better off cancelling the original booking and then just booking through Costco at the prevailing rates.

In most cases that I've seen the costco card and onboard credit amount is usually pretty close to the same amount so if they did go through a travel agent it may not be worth moving it anyways.

 

[lilsonicfan]

In most cases that I've seen the costco card and onboard credit amount is usually pretty close to the same amount so if they did go through a travel agent it may not be worth moving it anyways.

On our 2022 WBPC cruise we had two staterooms, we got two Costco gc's worth just over $2,000 CAD. Have never seen OBC offered in that range.

 

[DCLMP]

In most cases that I've seen the costco card and onboard credit amount is usually pretty close to the same amount so if they did go through a travel agent it may not be worth moving it anyways.

Costco card is around 8% of the cruise so it depends on the cost. I got 600 dollar Costco card for a European cruise last summer I don't think you could get that much onboard credit from a TA. Considering the cost of food these days I'd rather have the Costco card.

 

[Amydisneyfan]

This will be our first cruise- can I book through a specialist and then transfer to Costco? Or is it only directly with DCL? Thanks!

If you book a cruise via Dreams unlimited travel them it cannot be transferred to another travel agent. Disney only allows 1 travel agent only if you booked direct with Disney you'll be allowed to transfer your reservation with 1 travel agent only so yes you can transfer your reservation to Costco if you booked directly with DCL within 30 day's after you paid deposit as long as you haven't paid. As this website is sponsored by Dreams unlimited travel remember if you choose to transfer it to dreams unlimited travel you'd get onboard credit.

 

[gscott8075]

I recently retired from Costco after 36 years - I was not in the travel area. We have booked many cruises through them as well as a Hawaiian vacation and numerous rental cars. And if you are an Executive member, you get 2% back on the cruise and Costco Visa gives you another 3% in addition to the 8% shop card.

They know their stuff and have been able to resolve any change or concern we had. They are a full travel agency. And you can’t beat the shop card!

 

[Shinaniganz]

Do you get the executive 2% back on the whole cruise if you transfer the DCL booking? Since I think you need to pay the deposit first (but not PIF) to transfer to Costco.

I.e. does Costco track the travel purchase as based on the cruise reservation is with Costco? Or by tracking the actual payments?

 

[cvjw]

Do you get the executive 2% back on the whole cruise if you transfer the DCL booking? Since I think you need to pay the deposit first (but not PIF) to transfer to Costco.

I.e. does Costco track the travel purchase as based on the cruise reservation is with Costco? Or by tracking the actual payments?

Yes. You get 2% back on the cruise fare if you transfer your cruise to Costco - if you are an executive member.

The 2% is added after your cruise, based on the cruise fare paid.

 

[TinkB278]

I recently retired from Costco after 36 years - I was not in the travel area. We have booked many cruises through them as well as a Hawaiian vacation and numerous rental cars. And if you are an Executive member, you get 2% back on the cruise and Costco Visa gives you another 3% in addition to the 8% shop card.

They know their stuff and have been able to resolve any change or concern we had. They are a full travel agency. And you can’t beat the shop card!

Do you have to use the Costco credit card to pay for the cruise get the extra 2% and 3% ?

 

[Shinaniganz]

Do you have to use the Costco credit card to pay for the cruise get the extra 2% and 3% ?

2% is from Executive membership. 3% would be from using the Costco Visa.

 

[Husker Mike]

The Costco Visa offers a 3% rebate on all travel purchases made with that card; it's completely independent of who you are booking through, because the payment, in the end, is made directly to DCL. I've booked cruises, hotels and airfare all on my Costco Visa and earned the 3% rebate without using Costco Travel at all. The cruises and some of my Disney hotel reservations were made through my travel agent. The rest I booked myself.

The 2% Costco Executive reward is for executive members who use Costco Travel to book. I don't believe you have to use the Costco Visa to pay for it, but I'm not sure why you wouldn't. The Costco Visa has some of the best non-exclusive travel rewards out there. (Some cards may offer higher rewards, but only on travel booked through their portal.)