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

[TinkB278]

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.)

Thanks for explaining that! I’m hoping to book through Costco travel for the gift card and 2% but am wanting to use my chase sapphire card to pay for the cruise because I like how I can transfer my points to southwest to use for flights… it might not make the most financial sense but makes things easy for me

 

[Husker Mike]

Thanks for explaining that! I’m hoping to book through Costco travel for the gift card and 2% but am wanting to use my chase sapphire card to pay for the cruise because I like how I can transfer my points to southwest to use for flights… it might not make the most financial sense but makes things easy for me

Basically, you are giving up 1% just to get your rebate in points instead of money. And if you are planning to travel on Southwest, you'll want to buy Southwest gift cards when they are offered at 10% off anyway. (Sometimes you can get the $500 cards for $429.99, which is 14% off!)

The one negative with the Costco Visa is that Costco Visa rebates only come out in February, so Citi can hold onto your rebate for months...so there is that concern. They also used to be a pain to redeem, but now that they allow you to redeem them online, that's super easy now. (I think Costco liked the idea of you coming in to shop with your rewards check initally, only to find themselves struggling to handle refunds of hundreds of dollars when someone comes in with an $1100 reward certificate.)

 

[auntlynne]

Whoa, horsies! Has the OP even booked yet? Or just asking about options? New member. We don’t want to spook them.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Whoa, horsies! Has the OP even booked yet? Or just asking about options? New member. We don’t want to spook them.

OP started this thread a year ago and hasn't been seen since . So already spooked.

 

[TinkB278]

Basically, you are giving up 1% just to get your rebate in points instead of money. And if you are planning to travel on Southwest, you'll want to buy Southwest gift cards when they are offered at 10% off anyway. (Sometimes you can get the $500 cards for $429.99, which is 14% off!)

The one negative with the Costco Visa is that Costco Visa rebates only come out in February, so Citi can hold onto your rebate for months...so there is that concern. They also used to be a pain to redeem, but now that they allow you to redeem them online, that's super easy now. (I think Costco liked the idea of you coming in to shop with your rewards check initally, only to find themselves struggling to handle refunds of hundreds of dollars when someone comes in with an $1100 reward certificate.)

Where do you get the 10% off on southwest gift cards?

Also do you know if the Costco card offers the travel insurance like the sapphire?? Thanks again for your help!

 

[auntlynne]

Where do you get the 10% off on southwest gift cards?

…

Costco

 

[LAX]

Where do you get the 10% off on southwest gift cards?

Also do you know if the Costco card offers the travel insurance like the sapphire?? Thanks again for your help!

It does offer some forms of travel protections, but not sure about trip cancellation/delays insurance that I think you are referring to.

LAX