Switching TAs (from small company to Costco)

[Seamama]

We love our TA but with another member of the family now and our cruise costs going up, that Costco deal (8-10% back as a Costco cash card) is becoming more and more tempting!

We are cruising soon and plan to get a placeholder. I know on the form we can say if we want to keep our current TA or book direct w/ DCL. What if we want to name Costco as our new TA? Can we do that on the form? If not, what's our best option?

We've been on 3 cruises already and feel pretty comfortable w/ the fact that using Costco means doing more of our own research. I do have a couple questions, though:

1. Is it correct we'd have to call Costco once we're ready to convert the placeholder to an actual cruise? (Can't be done online.)
2. Is it correct that we'd have to call Costco anyway since we're wanting to book two inside staterooms w/ a connecting door? (Not able to do this online.)
3. Is it correct that when we call Costco to book, we have to wait on hold for as long as it takes for them to get DCL on the line and book our cruise? (Can't just give Costco our info and have them call/email us back once they've booked it.)

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Dug720]

We love our TA but with another member of the family now and our cruise costs going up, that Costco deal (8-10% back as a Costco cash card) is becoming more and more tempting!

We are cruising soon and plan to get a placeholder. I know on the form we can say if we want to keep our current TA or book direct w/ DCL. What if we want to name Costco as our new TA? Can we do that on the form? If not, what's our best option?

We've been on 3 cruises already and feel pretty comfortable w/ the fact that using Costco means doing more of our own research. I do have a couple questions, though:

1. Is it correct we'd have to call Costco once we're ready to convert the placeholder to an actual cruise? (Can't be done online.)
2. Is it correct that we'd have to call Costco anyway since we're wanting to book two inside staterooms w/ a connecting door? (Not able to do this online.)
3. Is it correct that when we call Costco to book, we have to wait on hold for as long as it takes for them to get DCL on the line and book our cruise? (Can't just give Costco our info and have them call/email us back once they've booked it.)

Thanks, everyone!

I don't know about the Costco questions (single and I live in an NYC apartment, so Costco has zero appeal to me), but I'm curious why you think you couldn't book inside connecting staterooms on your own online. You can book 2 cabins online - and if there are inside connecting ones you can get them; if there are not, there is nothing that a TA (Costco or otherwise) can do about it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We love our TA but with another member of the family now and our cruise costs going up, that Costco deal (8-10% back as a Costco cash card) is becoming more and more tempting!

We are cruising soon and plan to get a placeholder. I know on the form we can say if we want to keep our current TA or book direct w/ DCL. What if we want to name Costco as our new TA? Can we do that on the form? If not, what's our best option?

We've been on 3 cruises already and feel pretty comfortable w/ the fact that using Costco means doing more of our own research. I do have a couple questions, though:

1. Is it correct we'd have to call Costco once we're ready to convert the placeholder to an actual cruise? (Can't be done online.)
2. Is it correct that we'd have to call Costco anyway since we're wanting to book two inside staterooms w/ a connecting door? (Not able to do this online.)
3. Is it correct that when we call Costco to book, we have to wait on hold for as long as it takes for them to get DCL on the line and book our cruise? (Can't just give Costco our info and have them call/email us back once they've booked it.)

Thanks, everyone!

If the cruise you are on (when you make the onboard booking) was booked through a TA, you will be (should be) asked whether you want to use the same TA or not. At that time you can only indicate "yes, I want to use the same TA" or "no, I don't want to use a TA". If you didn't use a TA to book the cruise you are taking when making the onboard booking, you can indicate a TA at that time, or move it to a TA later.
1. You have 30 days to move your onboard booking (placeholder OR actual reservation) to a TA. To convert a placeholder to an actual cruise, yes, you must call to do so (or your TA must).
2. It's best to call directly if wishing to book two rooms connecting. Yes, you can book them yourself (or your TA can) online, as long as the second one is still available once you've made the first booking.
3. Don't know.

 

[Seamama]

I don't know about the Costco questions (single and I live in an NYC apartment, so Costco has zero appeal to me), but I'm curious why you think you couldn't book inside connecting staterooms on your own online. You can book 2 cabins online - and if there are inside connecting ones you can get them; if there are not, there is nothing that a TA (Costco or otherwise) can do about it.

Thanks for your reply. I thought I'd read here that it's not possible to book more than one room at a time/in the same transaction online through Costco. Of course it could be done back to back but w/ the understanding that there's a chance someone will book the connecting room that was open minutes prior. Also, I believe doing it that way requires later calling DCL (or Costco?) to link the rooms and make booking excursions for our whole party easier, etc.

 

[Seamama]

If the cruise you are on (when you make the onboard booking) was booked through a TA, you will be (should be) asked whether you want to use the same TA or not. At that time you can only indicate "yes, I want to use the same TA" or "no, I don't want to use a TA". If you didn't use a TA to book the cruise you are taking when making the onboard booking, you can indicate a TA at that time, or move it to a TA later.
1. You have 30 days to move your onboard booking (placeholder OR actual reservation) to a TA. To convert a placeholder to an actual cruise, yes, you must call to do so (or your TA must).
2. It's best to call directly if wishing to book two rooms connecting. Yes, you can book them yourself (or your TA can) online, as long as the second one is still available once you've made the first booking.
3. Don't know.

Thanks! So is there a preference for whether we should say "no TA" or "DCL" on the form then? And we can't just name Costco if they weren't our TA before, right? Thanks again.

 

[Dug720]

Thanks for your reply. I thought I'd read here that it's not possible to book more than one room at a time/in the same transaction online through Costco. Of course it could be done back to back but w/ the understanding that there's a chance someone will book the connecting room that was open minutes prior. Also, I believe doing it that way requires later calling DCL (or Costco?) to link the rooms and make booking excursions for our whole party easier, etc.

Oh, I have no clue about Costco.

But with DCL you can search for and book multiple staterooms.

 

[Capang]

We love our TA but with another member of the family now and our cruise costs going up, that Costco deal (8-10% back as a Costco cash card) is becoming more and more tempting!

We are cruising soon and plan to get a placeholder. I know on the form we can say if we want to keep our current TA or book direct w/ DCL. What if we want to name Costco as our new TA? Can we do that on the form? If not, what's our best option?

We've been on 3 cruises already and feel pretty comfortable w/ the fact that using Costco means doing more of our own research. I do have a couple questions, though:

1. Is it correct we'd have to call Costco once we're ready to convert the placeholder to an actual cruise? (Can't be done online.)
2. Is it correct that we'd have to call Costco anyway since we're wanting to book two inside staterooms w/ a connecting door? (Not able to do this online.)
3. Is it correct that when we call Costco to book, we have to wait on hold for as long as it takes for them to get DCL on the line and book our cruise? (Can't just give Costco our info and have them call/email us back once they've booked it.)

Thanks, everyone!

When it comes to placeholders you usually cant stack discounts since you are already getting a deal with the placeholder so I'm not sure how that works woth Costco. Also, I am not sure that Costco is a TA per se. I'd find out from Costco if switching a placeholder to them is even possible before I'd do anything else.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks! So is there a preference for whether we should say "no TA" or "DCL" on the form then? And we can't just name Costco if they weren't our TA before, right? Thanks again.

The difference as to whether you go ahead and name them as your TA when making the onboard booking, generally, has to do with the amount of onboard credit that some (most) TAs offer if you book a cruise through them. If you use a TA to make a booking and they offer, say, $250 OBC for booking, that amount is typically cut by 50% if you book onboard and name them as the TA. Now, this doesn't apply to Costco, because they don't do the OBC thing, since what you get is the gift card to be used after your cruise (amount dependent on cost of cruise)

When it comes to placeholders you usually cant stack discounts since you are already getting a deal with the placeholder so I'm not sure how that works woth Costco. Also, I am not sure that Costco is a TA per se. I'd find out from Costco if switching a placeholder to them is even possible before I'd do anything else.

Costco doesn't do a discount for using them, they offer a gift card to be used after the cruise, amount dependent on on cost of cruise booked. So no stacking involved.

Costco has TA services, they are a TA.

Yes, you can move a booking to Costco, just like any other TA.

 

[FigmentSpark]

We love our TA but with another member of the family now and our cruise costs going up, that Costco deal (8-10% back as a Costco cash card) is becoming more and more tempting!

We are cruising soon and plan to get a placeholder. I know on the form we can say if we want to keep our current TA or book direct w/ DCL. What if we want to name Costco as our new TA? Can we do that on the form? If not, what's our best option?

We've been on 3 cruises already and feel pretty comfortable w/ the fact that using Costco means doing more of our own research. I do have a couple questions, though:

1. Is it correct we'd have to call Costco once we're ready to convert the placeholder to an actual cruise? (Can't be done online.)
2. Is it correct that we'd have to call Costco anyway since we're wanting to book two inside staterooms w/ a connecting door? (Not able to do this online.)
3. Is it correct that when we call Costco to book, we have to wait on hold for as long as it takes for them to get DCL on the line and book our cruise? (Can't just give Costco our info and have them call/email us back once they've booked it.)

Thanks, everyone!

If you will be booking 2 rooms, get two placeholders. Each household can book 2 (for the same trip).
You will say no TA on your form. Then, when you are home (and within 30 days), you call Costco and tell them to send you the paperwork to move a reservation to them. They will email you forms, which you will fill out and they will then send them to DCL. When you phone Costco, they won't have the placeholder in their system, but the important thing is that your placeholder is allocated to Costco. About 3 days after you submit your paperwork back to Costco, phone DCL and ask if that placeholder number has been allocated to Costco. If yes, you're good. If no, follow up to ensure Costco has done their thing.

Now, Costco doesn't have a way to put a placeholder on their system, so they'll tell you that they don't have it, but as long as DCL has that placeholder number listed to Costco, all you do is call Costco on the day you want to book and give them the placeholder(s) number(s). The nice thing about using a TA (or not using the DCL website) to book is that they can request rooms that might not show up on the DCL (or Costco) website as available. Not all rooms that are available show on the site. So even if there isn't an inside connecting pair showing, just have Costco call DCL to find what you need. If its available, you can book it through them at that time. You'll be asked to give the deposit and a Costco reservation will be made and it will enter their system. Very seamless, but the actual moving to a TA takes a little effort on your part. I assume it would be the same if you were going to any TA.

As for being on hold, it depends. Probably you will wait, but on opening day, there was one Disney specialist and the agents were taking info and funnelling it to him to book in the order he received the requests. So it took 4 hours, but I got a call back that it was done and I needed to put my deposit down. No sitting on the line for 4 hours. I did, however, sit on the line for a half hour to put the payment through.

After that, the only time you have to deal with Costco is if you have special requests (ie: seating, allergies, etc), want to change rooms and for making payments on your cruise. You will do all your own check in and excursion bookings.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, I am not sure that Costco is a TA per se.

They are a TA. And they don’t halve the benefits of transferring a booked cruise like other TAs now do.

 

[Intr3pid]

I do have a couple questions, though:

1. Is it correct we'd have to call Costco once we're ready to convert the placeholder to an actual cruise? (Can't be done online.)
2. Is it correct that we'd have to call Costco anyway since we're wanting to book two inside staterooms w/ a connecting door? (Not able to do this online.)
3. Is it correct that when we call Costco to book, we have to wait on hold for as long as it takes for them to get DCL on the line and book our cruise? (Can't just give Costco our info and have them call/email us back once they've booked it.)

To answer your questions:
1. A placeholder always needs a call (directly or through a TA) for the initial conversion to an actual booking. So, yes, the Costco website - even if a bit archaic - can only let you book what DCL's own would. Sometimes, the available rooms shown are not quite the same as those on DCL's website. That's mostly when there are plenty of rooms available, and DCL (directly or through a TA's query) picks a selection to show based on its internal algorithm.

2. You can book up to two rooms simultaneously on Costco's website. Once your first room is selected, the session key in your browser is granted a limited amount of time (minutes) during which to select your second room and complete the booking. Both rooms are selected well before any payment is done, so if you see two connecting rooms, you can grab them one after the other. If you don't see the desired rooms, you either can just cancel out, or if the algorithm is at work, have to call in.

3. Costco needs the same information from you that DCL would need. Typically, if you are trying to make the initial booking, they want you on the phone for possible changes. For example, the room you want is unavailable, so what now? They also need your payment information. If the payment can be done later - or you already paid the deposit - and they don't need any more input from you, they can complete the reservation all by themselves.

 

[Sytrace]

We love our TA but with another member of the family now and our cruise costs going up, that Costco deal (8-10% back as a Costco cash card) is becoming more and more tempting!

We are cruising soon and plan to get a placeholder. I know on the form we can say if we want to keep our current TA or book direct w/ DCL. What if we want to name Costco as our new TA? Can we do that on the form? If not, what's our best option?

We've been on 3 cruises already and feel pretty comfortable w/ the fact that using Costco means doing more of our own research. I do have a couple questions, though:

1. Is it correct we'd have to call Costco once we're ready to convert the placeholder to an actual cruise? (Can't be done online.)
2. Is it correct that we'd have to call Costco anyway since we're wanting to book two inside staterooms w/ a connecting door? (Not able to do this online.)
3. Is it correct that when we call Costco to book, we have to wait on hold for as long as it takes for them to get DCL on the line and book our cruise? (Can't just give Costco our info and have them call/email us back once they've booked it.)

Thanks, everyone!

1. Yes. You would need to call Costco and Costco would call DCL to convert the placeholder to an actual sail date.
2. Yes, since you have to call to use the placeholder anyway and you would want them to book 2 connecting inside staterooms, that would be the most efficient use of your time. Give your criteria to Costco and they would take care of the rest based on availability at the time of booking.
3. If you call Costco with the placeholder number they could switch back and forth between you and the DCL agent to get it booked. There will be a difference in the deposit needed to book an actual cruise and the placeholder deposit. So, they could just go back and forth to make sure that what you want is available and the amount of the deposit needed OR they could place the booked cruise on hold for a couple of days (typically 3 unless it is past the paid in full date when you would be sailing in which case it is 1 day) Then contact you with the deposit amount and date due.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Just to be clear, the cash card isn’t usually as high as 10%. It is usually 7-8% I believe, and I think that is on the cruise fare (not taxes and fees). In any event it’s great. You can also earn 2% back if you are an executive member.

 

[Seamama]

Wow! This is incredibly detailed. Thank you so much!!

If you will be booking 2 rooms, get two placeholders. Each household can book 2 (for the same trip).
You will say no TA on your form. Then, when you are home (and within 30 days), you call Costco and tell them to send you the paperwork to move a reservation to them. They will email you forms, which you will fill out and they will then send them to DCL. When you phone Costco, they won't have the placeholder in their system, but the important thing is that your placeholder is allocated to Costco. About 3 days after you submit your paperwork back to Costco, phone DCL and ask if that placeholder number has been allocated to Costco. If yes, you're good. If no, follow up to ensure Costco has done their thing.

Now, Costco doesn't have a way to put a placeholder on their system, so they'll tell you that they don't have it, but as long as DCL has that placeholder number listed to Costco, all you do is call Costco on the day you want to book and give them the placeholder(s) number(s). The nice thing about using a TA (or not using the DCL website) to book is that they can request rooms that might not show up on the DCL (or Costco) website as available. Not all rooms that are available show on the site. So even if there isn't an inside connecting pair showing, just have Costco call DCL to find what you need. If its available, you can book it through them at that time. You'll be asked to give the deposit and a Costco reservation will be made and it will enter their system. Very seamless, but the actual moving to a TA takes a little effort on your part. I assume it would be the same if you were going to any TA.

As for being on hold, it depends. Probably you will wait, but on opening day, there was one Disney specialist and the agents were taking info and funnelling it to him to book in the order he received the requests. So it took 4 hours, but I got a call back that it was done and I needed to put my deposit down. No sitting on the line for 4 hours. I did, however, sit on the line for a half hour to put the payment through.

After that, the only time you have to deal with Costco is if you have special requests (ie: seating, allergies, etc), want to change rooms and for making payments on your cruise. You will do all your own check in and excursion bookings.

 

[Seamama]

Got it, thank you! So if I’m trying to convert my placeholder on opening day, is there a chance I’ll be stuck on hold with Costco for hours? (Currently, I tell my TA the stateroom category I want and my credit card number for the deposit and she emails me confirmation several hours later.)

To answer your questions:
1. A placeholder always needs a call (directly or through a TA) for the initial conversion to an actual booking. So, yes, the Costco website - even if a bit archaic - can only let you book what DCL's own would. Sometimes, the available rooms shown are not quite the same as those on DCL's website. That's mostly when there are plenty of rooms available, and DCL (directly or through a TA's query) picks a selection to show based on its internal algorithm.

2. You can book up to two rooms simultaneously on Costco's website. Once your first room is selected, the session key in your browser is granted a limited amount of time (minutes) during which to select your second room and complete the booking. Both rooms are selected well before any payment is done, so if you see two connecting rooms, you can grab them one after the other. If you don't see the desired rooms, you either can just cancel out, or if the algorithm is at work, have to call in.

3. Costco needs the same information from you that DCL would need. Typically, if you are trying to make the initial booking, they want you on the phone for possible changes. For example, the room you want is unavailable, so what now? They also need your payment information. If the payment can be done later - or you already paid the deposit - and they don't need any more input from you, they can complete the reservation all by themselves.

 

[Seamama]

Good clarification! We’re plannig to become Executive members for that additional 2% so I just lump it altogether in my mind but you’re right, that part doesn’t come in a cashcard weeks after the cruise (like the 8% does). I’m not actually sure how or when the 2% comes but I think maybe once a year (and it’s on all Costco purchases, not just travel, too. Yay!)

Just to be clear, the cash card isn’t usually as high as 10%. It is usually 7-8% I believe, and I think that is on the cruise fare (not taxes and fees). In any event it’s great. You can also earn 2% back if you are an executive member.

 

[owensjro]

Good clarification! We’re plannig to become Executive members for that additional 2% so I just lump it altogether in my mind but you’re right, that part doesn’t come in a cashcard weeks after the cruise (like the 8% does). I’m not actually sure how or when the 2% comes but I think maybe once a year (and it’s on all Costco purchases, not just travel, too. Yay!)

We are executive members and get the 2%. Ours comes every October. The best part is they give you cash back if you only use a portion of the check when you are checking out.

Also if you use your Costco credit card you get another 3% back in your yearly credit card reward check. So....5% total on top of the 8% cash card. Not too shabby!

Jim

 

[FigmentSpark]

We are executive members and get the 2%. Ours comes every October. The best part is they give you cash back if you only use a portion of the check when you are checking out.

Also if you use your Costco credit card you get another 3% back in your yearly credit card reward check. So....5% total on top of the 8% cash card. Not too shabby!

Jim

Right. I was told to just go buy some bananas and I'd get the rest in cash back. That was great because I could still put my other purchases on my card which gives me cash back.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Yes the executive reward is once a year and it's super to have that extra 2% on cruising! In Canada we don't have that extra Costco Visa, too bad.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Yes the executive reward is once a year and it's super to have that extra 2% on cruising! In Canada we don't have that extra Costco Visa, too bad.

But we do have the Costco Mastercard. I prefer the Rogers/Fido Mastercard, though, as it gives a better reward. 3% would be awesome!