Deal hunters know that Costco Travel is a secret travel deal finder. For those who love to go on a beach vacation, Costco’s travel deals can be some of the hottest deals you can find.
That’s because low fares and value-added extras are hallmarks of Costco cruise bookings. Combine that with generally friendly service from warehouse club travel agents and you could have another way to get the most value out of your membership.
What are the benefits of booking a cruise through Costco, and how do Costco cruise prices compare to cruise prices? I went online to test the booking platform. Here’s what I learned.
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The benefits of booking a cruise through Costco
First things first (because I’ve seen people get this wrong): a Costco excursion is one booked through Costco Travel. Costco does not operate its own branded cruise line, where the buffet line serves Kirkland hot dogs and churros and all cabins are equipped with Lovesac bean bag chairs. (That would be epic, though.)
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The main benefit of booking a cruise through Costco is that every booking comes with a digital Costco Store Card and/or built-in credit.
Plus, if you’re an Executive Member, you’ll get 2% back on eligible Costco purchases (up to $1,000), including many travel purchases. With cruises, you’ll get 2% cashback on the fare of the trip but not for taxes, fees, auto gratuities, other surcharges, and trip insurance.
That’s free money for you to spend, either in a Costco warehouse or on a ship — especially since Costco cruises often have competitive fares. It’s not like you’d pay more for direct booking and get the difference in Costco money.
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This brings me to my second point. Usually, Costco Travel offers competitive rates on cruises, so you can find a discounted deal or at least pay a similar price offered by travel sellers. other.
Finally, Costco offers “Buyer’s Choice” and “Signature Kirkland” travel deals, which offer “exclusive savings and bundled extras,” according to the Costco Cruises website. . Value-added perks vary by cruise line but can include onboard credits, complimentary dinners and spa treatments on board, as well as access to a special wine and food-themed cruise. with exclusive meals, tastings and demonstrations.
My quick search through these deals shows that Costco’s Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line cruises often have the most freebies. Excursions in Norway even have free perks, such as a photo package or spa credit, that can be combined with the Free at Sea value-added route for everyone. Celebrity travel deals are those that focus on food and wine-themed travel perks, while Costco Carnival travel deals often offer both airline credits and cards Costco store.
Related: The best yacht booking perks – and which ones are really free
I wasn’t surprised to find that you can book Disney excursions through Costco, but they don’t qualify for Kirkland’s Signature or Buyer’s Choice deals.
Costco journey price
Costco Travel boasts “Costco member-exclusive rates,” but are you really getting the offer? I priced three cruises on different cruise lines to see how much you can save by booking a cruise on Costco.
I started with a seven-night cruise in the Eastern Caribbean on Royal Caribbean‘s Harmony of the Seas, departs 9 September.
Costco lists balcony cabins from $784 per person. Reservation perks include a $50 on-board credit per room, a meal for two in a specialty restaurant, and a Costco store card. Royal Caribbean lists prices starting from 833 USD / person on the same departure.
The cheapest balcony cabins I could choose from were those with balconies facing the Boardwalk (balcony facing inward towards the aft of the ship) on Deck 14. Costco’s final price for a cabin for two. person is $1,849.56, plus a $95 shopping card and dining and credit perks. Royal Caribbean’s final price is $2,197.56, no perks.
Both prices are inclusive of taxes and fees. The spread before the perks is $348, plus about $200 worth from the perks alone.
Related: Costco Lovers: Consider Citi’s Costco Anywhere Visa Card
Next, I value a festival cruisedoes not offer many perks.
The six-night Mexico cruise on Carnival Miracle, which departs Los Angeles on October 8, is listed as $584 for a balcony cabin on Carnival and $564 on Costco.
Carnival offers a $50 onboard credit per room, and Costco offers a $70 store card and possibly some onboard credit, but it’s unclear how the fine print is written.
The final price goes up to $1,478.40 on Carnival (for two people sharing a cabin) and $1,444.40 on Costco. The Costco travel deal is a bit better, especially if it actually comes with onboard credit.
For my last cruise, I watched a seven-night cruise in Hawaii on Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Pride of America, departs May 27.
The starting price is similar: $2,649 per person for a balcony cabin through Costco and $2,549 on the Norwegian website. Both include Norwegian Free Sea perks (free drink packages, gourmet dining, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credits).
However, Costco also offers the following valuable perks:
- Photo package.
- $50 spa credit for two.
- Internet package 200 minutes.
- $50 arcade credit per guest.
- A bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries (per room).
On the other hand, Norwegian lists additional Free at Sea perks — free airfare and free third and fourth guests — that Costco doesn’t mention on its website.
Ultimately, this ride costs the same at $6,375.28 per balcony cabin, based on two-person occupancy. Norway can have an advantage if you can take advantage of the airfare deals. The Costco deal, on the other hand, might be a better value with all the extras.
Things to know when booking a Costco cruise
I noticed a few things when I ran Costco’s booking engine and compared it to travel agency versions.
You can click on Kirkland’s Signature or Buyer’s Choice deals to see featured deals, but they don’t necessarily take into account all of Costco’s best deals. Sort by destination or itinerary to see more options.
Costco isn’t always clear on whether all departure dates and cabin types qualify for deals. The links prompting you to click on them to determine eligibility never gave me that information. Because I don’t actually book the excursions, I can’t tell if these details will become apparent just before you give Costco your credit card information.
The lead rate is sometimes for guaranteed rooms (where the carrier chooses your cabin), even when I think I’m choosing the regular cabin type. If you are not given a cabin number and you want to control the location of your stateroom, click the link to select a different room or cabin type.
Costco only accepts Visa and MasterCard cards for cruise booking payments. You won’t be able to use your American Express and earn Membership Rewards points on your holiday purchases.
Related: Use these credit cards to maximize your next vacation
However, you can use a future cruise credit from a cruise line to pay for all or part of your Costco cruise. Your store card amount will be determined by the cruise fare, not how you pay for it. So if you use the FCC to pay for your entire trip, you’ll still get a store pass based on the bill price.
Ultimately, the savings will vary based on the specific itinerary, departure date, and room you choose. The more you spend, the higher the amount in the shop card will be. Some deals are only available on close trips or specific sailing dates. Overall, though, pricing is competitive with travel routes and often the added value gives Costco an advantage.
Costco’s cruise cancellation policy
Costco Travel operates like a typical online travel seller. Its cancellation and change-in policies are simply what cruise lines offer themselves. They are no different because you booked through Costco.
If you need to change or cancel your Costco cruise, you may have to pay a fee or forfeit your deposit or part of your cruise fare, depending on the rules of each cruise line.
You can’t get a discount once you’ve paid for the trip in full, usually 90 to 160 days before departure. “Exceptions to this policy, if any, are at the sole discretion of the shipping line and beyond the control of Costco Travel,” according to the online terms and conditions.
Is Costco cruises any good?
Costco cruises are competitively priced, especially when you factor in the store card or onboard credit available with each purchase. Some cruises will have particularly good deals, especially those that come with lots of free extras. Others will have the same value as you find elsewhere.
You can spend a lot of time scouring the web for the best Kirkland Signature or Buyer’s Choice steals, but assessing value isn’t always straightforward. However, if you’re flexible, focus on these standout offers, especially those with lots of freebies.
Travelers often report having good experiences with Costco, booking online, or using one of their agencies. You can use future cruise credits to book excursions with Costco. You’ll still earn journey loyalty points for status, and can earn points, miles, or cashback on purchases with rewards credit cards like Visa and Mastercard.
It may not be worth joining Costco just for their travel offerings. However, if you already have a membership and are planning an excursion, you should definitely take a look at what the warehouse club is offering in terms of pricing and perks for the trip you are on. expected. You can find a great deal and get a shopping card to spend when you return home from vacation.
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