They often have a loose theme, such as "food, family and fun." For instance, sailings marked "Buyer's Choice" or "Kirkland Signature" come with extra perks and amenities, exclusive to Costco members. It's worth digging a little deeper on the Costco Travel website for even better deals. The Best Costco Cruise Deals are Kirkland Signature and Buyer's Choice And, as anyone who regularly shops at Costco knows, it doesn't take long to blow through a few hundred dollars in gas fill-ups alone. While the disadvantage of a cash card over a shipboard credit is that Costco hangs onto your rebate for a month longer, the payoff is usually greater. There's no rebate form to fill out the cash card arrives in the mail two to four weeks after your cruise, to be used at Costco's warehouses or for online orders. Unlike a typical travel agent, Costco Travel also offers rebates issued as Costco Cash Cards. Costco offers these benefits to their customers on select cruises executive-level Costco members usually receive even greater credits.
#Costco travel all inclusive resorts free
Instead, you'll see discounts in the form of extra perks.Ĭommon types of booking incentives include free beverage packages, specialty dining and shipboard credits - a rebate that shows up as a credit to your onboard bill at the start of your cruise and can be used for drinks, specialty dining, spa treatments or shore excursions. It's More Than the Usual Shipboard Creditsīecause the cruise industry aims to enforce pricing parity across all booking channels, discounts don't usually appear in the upfront cruise fare. You also get any specials Princess is running, like included gratuities or all-inclusive beverage packages." "They charge the going rate on the Princess website, including past guest discounts, but then 'give' you refundable onboard credit that is a percent of the fare paid. "We get around 8 percent back in onboard credits, which are refundable, so if we don't use them we get a credit back on our credit card."Īnother member, RSF Cruiser, has booked about two Princess cruises a year for the past five years and has been "totally pleased." "Costco is usually the best deal," says KirkNC, who is careful to compare multiple outlets before locking in a fare. The land of the $1.50 hot dog-and-soda meal is also a key source of cruise value for many Cruise Critic members. Meanwhile, discounts on more expensive cruises or multiple cabins can amount to hundreds of dollars. But the savings on a typical cruise booking for two will usually cover that annual fee. Like the warehouses, to access Costco's cruise discounts, you'll need to pony up for membership - $60 per household at the basic level. There's no hard sell (phone reps are not on commission), cruise cancellations are handled efficiently and without hassle, and the invoicing is clear and easy to read. You won't need to book multiple cabins or cruises in bulk to score these deals.Ĭostco Travel does not sell every cruise line, but it does handle all of the largest brands, including Carnival. (Think jeans, mattresses and wine, which can be purchased individually.) Cruises are the same. (Air can be packaged with cruises, but Costco does not sell air by itself.)Īlthough we know (and love) Costco warehouses for their bulk bargains, not all categories at Costco require plus-sized buys. The business is focused on just four travel "verticals": car rentals, hotels, vacation packages and cruises. The call center now has a staff of 250 selling cruises, though many bookings are completed online at. Yes, You Can Book Cruises Through CostcoĬostco started its travel subsidiary in 2000, according to Jody Zegers, a cruise buyer for Costco Travel. Intrigued? Here are five things you don't know about booking a Costco cruise - and why Costco Travel is my first - and usually last - stop when shopping for a cruise. Savvy cruisers, including many Cruise Critic members, have saved big by booking cruises through Costco.
But more often than not, when shipboard credits and other incentives were tallied, Costco Travel came out as low as, or lower than, other options.Īnd I'm not the only one finding great pricing. I've booked direct with cruise lines, used traditional brick-and-mortar travel agencies and gone through online travel suppliers like Expedia, Vacations To Go and American Discount Cruises. That's been my experience when booking my own cruises, as well as sailings for family and friends. Did you also know that Costco Travel, the big-box chain's in-house travel agency, is a go-to source for some of the best cruise deals on the seven seas?
You know Costco for cheap gas, roasted chickens and mayonnaise by the gallon.
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