Table Of Content
Meanwhile, discounts on more expensive cruises or multiple cabins can amount to hundreds of dollars. Ultimately, savings will vary based on the specific itinerary, departure date and room you choose. In general, though, pricing was competitive with the cruise lines, and often the value-adds gave Costco the edge. I actually got a Costco membership to book the deal since the cost of the membership was less than what we'd save by booking through Costco. First-time cruisers who need a little more handholding to understand cabin and dining options might benefit by working with a traditional travel agent.
What travel can you book through Costco Travel?
Most of us are looking for ways to keep our budgets in check these days, and buying in bulk is a great way to save. Investing in a membership for a warehouse store like Costco can help you save big in the long run, and you don't even have to pay full price to do that. Right now when you sign up for Costco's Gold Star annual membership via StackSocial, you'll not only gain access to a ton of excellent member benefits, but you will also get $40 worth of Costco credit back. At $60, you're not paying anything extra to sign up this way versus directly at Costco and the gift card value means you're essentially getting the one-year membership for just $20. When I'm looking at booking a hotel stay at a brand like Hyatt or Marriott, I generally choose to book directly in order to earn elite night credits and points. However, when looking at properties not part of a major loyalty program, Costco Travel is often a go-to anytime I can find a deal.
Award vs. cash calculator
Zeger explains that Kirkland Signature deals need to represent a value at least 20% better than offers you'd find elsewhere in the market; this applies to travel or anything you'd buy in the warehouse. " Typically these required values are achieved by negotiating exclusive amenities with the cruise lines such as specialty dining, spa treatments, private events, etc.," she says. That's been my experience when booking my own cruises, as well as sailings for family and friends.
Are Costco cruises a good deal?
Lead-in rates were occasionally for guarantee rooms (where the cruise line picks your cabin), even when I thought I was choosing a regular cabin type. If you're not given a cabin number and you want control over your stateroom location, click the link to choose another room or cabin category. On the other hand, Norwegian listed additional Free at Sea perks – free airfare and free third and fourth guests – that Costco did not mention on its site.
Digital Costco Shop Cards
I've actually been looking into using my most recent Digital Costco Shop Card on a new pair of AirPods and a new TV mount for my living room. The Digital Costco Shop Cards can be used for Costco warehouse purchases (a game changer with grocery prices so high due to inflation), but you can also use them toward future Costco Travel bookings. You could use a Digital Costco Shop Card to buy a new flat-screen TV for movie nights and game days, a new outdoor patio setup ahead of summer or even Costco Pharmacy prescriptions. Even without including the additional benefits, you're already saving more than $400 via the Costco deal. Trips booked through Costco Travel are often discounted and/or include perks and benefits you may not get by booking directly or through other booking portals. Usually, a trip booked through Costco Travel will also include a Digital Costco Shop Card (essentially a type of Costco gift card) of varying value.
"I think a first time cruiser would be better off using an agency that walks them through everything," says NoVa Mimi, who books all her cruises exclusively through Costco. 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. 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. Savvy cruisers, including many Cruise Critic members, have saved big by booking cruises through Costco.
Costco offers these benefits to their customers on select cruises; executive-level Costco members usually receive even greater credits. Booked direct through the cruise line, a the lowest-priced balcony cabin came to $1,894 per person, including a $100 onboard credit offer. You can book hotels, cruises, rental cars and vacation packages through Costco Travel. Vacation packages range from hotel-only offers to all-encompassing packages that include airfare, hotel stays and rental cars. All Costco members have access to the Costco Travel booking platform, where you can find and book a wide range of travel — from vacation packages to hotels, cruises and rental cars. You can even book theme park vacation packages to Disney and Universal or specialty vacations such as an African safari.
You can also book great trips via the company's online travel agency, Costco Travel. The cheapest balcony cabins where I could pick a cabin were Boardwalk-facing balcony cabins (inward-facing balconies toward the back of the ship) on Deck 14. Costco's final price for the two-person cabin was $1,849.56, plus a $95 shop card and the dining and credit perks. That's because low fares and value-added extras are hallmarks of Costco cruise bookings. Combine that with generally friendly service from the warehouse club's travel agents, and you might have another way to get maximum value out of your membership. Deal hunters know that Costco Travel is an under-the-radar hit for finding travel deals.
Everything you need to know about Costco Travel (and why I love it) - The Points Guy
Everything you need to know about Costco Travel (and why I love it).
Posted: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Costco Cruises Can Be a Great Deal
But booking through Costco Travel — just like booking through most other third-party services such as Expedia — means you likely won't earn loyalty rewards, elite night credits or have any elite night benefits honored. Like the warehouses, to access Costco's cruise discounts, you'll need to pony up for membership -- $60 per household at the basic level. But the savings on a typical cruise booking for two will usually cover that annual fee.
StackSocial doesn't list a specific date for when this deal will end, but it must be redeemed by June 16 in order for you to receive your credit. We recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later if you want to take advantage of this offer. Keep in mind, this offer is only available only to new customers, or those whose memberships have been expired for more than 18 months. If you've been thinking of picking up an annual Costco membership, this is a great way to keep more cash in your pocket. If you know where to look and are willing to price-check the deals you find, you can save a lot of money with Costco Travel deals.
So, if you use FCC to pay for your entire sailing, you will still get the shop card based on the invoice price. Ultimately, this sailing priced out the same at $6,375.28 per balcony cabin, based on double occupancy. Costco Travel boasts "exclusive Costco member rates," but are you really getting a deal? I priced out three sailings on different cruise lines to see how much you could potentially save by booking a Costco cruise. That's free money for you to spend, either in a Costco warehouse or on the ship – especially as Costco cruises typically have competitive fares.
Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. Peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more. I am typically a staunch proponent of booking directly, but Costco Travel is an exception. I've found that the benefits I can get by booking some trips via Costco outweigh the cons (some of which include having to go through Costco for any customer service help or occasionally losing out on elite night credits). Even when you do find availability, you should always price-check what you can find by booking directly or through your credit card travel portal and hotel programs. And since Hotel Wailea isn't a member of any major hotel loyalty program, booking through Costco Travel wouldn't mean missing out on elite night credits or other loyalty program benefits.
Does Costco Travel Save You Money? [2024] - Upgraded Points
Does Costco Travel Save You Money? .
Posted: Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
However, comparing the prices and benefits at a few of the resorts proved my initial reaction wrong. You cannot get a rate reduction once you pay in full for the cruise, usually 90 to 160 days before departure. "Exceptions to this policy, if any, are at the full discretion of the cruise line and are outside of the control of Costco Travel," according to the online terms and conditions. If you need to change or cancel your Costco cruise, you may be subject to fees or forfeit your deposit or portion of your cruise fare, according to each cruise line's rules.
After booking our fantastic stay at TRS Coral just north of Cancun through Costco, I looked at booking through Costco again in 2023 when planning our annual beach vacation. If you're on the hunt for a long weekend getaway, you may not be able to take advantage of some Costco Travel deals. Once you log in to Costco Travel, you can search for specific dates or destinations or browse through available deals and featured destinations. I personally love perusing the limited-time deals when I know I want to plan a getaway but don't have a specific destination in mind. When we checked, a Costco "savor and spa" cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas offered similar value.
This is especially important when considering booking a vacation package that includes flights, given the higher potential for delays or cancellations. While Costco had a deal available for the same resort, we happened to be booking when the resort chain was having a Mother's Day sale for anyone booking directly. "We had already decided on where we were going, but we were flexible on the travel date and ship," said Ostrander. You can click on Kirkland Signature or Buyer's Choice deals to see featured offers, but they don't necessarily account for all of Costco's best deals. The main benefit of booking a cruise through Costco is that every booking comes with a Digital Costco Shop Card and/or onboard credit. Whether or not you currently have a Costco membership, you shouldn't dismiss Costco Travel as just another online travel agency.
