Can you save money booking your cruise through Costco Travel?

Table Of Content

• Learn About Credit Cards
• It's More Than the Usual Shipboard Credits
• Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
• Card Type
• Award vs. cash calculator
• Some Costco Stores Are Now Selling a Frozen Item That Looks Just Like a Trader Joe's Fan Favorite
• I'm really curious about Costco Travel

This means I can't just run over there whenever I want, there would have to be some degree of planning involved. As such, I don't expect to visit Costco often, and would likely target a trip every other month or so. If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience. "There are cruise partners we are not in business with, and we are talking with them," she added. 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.

Learn About Credit Cards

When we checked, a Costco "savor and spa" cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas offered similar value. Costco Travel does not sell every cruise line, but it does handle all of the largest brands, including Carnival. 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. 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. A six-night Mexico cruise on Carnival Miracle, departing from Los Angeles Oct. 8, was listed as $584 for a balcony cabin on Carnival and $564 on Costco.

It's More Than the Usual Shipboard Credits

Costco Travel: 5 Things You Need To Know - Forbes

Costco Travel: 5 Things You Need To Know.

Posted: Sun, 12 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The difference before the perks was $348, plus you get roughly $200 in value from the perks alone. So, if these outdoor items don't interest you, keep your eyes peeled for more great savings opportunities in the future. This small investment is well worth the time it will save your team in organizing and monitoring project work.

Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025

Costco does not assign a specific agent to your booking, so you're unlikely to talk to the same call center representative twice. 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. This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

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]

Because I was not actually booking cruises, I could not see if these details became clearer just before you gave Costco your credit card information. Ultimately, this sailing priced out the same at $6,375.28 per balcony cabin, based on double occupancy. Norwegian might have the edge if you can take advantage of the airfare offer.

With cruises, you'd earn the 2% back on the cruise fare but not on the taxes, fees, auto-gratuities, other surcharges and trip protection. Steven Porrello writes about personal finances topics ranging from credit card offers to Costco deals to choosing the best places to park your cash. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. Thankfully, joining Costco isn't a financial risk for me -- or indeed, for anyone. A basic membership costs just $60 per year, and if I absorb that credit card hit and it turns out not to be worth it for me, I can lean on Costco's exemplary return policy. Costco will cancel and refund a membership fee at any time if you're not satisfied.

The trick will be getting to Costco at the optimum time to avoid the bulk of the crowds, because that will truly be the worst part of shopping Costco for me. My two big reasons for contemplating a Costco membership are pretty compelling, but one big hurdle remains. I don't live especially close to a Costco location -- my closest one is about 50 miles away.

Booked direct through the cruise line, a the lowest-priced balcony cabin came to $1,894 per person, including a $100 onboard credit offer. Costco offers these benefits to their customers on select cruises; executive-level Costco members usually receive even greater credits. Finally, Costco offers "Buyer's Choice" and "Kirkland Signature" cruise deals, which offer "exclusive savings and included extras," according to the Costco Cruises website. My quick search through these deals revealed that Costco's Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line cruises usually have the most added freebies. Norwegian cruises even feature free perks, such as a photo package or spa credit, that are combinable with the line's Free at Sea value-adds offered to everyone.

With a policy like that, I feel better about contemplating a Costco membership later this year. Unlike a typical travel agent, Costco Travel also offers rebates issued as Costco Cash Cards. 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. Because the cruise industry aims to enforce pricing parity across all booking channels, discounts don't usually appear in the upfront cruise fare. "Costco is usually the best deal," says KirkNC, who is careful to compare multiple outlets before locking in a fare. "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."

Some cruises will be exceptionally good deals, especially ones that come with lots of complimentary extras. However, if you already have a membership and are planning a cruise, it's definitely worth seeing what the warehouse club is offering in terms of pricing and perks for the sailing you're contemplating. You might find a great deal and get a shop card to spend when you return home from vacation.

The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters. If you're new to cruising or unsure of what you want, Costco might not be the best travel agency for you. "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. "Costco does not do that. Many of their reps have not even been on a cruise." "We had already decided on where we were going, but we were flexible on the travel date and ship," said Ostrander.

You can, however, use a future cruise credit from a cruise line to pay for all or part of your Costco cruise. Your shop card amount will be determined by the cost of the cruise fare, not how you pay for it. So, if you use FCC to pay for your entire sailing, you will still get the shop card based on the invoice price. Typically, Costco Travel offers competitive rates on cruises, so you can either find a discounted deal or at least pay a similar rate offered by other travel sellers. Also, if you're an Executive Member, you earn 2% back on qualifying Costco purchases (up to $1,000), including many travel purchases.

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. Meanwhile, discounts on more expensive cruises or multiple cabins can amount to hundreds of dollars.

Since I have a household of one human and three cats, it's unlikely that I'll be taking advantage of Costco's deals on fresh produce and dairy products even after I move into a house. However, I am planning to get a second refrigerator or possibly a chest freezer for my basement, which opens the door to deals on frozen food from Costco. "They aren't active travel agents, they don't proactively check for price drops," noted kleptn. However, Costco does have pre- and post-travel support departments, as well as an after-hours phone number for travel emergencies, to assist travelers once they've booked their cruise. You will not be able to use your American Express and earn Membership Rewards points for your vacation purchase. Next, I priced out a Carnival cruise, which didn't offer as many extra perks.

Savvy cruisers, including many Cruise Critic members, have saved big by booking cruises through Costco. 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. 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. It's not like you're paying more than you would by booking directly and getting the difference in Costco money. The main benefit of booking a cruise through Costco is that every booking comes with a Digital Costco Shop Card and/or onboard credit.

Still, if you're flexible, focus on these featured offers, especially ones with lots of freebies. The Hidden Wild Bugnet Travel Hammock comes in a carry bag, can be suspended on two tension lines, and has a fine net bug screen over top to protect you from mosquitoes and other creepy insects. The tension lines are attached by carabiners to two tree straps on both sides, which makes it super easy to assemble and disassemble. The hammock normally sells for $29.99, but if you buy it before April 19, 2024, you'll get $10 off.