Costco's most expensive cruise sale this year was a $293K trip around the world. It came with a $25K store gift card.

13.12.2024 - 17:47 / insider.com / Cruises

A Costco member shelled out nearly $300,000 on an around-the-world cruise package purchased through the warehouse club.

Costco memberships are widely known for giving access to deals on items ranging from bulk toilet paper to gold bullion, but one occasionally overlooked perk is the club's travel deals.

The company offers all sorts of travel services, including vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, hotels, and flights. In fact, CFO Gary Millerchip said members made enough car rentals last year to fill every US Costco parking spot more than eight times over.

Millerchip also called out the largest cruise booking for the year: "a 150-day around-the-world cruise, starting from Fort Lauderdale and making stops in places like the Galápagos and Easter Islands."

The CFO said the journey cost $293,000 for two travelers in the ship's owner's suite and included $13,000 in shipboard credits, as well as a $25,000 Costco Shop card.

Many offerings include a Shop card "as extra value for booking with Costco," he said.

The company did not specify which cruise line, although several that it sells — such as Azamara, Cunard, Holland America, and Regent Seven Seas — offer annual world cruise itineraries.

Cunard and Holland America have departures from Fort Lauderdale, according to Costco's travel site, and packages start at around $1,000 for a weeklong itinerary.

Many of these extended around-the-world voyages have been selling exceptionally well over the last few years — especially Regent Seven Seas.

The luxury cruise line's 132-night 2024 global voyage sold out in less than three hours when bookings opened in 2021, a record for the company. A year later, the 150-night 2025 iteration (its longest yet) was again fully booked out before reservations could open to the public.