Westgate Cruise and Travel Review: How It Works and Is It Worth It?

Westgate Cruise and Travel gives eligible members access to cruises, hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, tours, and other travel products through a single booking platform. Depending on the membership, travelers may also receive credits, certificates, special rates, or cruise-exchange options.

The potential savings can be appealing, especially for couples who travel regularly. However, the price shown during a search does not always represent the complete cost. Membership fees, redemption charges, taxes, supplier fees, travel restrictions, and cancellation rules can all affect the final value.

We will explain how Westgate Cruise and Travel works, what members can book, and how to decide whether a particular offer is genuinely useful.

Important: Westgate offers several membership structures. Benefits, renewal costs, credits, certificates, and cancellation rights may vary according to the agreement purchased. Members should check their signed documents and online account before making financial or travel decisions.

What Is Westgate Cruise and Travel?

The official program is known as the WG Cruise & Travel Collection. It is associated with Westgate vacation ownership and certain Westgate Travel Club memberships, but it is not a cruise line or a single vacation package.

The program is administered by Arrivia, Inc., which also does business as Our Vacation Center. According to the official membership terms, Arrivia generally acts as an intermediary between members and the companies that provide the actual travel services.

For example, a cruise line operates the sailing, a hotel supplies the room, and an airline operates the flight. These providers may control availability, schedule changes, deposits, refund rules, and other conditions attached to a reservation.

Westgate Cruise and Travel should not be treated as interchangeable with Westgate Travel Club or Westgate vacation ownership. Cruise and Travel may be one benefit within a broader plan, while other members may have a separate subscription or purchased membership. The documents issued at enrollment determine what an individual account includes.

Westgate Cruise and Travel Login and Customer Service

Members can access their accounts through the official Westgate Cruise and Travel portal. The login page allows members to search available travel, view account benefits, check credits, and retrieve a forgotten password.

The portal currently lists 1-800-572-6169 for member assistance. This number may be used for help with an account, eligible bookings, credits, or reservations made through the Cruise and Travel platform.

Westgate Travel Club maintains separate customer-service numbers for benefits such as Club Weeks and other portions of its plans. Members should use the contact information connected with the specific benefit they are trying to access.

How the Membership Works

After a membership is activated, the primary subscriber can sign in and search the travel inventory available to that account. Some trips can be reserved online, while certificates, exchanges, or more complicated itineraries may require assistance from a vacation consultant.

Access usually depends on the account remaining in good standing. A member who is behind on subscription payments, renewal fees, financing obligations, or other required charges may lose access to bookings and unused benefits.

Memberships may be structured as annual subscriptions, multi-year plans, financed purchases, paid-in-full plans, or benefits connected with another Westgate product. The initial purchase price and future obligations therefore cannot be determined from the program name alone.

Members should review the following documents before relying on a benefit:

The membership enrollment form
The purchase receipt
Any financing agreement
The current online account
The terms attached to a certificate or promotion
The confirmation issued for a specific reservation

Written documents are especially important when a sales presentation included promises about future availability, discounts, or cancellation options. The general terms state that the program is responsible for its written representations rather than statements made by unaffiliated parties.

What Can Members Book?

The products available can depend on the account, destination, and current inventory. Common booking categories include:

Cruises: Sailings from participating cruise lines, with prices determined by the ship, itinerary, travel date, cabin, and occupancy.
Hotels and resorts: Rooms at participating properties, including selected member rates and limited-inventory promotions.
Vacation rentals: Resort-style accommodations and other rental properties in eligible destinations.
Flights and rental cars: Transportation that may be booked separately or alongside other travel arrangements.
Tours and experiences: Activities, guided trips, and experiential vacation products offered by participating providers.

Not every category or discount is available to every member. Inventory can also change quickly during holidays, school breaks, cruise seasons, and popular travel dates.

How Westgate Travel Credits Work

Travel Credits are a form of loyalty currency used within the Cruise and Travel program. Members may receive them through enrollment, eligible travel purchases, ownership-related transactions, or other qualifying activity.

Travel Credits do not have cash value. They may be applied as partial payment toward certain eligible reservations, but the maximum amount that can be redeemed varies by product. A large credit balance does not necessarily mean that the full balance can be used on one trip.

Credits generally cannot be used to pay taxes, supplier fees, travel insurance, shipping, handling, or other excluded charges. The primary subscriber or subscribers listed on the account must normally complete the redemption.

Unused Travel Credits may expire when the associated subscription ends. Credits can also be withdrawn if an account remains out of good standing. Members should check the expiration date and maximum redemption amount before planning a trip around an existing balance.

What Are Experience Points?

Experience Points are different from ordinary Travel Credits. They may be issued when an eligible Westgate owner exchanges the right to use a Westgate resort week for points that can be applied to qualifying cruises.

The current general terms list a $149 exchange fee for depositing an eligible Westgate week. After the exchange is completed, the Experience Points are placed in the member’s account for full or partial payment toward an eligible cruise.

Experience Points must currently be redeemed within 12 months of issuance. They also cannot be combined with other alternative currencies. Because exchange values and requirements may change, owners should compare the value of using their resort week with the value received toward the cruise before completing the exchange.

Cruise Certificates, Resort Certificates, and Promotions

Some memberships include certificates or promotional credits. These benefits are not automatically included with every account, and their value depends on the individual redemption terms.

A cruise certificate may cover part of a selected cabin for two travelers, while a resort certificate may cover a particular room type or number of nights. Eligible destinations, travel periods, accommodation categories, and booking deadlines may be restricted.

Members should check:

When the certificate must be activated or redeemed
Which destinations, ships, or properties participate
Whether blackout dates apply
What cabin or room category is included
Whether a minimum purchase is required
What redemption fee must be paid
Which expenses remain the traveler’s responsibility

Limited-time cruise and hotel promotions may also be capacity-controlled. A rate advertised in an email or on the portal may disappear once the available rooms or cabins have been reserved.

How Much Does Westgate Cruise and Travel Cost?

There is no single cost that applies to every Westgate Cruise and Travel member. The total can include the original membership price, annual fees, financing charges, redemption fees, booking charges, and the cost of individual trips.

Initial Membership Cost

The initial price depends on what was purchased and whether the membership was sold separately or as part of a broader Westgate plan. Some buyers pay in full, while others enter an installment agreement that includes interest or finance charges.

Annual Renewal Fees

Some memberships require an annual renewal payment. The Westgate Travel Club FAQ currently lists a $249 renewal fee for the broader Travel Club plan and explains that it activates several parts of that membership.

A separate Westgate Cruise and Travel page also lists a $249 annual price for a specific Elite subscription. These published amounts should not be assumed to apply to every account because prices and membership structures can differ.

Booking and Redemption Charges

Certificates, cruise exchanges, Club Weeks, telephone bookings, or other benefits may require separate fees. The amount should appear in the terms of the benefit or during the reservation process.

A benefit described as complimentary or included can still require payment before it is used. Members should request the complete cash amount rather than relying on the label attached to the offer.

Costs That May Not Be Included

Westgate’s published terms state that government fees, taxes, fuel surcharges, port expenses, and supplier-imposed charges may be additional unless a booking specifically says otherwise.

Depending on the trip, the final cost may include:

Cruise port expenses and government taxes
Hotel or resort fees
Parking and security deposits
Airline baggage and seat-selection charges
Rental-car fuel, toll, and additional-driver fees
Cruise gratuities and onboard spending
Transportation between the airport, hotel, and port
Travel insurance
Booking, exchange, or certificate-redemption fees
Change or cancellation penalties

Couples should calculate the amount required for both travelers. Some cruise offers are advertised per person but based on double occupancy, meaning the displayed fare must be multiplied by two before the remaining charges are added.

How to Check Whether a Westgate Deal Saves Money

The best way to measure the membership is to compare an exact trip that a couple genuinely intends to take.

Match the dates. Compare travel during the same nights or on the same sailing.
Match the product. Use the same hotel, room, cruise ship, cabin category, flight, or rental-car class.
Use the same occupancy. Compare the price for the same two travelers rather than mixing per-person and per-room rates.
Check the refund conditions. A nonrefundable rate should not be compared with a flexible reservation as though they are identical.
Apply credits accurately. Confirm how many credits the booking accepts rather than subtracting the entire account balance.
Add excluded charges. Include all required taxes, fees, deposits, and redemption costs.
Include the membership expense. Account for annual fees and any remaining financing payments.
Compare the final amount. Check the travel provider’s direct price and other publicly available rates before paying.

Understanding the Best Value Guarantee

Westgate publishes a Best Value Guarantee for certain eligible hotel, resort, and cruise bookings. A successful claim generally requires a lower publicly available price for an identical reservation, including matching dates, room or cabin type, supplier, and cancellation conditions.

Westgate’s published pages currently contain conflicting deadlines. The general membership terms refer to written proof submitted within 48 hours of purchase, while the dedicated Best Value Guarantee terms require members to contact the company within 24 hours.

Because the dedicated page states the shorter period, a member who finds a lower eligible price should submit the claim immediately and no later than 24 hours after booking. Airfare and rental-car purchases are excluded from the guarantee under the general terms.

Cancellation and Refund Rules

Canceling a membership and canceling a travel reservation are separate processes. Ending one does not automatically cancel the other.

Canceling a New Membership

The current general terms describe a 10-day cancellation period for new non-Florida subscribers and a 30-day period for new Florida subscribers. The calculation of the deadline and the required notice method can differ for subscriptions, paid-in-full memberships, and financed agreements.

Florida membership agreements may calculate the period from the agreement date or receipt of the certificate, whichever occurs later. Members should follow the cancellation notice included with their own signed documents instead of relying only on a general online summary.

After the initial cancellation period, a member may be able to end future access without receiving a refund. Canceling the membership may also leave unpaid financing balances or other contractual charges in place.

Canceling a Trip

Individual reservations are subject to the cancellation terms shown during booking and in the confirmation. The cruise line, hotel, airline, or other supplier may impose penalties that increase as the departure date approaches.

When Travel Credits were used, the amount returned can depend on whether the reservation was canceled before or during a penalty period. Cash and credits may be applied to penalties in a particular order, and not every benefit will automatically be restored.

Before confirming a trip, both travelers should understand:

The final date for cancellation without penalty
Whether the deposit is refundable
The cost of changing names or dates
What happens to redeemed credits or certificates
Whether the membership must remain active through departure

Potential Benefits for Couples

Westgate Cruise and Travel may be useful when its benefits match a couple’s normal travel habits.

One booking portal: Members can search several types of travel without opening separate accounts for every part of a trip.
Offers structured for two: Many cruise and resort prices are based on double occupancy, which can suit couples traveling together.
Existing membership value: Owners who already have access may be able to use benefits they would otherwise leave unused.
Flexible destination choices: The platform includes travel beyond Westgate-owned resorts.
Assistance with complicated bookings: A vacation consultant may help with certificates, cruise exchanges, or multi-part trips.

The program is most useful when a couple finds a suitable trip at a competitive final price. Choosing inconvenient dates simply to use an expiring benefit can turn an apparent saving into an unnecessary expense.

Limitations Couples Should Consider

Popular dates may have limited availability. Couples tied to holidays or school calendars may have fewer useful choices.
The primary subscriber controls some benefits. Travel Credits normally must be redeemed by the primary subscriber listed on the account.
Discounts vary by trip. A competitive cruise rate does not guarantee competitive pricing for every hotel or destination.
Membership costs continue separately. Skipping a vacation does not necessarily remove annual or financed obligations.
Supplier rules still apply. Schedule changes, refunds, and service problems may depend on the company operating the trip.
Flexibility may cost more. The cheapest rate may carry strict change or cancellation conditions.

Partners should also decide who owns the account, who can make changes, and what happens to unused benefits if their travel plans change.

Is Westgate Cruise and Travel Legit?

Westgate Cruise and Travel is an official travel membership program associated with Westgate and administered by Arrivia. It has a functioning member portal, published terms, customer-service channels, and established relationships with travel suppliers.

Legitimacy does not guarantee that every membership is a good financial choice. A real travel program can still be too expensive, restrictive, or poorly matched to a particular couple’s needs.

The Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on vacation clubs advises consumers to understand ongoing costs, study how benefits work, check cancellation rights, obtain promises in writing, and avoid signing documents they do not understand.

Anyone considering a membership should take enough time to read the contract independently. Claims about guaranteed availability, effortless cancellation, or a specific amount of future savings should appear clearly in writing.

Is Westgate Cruise and Travel Worth It?

Westgate Cruise and Travel may provide value for couples who already receive access, take several trips each year, have flexible travel dates, and regularly find suitable bookings at lower final prices.

It may be less useful for couples who travel infrequently, need flexible cancellation, cannot use restricted dates, or prefer booking directly with cruise lines and hotels. Financing an expensive membership solely for the possibility of future discounts also deserves careful consideration.

Before purchasing or renewing, choose two or three realistic trips for the next year. Price each one through Westgate Cruise and Travel, add every membership and booking expense, and compare the result with an equivalent direct reservation.

The membership is worthwhile only when it reduces the complete cost of vacations a couple genuinely wants to take. The written agreement, actual availability, and final amount paid matter more than the advertised discount.