inGroup International, the parent company of inCruises, has been named the largest North American agency for Costa Cruises and received the cruise line's prestigious "Over the Top" Award for 2026. The award recognizes inGroup International's outstanding production, sustained growth, and the strong strategic alignment between the two organizations. This development matters because it signals the growing influence of subscription-based travel models in the traditional cruise industry and demonstrates how strategic partnerships can create measurable value for both companies and consumers.
Anthony Varvaro, COO & CFO of inGroup International, expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting that Costa continues to be a popular choice among their rapidly expanding Member base. The company values the relationship it continues to build and the meaningful value it delivers to Members. The award was presented during Costa Cruises' Global Summit 2026 held aboard the Costa Smeralda, where Priscilla Reyes, Head of Sales for Costa Cruises North America, extended deepest gratitude to the team at InCruises for their unwavering partnership and exceptional contributions throughout 2025.
Tatiana Wegzyn, Commercial Partnerships Manager at inCruises, accepted the award on behalf of inGroup, stating that their partnership with Costa exemplifies what happens when two companies share a focus on delivering real value. inGroup's focus continues to be helping Members explore more of the world for less while creating measurable value for world-class travel partners. This partnership is significant because it represents a convergence of traditional cruise operations with innovative membership models that are changing how consumers access travel experiences.
The implications of this announcement extend beyond corporate recognition to potentially influence travel industry dynamics. As the world's largest subscription-based travel club, inCruises has booked more than 630,000 guests since launching in 2016 and offers nearly 200,000 cruise, hotel, and resort options worldwide through its platform available in 17 languages. Members earn and redeem Reward Points to save on travel, representing a shift toward membership-based travel economics that could reshape consumer expectations and booking patterns across the industry.
For consumers, this partnership means increased access to Costa's nine-ship fleet that sails to more than 200 destinations across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the United Arab Emirates. The recognition of inGroup's performance suggests that subscription models are gaining substantial traction in mainstream cruise markets, potentially leading to more competitive pricing and innovative travel packages for consumers seeking value-oriented vacation options. The strategic alignment between these companies could accelerate the adoption of membership-based travel models industry-wide, affecting how cruise lines distribute inventory and engage with different customer segments.
Industry observers will be watching how this partnership evolves, particularly as inGroup continues to expand its Member base and Costa Cruises, as part of Carnival Corporation & plc—the world's largest cruise group—seeks to optimize its distribution channels. The award underscores the importance of innovative partnerships in an industry recovering from pandemic disruptions and adapting to changing consumer preferences. For more information about the companies involved, visit https://in.Group and https://inCruises.com.
