Costa Cruzeiros boosts acquisition and +70% ROAS with Black Friday video campaigns

+87%
Spend YoY
20%
of conversions had a previous touchpoint with OLV campaign
74%
Viewability rate on online video campaigns
Challenge

Driving full-funnel growth ahead of Black Friday

Costa Cruzeiros Brazil is a cruise line with a significant global presence. With over 70 years of experience in South America, Costa Cruzeiros is recognized as one of the leading cruise operators in Brazil. The company is known for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and delivering unforgettable travel experiences.

In 2024, Costa Cruzeiros sought to attract new users to their website and expand their retargeting base ahead of Black Friday. Their objectives included ensuring that incoming new traffic was high in both volume and quality—users likely to engage and convert. With growing pressure to stand out in a competitive travel landscape, Costa Cruzeiros needed a strategy that could combine compelling content with precision targeting across the full funnel.

Solution

Testing and optimizing acquisition with video

Costa Cruzeiros employed a test-and-learn strategy with Criteo throughout the year, laser-focused on identifying the most effective acquisition strategies. They experimented with different acquisition audiences, including prospecting and in-market segments, to determine which groups were most responsive.

Additionally, Costa Cruzeiros tested various formats, including display and online video ads, to gauge their impact. They placed a strong focus on creatives, using highly engaging videos and images that captivated new users with the beautiful getaways and cruise ship experiences they offer.

This iterative approach allowed Costa Cruzeiros to refine their tactics continuously, ensuring they maximized their reach and engagement using Budget Visit Optimization, while driving new users to their website and expanding their retargeting base.

Results

Capturing new demand and boosting ROAS

The online video strategy paid off: Costa Cruzeiros achieved a 74% video viewability rate and grew overall media spend by 87% year over year. Online video became a key driver of upper funnel engagement, with 20% of all conversions during the Black Friday retargeting campaign starting with an online video touchpoint.

That retargeting campaign, supported by the expanded base from video, delivered a 70% increase in return on ad spend compared to the previous year—highlighting the power of full-funnel coordination. Based on these results, Costa Cruzeiros plans to increase investment in video marketing in 2025 to fuel continued growth.