26 June 2008

Cruise lines 'will scrap commission'

Travel professionals believe cruise lines will follow the lead of the airlines and scrap commission payments.

Speaking at a YouTravel.com/Travelmole industry debate, homeworking agent Audrey Singh said it was already difficult for agents to compete with the deals available online.

Singh, a consultant with Hays Travel, added: Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe are being pushed all the time to sell more cruises, but I donÃ¢â¬â¢t see how agents can make money on them when they are being so heavily discounted online.Ã¢â¬~

Freeways Travel sales director Ben Braude predicted: Ã¢â¬ÅâœIn the future cruise companies will only have nett fares; they are five years behind the airlines in dropping commission payments.Ã¢â¬~

He said agents who want to continue selling cruises will have to charge a booking fee, as they do for air fares.

YouTravel.com sales and marketing director Paul Riches agreed. Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt is going to go the same way as the States where almost all prices are nett.Ã¢â¬~

by Linsey McNeill

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Your Comments (3)

Remember Renaissance Cruises

Weren't Renaissance Cruises the last cruise line to say "we don't need travel agents; we can do it direct with the consumer ourselves". Renaissance of course didn't survive very long after those comments but fortunately they left behid 5 beautiful cruise ships; Oceania etc

By Mel Haycock, Monday, June 30, 2008
Not what the cruise lines are saying

Well, RCI says that the love travel agents. Disney Cruise Lines go out of their way to "curry" my business. MSC is always offering FAMs with seminars on how to sell them. And yes, Carnival seems to be making a serious commitment to TAs. In other words, Ms Singh and Mr. Braude are having a different experience than I am. It seems that most first time cruisers depend on an agent. And first timers who book online usually wind up complaining more.

By dillon, Monday, June 30, 2008
cruise lines to drop commission

I hope they are thinking as Carnvial disclosed that they are going to depend on travel agents more (cheap labor) and less direct marketing to clients/travelers. this is the smart thing to do. non-professional or "card holder" only agent make it difficult for true professionals more than the suppliers.

By Sandy, Friday, June 27, 2008