Today, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced it will begin paying travel advisors commissions on non-commissionable fares (NCFs), claiming to be the first major contemporary cruise line to do so.
"Our Partners First philosophy remains top of mind, and our decision to pay commission on NCFs is further proof of our commitment to this community," said Harry Sommer, the line’s president and CEO. "We want our partners to thrive; we want to see their businesses grow all around the world.”
We want our partners to thrive; we want to see their businesses grow all around the world.
NCFs that will now be commissionable include those for bookings made outside of the 120-day window. Norwegian hopes this will further strengthen relationships between advisors and clients, as well as bolster loyalty for the brand, altogether generating repeat business and potentially higher earnings for partners.
"Our travel partners are incredibly important to us and our business; it is a true partnership," said Todd Hamilton, senior vice president of sales at Norwegian. "Advisors know why NCL offers the best cruise experience at sea and when they can speak to our unique, bucket-list itineraries, one-of-a-kind Free at Sea promotion and incredible 18-ship fleet with unparalleled onboard offerings, they are providing immense value to the business. We see this value and we wanted to reward our travel advisors like never before.”
NCF payments will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, for bookings made outside the 120-day payment window for sailings on May 1, 2023, onward. To qualify, advisors must submit a marketing plan via Norwegian Central by Dec. 31, 2022.
Travel Agent Response
The travel advisor community is already responding positively to the plan.
“The news from Norwegian Cruise Line that they will compensate travel advisors for non-commissionable fares, is incredible,” said David Crooks, senior vice president of product and operations for World Travel Holdings. “To me, this is one of the most exciting things I've heard in a long time. The past two years have been challenging for our industry and as we push toward recovery, this change provides even further momentum. Norwegian's continued support of the trade is applauded and we look forward to demonstrating our appreciation.”
