That 15% commission rate on a cruise booking? It’s probably closer to 11.7% in practice — and has been for years.
A new industry brief published this month by the American Society of Travel Advisors puts fresh data behind one of the travel trade’s most persistent grievances, offering a detailed accounting of how non-commissionable fares have steadily eroded advisor earnings across the cruise sector — and, to varying degrees, across hotels, airlines, and tour operators as well.
The findings aren’t exactly a revelation for advisors who’ve watched their effective commission rates get whittled down through increasingly creative NCF designations. But the brief is notable for the specificity with which it quantifies the damage — and for the industry momentum it’s riding. Oceania Cruises announced its own NCF elimination this month, following its sibling Norwegian Cruise Line‘s December announcement that it would make the full cruise fare commissionable for sailings beginning in May 2026.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Luxury Travel Advisor.
