Carnival Drops Air Commissions

Carnival Corp. said that all of its brands would eliminate the commissions they pay travel agents on the air portion of cruise bookings. Carnival Corp. brands currently pay 5 percent commission on air bookings.

In a letter sent to travel agents on September 12, the company said that the new policy would go into effect for new bookings on October 15 for all its cruise lines, which include Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.

Jack Anderson, vice president of marketing for Carnival Corp. and executive director of the World’s Leading Cruise Lines, an umbrella marketing organization for six of Carnival’s lines, said it was not competitive to add commission to the air fare when airlines don’t pay it.

Royal Caribbean Cruises declined to comment on the issue. NCL Corp. did not respond to a request for comment.