All Leisure Group has vowed not to follow other cruise lines by slashing agency commissions and said it could even increase rates “tactically”.
The group, which owns the Voyages of Discovery, Swan Hellenic and Hebridean Island Cruises brands, has already reported a rise in cruise sales since Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cut their base commission rates to 10%.
Group sales director Colin Wilson said: “I understand what is happening for other parts of the cruise sector but we are in a different place. We are small specialist cruise operators and therefore we are not remotely interested in commission cuts in the foreseeable future.”
The cruise lines pay an average of 10% in commission to agents but offer up to 14%, depending on commercial agreements.
“We have no issue in tactically increasing commission or giving overrides where there are soft sales,” added Wilson.
The stance has already encouraged some agents to work with All Leisure Group’s brands more closely, in particular for its most mainstream brand, Voyages of Discovery.
The company is anticipating a surge in bookings for its new 500-berth vessel Voyager after it takes agents to visit the ship before its first sailing on December 4.
All Leisure said it expected a “modest” pre-tax profit this year as it plans to further integrate its cruise and tour operating businesses following its takeover of Page & Moy Travel Group in May.