Another Cruise Line Drops NCFs
by Dori Saltzman /Starting next year, American Queen Voyages (AQV) will pay commission to travel advisors on previously non-commissionable fees. It is the second cruise line since Norwegian Cruise Line announced its decision to pay on NCFs to follow suit. (American Cruise Lines changed their policy in early November.) The change is part of the cruise line’s all-inclusive fare update for 2023 that adds port charges, taxes, service fees and onboard crew gratuities to its upfront pricing.
“At American Queen Voyages, our ultimate goal is to deliver a cut-above experience for our guests before they even step foot aboard our vessels,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president of American Queen Voyages. “To do this, we are rolling out extra inclusions at one bundled price to create the overall best cost point and financial transparency for our highly-valued guests. After listening to feedback from our travel partners, we knew this pricing structure was the best way to bundle port charges, taxes, service fees and gratuities into one advertised fare, while offering an increased commission opportunity to our valued cruise travel agents.”
The update goes into effect on January 2, 2023.
