Here Are the Overbooking Policies of Ocean Cruise Lines
by Kerry Tice
According to TMR's Second Ocean Cruise Report Card, NCL "manage our inventory based on past booking trends and current market conditions." Photo: NCL.
Overbooking is always a hot topic in the travel industry, and how a supplier deals with these scenarios can make all the difference to travel advisors and their clients. The bottom line is overbooking exists, so when 15 of the most popular ocean cruise lines in the market were asked for Travel Market Report’s Ocean Cruise Report Card for Travel Agents if they overbook and how they handle commissions, here’s what they said:
Azamara Club Cruises – No, we do not overbook.
Celebrity Cruises – No, we do not overbook.
Crystal Cruises – Yes, commission will be paid according to the category booked by the guest.
Holland America Line – Yes, we make every effort to protect commission.
MSC Cruises – No, we manage to the ship’s capacity.
Norwegian Cruise Line – We conservatively and smartly manage our inventory based on past booking trends and current market conditions.
Oceania Cruises – Yes, commissions are paid on sailed business.
Paul Gauguin Cruises – No, we do not overbook.
Regent Seven Seas – Yes, commissions are protected.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – No, we do not overbook.
Seabourn – Yes, situation is handled on a case-by-case basis.
Viking Ocean Cruises – Minimal overbooking and travel agents don’t lose commission due to overbooking.
Windstar Cruises – Not currently.
