Norwegian Cruise Line Eliminates NCFs

Norwegian Cruise Line has become the first legacy cruise line to remove non-commissionable fares (NCFs), making the entire cruise fare (minus taxes) commissionable to its travel advisor partners.

The news was shared with advisor via an email in which the line wrote: “As Norwegian Cruise Line celebrates 15 years of Partners First in 2026, we’re excited to introduce a major enhancement that reinforces our ongoing commitment to being the easiest cruise line for travel advisors to work with…”

Th change takes effect Dec. 26, 2025, for all sailings departing May 1, 2026, and beyond.

“Travel advisors are the backbone of our industry, and their success is our success,” said John Chernesky, senior vice president of sales for North America at NCL. “Removing NCFs is a meaningful commitment to strengthening our partnership and ensuring advisors are fully rewarded for the value they bring to their clients and to NCL.”

NCFs have long been a thorn in the travel advisor community’s side, particularly with cruise lines. They are often vague, encompassing not only taxes, but “fees” that are rarely fully disclosed. Cruise line executives have been defending NCFs for many years as essential, but some newer cruise lines have launched without ever imposing them. This includes Viking, Virgin Voyages, and Explora Journeys.

Norwegian has previously removed NCFs, from January 1, 2023, through the first quarter of 2024. Advisors had to submit a marketing plan to qualify for the NCF fares, and only bookings made at least 120 days in advance of sailing qualified. However, advisor participation was not high enough at the time, and the cruise line ended the program in 2024.

Unlike the first time, this new policy change has “no fine print” and “no catch,” the line said.