Skift Take
Virgin Voyage's decision to charge high fares that include gratuities, premium dining, and other onboard features means higher earning potential for travel advisors. That's because advisors often lose out when cruise lines offer cheap fares, and then make up for it with onboard, non-commissionable charges.
Virgin Voyages, which started its sales to the public last week, is not bashful about its pricing, but that could be good news for travel advisors. When the cruise line starts service in April 2020, a five-night cruise that includes Havana will start at $3,650 per cabin. However, that price will include most of the onboard experiences, including dining, gratuities, and Wi-Fi.
This is a marked contrast to the industry trend for cruise lines, especially at the mass market level, to entice passengers with cheap fares and then nickel-and-dime them with charges (mostly non-commissionable) once they get on board. So advisors stand to benefit from higher commissions, plus gain the ability to offer a new product that may appeal to clients who don’t normally take cruises. For more about Virgin Voyages' travel agency
