NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a revision to its fare commission policy affecting travel intermediaries, removing all non-commissionable fares (NCFs) from its pricing structure for itineraries departing on or after May 1st, 2026. Under the updated arrangement, applicable to bookings made from December 26th, 2025 onwards, the entire cruise fare — excluding mandatory government taxes and fees — will be treated as commissionable for travel advisors, marking a permanent shift in how commissions are calculated and earned across the brand’s global sailings.
This adjustment reflects a broader industry focus on strengthening commercial relationships with travel partners, with the removal of NCFs aimed at simplifying the remuneration framework and aligning it more closely with travel advisors’ contributions to cruise sales. NCFs traditionally comprised portions of the fare, such as operational costs, that did not generate earnings for advisors; their elimination means that travel advisors will receive commission on all fare components other than taxes and mandated government levies.
The updated fare policy also restores commissionable status to certain ancillary components, such as the enhanced Free at Sea Plus offering, thereby expanding revenue opportunities for advisors across a broader range of fare products. This development follows earlier industry experimentation with NCF policies at Norwegian, which in some past iterations required conditions such as early booking windows or marketing plan submissions to qualify for commissions on previously non-commissionable elements.
Norwegian’s repositioned commission structure is intended to reinforce its long-standing Partners First ethos and to position the line as a preferred supplier within trade networks by fostering clearer, more transparent compensation mechanics. The change aligns with wider trends in cruise sales strategies that seek to streamline pricing visibility and support travel advisors’ roles in planning and booking complex maritime itineraries.