this is what i found: non-commissionable fare is cruise line terminology for port charges, which are fees and taxes assessed by government and other agencies, incident to the ship entering, leaving, docking, anchoring and/or remaining in port (e.g.,waste removal, payroll for port employees). The fees might include such port services as shore power, piloting and ground labor. These fees have nothing to do with government levies, and cruise lines are free to raise and lower them to reflect their costs. They can also charge solo travelers twice if they choose.
My TA (a friend) was telling some on line agencies will quote without the NCS fare and make their quotes seem lower ... only to add it later. This is in addition the normal goverment taxes & fees. TAs aren't paid commision on this part of the fare.
It's something I wanted everyone to know, but I didn't know how to explain it!
This dates back to the mid-80's when all cruise lines and T/As would advertise the "base fare" and the them have "port charges/government fees" that were getting rather large. As mentioned they were including all kinds of expenses. There was a class action lawsuit in Florida. In the settlement many cruise passengers got some vouchers for a small refund that could be used on a future cruise.
The net effect was that this was considered to be misleading advertising practices and the cruise lines were forbidden from not including most of them in the advertised rate. There are some government fees that can still be an add-on.
The settlement was with the cruise lines. The Travel Agencies were not involved but most of them went along with the same advertising policies. There are some T/A's that still list the base price without NCF's (non commission-able fee's)
Travel agents that post deals on CLF are required to add those fees with their pricing That way any member that is interested in booking know the total price with no hidden fees added later on.
If the cruise lines find a TA who is advertising a price that does not include port charges, that TA will be banned from selling their product.
All the cruise lines I deal with REQUIRE me to include the port charges in any price I advertise or quote. Government taxes are a different matter, they are not required to be added in by the cruise line. These fees can still be substantial, ranging from $25-80 per person, depending on your length of cruise an # of port stops.
Both port charges and government taxes are non-commissionable to TA's.
When I quote a cruise price, I always include all taxes and fees and my client gets the "out the door" price. IMHO, it's the only way to do business.
Yet when I call the Carnival for instance they give me the commissionable price. Then I have to say what's the total. I don't know why it always seems that way to me and if I don't ask for total I don't get it. I just want total and what is commission on it that way I know if it's my trip what I'm paying. But sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get the prices right.
It would be nice if all the cruise lines would do the pricing the same way. It seems strange that Princess and Carnival quote prices differently even though they are under the same corporate umbrella.
Yet when I call the Carnival for instance they give me the commissionable price. Then I have to say what's the total. I don't know why it always seems that way to me and if I don't ask for total I don't get it. I just want total and what is commission on it that way I know if it's my trip what I'm paying. But sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get the prices right.
You have been extremely unlucky in who you get to quote you prices. Everytime i call they tell me the commissionable cruise fare, the non-commisionable port charges and the misc. gov't taxes.
Although Princess does is differently (giving you the cruise fare + non-commissionable cruise fare in one total), I actually prefer the way Carnival does it. Less subtraction for me to do, to get the commissionable amount.
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NCS Fare
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NCS Fare
Thanks Pat! Interesting!
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That way any member that is interested in booking know the total price with no hidden fees added later on.
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