Oceania, Regent Seven Seas to ban rebating

By Donna TunneyPrestige Cruise Holdings, parent of Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, informed agents via email that it is implementing an anti-rebating policy, effective May 1. Rebating is surrendering part of the commission to lower the cruise fare.

Violations could result in the lines reducing commissions or marketing funds, canceling or denying group contracts "or taking any other actions it deems appropriate," Prestige said.

"From our perspective, rebating creates confusion in the marketplace, as it results in lower margins for agents and leads to a wide spectrum of prices and value-adds being offered for the same stateroom," Prestige said. "Consequently, consumers are uncertain as to what they should expect to pay for a cruise, and travel agents are uncertain as to what price to quote them."

According to the Prestige statement, the following rules will apply:



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