MSC Cruises said it will offer an enhanced set of benefits
for agents booking groups.
MSC EZ Groups is paying 10% commission on
prepaid shore excursions and beverage packages. Travel agents don’t typically
earn commission on those items, although MSC has paid commission on them at
various points.
EZ Groups provides up to eight amenity points per booking.
Amenity points are determined by sailing date, itinerary and season and are
listed on the group rate sheets, MSC said.
MSC said the groups program is available on all Caribbean
and Mediterranean cruises. It will waive the good-faith deposit requirement on
groups of 16 or fewer.
FIT bookings can be transferred into an existing group at
the contracted group rates while the group rate is available. If group rate is
no longer available, FIT bookings may be transferred while maintaining the
higher FIT rate. In all cases, group amenities will be applied, MSC said.
More information is available on MSC’s agent portal, as well
as in a downloadable flyer.
The EZ Group features apply to bookings made now for cruises
that begin after April 1, 2017.