Policy changes in the cruise industry may well raise the price of your next sailing

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4506296/

MSNBC

12/8 - How does one get discounts on cruises? In the past would-be cruisers have used ‘cruise consolidators’ (or discounters) to cut their costs. And most didn't worry about how these agencies got their discounts; they were just happy to be paying $50 or $250 less for their cabin than the couple across from them at the midnight buffet. But now consumers are going to have to start worrying about how their agency ?works its money magic? thanks to new policies being implemented by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival Cruise Lines. These three monoliths (with their various off-spring they control about 70 percent of the cruise market) have decreed that travel agencies that advertise prices ?not approved? by the cruiseline will be punished. Agencies will lose their commissions and published rates will rule, much to the dismay of many consumers and travel agents.

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