Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have announced that they are prohibiting discounting by any TA, below the lines' posted fare. Few of us consider RCI, but some of us have cruised Celebrity, I have noticed. This seems to be a fare increase, but one which does not benefit the line. It is only a prohibition against the TA giving the customer back some of the commission. Rather clearly, it is an attempt by these lines to get a tighter grasp on fares, as a predicate for future rate hikes that will benefit the lines. It's caused a bit of stir among regulars on these lines.

The whole thing raises a question to me. Is a TA an agent for the line, the customer, or an independent retailer? If the TA is legally an agent for the line, this is all OK legally and ethically. It is just a fare hike, although a strange one. If TAs are agents for the customers or independent retailers, It raises interesting anti-trust issues (to which I don't have a definitive answer). Just curious. What is the agency status of TAs?

Thanks,
Richard :) :)