New French America Line offers pre-paid tips, 15% agent commission

Travelers can get to $420 in free pre-paid gratuities per stateroom, based on double occupancy, for bookings made by June 30 for sailings departing prior to December.

In addition, travel agents will received 15% commission for bookings during the 2016 inaugural sailing season. Agents who book 10 or more customers on a single 2016 sailing will receive extra benefits from the line’s Freedom of Choice program designed to incentivize and reward travel planners.

This points-based program allows agents to select items on an a la carte basis that range from bonus commission to shipboard credits. Additionally, agents will be able to take advantage of the program’s familiarization trip reimbursement feature as well as an aggressive tour leader comp policy.

The elegant, French-inspired Louisiane accommodates a maximum of 150 passengers and will carry 64 US crew. Itineraries focus on regional cultural influences in food, music and history in areas once known as French America along the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Red rivers, and the waterways of the Gulf Coast.

The gratuities offer includes $16 per person per day for on-board service staff (excluding Currents Spa personnel) and $5 per person per day for included Traveler Collection shore excursions. The offer value of up to $420 per stateroom is based on double occupancy for a 10-day cruise-tour. Some cruise-tours are shorter and corresponding savings will be less.