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Trade can earn up to £1,200 in commission when they sell expedition cruise, new data suggests

Agents
Harry Kemble
11 December 2025

More than half of Expedition Cruise Network's cruise line members have revealed they pay tour operators more than 20% in commission for selling their product.

Gentoo penguins on an ice floe with tourists on a Zodiac cruise
Credit: iStock/ Andrew Peacock

On average, an agent will earn around £1,200 in commission when they sell an expedition cruise (Credit: iStock/ Andrew Peacock)

Expedition cruise operators which responded to ECN's Insights Report 2025/26, published on Thursday (11 December), confirmed 90% of bookings excluding flights are priced at £6,000 and 30% of overall bookings with flights are valued at more than £10,000 per person.

Travel trade professionals reported that 79% of bookings per person are worth more than £6,000 and 42% of bookings are over £10,000 per person.

Based on 20% commission rate, a tour operator who sells a £6,000 expedition cruise without flights would earn £1,200 from the booking.