What are Interline Cruise Rates and Who Qualifies?

If you're lucky enough to fall upon this article, you're also lucky enough to know that such a thing as interline cruise rates exist. :) And that means you're probably in the travel industry. Yahoo! We're also in the travel industry and work with travel advisors!

So what exactly are these interline cruise rates, who can use them, which cruise lines offer them, and how can you book them? Have a seat and we'll break it all down for you! (Unless you're walking while reading this. Then take a seat at your own risk.)

What are Interline Cruise Rates?

Here's a short explanation that doesn't quite tell the entire story: Cruise line interline rates are a special class of discounted fares cruise lines offer to employees of airlines.

~~What are Interline Cruise Rates Cruise line interline rates are a special class of discounted fares cruise lines offer to employees of airlines.~~

Who can Use Cruise Line Interline Rates?

But that's not all folks! In a time where companies often cut perks and rarely add them, I'm convinced the cruise lines either have forgotten about their interline rates, or are the NICEST people in the world! Here's why:

You can be an active or retired employee of the airline.
Interline rates aren't just for employees! It's almost always extended to their immediate family members as well (but may be at a higher rate).
And the cruise lines don't just spread the interline rate love to airlines, people! Depending on the cruise line, these interline rates are offered to GDS employees, IATA employees, the often forgotten, but oh-so-important air traffic controllers that keep us all safe, and cargo airline companies—looking at you DHL, UPS, and FedEx employees!

Isn't that amazingly generous in this dog-eat-dog world?! (Apologies if your canine finds that offensive like mine do. Old habits die hard.)

And here's the truth. I'm still going to think cruise lines are the nicest people in the world, because that's just a nice thought to have, but the reality is that cruise lines offer these rates on sailings where there are extra rooms to fill. And who better to offer these rooms to than airline employees, who can fly non-rev (non-revenue) at a deeply discounted rate on super short notice? A match made in heaven, if you ask me. :)

If you qualify for interline rates, expect to show proof of employment to the booking agency.

Which Cruise Lines offer Interline Rates?

Pretty much all of the major lines (and some of the smaller lines). Even some river cruise lines offer interline rates! Here's a list of just some of the cruise lines that offer interline rates:

AmaWaterways
Azamara
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Club Med
Costa Cruises
Cunard Line
Disney Cruise Line
Emerald Waterways
Holland America Line
Hurtigruten
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Paul Gaugin Cruises
Princess Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas
Royal Caribbean
Seabourn Cruises
SeaDream Yacht Club
Scenic Cruises
Silversea
Uniworld Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Windstar Cruises

And the boring disclaimer for you: Interline rates may not be available on all cruise itineraries and are subject to availability at the time of booking. It's worth noting that interline rates may also have certain restrictions and exclusions, such as blackout dates, that may not apply to regular fares. They also may not always be the lowest rate available. Boooor-ing.

Read on because in our next section, we'll cover why you may not always have access to all these interline rates, even if you meet all the qualifications.

How and Where to Book an Interline Cruise Rate

So here's the thing about interline rates, they're special! Not only are they only for a certain group of people and on specific sailings, but you can't just book them anywhere. You have gots to book interline rates with a special travel agency that has contracts with the cruise lines to sell these fares.

The nice thing is, you don't have to book them yourself and get to use the amazing services of a travel agency!

We love travel advisors here so if you haven't used an agency before, let us introduce you to the 3 real-life ways travel agencies can save you money AND the advantages of booking with an advisor vs. booking online. Seriously. Support a small business that works hard in the travel industry like you, instead of a large corporate conglomerate!

Okay, enough of my PSA. :) Here's a list of some of the agencies out there that are approved to sell interline cruise rates:

Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments!

Not an Airline Employee but Want Interline Rates?

Ugh, that was totally a clickbait heading because you really can't get interline rates unless you meet the qualifications. But do not despair!! Because there's another career in the travel industry that allows you access to some stellar rates as well. A travel advisor! (No, it's not a dead career in the least!)

If you're curious about great rates (and how can you not be if you're on this article?), check out our free PDF of 200+ travel agent rates. :)

Are Interline Rates Commissionable for Travel Advisors?

Good news for you: Interline rates are commissionable for travel advisors! Yeah, let that sink in. Sounds like an awesome niche to me.

More on how travel advisor commissions work.

Want Access to Travel Advisor Rates?

If you love cruising and want to figure out a way to make a living out of it, you've hit gold. Unbeknownst to you, you were just trying to learn more about interline rates but you landed on a website that specializes in helping people start their agencies! What are the chances?!? It's fate; I'm telling you.

Turns out, it's not just airline employees that get great deals and get to jet set. :)

Check out our zillions* of free resources for you to learn the industry and get your travel agency started!

Want to learn about how travel agent commissions work?
Maybe you're curious about how much you could earn as a travel advisor.
Or maybe, just maybe, you're looking for info on how to start a travel agency from home because you want more flexibility.

Well, we can help you with that and even give you hard numbers on the cost to start an agency. With around 70k visits/mo and a crazy, in-depth annual survey of travel advisors, we can give you all the deets. :)

Take a listen to our podcast of some of the cool niches of successful travel advisors:

And if you've got questions, we're here for that too. Just drop a note in the comments!

*may fall a bit short of that. Sorry, we're prone to hyperbole and bad jokes.

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About the author

Steph Lee

Steph grew up in the travel industry, helping on and off with her mom's homebased travel agency. She has worked with thousands of agents in her role as a former host agency director before leaving in 2012 to start HAR. She's insatiably curious, loves her pups Fennec and Orion, and -- in case you haven't noticed -- is pretty quirky and free-spirited. If you’re looking for Steph, she leaves a trace where ever she goes! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (her fav) and Pinterest as 'iamstephly'. 🙂 You can also catch her on her Substack, Bumblin' Around, where she writes on things outside the world of HAR.

BySteph Lee

Last updatedMarch 15, 2024

PublishedFebruary 26, 2024