MSC Cruises says it is giving retail partners in the UK more opportunity to benefit from selling its products with the launch of upgraded commission payments on shore excursions.

"Promised as part of the cruise line’s ‘Serving You’ programme for agents, which launched in July, the higher commission goes live today (October 1 2014) and will initially run as a six-month trial. Previously all agents received a standard 5% on excursions but that will now rise to the level of their individually-negotiated base commission," the company said in a statement.

To receive the higher payments, retailers must book the excursions via MSC Cruises’ new trade booking portal, MSC Book (www.mscbook.com/uk).

Giles Hawke, MSC Cruises executive director UK and Ireland said: “When we unveiled ‘Serving You’ we set out our plans to get closer to the trade and listen to their concerns. Enhancing commission on excursions was on our ‘to do’ list and we have been true to our word.

“Agents had told us in the past that our excursions were complicated to book and that the payments didn’t reflect the time it took. MSC Book is much more user friendly and integrates excursions into the sales path, so our partners can now book land-based activities easier and make more money.”

The launch of higher commission payments comes hot on the heels of the roll-out of MSC Book. Access to the new booking system is now available to all retailers following its successful introduction across the UK during September.