Cruise lines have been urged to step in and “nip discounting in the bud”, as agents revealed it had become more widespread in recent months, Travel Weekly reports on its website.

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group that has significant presence in the country, cut commission to 5% in 2012 after it had become clear that some agents used part of the commission in a price war to win market share from others.

Scott Anderson, of The Luxury Cruise Company, claimed some agents were discounting cruises by up to 13%. Thomas Cook was this week offering 5% off.

“We’ve lost bookings as a result of others discounting, but we refuse to drop our prices,” he said. “It annoys me that there is no way of policing it. I’d like cruise lines to take away marketing funds from those that discount. Discounting breeds a culture among consumers who think they can get cheaper prices, but we won’t play price ping pong. Cruise lines must nip it in the bud,” Anderson was quoted by the publication as saying.