Royal Caribbean International is offering travel agents an additional two points of commission on all new 2012 bookings made from Sept. 21 to Oct. 5. The line also is arming travel agents with a complimentary upgrade offer on select Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas’ sailings or short Bahamas cruises aboard Monarch of the Seas or Majesty of the Seas. Royal Caribbean’s move comes a day after Carnival Cruise Lines made some major changes in its commission tier plan.

Royal Caribbean did not tie the new offer to Carnival’s move, but said its commission bonus and upgrade offer are part of its “Loyal to You Always” commitment and will help agents boost their end-of-year sales. “Royal Caribbean has been and continues to be dedicated to fostering the success of travel agents,” said Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president of sales, trade support and services. “We are always developing opportunities to support the travel agent community and empowering them with the tools they need. The two additional commission points and consumer upgrade offer is another way we are helping travel agents generate more bookings, increase profits and grow their business. Nothing is more important to us.”

U.S. and Canada travel agents who book their clients on Monarch of the Seas or Majesty of the Seas cruises departing October through January can sell an outside stateroom for the cost of an inside stateroom. On a seven-night cruise, clients can get a Central Park- or Boardwalk-view balcony for the cost of an outside stateroom. The upgrade offers are applicable to new bookings only. When booking, agents should ask for the UPG price program to be added to their client’s reservation. For more information, click on Royal Is Loyal to You Always.