Why Would Virgin Voyages Pay Commission On PrePaid Gratuities? #devilsadvocate

Sources that explicitly say 16% on prepaid gratuities 1. Travelweek — John Lovell interview (March 19, 2026) https://www.travelweek.ca/news/cruise/the-advisor-channel-is-a-primary-growth-engine-for-us-interview-with-virgin-voyages-john-lovell/ This is the strongest print source. Lede: “Double-digit commission (now 16%) on voyage fares and prepaid gratuities.”  2. Global Agents — same Lovell briefing, reprinted (Sept. 12, 2026) https://globalagents.ca/cruise/news/virgin-voyages-john-lovell-interview-agent-bookings-growth-2026 “16% commission on voyage fares and prepaid gratuities.”  3. YouTube — What’s Behind Virgin Voyages’ New Tiered Fare Structure (Oct. 5, 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6edfkwMzaQk Transcript: prepaid gratuities are “fully commissionable at the 16%” and “we’re commissioning the gratuities at the full voyage fare rate.”