? about group rates

[lysolqn]

Curious, as these questions came up in a lengthy discussion I was having with a fellow cruise enthusiast the other day and I thought if anyone had answers, it would be someone here on Cruise Critic.

 

Does the cruise line decide which travel agencies qualify for group rates or are those rates available to all agencies?

 

Is the number of cabins alotted an agency under group rates a function of the volume of that agency's sales, status and history with the cruise line or do all agencies get an equal share of group sales?

 

For agencies that offer group rates, as the sail date approaches, do the cabins remaining unsold go back into the cruise line's inventory or is the agency on the hook?

 

Finally, if you book at a group rate and the cruise line's none group fares go down prior to sail date, can you take advantage of the lower fare or are you locked into the group rate?

 

Thanks.