SIX snags MSC Cruises Alipay deal

SIX Payment Services has been appointed the commercial acquirer and acquiring processing partner in a new Ant Financial/MSC Cruises mobile payments tie up.

MSC Cruises is prepping a fleet-wide roll out of Alipay, making it the first international cruise brand to adopt the service across all its ships. Passengers will be able to use Alipay to settle onboard expenses including shopping, food, drinks and entertainment. MSC Lirica, which has been serving the Chinese homeport market for over a year, was the first ship to introduce it in November. MSC Meraviglia, which came into service last year, then became the world’s first large cruise ship to accept Alipay in the Mediterranean. It will also be introduced to MSC Splendida, which will make her maiden voyage in China next May after an enhancement project. The fleet-wide roll-out is scheduled for completion by March.

“Chinese guests will be an important driver of the cruise industry and are highly valued by MSC Cruises, which has been committed to improving guest experience, diversifying products and tailoring services to Chinese guests’ preferences and needs. Introducing Alipay to our entire fleet as a payment option is part of our effort to create an extraordinary onboard cruising experience. It is also a testament to our long-term commitment to Chinese guests and the market,” says Gianni Onorato, CEO at MSC Cruises.

“This is a major breakthrough in terms of the application scenario. We hope that Alipay, carried by MSC Cruises ships, will better serve Chinese tourists on their global cruises while allowing foreign tourists to experience an Alipay that is secure, efficient and convenient. This is the mission and vision of Alipay expanding overseas,” comments Su Qiang, Vice President at Ant Financial.