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Norwegian Joy implements Alipay option

(Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)
Passengers can use Alipay for purchases at shops, dining venues and other spots on board Norwegian Joy
Built for the Chinese market, the new Norwegian Joy offers Alipay as a payment option. Alipay is the world's largest online and mobile payment platform, operated by Ant Financial Services Group, an Alibaba-related company.

Recently Carnival Corp. & plc announced plans to implement Alipay for its Costa and Princess Cruises ships in Asia.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said its Alipay option represents the first time a cruise ship has debuted with this payment platform.

Norwegian Joy began accepting transactions via Alipay on a trial basis during a preview cruise for members and guests of Alibaba Group that sailed from Shanghai on June 10.

Providing Alipay allows travelers to make purchases with the most-used payment system in China at the several luxury shops, dining venues with multinational cuisine and other points of purchase on Norwegian Joy in the same way that they use it on land, according to David Herrera, president, NCLH China.

'The great success of our trial on our June 10 preview voyage has allowed us to make this mobile payment method available to all guests much sooner than originally planned,' Herrera said.

He thanked the Alipay team who 'worked hand in hand with the team at Norwegian to make this possible.'