Expedia Group to Introduce Flex Pay for Cruise Bookings

Rhea-AI Summary

Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE) has partnered with Flex Pay to introduce flexible payment options for cruise bookings across its brands including Expedia Cruises, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, and Cheaptickets.com. The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution allows travelers in the US and Canada to finance their cruise vacations over 3 to 24 months.

The partnership with Flex Pay (formerly Uplift) covers more than 20 cruise brands available on Expedia Group platforms. According to Flex Pay, their financing solutions have demonstrated a 15-25% increase in booking volume, conversion, and order value. The company reported a 23% year-over-year growth in cruise bookings during 2024.

Positive

• New BNPL payment option expected to increase booking volume by 15-25%
• Flex Pay demonstrated 23% YoY growth in cruise bookings (2024)
• Partnership expands customer reach across 750+ travel brands

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Expedia's introduction of Flex Pay for cruise bookings represents a strategic enhancement to its payment ecosystem that could drive incremental revenue growth. The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) option allows customers to finance cruise purchases over 3-24 months across five Expedia Group brands, potentially lowering barriers to booking higher-ticket travel experiences.

The partnership claims to increase booking volume, conversion rates, and order values by 15-25%, which could meaningfully impact Expedia's cruise vertical performance. Flex Pay's cruise division reportedly achieved 23% year-over-year booking growth in 2024, suggesting strong consumer adoption of financing options in this segment.

This move aligns with broader fintech integration trends in travel and targets the higher-margin cruise segment specifically. Cruise bookings typically represent larger transaction values compared to standard hotel or flight bookings, making them particularly suitable for financing options. The mentioned no-interest financing could prove especially attractive to consumers, though the cost structure of this arrangement (whether borne by Expedia, cruise lines, or Flex Pay) remains unclear.

While this enhancement should positively impact customer experience and conversion rates for cruise bookings, it represents an evolution of existing capabilities rather than a transformative business shift. The material financial impact will depend on what percentage of Expedia's overall business comes from cruises and the actual lift in bookings - neither of which is specified in the announcement.

With Flex Pay, travelers can spread their payments over 3 to 24 months, making it easier than ever to plan and pay for their ideal cruise vacation.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE), one of the world's leading travel technology companies, has chosen Flex Pay to bring flexible payment options in the US and Canada to travelers booking cruise vacations across five Expedia Group brands including Expedia Cruises, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com and Cheaptickets.com. Through this collaboration, travelers can now use Flex Pay, an innovative Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution from Upgrade. This payment option, available across over 750 travel and retail brands, allows travelers to finance their cruise experiences in simple, and affordable monthly installments. 

Expedia Group has chosen Flex Pay to bring flexible payment options to travelers booking cruises

"We believe travel should be accessible to everyone," said Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia Cruises at Expedia Group. "With the introduction of Flex Pay, we're not just offering payment options; we're opening doors to experiences that once may have seemed out of reach. By allowing travelers to spread costs over time, we're making dream cruises more attainable and enabling the exploration of the world on one's own terms."

This marks the expansion of a longstanding offering of financing through Flex Pay (formerly Uplift) that enables travelers to enjoy unforgettable cruise adventures while managing their budgets more effectively. Whether exploring the Caribbean, sailing through the Mediterranean, or river cruising in Europe, Expedia Group's extensive cruise offerings cater to every type of traveler, and now they have the opportunity to book now and pay later through Flex Pay.

With its bank partners, Flex Pay has taken the leadership position in cruise financing bringing product innovation that makes travel costs more manageable, including no-interest financing that has proven to increase booking volume, conversion, and order value by 15-25%.¹

"We are excited that Expedia Group has chosen Flex Pay, the leader in travel BNPL, to power their cruise booking," said Tom Botts, President of Flex Pay. "This partnership builds on the success of our cruise division, which achieved a 23% year-over-year growth in bookings in 2024, driven by both increased volume and order value. With products like no-interest loans and on-board financing, we take pride in helping partners like Expedia Group and their cruise lines expand their reach, attract more customers, and boost revenue."

Flex Pay offers greater affordability and flexibility, allowing travelers to book cruises with more than 20 cruise brands available on Expedia Group and turn their dream vacations into reality. Through Flex Pay, travelers can spread their payments over 3 to 24 months, making it easier than ever to plan and pay for their ideal cruise vacation.

About Flex Pay
Flex Pay is a Buy Now, Pay Later solution offered by Upgrade, Inc. Upgrade offers affordable and responsible credit, mobile banking and payment products to mainstream consumers. Upgrade has delivered over $36 billion in affordable and responsible credit to over 6 million customers since its inception in 2017. The company's headquarters are in San Francisco, California, with an operations center in Phoenix, Arizona, a technology center in Montreal, Canada, and regional offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and Irvine, California. Loans made through Flex Pay are offered by these lending partners. Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. More information is available at: https://www.upgrade.com/ and https://www.uplift.com/en-ca/flex-pay/

About Expedia Group
Expedia Group, Inc. brands power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Expedia Group's three flagship consumer brands include: Expedia^®, Hotels.com^®, and Vrbo^®. For more information, visit www.expediagroup.com Follow us on X @expediagroup and check out our LinkedIn.

© 2025 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Expedia Group and the Expedia Group logo are trademarks of Expedia, Inc. CST: 2029030-50

¹Flex Pay analysis spanning 2022-2024 transactions.

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SOURCE Upgrade, Inc.; Expedia Group

FAQ

What payment terms does Expedia Group's new Flex Pay offer for cruise bookings?

Flex Pay allows travelers to spread cruise payments over 3 to 24 months through its BNPL solution.

How many cruise brands can be financed through EXPE's Flex Pay program?

More than 20 cruise brands available on Expedia Group platforms can be financed through Flex Pay.

What growth did Flex Pay report in cruise bookings for 2024?

Flex Pay reported a 23% year-over-year growth in cruise bookings during 2024.

Which Expedia Group brands offer the Flex Pay financing option for cruises?

Flex Pay is available on Expedia Cruises, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, and Cheaptickets.com.