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April 2, 2025

Since 2007, small-ship cruise leader Aqua Expeditions has been redefining luxury travel, offering boutique voyages to discerning travelers wanting unparalleled access to remote destinations without sacrificing luxury.

From a single vessel, the Aqua Expeditions fleet has expanded to operate five luxury vessels, on board which guests can sail through the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, the Mekong Delta, Galápagos Islands, and East Indonesia.

Accommodating just 16–40 guests per ship, Aqua Expeditions embodies high-end adventure. Guests enjoy world-class dining curated by top chefs and twice-daily excursions ranging from wildlife encounters to scuba diving in pristine waters. However, despite its meticulous approach to hospitality, its payment experience did not align with the seamless luxury and exclusive onboard experience.

Payment experience mismatch with expectations of excellence

Aqua Expeditions relied on a widely used payment platform to process transactions from its predominantly U.S., U.K., and European client base. However, they experienced multiple challenges. High reserve fund requirements, difficulties in transferring funds efficiently, and limited customer support created friction in the payment experience. The inflexibility made it clear that Aqua Expeditions needed a provider with a deep understanding of a luxury travel company’s needs.

A tailored solution with Flywire

When approached by a Flywire representative—who had personally experienced an Aqua Expeditions voyage—with the opportunity to elevate their payment process, Aqua Expeditions jumped at the chance. “Flywire’s roster of happy luxury travel clients gave us the confidence that they have a deep understanding of the travel sector and could solve the problems we were experiencing,” explained Michele Brambilla, Group Chief Financial Officer of Aqua Expeditions.

Flywire checkout is embedded into the Aqua Expeditions website and takes deposits or full payment from guests booking online. In addition, Aqua Expeditions uses the Flywire payment request tool to ask guests to settle their outstanding balance before embarking on their journey.

Guests can pay in their local currency using their preferred payment method (including bank transfer) and can track their payments in real-time. If they need it, Flywire’s multilingual support is available around-the-clock to swiftly resolve any payment issues or queries.

Seamless integration with Aqua Expeditions’ reservation system, Rescompany, has transformed backend operations. Now, the booking team can see up-to-the-minute payment statuses, and funds are transferred globally with ease—eliminating manual processes.

A smoother voyage for guests and staff

Since implementing Flywire, Aqua Expeditions has processed over 1,200 payments in 28 currencies from guests across 46 countries, moving more than $10 million quickly and easily.

By aligning its payment process with its ultra-luxury service, Aqua Expeditions has ensured that from the moment guests book their journey to the time they set sail. The experience is nothing short of extraordinary.

Brambilla concluded, “We are extremely impressed with Flywire. Guests and staff say it is very user-friendly. If we experience any issues, the Flywire team provides responsive support and creative solutions. The software is great, but the team makes the difference.”

About Flywire

Designed to meet the unique needs of travel businesses across the globe, Flywire’s seamless payment platform streamlines and enhances the payment process so travel businesses, such as Aqua Expeditions, can focus on what matters most – delivering unforgettable experiences and driving growth.

Backed by a powerful Global Payment Network, Flywire enables cruise operators to take payments from over 240 countries and territories, in more than 140 currencies.

Flywire clients also benefit from:

– Elevated client experience; increased conversion rates
– Secure, fast and transparent payments
– Reduced payment costs
– Simplified reconciliation; time savings
– Dedicated customer support

For more information, visit www.flywire.com/travel

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