Final Payoff??

[TiszBear]

Ok I know this question probably has not been asked before but I am curious. I will be going on my first cruise in April 2009, I booked in January 2008. My questions is reagarding final payment. When do most people payoff their cruise? I know the cruise has to be paid for before the 75 day but how soon do you payoff the cruise?

Jennifer

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Ok I know this question probably has not been asked before but I am curious. I will be going on my first cruise in April 2009, I booked in January 2008. My questions is reagarding final payment. When do most people payoff their cruise? I know the cruise has to be paid for before the 75 day but how soon do you payoff the cruise?

Jennifer

Hi good question, well I might be well in advance of this, my 2008 Panama cruise was paid off in April last year, and I have paid of 65% of my 2009 cruise. So well in advance. My reason, I know DCL have my money, but the £/$ rate is good and so I want to take advantage of it, currently $2 to the£ I remember it not so long ago at $1.34.

I think a lot of people budget for it and pay it of in stages a bit at a time or else it can catch up on you and its a large lump sum, I pay off through Dreams unlimited its very easy on their website.

 

[SeattleGirl]

We are booked for February 2009 and we pay off the cruise just like it's a utility payment. If something extraordinary comes up, we'll put off a month and make it up later, but we try to keep on track. That way, it's just like another bill. We ended up paying off the last cruise at the 90 day mark. We also go through DU.

 

[kcashner]

I pay off the cruise about a week before the final payment is due. That way I can collect the interest the money earns rather than just giving it to Disney.

If you have difficulty paying it to yourself (placing it in an account so that it is there and ready when the due date approaches), you can pay it to DCL each pay day.....but there's no financial advantage to doing so.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I pay off the cruise about a week before the final payment is due. That way I can collect the interest the money earns rather than just giving it to Disney.

If you have difficulty paying it to yourself (placing it in an account so that it is there and ready when the due date approaches), you can pay it to DCL each pay day.....but there's no financial advantage to doing so.

Very good point, savings account with interest is an alternative for me in the UK, I want to guarantee my exchange rate, more important, and the tax man gets my savings interest, I end up owing him more!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Ok I know this question probably has not been asked before but I am curious. I will be going on my first cruise in April 2009, I booked in January 2008. My questions is reagarding final payment. When do most people payoff their cruise? I know the cruise has to be paid for before the 75 day but how soon do you payoff the cruise?

Jennifer

We usually put down the required deposit and then pay the balance in chunks. I usually divide the balance by the number of months until the final payment is due and pay at least that much each month...and more whenever possible. That way it's like a regular monthly payment for me and I never have to touch my savings. I know that putting the money into a savings account and letting it earn interest would be better, financially, but in the long run it really doesn't make that much difference.

 

[TiszBear]

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Enjoy your cruise.