How do you pay for your cruise?

[com_op_2000]

We have done 8 DCLs:
1 all cash - price back during the recession when the cost was less than $100 per person per night. Paid in full when booked.
3 cruises all on DVC points plus a $95.00 transfer fee. Paid in full when booked.
4 cruises with one on DVC points, one at the DVC cash price, plus a $95.00 transfer fee. Paid in full when booked.

 

[bostonluke]

Just paid the deposit on booking and will pay the rest with miles earning CC the day it is due and then immediately pay that off from checking account.

 

[ChicosWife]

We paid the deposit and then calculated how many months left until the PIF date and then made monthly payments in that amount. For example, total cruise = $4,000 minus the deposit of $400 = $3,600. If I have 12 months (or paychecks) until the PIF date, I take $3,600 divided by 12 = $300. Then I pay $300 per month.

 

[dragynally]

We paid the deposit and then calculated how many months left until the PIF date and then made monthly payments in that amount. For example, total cruise = $4,000 minus the deposit of $400 = $3,600. If I have 12 months (or paychecks) until the PIF date, I take $3,600 divided by 12 = $300. Then I pay $300 per month.

We do that too! We move up payments so we are paid a little early but same math.

 

[phinz]

We pay the deposit when we book and then make sure we PIF before our excursion/restaurant/etc. date. We use either a Marriott Rewards card or a Delta SkyMiles card so we can use points to pay for the hotel room the night before the cruise.

 

[keishashadow]

Cruise PIF via reward Credit Card.

This trip used the CC to buy Disney GC which will be utilized for our OB account. Short 3 day, double CC dip, no kids along, will get off 'cheap' lol.

Not sure how that works when setting up OB payment @ online check in...in lieu of CC I'd associate? Otherwise, guess I'll sort it out @ the terminal.

 

[Lisa F]

I use digit to keep a running vacation account and I periodically pay toward my vacation (it was disney last december, cruise next february with some Disney). I keep enough in that account so that when ticket prices take a hike and I wanted to buy tickets for my next vacation while undercover tourist still had them for about $100 cheaper for the two of us, I was able to. I also get spiffs and other rewards at work that I generally put toward my vacation. I can generally cobble together a decent vacation every 18 months to 2 years. I'm a single mom, so it can be a bit tough, but I just kind of squirrel it away wherever I can and it always seems to work out. I buy the discounted gift cards every few hundred $$ at a time. I had a surplus in my vacation account after my last vacation, which allowed me to put the deposit on the cruise the day rates were released and pay for the park tickets before prices went up for my last vacation... and also to have my next vacation only 15 months after my last.

 

[havaneselover]

Cruise PIF via reward Credit Card.

This trip used the CC to buy Disney GC which will be utilized for our OB account. Short 3 day, double CC dip, no kids along, will get off 'cheap' lol.

Not sure how that works when setting up OB payment @ online check in...in lieu of CC I'd associate? Otherwise, guess I'll sort it out @ the terminal.

I set mine up as a cash account and call the gift cards in before the cruise. Or you can go to guest services during the cruise and deposit the gift cards.

 

[havaneselover]

I use digit to keep a running vacation account and I periodically pay toward my vacation (it was disney last december, cruise next february with some Disney). I keep enough in that account so that when ticket prices take a hike and I wanted to buy tickets for my next vacation while undercover tourist still had them for about $100 cheaper for the two of us, I was able to. I also get spiffs and other rewards at work that I generally put toward my vacation. I can generally cobble together a decent vacation every 18 months to 2 years. I'm a single mom, so it can be a bit tough, but I just kind of squirrel it away wherever I can and it always seems to work out. I buy the discounted gift cards every few hundred $$ at a time. I had a surplus in my vacation account after my last vacation, which allowed me to put the deposit on the cruise the day rates were released and pay for the park tickets before prices went up for my last vacation... and also to have my next vacation only 15 months after my last.

I'm a single mom too and a little bit at a time is the only way I can do it. We cruise every other year but this year (off year) we're heading to Universal Orlando for a week (credit card points are covering about 60% of the trip) so it's harder to put away what I need to for next year. But I live for my vacations with my kids so I'll make it work.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

We paid the deposit and then calculated how many months left until the PIF date and then made monthly payments in that amount. For example, total cruise = $4,000 minus the deposit of $400 = $3,600. If I have 12 months (or paychecks) until the PIF date, I take $3,600 divided by 12 = $300. Then I pay $300 per month.

Did the same thing! Were paying $200 every payday

 

[Lisa F]

I'm a single mom too and a little bit at a time is the only way I can do it. We cruise every other year but this year (off year) we're heading to Universal Orlando for a week (credit card points are covering about 60% of the trip) so it's harder to put away what I need to for next year. But I live for my vacations with my kids so I'll make it work.

it's tough without a whole other income to put away for discretionary spending, huh? lol. I should probably be more structured about it but I like using digit because it analyzes my spending and pulls "extra" money out of my checking account into savings. once that money is gone I don't even think about it until it is time for a vacation expense and like I said, after my last trip I had about a $1k surplus after all expenses were paid which immediately went to a deposit for the cruise. I have my $2100 cruise more than half paid off and I have tickets for the 4 days we will spend in disney surrounding the cruise paid for and I have DVC for the rooms so I feel like I am in great shape with just about a year to go. I have enough to pay off my cruise in my vacation account right now but hoping to pay most of it with rewards. I might be able to swing an intermediate vacation this summer even, just something small and driveable. I agree, vacations with my son are the only time when it's just about us and no one else and i am not pulled in 30 different directions. The first one I took was in 2014 and it was the best disney trip of my life. Can't wait to take him on a cruise. What we do next will be up to him

 

[JohnGalt]

With gritting, and gnashing of teeth.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

It's one thing paying for the cruise, I can't believe how much the airfare is going to cost me nearly the same just to get there, and Air doesn't offer payments like Disney. The things we do for the magic

 

[FlyTriPacer]

I paid the deposit and saved money to buy the Disney Gift Cards at Sam's club (3 $50 cards for 142.98). I've made a few payments here and there. Transferred the gift cards to one designated card. I get a bit of a discount by purchasing the gift cards. I get to use the Club card enough to be able to renew for free and receive small amount of cash back.

Right now if you have a Discover Card, wholesale clubs are 5% cash-back which is close to a 10% discount. I'm planning to pay off our entire 2018 cruise that way...

 

[christianweecare]

We always do onboard booking for the discount & OB credit. We pay our initial deposit by credit card then we pay off using discounted Target WDW gift cards. I will usually accumulate $1000 in gift cards & pay along the way. I set aside a certain amount each month towards our cruise.

 

[keishashadow]

It's one thing paying for the cruise, I can't believe how much the airfare is going to cost me nearly the same just to get there, and Air doesn't offer payments like Disney. The things we do for the magic

I booked ours on SWA the day I booked ours (recent Fantasy add on after dry dock).

Bought airfare ASAP on SWA even though it seemed high a the time. Figured it would eventually drop and I'd use credit for future travel...Ha, it's doubled in less than 2 months (trip middle of May).

 

[o&smom]

We make sure to always use an onboard booking and then use Costco to save some money. We book opening day to take advantage of lower prices. We pay with our Disney visa by the PIF date, and take advantage of six months with no intetest, then make sure we pay it off before that expires. We want to keep our money working for us as long as we can and not use our cash until we need to.

 

[cruiser21]

Whatever I don't spend on bills and 401k goes into a vacation account. When I see a cruise or vacation I want to take I use that money. I don't plan far in advance. My income varies from month to month and year to year. I'm never really sure what my budget is going to be far advance. Last year was great we spent a month in Europe. This year the budget is much tighter.

 

[AmyLyn]

I pay with Disney gift cards. I only pay the downpayment when booking, then pay off the remainder a few days before it's due. I also try to wait until Kroger has 4x the fuel points on gift cards, then fill up for next to nothing. Last week, I filled up my vehicle and my husband's vehicle (30 gallons total) for $2.15 (7 cents a gallon). Some Krogers only allow up to $1 off a gallon, but here in TN, you can take as much off as you can

 

[2015Cruiser]

Put the deposit on your Disney Visa, then divide the rest by however many months until PIF is due (was 11 for us) and pay 1/11th of the balance every month.. also on the Disney Visa.. gives you a nice $50 on board credit for drinks. Last time we forgot to spend it all (whoops)