Is there any benefit to paying in full early?

[squirk]

Was just talking to my MIL about this. She and my wife and kids are sailing in Feb. Our PIF date is 11/27 and she was suggesting we just pay off the fares now.

I thought about it for a minute, and I was hard-pressed to think of any benefit to PIF before your PIF date. You don't get earlier port arrival or embarkation times. You don't get early access to booking excursions, spa treatments, Palo/Remy, etc.

Other than peace of mind in knowing the cruise fares are paid off and squared away, is there any substantial benefit to paying in full early that I might be forgetting?

The only thing I can think of that *might* possibly qualify is paying early using Disney Visa or Disney Vacation Account so you can get the Disney Reward card to use on the cruise.

Anything else?

Thx.

 

[wilkeliza]

PIF date is not always the same as your check in date and I believe you have to be PIF before you can check in and book things (not 100% sure on that). We always pay before the day we can start booking things.

 

[squirk]

PIF date is not always the same as your check in date and I believe you have to be PIF before you can check in and book things (not 100% sure on that). We always pay before the day we can start booking things.

Thanks. Ours has always been one and the same (I think?).

But I mean, like, months in advance. Other than the rewards cards (if applicable) and peace of mind, I am hard-pressed to think of a reason to do that. Maybe I am missing something.

 

[mareed]

If you've sailed with Disney before then paying before the PIF date will let you go online and make your selections such as port arrival time, excursions, Palo, etc. It's a certain number of days before the cruise for each Castaway Club Level.

 

[anricat]

I just paid off our cruise for next March. It's done. I don't have to think about it. It won't sneak up on me, especially because our PIF date is Jan 1 and the holidays can really sneak up on you! I just feel like I don't want it to fall under the radar with all the other holiday things that happen between now and then.

 

[Dug720]

I like to pay off as soon as I can so it's done. My savings account doesn't pay enough interest for me to make it worth it considering I'm not booking concierge.

As to PIF and check-in. Only with first-time cruisers does the ACTUAL OFFICIAL PIF date match. After that first cruise it will say "pay in full to check-in by..." whatever your status check-in date is. But the OFFICIAL PIF date is the 75 days or whatever.

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks. Ours has always been one and the same (I think?).

Since you have sailed before, you are at least Silver CC. Most of DCL's cruises have PIF at 75 days prior, which is also the online check-in date for new cruisers. Silver can do check-in at 90 days, so you would need to be PIF a couple of weeks early. Gold and Platinum are even earlier. Some of the itineraries do have an earlier PIF -- mainly I believe it's one-way cruises and those not based out of a US port.

So if you are a returning cruiser, being PIF earlier enough for your online check-in date allows you to book onboard activities and port adventures before new cruisers. Other than that, there isn't any particular tangible benefit to paying early. Just peace of mind knowing it's done and out of the way.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[squirk]

Thank you all!

 

[JW9DVC]

Convenience of knowing that's just one less thing to worry about.

 

[LAX]

On the flip side, is there any down to paying in full prior to the deadline? Other than giving DCL an "interest-free" loan for whatever the time period it's paid early. One can still get a full refund as long as it's canceled before the deadline even if paid in full early, right?

LAX

 

[gismo1554]

For me its about exchange rate. Especially with things the way they are at the moment I like to make sure I've got a decent rate so when I see it looking healthy I pay it off.

 

[Dug720]

On the flip side, is there any down to paying in full prior to the deadline? Other than giving DCL an "interest-free" loan for whatever the time period it's paid early. One can still get a full refund as long as it's canceled before the deadline even if paid in full early, right?

LAX

Unless it's concierge in which case the deposit is non-refundable.

I guess a downside if you are one who uses a zillion Disney gift cards to pay off your cruise is you have to hold onto and keep up with all those cards for even longer...

 

[Flossbolna]

Most of DCL's cruises have PIF at 75 days prior, which is also the online check-in date for new cruisers. Silver can do check-in at 90 days, so you would need to be PIF a couple of weeks early. Gold and Platinum are even earlier. Some of the itineraries do have an earlier PIF -- mainly I believe it's one-way cruises and those not based out of a US port.

Actually, that changed a while ago. Now the rules are for non-concierge staterooms:
1-5 nights starting or ending in US Port: 75 days for normal sailings, 90 days for holiday sailings
6-9 nights starting or ending in US Port: 90 days for normal sailings, 105 days for holiday sailings
more than 10 nights or starting and ending in non-US port: 120 days

for suites and concierge staterooms: always 90 days

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/contracts-terms-safety/terms-conditions/united-states/

So, any 7-night Fantasy cruise will have a PIF date at 90 days which coincides with the 90 day Silver Castaway Club booking window.

But if you are Gold or Platinum (105 days or 120 days booking window), it does make sense to pay earlier.

 

[DisneyRobin]

No benefit to paying early - unless it makes things easier for you. We always wait until the day payment is due and pay in full.

 

[jeepnjudy]

No benefit to paying early - unless it makes things easier for you. We always wait until the day payment is due and pay in full.

This is what we do...why let Disney use my money interest free?

 

[cheermom2four]

My PIF date and check in date are two different dates even though I'm silver CC. I believe Europe cruises you must be PIF earlier than check in date (ours is may 12th and our silver level check in date isnt till June 11th for our Sept 9th 2017 Med cruise). We like to pay in full just for ease of mind and one less thing to worry about since flights are our next huge expense. Edited to add that this is a 7 night, not 10 night cruise also.

 

[dragynally]

My PIF date is a week or 2 before my online booking date. But my cruise is 8 nights during a holiday so maybe that makes a difference...

 

[Flossbolna]

My PIF date and check in date are two different dates even though I'm silver CC. I believe Europe cruises you must be PIF earlier than check in date (ours is may 12th and our silver level check in date isnt till June 11th for our Sept 9th 2017 Med cruise). We like to pay in full just for ease of mind and one less thing to worry about since flights are our next huge expense. Edited to add that this is a 7 night, not 10 night cruise also.

See my post above: Europe would be a non-US port, so the PIF date is 120 days. So that would be 30 days before your 90 days silver booking date. Seems like with the dates you posted that this is excactly the case.

My PIF date is a week or 2 before my online booking date. But my cruise is 8 nights during a holiday so maybe that makes a difference...

As I posted above: 6-9 nights out or to US port over a holiday would be 105 days. If you are a silver CC member, this would be 15 days before your booking date. So the two weeks you mention are quite exactly those 15 days.

 

[Mark D.]

If you pay using a card that gives you airline miles, paying early gives you those miles sooner -- so you can use them to save on flights to the cruise.

 

[squirk]

So, any 7-night Fantasy cruise will have a PIF date at 90 days which coincides with the 90 day Silver Castaway Club booking window.

Thank you. Yes, we are Silver and we usually do the Fantasy 7-day sailings. I guess that explains why my PIF date and booking date always matched.

But this February cruise will kick us up to Gold, so this is all good info.