paying off cruise

[see.legs]

i know alot of people recommend not paying off cruise but what are the benefits and how much do you save for final payment. i mean i'd like to have it mostly paid off now 6 months before final payment.

[irishnyc]

The benefit to not paying it off until you have to is that the money is in your pocket until final payment, and not Carnival's. Also, if the price goes down before final payment, if you're not paid off it reduces your final payment - if you're paid in full before final payment date, you get OBC. (I prefer OBC - it's like prepaying my on board expenses.)

[CocoaMom]

i know alot of people recommend not paying off cruise but what are the benefits and how much do you save for final payment. i mean i'd like to have it mostly paid off now 6 months before final payment.

 

Yeah the benefit is the money remains in your pocket until that final payment is necessary. Normally I've done it this way, but multiple things this year have caused me to reconsider.

 

This year since I'm paying for multiple cabins, I have paid a chunk on each - leaving a balance of $150 per cabin due in March. We sail in May. I am hopeful the price will drop and will end up owing even less. An obc is not something I personally want until after my final payment is due. I'd rather take the actual reduction when/if it happens before final.

[jks336]

boils down to the same thing really. so you don't pay it off early and MAYBE the price drops, so the balance due is now less. OR, you pay off your cruise and the price drops before final payment (or 2 days prior if booked ES rate) so you now you'll get obc.

 

either way, you have the money, either by prepaying or in the form of obc. so pay it off, be done n dusted with it and keep an eye out for possible price drops :D