How do YOU pay, little chunks or one big lump??

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

I was just wondering how most people go about paying??

 

I usually book at least 6 months in advance, and I like to sneak up on my booking. I try to throw $100 a week or so towards the balance, which is usualy $2000+ for 3 in an extended balcony or a suite.

 

I know some people must wait until the due date then just smack down the whole amount at once, but it seems to bother me less if I pay a little at a time. For me, $100 is like spending an hour at Target, so I don't miss it. But a couple grand in one shot would upset me!!:eek:

 

What do you all do???:)

[LibbyJanesMommy]

We split ours up into 4 payments of $500 with the 4th one being slightly less

[KroozFoolz]

I have the money saved and designated when I book but I wait til the final payment is due to give them my money. I use a credit card that gives 3X points for travel purchases and pay the card off before interest is charged.

[springs741]

Like the above poster, it depends on the cruise and circumstances. For family cruises we are paying for 4 staterooms and book as soon as the sail dates are released in order the get a handicap for Mom and 3 balconies directly across the hall from her. Next family vacation is August of 2015 and is just under $8000. The balance will be paid at $500 a month to meet the final payment date in June.

When is it just hubby and I we pay it off either in a lump sum or split it into two payments depending on the amount.

[riffatsea]

We put down the deposit and then pay the balance in one shot when it is due. We don't like to give our money away until it is necessary to do so.

[Aplmac]

We split ours up into 4 payments of $500 with the 4th one being slightly less

That's about right.

 

Little chunks make cruises more affordable somehow. ;)

 

.

[rarasnake]

We are first time cruisers.. When we looked into our cruise, we needed 2 rooms to hold everyone (there are 6 of us total)... We first just paid the minimum deposit at the time (they were doing the $50pp special), which just to hold our rooms, ment putting down $300. After figuring taxes, port charges, etc. our cruise ended up being around $2700 and we had 76 days before we left for port. So, when our tax man paid back, where we lend him money each paycheck, we paid the whole thing off...

 

For us, it is hard to sometimes come up with an extra $100 a week. So, we knew paying it off would be our best bet. We also paid tips while we had the extra money to spend..

Edited May 12, 2014 by rarasnake

[TruckinMama]

When I book directly with Carnival, I divide out the the total due by how many paydays there are until final payment is due, then make that payment amount every payday. Since booking with a TA this time, I just transfer the money into a savings account for vacation instead, then make a lump sum payment to the TA a week before final payment is due.

[carib1]

I usually don't book until I have all the money. This means cruise, airfare, tips, hotel, excursions, etc...then I book and pay in full. I like to have everything paid for prior to going.:)

[vamartha]

I've done it both ways. Since I am usually paying with Income Tax Refund, I sometimes wait until it comes and book/pay off in one swoop, but this year I took advantage of the $50 deposit and then paid it off once the refund came.

 

About six years ago, we had a hail storm of epic proportions. That year, I used the insurance check for my dimpled car for us to cruise. Dimples didn't bother me - and cruising is my passion! :D

[Name Of The Game]

They want $500.00 down for two immediately when you book, which is rather substantial seeing that it's about half of the total price. We then pay the remaining half whenever they require it, which is what, 90 days out?

[twentyknots]

Our cash flow is programmed in spreadsheets by month through 2016. The cruise balance is just a number in a cell. I pay it in the month it's due.

[BattyL]

We put down the deposit and then pay the balance in one shot when it is due. We don't like to give our money away until it is necessary to do so.

 

 

This is the way I do it too, only I put it on my carnival card, get the points and pay it off before there is any interest.

[092306]

We usually pay the deposit and then the rest in a lump sum whenever final payment is due.

[HawkIVette]

Pay for cruises? What is this you speak of? I am on the "pay for the cruise in the casino" program. Last one cost me as much as if I paid for it online through Carnival. But the 2 before were literally free + some extra travelling money.

 

Seriously, I usually pay the whole thing at time of booking. But the last 3 Carnival cruises were compliments of the Casino. You still have to pay fees and have to book within 2 weeks, so fees must be paid right away.

 

To say that "little chunks make cruises more affordable somehow" are just fooling yourself. But I applaud people who know how to budget their expenses by making "payments" so they can enjoy the "best" things in life.

[KPfromCT]

We like to hang on to our money.

Rather have it in our pocket, than Carnivals.;)

Especially with these current promotions.

$50pp deposit, and final not due until 30 days prior.

All of these recent promos have the same rules as ES.

We're waiting until 6/5.

Hoping for more price drops:D:D

[buddylover]

That's about right.

 

Little chunks make cruises more affordable somehow. ;)

 

.

 

We're with you.....somehow "little chunks" that you can come up with and not miss does make the cruise seem more affordable to us too! Don't have to touch savings etc.

[MissKIA]

We have always booked our vacations quite far in advance, anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. We pay the deposit first obviously, and then throw money on whenever we have some extra money that we don't need for anything else. I get 2 bonuses a year (one in the summer and one at Christmas time) so when that comes around we will either put a big chunk on it or pay it off at that time if it isn't paid off already. If it is paid off then we will likely be looking to book our next vacation. :)

Edited May 13, 2014 by MissKIA

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

It seems like it's pretty much 50/50. I might be fooling myself, but while $100 a week is not missed , $2000 would not only be missed, but mourned as well! I'll stick with my chunks!!!

 

 

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[beberenn]

We have booked a month in advance and paid the entire thing at once...But the planned family of 5 cruises we book further out, divide the balance by months until final payment is due, and make a monthly payment.

 

We also book our excursions as we have extra money, so one we get onboard, we just have the big bar bill to deal with at the end.

 

My DD and I have cruised twice without DH and I put $50 here and there in bar cash, then dh doesn't think we have spent that much;)

[javamom]

I was just wondering how most people go about paying??

 

I usually book at least 6 months in advance, and I like to sneak up on my booking. I try to throw $100 a week or so towards the balance, which is usualy $2000+ for 3 in an extended balcony or a suite.

 

I know some people must wait until the due date then just smack down the whole amount at once, but it seems to bother me less if I pay a little at a time. For me, $100 is like spending an hour at Target, so I don't miss it. But a couple grand in one shot would upset me!!:eek:

 

What do you all do???:)

One lump sum

[Working_To_Cruise]

It seems like it's pretty much 50/50. I might be fooling myself, but while $100 a week is not missed , $2000 would not only be missed, but mourned as well! I'll stick with my chunks!!!

 

 

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I pay in chunks with the money I make in overtime! It has been working just fine for me.

[huntm]

We always try to book early saver. 2 balcony rooms. Sometimes we save the money and just pay in full on the due date. Sometimes we pay 1 room off and then the other.

 

I'm more of a saver and pay it than to pay a little here and there.

 

 

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[CatlinSTJ]

Last year I tried paying in chunks and we still ended up with a huge OBC due to all the price drops, our final price was less than half of the original booking price. This year we did not book ES and only paid the deposits, but since we're close enough that we're not going to get any more adjustments I went ahead and just paid it off.

 

 

Next cruise: Carnival Breeze June 2014

[christyran1228]

When I book directly with Carnival, I divide out the the total due by how many paydays there are until final payment is due, then make that payment amount every payday.

 

This is what I've been doing for this cruise ... it's painless, and the balance has been whittled down nicely.

 

Like mentioned ... I can do more damage in a half hour at Target! [emoji15][emoji389]

 

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