Ninotchka Posted December 12, 2016 #1 Share Posted December 12, 2016 First time cruiser, first time poster! My wife and I are going on a cruise for our 20th anniversary and we couldn't be more excited. We're going on Celebrity Equinox in June 2017. We have already set aside the money, and I'd be happy to know that it's paid for. I feel pretty sure there aren't going to be any more price drops -- it looks like it's at a low (according to a price tracking site). Is there any disadvantage to paying in full before the due date? Thanks! I'm sure I'll be back with many more questions. Very happy to have found this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted December 12, 2016 #2 Share Posted December 12, 2016 You would lose the limited interest you are likely to earn and if you had to cancel you'd have to wait for your money to be refunded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninotchka Posted December 12, 2016 Author #3 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Thanks! That sounds like a risk I can live with in return for the pleasure of knowing that it's paid for. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCC retired Posted December 12, 2016 #4 Share Posted December 12, 2016 You may be eligible for rate drop adjustment even if you are paid in full before the cruise line official final payment date . As long it is not after that date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoncom Posted December 12, 2016 #5 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I know I was told years ago at Celebrity when I wished to change a paid in full res that a final payment means FINAL. No changes. So I always pay close to final date. Health emergency, death in family, divorce? anything can happen including an excellent sale. Check with cruise line and agency you used for an honest answer. I think it varies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SantaFeFan Posted December 12, 2016 #6 Share Posted December 12, 2016 (edited) I know I was told years ago at Celebrity when I wished to change a paid in full res that a final payment means FINAL. No changes. So I always pay close to final date. Health emergency, death in family, divorce? anything can happen including an excellent sale. Check with cruise line and agency you used for an honest answer. I think it varies. I agree. Just like my taxes, bills and credit cards, I don't pay until I have to. If something changes before final payment, it will be easier to deal with any refunds or adjustments if it hasn't been paid in full yet. Besides, it is probably best for people to have some extra "emergency" cash available than for the cruise line to have it. Edited December 12, 2016 by SantaFeFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvtheships Posted December 12, 2016 #7 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Simple life lesson....don't give away your money any earlier than you have to Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninotchka Posted December 12, 2016 Author #8 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I hear ya! But money is only 100% fungible if you ignore the human element. I'll get considerable satisfaction out of knowing that our cruise is paid for. Just trying to suss what the risk actually is... I'll see what my TA says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Junky Posted December 12, 2016 #9 Share Posted December 12, 2016 No reason that holds any water. Interest is peanuts, you can still get price drops, and is refundable probably within 5 business days. I may pay our Hawaii cruise off today as the Canadian rate is decent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted December 12, 2016 #10 Share Posted December 12, 2016 No reason at all to pay any sooner than necessary. Why should you give the cruise company free use of your money w/o paying you interest. Yes - I know that the amount of interest that any single individual is very small. However, if you add all the money that the early payers give to the cruise companies, that is a lot of free money that they get to play with. Remeber the scam a few years back where some individual at a bank modifed a program so that a few cents from every account was transferred to the scammer's account. Nobody noticed but a few cents from each depositor added up to a lot of bucks for the scammer. I regard early payment in the same way. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sequim88 Posted December 12, 2016 #11 Share Posted December 12, 2016 You never know what might happen between now and final payment. We had a cruise booked for a transatlantic from Miami to Copenhagen but then the job situation started to look rocky so we delayed making more than the booking deposit. Three weeks before final payment date we cancelled because I was unemployed and looking for another gig for five months and needed the cruise savings account as a lifeboat. Very glad to have had it in OUR bank and not waiting for a refund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted December 12, 2016 #12 Share Posted December 12, 2016 There is no "pro or con" for paying before it's due or waiting UNTIL it's due! It's totally up to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennybenny Posted December 12, 2016 #13 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I like the idea of prepaying just to get that out of the way. I get the interest thing, but it's not enough to weigh out the relief of being paid upfront. I usually prepay gratuities and drink packages as well. I like having my vacation paid for before I go on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warm Breezes Posted December 12, 2016 #14 Share Posted December 12, 2016 There really is no financial reason not to pay it off. Having said that I get more emotional satisfaction holding on to my money as long as possible, especially if there is no interest being paid, than paying for something before I have to. I'd rather keep the funds under my control for as long as possible, but that may just be the accountant in me:D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted December 12, 2016 #15 Share Posted December 12, 2016 To each their own but I never pay our Cruises off until the final payment date which is approximately 3 months before the sail date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earthworm Jim Posted December 12, 2016 #16 Share Posted December 12, 2016 No reason at all to pay any sooner than necessary. For someone that the money isn't an issue, true. But some people might be tight on money, and know they lack the financial self discipline to guarantee the money they have available to pay the bill today will still be in their account in several weeks/months when final payment is due. In that case, it might be wise to pay it now while you have the money. Another case would be for someone who is just disorganized or forgetful. They are thinking of it right now, but are worried they won't remember to make the payment in a month when it's actually due. So they pay it now so they don't forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Dazzles Posted December 12, 2016 #17 Share Posted December 12, 2016 First time cruiser, first time poster! My wife and I are going on a cruise for our 20th anniversary and we couldn't be more excited. We're going on Celebrity Equinox in June 2017. We have already set aside the money, and I'd be happy to know that it's paid for. I feel pretty sure there aren't going to be any more price drops -- it looks like it's at a low (according to a price tracking site). Is there any disadvantage to paying in full before the due date? Thanks! I'm sure I'll be back with many more questions. Very happy to have found this forum. Welcome to cruise critic. A couple of considerations - if you booked with a TA make sure that they will keep checking for price drops for you. If you booked directly with Celebrity you can call and request a price adjustment yourself and will get a refund to your credit card. Does your final payment include everything - taxes, port fees, gratuities, insurance? Someone might be able to give you a more definitive answer, but I believe once paid in full your insurance (might depend upon specific insurance) kicks in completely. Otherwise, no specific advantages that I can think of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted December 12, 2016 #18 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Why let the cruise line deposit your money so early and collect interest on it? I would rather keep my money as long as possible in my savings account an collect a few pennies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted December 12, 2016 #19 Share Posted December 12, 2016 We NEVER pay anything before we have to. Who knows, we may cancel. Easier to keep our money and pay on time than work for refund. Never could understand why anyone would pay early unless of course there is a discount for doing so. Now, if Celebrity gave us a discount for paying early, even 2 points, we would consider it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolatravelgirl Posted December 13, 2016 #20 Share Posted December 13, 2016 If you don't think you will have the self discipline to keep the money tucked away in a savings account then by all means go ahead and pay it off. Yes, it will be a bit of a hassle to get it back if you should need to cancel, but the little bit of interest you may earn is not really reason enough to not pay it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic6318 Posted December 13, 2016 #21 Share Posted December 13, 2016 First time cruiser, first time poster! My wife and I are going on a cruise for our 20th anniversary and we couldn't be more excited. We're going on Celebrity Equinox in June 2017. We have already set aside the money, and I'd be happy to know that it's paid for. I feel pretty sure there aren't going to be any more price drops -- it looks like it's at a low (according to a price tracking site). Is there any disadvantage to paying in full before the due date? Thanks! I'm sure I'll be back with many more questions. Very happy to have found this forum. Hi Welcome to cruise critic. It's your money until you give it to someone else. There are few reasons that should compel you to pay a debt before it is due, but it is your money, and that means you can do with it as you please. So have a great cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPacificbound Posted December 13, 2016 #22 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Speaking for us, we never like to give our money away until we need to. We have a travel fund and that is where the money stays until the day before final payment day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMuzz Posted December 13, 2016 #23 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Many of today's cruisers are living paycheck to paycheck. They cannot afford to pay for the cruise until absolutely necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted December 13, 2016 #24 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Many of today's cruisers are living paycheck to paycheck.They cannot afford to pay for the cruise until absolutely necessary. That describes a great number of people whether they cruise or not but it doesn't sound like the OP fits into that category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare whogo Posted December 13, 2016 #25 Share Posted December 13, 2016 I would pay early enough to make certain the charge goes through to Holland America. Don't wait until the last second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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