Also a FL resident, I took a 7 night on Victory last week for $1714 for 5 people. I get paid bi-weekly so I have two lists for the bills I pay every month. When there's a 3rd payday in a month (like Jan because we get paid on Wed) I use that extra check to pay for a vacation

I have no credit cards, the only things I have financed are my house and my car. (And I'm a single mom with 4 kids!)

We are also lucky to have some of Carnivals nicest ships going out of NYC. No airfare is a great plus. I just booked today for the Miracle and i have the cash saved from my taxes to pay it off. Its great to go and know its paid and can enjoy the whole vacation experience. BUT....i have charged other cruises and it stinks to get home and pay for the next months and months and months on a vacation that is OVER!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bem1962:
When we book our vacation a year in advance, then I placed it on my American express and had them charge it over 5 months, paying the balance off every month and also getting the "points" paid tips also

This is pretty much what we do (although usually we just pay AmEx in full.

Love racking up those Membership Reward points!!

It seems we all do it different ways. Rather we are rich or just making it. The thing is we all have something in common.. We love Cruising!

I myself and many others put their deposit or pay full with tax refunds. I just pay the deposit, and save to pay the balance before due time.

That way is paid. Now I pay my onboards with a Credit Card over time if I get too much on it, I make it a priority to pay off, and is a condition of booking another cruise. So I pay that fast

I am going on my cruise, and if it takes all year to budget it, and save, and make payments, well so be it.

To your original question, I don't know how they pay it at one time. It's a dumb thing to do anyway if they book early.

Ain't none of my business anyway about how much money people have. All I know is they are all friends to me onboard.

quote:

Originally posted by rescue911chick:

I have no credit cards, the only things I have financed are my house and my car. (And I'm a single mom with 4 kids!)

Rescue911chick,

You deserve congratulations! That is amazing, hats off to you, way to go. That is no small task for a single mom with four kids. You rock!!

Ken

I agree with Chef Ken.

Hats off! I know People that have just 2 kids and barely making it working 2 jobs.

We booked ours last June and paid on it and just paid the final payment a few weeks ago, it was a stress free way to do it, i don't have a credit card and have no desire to get one I have made it this long in life without one, I too raised a son alone without the need of credit cards. So koodos to anyone who can pay for it at the time of booking.

Hooya and Kudos to you, Spiritfilled!

Ken

We pay as we go, by credit card. The $500 or $1000 deposit, gets be paid off when I get my cc bill, then, depending upon how long before the cruise starts, I make incremental payments against the remaining balance, by credit card, again paying the entire bill off at the end of each month so no finance charges are incurred. Then, when I get my credit card statement after the cruise, it's not so large and again, it is paid in full at the end of the month. It takes discipline to pay off credit cards each month, not to mention the funds, but it is by far the best way to go. I haven't paid finance charges through a credit card company for about 25 years; when I get that free cruise or free airfare, it really is free!

Thanks guys It's amazing when your kids recognize how "good" they have things too. My 10 year old son recently stated "We're pretty lucky. Most kids don't ever get to leave the STATE. We've been all over the country, and even out of it a couple of times!!"

I've got 54 days before we set sail. The cruise is paid off and now just saving some cash to pay the ship purchases off before i leave the ship. and then....start saving for the next one!!! Once you cruise, your hooked!!! this is number 4....of many!!