Do you pay off your cruise upfront or wait until the due date?

question about gift card payments..... can these be used when booking thru a TA? Or just through the cruise site itself? And for deposit, or just for later payments? Thanks

So I posted this in the general cruising section under saving money, but no response. I've always just paid for cruises upfront, but I've never really booked them that far out. Our next cruise is not until Jan 2019 on Carnival. I managed to get enough discounted gift cards from AARP (10% off) and plan to use those to pay for both cabins we booked. Is there any reason I should wait to pay off the balance. I have until November 2018 to pay. The gift cards don't expire. Since I have until Nov 2018 to pay, can I get that refunded up until that date as well?

I would wait just because you are paying in discounted cards. Someone else complained their refund was in same form, gift cards.