NEVER transfer those points until you have the ticket on hold.Four seats may be hard but not impossibile.Continetal has a credit card offer for 50,000 miles. If you can be flexibile with your travel dates, try mid week should be the best.Also look at when cruise ships are departing.(those dates will be the worst)LINK
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...x?&offer=OPP50
you may want to look at an award booking service, their are many and they are all good and can get the job done. LINK
http://thepointsguy.com/about/