Iluv4n6

Thanks for this reality-check @JLMoran and your description of the essentially stable pricing for one of your recent itineraries after initial booking.  I would also look at the overall value (price - OBC) before considering re-booking.  
And @mom2mybugs, @Sweety, and @PrincipalTinker, thanks for your feedback including some additional positive experiences with MEI.  I would trust that my TA would stay more on top of price reductions and good new promotions than me! 
My Take-Away: Don't expect substantial savings from WOW or other promotions after initial booking, even though it is worth keeping tabs on prices and promotions because you can realize some real, but probably modest savings before final payment ($300 saved is always a good thing ).   

Thanks @Sabrinaklai, @JLMoran, @melski94, @Sweety, @DocLC!  We now have a much better basis for deciding whether to book with Next Cruise.  As suggested, we'll check online prices the day before, if not the day of on VROOM before stopping by Next Cruise.  I am also encouraged to learn that you can book refundable cruises onboard and keep your OBC after transferring your booking to a TA, and perhaps even add additional TA perks/OBC to the original booking.
But first things first -- gotta focus on vacation/ship fun and not fret the details of future bookings while onboard!  Good to know that although you might find an attractive deal at Next Cruise, it sounds like onboard booking typically offers similar net benefits compared to onshore booking.  So if we are having plenty of fun doing other things -- very likely! -- sorting through cruises and pricing at next Cruise may not be worth the time.
 

More good tips -- thanks, again.  Based on your advise, we will visit Next Cruise early in our cruise, or at least get an appointment lined up right away, to avoid crowds that will likely develop later on.

Thanks @Sabrinaklai, @JLMoran, @melski94, @Sweety, @DocLC!  We now have a much better basis for deciding whether to book with Next Cruise.  As suggested, we'll check online prices the day before, if not the day of on VROOM before stopping by Next Cruise.  I am also encouraged to learn that you can book refundable cruises onboard and keep your OBC after transferring your booking to a TA, and perhaps even add additional TA perks/OBC to the original booking.
But first things first -- gotta focus on vacation/ship fun and not fret the details of future bookings while onboard!  Good to know that although you might find an attractive deal at Next Cruise, it sounds like onboard booking typically offers similar net benefits compared to onshore booking.  So if we are having plenty of fun doing other things -- very likely! -- sorting through cruises and pricing at next Cruise may not be worth the time.
 

Informative, useful...nah, really awesome feedback everyone!!  I now feel much better about Uber/Lyft as a viable option.  And on this trip, it will  just be my wife and me, so we should fit fine in a ride-share vehicle -- if we skip the steamer trunk this time!   Also glad to know Uber is "officially approved" at the airport, as I could find quotes in the apps for the trip from MCO to Cocoa Beach. 
Because I am now in hyper-logistics mode, I will undoubtedly also check pricing and schedules for some shuttles, including a shuttle/taxi co (T&K Transportation) recommended by the hotel we'll be staying at in the kitchy center of CB. Want to soak in a little classic FL beach vibe before hopping on a ginormous ship the next morning.  And due to the the great advice on the podcast and these boards, we will arrive early for embarkation regardless of when RC's passenger management computer says it wants us at the ship.  (Being from the Midwest, we tend to follow rules out of habit, but we're gonna break this one!)  

Informative, useful...nah, really awesome feedback everyone!!  I now feel much better about Uber/Lyft as a viable option.  And on this trip, it will  just be my wife and me, so we should fit fine in a ride-share vehicle -- if we skip the steamer trunk this time!   Also glad to know Uber is "officially approved" at the airport, as I could find quotes in the apps for the trip from MCO to Cocoa Beach. 
Because I am now in hyper-logistics mode, I will undoubtedly also check pricing and schedules for some shuttles, including a shuttle/taxi co (T&K Transportation) recommended by the hotel we'll be staying at in the kitchy center of CB. Want to soak in a little classic FL beach vibe before hopping on a ginormous ship the next morning.  And due to the the great advice on the podcast and these boards, we will arrive early for embarkation regardless of when RC's passenger management computer says it wants us at the ship.  (Being from the Midwest, we tend to follow rules out of habit, but we're gonna break this one!)  

Informative, useful...nah, really awesome feedback everyone!!  I now feel much better about Uber/Lyft as a viable option.  And on this trip, it will  just be my wife and me, so we should fit fine in a ride-share vehicle -- if we skip the steamer trunk this time!   Also glad to know Uber is "officially approved" at the airport, as I could find quotes in the apps for the trip from MCO to Cocoa Beach. 
Because I am now in hyper-logistics mode, I will undoubtedly also check pricing and schedules for some shuttles, including a shuttle/taxi co (T&K Transportation) recommended by the hotel we'll be staying at in the kitchy center of CB. Want to soak in a little classic FL beach vibe before hopping on a ginormous ship the next morning.  And due to the the great advice on the podcast and these boards, we will arrive early for embarkation regardless of when RC's passenger management computer says it wants us at the ship.  (Being from the Midwest, we tend to follow rules out of habit, but we're gonna break this one!)