RickinSTL

I think im going to change my mind on this.. I found a suite on Freedom for what it would cost us for a balcony on Symphony or Harmony lol 
 

I think im going to change my mind on this.. I found a suite on Freedom for what it would cost us for a balcony on Symphony or Harmony lol 
 

That's my biggest fear.. especially with time changes and such.. I think that's the only reason I wear a watch on a cruise and set it to ship time.. 

That's my biggest fear.. especially with time changes and such.. I think that's the only reason I wear a watch on a cruise and set it to ship time.. 

I think im going to change my mind on this.. I found a suite on Freedom for what it would cost us for a balcony on Symphony or Harmony lol 
 

The only time someone is upset their kids were free ?

My wife and I have done this several times using Alamo.  We typically do a one-way rental from MCO to the port and usually drop the car off at Mullet Road about 10AM, then take the free shuttle to the terminal.  Never waited more than 10-15min for a shuttle; they handle luggage.  At the terminal, hand your bags to a porter and off you go.  Easy peasy.

Hertz has a shuttle much like any airport shuttle that can accomodate luggage.  The catch is the shuttle can't run until after 10:30am or maybe 11am (port rules).  
Dropping luggage/wife is a sound strategy but depending on timing she may be waiting a while.   I did an $8 Uber rather than waiting for the car rental shuttle since I was before 10am.

I used Alamo when cruising from PC last year and doing it again this year.  Their office is reasonably within walking distance to the port.  So, I drop the family and bags off at the port and return the car then walk back to the port.  Estimating it to be a 5-10 min walk.   Last time I didn’t even have to walk back.  I had a very nice shuttle driver stop and pick me up.  He knew exactly where I was going as he was headed to the same place.  He mentioned a lot of people do the exact same thing.  I tipped him for his kindness.  

Hey Everyone Thought  I Share Share A Video. Check It Out 
 
 

First cruise for both my husband and I! March 23 2019 Brilliance of the Seas. 

B2B on Harmony September 8th and September 15th 2019

I've never stayed in a suite either..  I just cant justify the cost to myself.. Plus im a DIY guy.. I feel weird when people are waiting on me hand and foot lol 

I've never stayed in a suite either..  I just cant justify the cost to myself.. Plus im a DIY guy.. I feel weird when people are waiting on me hand and foot lol 

Never did a suite. Probably never will. It's now just me and the wife, we are both retired and a balcony/veranda stateroom is all the room we need. We do not do ballroom dancing in the room and I can't justify the expense being on a fixed income. I am pleased to see that those suite aficionados at this site, and RCL in general are the type of people I can easily associate with. On Disney cruises most of the suite and upper level cruisers were Disney Vacation Club members. You don't have to spot them, they will tell you in 5 minutes while seeking out others. I found them to be obnoxious, snobby and condescending. I checked with a deck officer and was not pleased when he told me I couldn't toss any of them overboard.  No offense to any DVC members here. I'm sure it wasn't you.

I keep a detailed spreadsheet of my cruise activity.  On Royal Caribbean I have historically used suites 2.6% of the time, 50% are balcony cabins (non-suite) and the rest interior.
Hint - suites are great, no question, but once away from your cabin the overall cruise experience is pretty similar regardless of your cabin type.   
Unlike some suite snobs (cough cough @Lovetocruise2002) I can return to an interior cabin after a suite.  Just wait until she does Harmony. Poor hubster doesn't stand a chance, it will be Star Class or nada. 

@WannaCruise...let me share our cruising history with you....
We began cruising back in 2002 and we were just married.  We sailed in a balcony cabin and that was huge splurge for our honeymoon.  We fell in love with cruising and like you, living in Ontario and being a teacher, that left us with very little flexibility.  We cruised what we could from inside staterooms to balconies until 2017.  Every cruise was amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them.
In 2017, we discovered suite life, not because of these message boards, but because an upgrade that was reasonable and we thought...why not?  Suites are wonderful, the downside is that it is very hard to go back afterwards.  I won't deny it, and Hubby calls me out on it all the time.  My cruising habits have changed (or evolved lol) over the years.  What did not bother me before (like crowds and lines) bother me now.  That is one of the main reasons why I like suites.  When I reflect back on the Indy cruise that we just took, we still had a great time.  Was the cabin my first choice? No, but like you, price sometimes still dictates what we book.  We also pick the ship and date first and then the cabin comes after.
Moving forward, although I admit I am a suite snob, I will still book non-suites depending on the situation.  It is not needed to have a good time.  And with the kids, it makes it more complicated, especially tween girls.  Connecting staterooms still remains a great choice.
You have to be very careful here on these boards.  This is an awesome community.  So much knowledge and experience, but reading about the suite experience of others does make you want to try it.  After all, we are all enablers here lol.  I'll bet that if you did a poll, you will find that many don't book suites and still have great cruises!

I Will Be On Harmony Set. 15 2019
But Now I Will Be On Mariner Set. 16 2019

B2B on Harmony September 8th and September 15th 2019

I've never stayed in a suite either..  I just cant justify the cost to myself.. Plus im a DIY guy.. I feel weird when people are waiting on me hand and foot lol 

I've never stayed in a suite either..  I just cant justify the cost to myself.. Plus im a DIY guy.. I feel weird when people are waiting on me hand and foot lol 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1233584-the-absolutely-positively-official-slot-pull-rules-and-results-thread/