Baked Alaska

If we really wanted the vaccine to be distributed with greater efficiency we would outsource it to private companies.  In some areas we kind of have by letting retailers do it.  
Who is to say our governments are getting it right?  Everyone in Congress was vaccinated very quickly "so they can demonstrate how safe it is".  So much for need based distribution or the most benefit to society.  Hogwash.    
I say we should do vaccination cruises in place of test cruises.  Want to go on a cruise?  No problem, but you need to be willing to get a shot in the arm during the cruise.  Then the cruise line can observe you for a few days before returning thousands to land vaccinated and ready for society to reopen.  Don't want it?  Then you are not eligible for a vaccination cruise.  Wait for general cruising to restart.

No idea...but if I were to guess, then I'd say late 2021 with a vaccine as a requirement.  But it not only depends on Royal, but on the ports as well and how the world is doing.

I'm not surprised.  Figured the border would remain closed for a while yet.
I do think they should have some exceptions for fully vaccinated or a process to allow vaccinated across the border:

 
 

I do plan on getting the vaccine later this summer once there is enough supply and I can choose which shot I want.  Prior to COVID I did a lot of travel domestically and internationally.  Working in the travel industry I think it is only a matter of time before many countries around the world begin requiring all international inbound passengers be fully vaccinated.   We saw this with testing, once there was enough testing where anyone and everyone could get a COVID test many countries began requiring all international inbound passengers to present proof of a negative COVID test prior to boarding a flight.  Some countries have gone further and now  and are  testing passengers again once they arrive even though they tested negative just a few hours ago.
I think this is where we are headed with the vaccines.  Once their are enough vaccines available world wide you will see countries moving towards requiring all inbound international passengers present proof of vaccination and they might still require passenger present a negative COVID test until there is enough data to say unequivocally that fully vaccinated individual can not spread the virus.
Also another thing to keep in mind about cruising is cruise lines sailing out of the US will have to comply not only with CDC guidelines but also all health and safety guidelines of each country their ships will visit where passengers will disembark.  Islands in the Caribbean probably do not want open their doors to millions of cruise line passengers if they are unvaccinated because it would increase their risk.  If Biden can deliver on his promise that anyone who wants a vaccine can get a vaccine by May 31st, I think the CDC will allow cruising to resume in July.  And to address any Caribbean island lingering concern about importing more virus via cruise ships I think cruise lines will require every passenger be fully vaccinated and they may still require a negative COVID test prior to boarding.

I'd actually planned on doing a riff of this on CocoCay as my christmas card last year.... Still have the tube/hat/robe/socks packed, maybe we'll get there soon enough this year to do it.
But agree with your previous statement too.  Just got the second dose this week, well worth the two days of feeling like someone ran me over with a truck and when they got out to help me decided it'd be more fun to just jump back in and do it a few more times.  Should help with other travel this summer and getting the CDC off our backs sooner, I hope.

I'll get the shot as soon as I'm eligible.  Maine has changed the priority list a couple times, so now I'm hoping to get it by May.
I know two people my age (early/mid 50s) who have been dealing with lingering Covid crap for a few months now.  Both still have blood clots in their lungs, and one is having heart problems.  I'll take a vaccination please, thank you very much.

idga... about masking on a ship.  I'll wear it wherever the rules say I must.

Yep, I have lost a 30-something year old friend, and two friends' fathers. I have no desire to mess around with it and will get the shot the moment I am eligible. 

3 of my co-workers had very rough cases of COVID.  I don't want any part of that, so I got my first shot 2 days ago. 
As far as risks go, I feel that the risk from the vaccine, although real, is small compared to the risks of getting the disease.

I plan to vaccinate when eligible.  Mostly so I can travel not only on cruises but elsewhere to countries that will have requirements in place.  Also though the longer we have elevated numbers of new cases the longer big brother CDC will be in my life so I'm going to do my part to get them back into the jack-in-a-box they sprang out of.
The sooner numbers get down and stay down the sooner we get rid of this unwelcome guest living rent free in our lives and by that I mean the CDC.  If getting a vaccine gets the CDC out of my life I'd take several shots if it meant getting them out of my life any faster. 

I just hope no mask mandate if vaccinated AND tested negative prior to embarkation.
I spent many hours on pool deck and wearing mask there would be a deal breaker to me
 

ONe thing I never questioned with DCL is the truth and transparency in the invoicing. Royal math is a Royal PITA.
 

ONe thing I never questioned with DCL is the truth and transparency in the invoicing. Royal math is a Royal PITA.
 

I hope so, it does not seem right. As a company we are choosing to stand by them as well as a handful of the most amazing TA's yet they make it so hard and frustrating. If they cancel any more on me, I am taking the refunds as the weird RCCL math is trying on my nerves already. Thousands of dollars just "poof" Sure they may get around to fixing it but the frustration and extra work for our TA's just not cool. 

I'm sure it's not of any comfort to you now, but many of us have realized that in these perilous times, the use of a good travel agent is a huge benefit.
To answer your question, yes, I have had each and every one of your complications happen to me...it's a complete PITA.

@Baked AlaskaI will add that with my newer sailings that I've booked past April 2022, I have been more careful with the double bookings.  Instead of multiple deposits, I now have/had multiple holds, extended over time, until I could make up my mind what I actually wanted to deposit on.

Not when CWC is still in play. 

Sorry...I know I'm not THE suite snob...☺️
With CWC there is no $100 cancellation penalty.  That's why it's so awesome.  HOWEVER, you will get an FCC when you cancel and not a cash refund...so if you are unwilling to tie up the money in an FCC, this may not be a good choice.  Now....once CWC expires that will be a completely different story.  Then (if they keep the rules the same as they have been pre-plague) you WOULD be assessed the $100 PP cancellation fee if you cancel a full suite.  Then, holding multiple full suites knowing that some will have to be cancelled will no longer be the reasonable option that it is now.

Why would I want to go to Key West on a ship if the residents don't want me there ?

This reducing fare was messing up a lot of TAs as well so they recently made a lot of enhancements including applying FCC as payments rather than reducing cruise fares.  Makes it a lot easier to watch for price drops too.  

It goes both ways.  Sometimes an FCC error is made in the guests favor, but that too is eventually corrected.  
It takes time and patience.  In the end I suspect it will work out, let Sharla do her magic.  

I hit my optimism peak back in October timeframe when it felt like the CDC was actually being forced to engage on the issue ... since then the rest of the news doesn't inspire my optimism much since its clear it all comes down to the CDC and nothing else.

The US has had a precipitous drop in February from the crazy January. But.. those numbers have leveled off, and actually look like there might be one more spike before the vaccine numbers start to take over. That leveling off started about 10 to 14 days ago. I'm hoping we can avoid that spike, but it's looking like that's gonna happen. 
Yes, there is some optimism to be had here, but we need to be watchful  and accept that there will be setbacks, both major and minor.
I process the county-by-county numbers in the US everyday (I'm a data nerd) and have since  I found my good CSV source in April 2020. It looks better now than it has since the summer of 2020. My issue presently is that in the counties that I pay particular attention to, including the county in which I reside, there has not been as drastic a reduction in cases in comparison to, say, Los Angeles or even other local surrounding counties. This recovery is not as wide-spread as the cumulative numbers suggest. That leaves some room for a resurgence.
 
 

I'm optimistic, have tons of PTO saved up, but now I'm struggling with having fun on cruises vs. putting money away for the retirement house.  WHY CAN'T I JUST DO IT ALL????? #reallife #beagrownup

He is too busy bouncing all over Florida for his TV appearances to formulate a strategy against the feds to assume control over seaports nor do I think there is any political capital for him in such a move.
There is more to this virus then the CDC knows or that any doctors/virologist/scientists know.  They all got plenty wrong along the road to where we are but that's expected, they are still learning, we all are.  I don't agree with everything DeSantis does but I don't disagree with everything he does either.

I have a hard time thinking any cruise line is going to have its full fleet operational in 9 mths.....its going to be 2-3 mths after the CDC gives the go ahead for test cruises right?....so right now that would be June to start....add in the logistics of all crew being vaccinated(if they are from Canada they wouldn't be till the fall) plus with all the travel restrictions still out there...not happening!
 
I am cautiously optimistic that shorter cruises out of Florida will be ago by the fall(maybe cause I have one booked..lol)....but if cases of Covid were to start to pop up on any cruise line, I have no doubts the CDC would shut it all down again very quickly.