fireclan

@JeffB "I'm also an advocate for track and trace apps".
Whether it be cruising or cruise lines, air travel domestically or internationally, visiting family or places unknown...you have a right to want to be tracked and traced all over the place. And apparently the technology is available to do just that.
And I have a right to not want that, for travel or life in general. Enjoy your trip and your grandchildren.

@JeffB "I'm also an advocate for track and trace apps".
Whether it be cruising or cruise lines, air travel domestically or internationally, visiting family or places unknown...you have a right to want to be tracked and traced all over the place. And apparently the technology is available to do just that.
And I have a right to not want that, for travel or life in general. Enjoy your trip and your grandchildren.

This has nothing to do with cruising.  If you want to give your freedoms up then by all means move to Europe.

Surely you would agree however, that the cruise lines taking the lead on vaccination proof and testing, did not occur without outside pressure. I don’t see that pressure being applied to domestic airlines, it was proposed last month and summarily shot down at the federal level. 
I am in agreement with everything you have posted, and as a healthcare professional am completely in favor of a system like the EU system (AKA Schengen Visa), and I concur that the USA has woefully failed in doing what’s best for the country in this regard. 

They better not continue the test cruise requirement. They're an absolute waste of time to begin with, especially for a crew that's already been sailing with protocols for months

I'm not confident that US airlines won't impose a requirement to show you've either been vaccinated or tested negative for COVID to board. The cruise industry has taken the lead here, doing just that. Others will follow if they are following the science and the facts on this. Other venues, some already doing it, will require proof of vaccination to enter.
Here's the problem for the US. As a nation, we are woefully unprepared to leverage technology to insure people moving about aren't spreading SARS2. This isn't rocket science. The EU has been doing it since July.  EU citizens can't get around and experience unrestricted mobility and/or behaviors without an EU COVID Certificate. It's digital, has a QR code and can't be forged.
A system like this should be in use in North America to better control the spread of the virus. I'm also an advocate for track and trace apps. The EU has implemented both measures and despite the usual suspects complaining about privacy and big brother, the system is almost universally used. Stupidly, the US can't get it's act together here and make this technology widely used. There is going to be resistance; there's the politics at play ..... again. The legality of this approach here isn't entirely clear (that's already been tested in Europe and it's legal). 

Is that one of the ones that make you look like a woodpecker ?  Lol

Glad to see Florida doing the right thing and standing up for peoples rights.  

@Sharla "Basically, though, you book a trip and cancel I don't get paid. It's kind of like a return of a product to a store."
Oh good grief! I had no idea this was how it worked. I used  TA/agency but recently had to cancel a cruise (first time I've ever done that!) due to the vaccination requirement. I have three more booked through them which, in all probability, will also have to be cancelled. Gosh, I would LOVE to be allowed to cruise! I honestly feel bad knowing I contracted someone to provide a service for me, which they did and I was satisfied with, and now they will not get paid for that service. How can I in good conscience expect assistance from them if I have a problem getting my refund or other issues? I previously booked cruises directly through Royal Caribbean but when I retired (right before the SHTF) and knew I wanted to book several, I decided to give the business to a travel agent/agency. Now I'm feeling guilty for not just handling it myself. 
If there is a cruising future for my husband and I (and we're both hoping at some point there is!), this may impact how I arrange those cruises...I would at least give it some serious thought. Thanks so much @Sharla for the information and your honest answers. I was unable to get this information from the agent/agency I used.
 

I can't speak for other TAs necessarily, but Royal Caribbean (or most suppliers) pay the agency after final payment is made. Then the travel agency pays the agent the month after travel is completed. 
If a cancellation occurs before final payment, no commission. If a cancellation occurs after final, there may or may not be commission. Commission even gets recalled sometimes by the supplier.
Basically, though, you book a trip and cancel I don't get paid. It's kind of like a return of a product to a store.
There was some commission protection last year from a lot of suppliers but only after final payments were made and only in certain circumstances- If FCC is used and a cancellation happens, no commission.
It has been a tough year and a half.
 

With RCG moving final payment, this year will suck for some of you. Not to mention the protocols and such which has been causing cancellations. MEI is free and if my bookings can help someone's job I am all for it. 

I cancelled our Sept. 5th Oasis from NJ sailing several weeks prior to sail date due to protocols (we're not vaccinated) and Royal continued sending emails/notifications as if we were checked in and sailing. So I guess we may have been considered a "no-show", but my TA assured me we were officially cancelled. It was strange (and sad for us) to keep getting these communications day after day knowing we were cancelled and not cruising. Our expectation is a refund as this cruise, and our next three, were all scheduled prior to current protocols. My TA says Royal has been "very understanding" regarding refunds due to protocols so we shall see, I guess. No $$ has shown up yet.

So how are things down under ?  News coming out seems a bit grim...just wondering if all is well.

Until there are enough vaccinated people to get us to herd immunity, vaccine mandates will never go away.  One of the problems with people refusing vaccines is it allows mutations to keep recurring.  It's the "delta" variant now, but it will be another mutation in the near future.  In order for things to return to normal, people have to be willing to be vaccinated. Sadly in the U.S. it's become a political issue not a health one.  My daughter is an entertainer on SOTS and I am very pleased that everyone on the ship 12 & over has to be vaccinated.  I hope after the FDA approves the vaccine for 2-12 year olds, RCCL will extend the vaccine requirement.  I want to cruise often. Vaccination mandates are the only way to keep people alive and keep cruise worker's livelihoods.

...and to enhance your experience !  Don't forget that one 

Disclaimer, Just my opinion & in NO WAY making a political statement either way. Answering @icf75 question
My 2 cents, COVID is here & there is the bad & the ugly concerning it......but COVID is now a money generating catalyst.  Been to the hair salon anyone?  Services are down, down, down minimum everything, except the price. A hotel stay, clean your own room, empty your own garbage but the prices are still high if not higher. Flights? Every seat filled and expensive fares still climbing. Everywhere you look things COVID related are being sold like never before, there is money to be made and BIG PHARMA stands to continue to profit from this crazy sad situation. COVID testing is now a new industry, want it fast? My Doc in the Box down the street is available just pay $$$. Never have I witnessed so many vehicles in that lot. 
So no, with the monies being generated as an off shoot of this situation I do not believe the 12+ vaxxed to sail will be dropped anytime soon. The cruise lines need to be careful to not only mitigate this situation but limit their liability exposure, we all know sadly the lawsuits that will come and the amount of monies awarded will be directly tethered to the "risks" you were exposed to on the ship (even if this never occurred on the ship) Making $$$, saving $$$, unemotionally with sad commentary I believe at the end of the day $$$ will keep these protocols in place everywhere, I personally expect the vax mandate to be in place as a purely numbers decision for a very long time, and then the fall back statement is "for your health" 
Be well everyone!

Gotta keep ratcheting up the terror level or people might stop and think.

Does it seem like RC is losing money each time they pull away from the dock?

it's the CDC ... 
next, you'll have to board the ship with the swab jammed up your nostril and hand it to an officer at the end of the gangway. 
because, science.  

Today marks the 35th Anniversary of our first Cruise and our 38th wedding anniversary.  We have taken many cruises since 1986 (30) and thus far my wife has not thrown me overboard.  Hopefully we can be healthy enough to take many more!   Happy Anniversary dear wife (Kelley).  All my love and happy sailing.

Somewhat related to something I witnessed on a cruise.
Two or three folks order a round of Louis XIII. Bartender carefully warms the snifter glasses and precisely pours an exact measure. This group then downs it less then two minutes and chases it with a tequila shot. I'll never forget the expression the bartender had, was a combination of amazement and disbelief.

Estimate nearly another 50% that won't sail until all the silly rules are gone.... and you might have an explanation for a nearly empty ship.

@CruiseRoyalDad So very well said. As a loyal RC cruiser who also misses cruising very much, RC no longer welcomes me on their ships  because I don't have the proper papers. I have perused this blog for a while, reading time and time again posters saying "just let me on a ship", "I'll do anything to cruise again" and then are shocked at some change in protocol which, ultimately, they justify and go along with... 
Don't be surprised when the chronic conditions that cruisers have (diabetes, heart condition, COPD, etc) are the next one's that, like me, will be ineligible for cruising. And don't be surprised when your fellow blog members don't give a darn that it's happening.

@CruiseRoyalDad So very well said. As a loyal RC cruiser who also misses cruising very much, RC no longer welcomes me on their ships  because I don't have the proper papers. I have perused this blog for a while, reading time and time again posters saying "just let me on a ship", "I'll do anything to cruise again" and then are shocked at some change in protocol which, ultimately, they justify and go along with... 
Don't be surprised when the chronic conditions that cruisers have (diabetes, heart condition, COPD, etc) are the next one's that, like me, will be ineligible for cruising. And don't be surprised when your fellow blog members don't give a darn that it's happening.

@CruiseRoyalDad So very well said. As a loyal RC cruiser who also misses cruising very much, RC no longer welcomes me on their ships  because I don't have the proper papers. I have perused this blog for a while, reading time and time again posters saying "just let me on a ship", "I'll do anything to cruise again" and then are shocked at some change in protocol which, ultimately, they justify and go along with... 
Don't be surprised when the chronic conditions that cruisers have (diabetes, heart condition, COPD, etc) are the next one's that, like me, will be ineligible for cruising. And don't be surprised when your fellow blog members don't give a darn that it's happening.