Rene Desmarais

Yes the wisest decision that RCL could make,  give a little time but for all cruisers safety, require all eligible to be vaccinated.  the number of foreign cruisers,that is non-US cruisers, at least from the major ports, again that is USA ports of embarkation is almost inconsequential.  An as we all know the USA to Caribbean market is the main and driving economic market.

Our medical officer of health in Ontario just announced this morning it will start by the end of this month (November).  Theresa Tam (Canada's Chief Public Health Officer) said last week that Canada will authorize in the next 1-2 weeks so it should definitely happen before the end of the year.

No, initial bid  x 2 even if more people in the cabin. Only first two passengers are charged.

Just need to establish a standard of efficiency with both guests and crew.

I agre with @CruiseGus. I find lines move faster when crew serve. Less awkwardness, spills, and general hesistation.

The buffet is one of the most disgusting places I've ever been and I cannot fathom going back to self serve yet.   The things that people do - not even realising that they're contaminating food/plates/cutlery and the like is over the top.   
I've seen people take two or three plates and return the ones that they've touched to the stack, multiple pieces of cutlery touched, tongs falling handle-first into food and people continue to use them, then lick their fingers and go on to grab another set of tongs...  doesn't seem like much - but 🤢🤮
And the amount of food people take is obscene sometimes and perhaps a bit more self-control is exercised when food is served to them.   My husband and I once saw a woman sitting at a table with one other person - pretty sure they had 10 different plates of food all heaping up and they literally took one bite of everything and wasted the rest.   It was horrifying.   
And the quality of the handwashing is never really enough to really disinfect hands - we're all guilty of this... pretty sure 99% of people do not actually wash their hands for 20 seconds, like actual rubbing.   Most (including me) are in and out of that hand washing station in 20 seconds.   turbo.
 
 

Gin and Tonic "Double"    that's my go to drink

As others have noted, there is a very good chance that the room you are bidding for is not even actually available.  It might become available if others either cancel at the last minute or they are allowed to RoyalUp and leave a room available for you.
If there is an open cabin in the category for which you are bidding, Royal would certainly rather sell that room at full price than to give it to you at a RoyalUp discount....so they're going to wait as long as possible to see if they (1) sell it at full price or (2) maximize the RoyalUp waterfall price.

Where did you read that? Royal said recently they don’t expect it to go back to self serve.  

Lava flow with kraken rum

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Definitely.  What travel business wouldn't want to carefully consider the business impact of such a move.  
Truth is they probably don't know right now.
We are heading into the winter.  No one knows if the pandemic will continue to decline or if some new variant will equal Delta's impact.  Ultimately that is what will determine how all protocols including vaccination requirements will evolve.

@tonyfsu21even if the Genie doesn't have time to stock your drinks before you sail, he/she will get them to you very quickly once you board and you have a chance to place an order.  The only thing will be that your favorite beer may not be cold and waiting for you when you arrive.  Trust me, before it's over, you will BEG them to please stop bringing more stuff to eat and drink !!

Some promising info in here.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/11/15/royal-caribbean-ceo-talks-double-points-return-capacity-numbers-masks-and-more

There is still a lot of spread out there in the wild.  With cruise lines ramping up capacity a large outbreak would be a death blow.  It's taken so much effort to get to the point where turning a profit is getting closer and closer.  They simply can't afford to screw this up.  
My parents retirement home went into lockdown today with 5 new cases.
Despite how badly we want to be done with the virus it isn't done with us regardless how much we want to pretend that isn't the case.     

I agree. 
 
While I understand the need to be seen following protocols, it seems a little silly that I can’t grab a plate/silverware/napkin that is already together and by itself, but I can grab a bowl of salad right next to it. 
 
That being said, it’s not a deal breaker at all.  I’m still thrilled to be able to cruise again, and the extra few seconds don’t bother me. 
 
 

I will miss his videos, always a bright spot during the couple years with the pandemic.

I've gone to CVS at least 3 times for pre-cruise covid tests. Couldn't be easier. 
The results get texted, emailed, and stored online at the minuteclinic website. This saved me when I forgot my print out at home and instead showed a digital copy.

I had the test done yesterday at CVS in central NJ. 9:20am it was completed, and they called me about twenty minutes later to tell me it was negative. At noon I received an email from CVS advising me to log into the MyChart app for my result. The complete report was there and I printed a copy (actually multiple copies that I will stick into every pocket, nook and cranny to make sure I have that ‘Golden Ticket’ with me at check-in!). No problems, no issues.

https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2021/10/mandatory-covid-19-vaccination-requirements-for-federally-regulated-transportation-employees-and-travellers.html
Any planes, trains, ships leaving from Canada need to be fully vaxxed.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/26137-royal-caribbean-group-delays-most-new-ship-deliveries.html?fbclid=IwAR2Rjsn_SrKr_aFJxbFgijZtzMsrCwwRI46wKs_uMDuVp1F4qAH-UziAhv4

As Matt had said many times, nobody knows for sure what Royal is going to do until they announce a policy change. 
Until then, this is all speculation, and mostly speculation that is colored by folks personal and political opinions about vaccine mandates. 

October 24…For the first time since the re-start, the Windjammer Buffet has opened for dinner on the Oasis of the Seas. The passenger count for this week’s cruise is finalized at 3,630. That’s almost 500 more guests than last week. Almost 1,600 more than just four weeks ago. For a ship that holds approximately 5,600 double occupancy…the numbers are rising steadily. Hopefully we keep moving forward…back to normal cruising once again!

They (provincial government) are supposed to announce something this week for boosters for all Ontarians.

Moderna's 6-11 yr old trial is now delayed into next year due to myocarditis concerns. Pfizer also had myocarditis concerns but they pushed forward anyway.