1) The schedules for November are not our yet as far as I know. Rumor has it schedules will be back to, more or less, pre-covid. There are no more covid protocols and # of passengers is no longer restricted. We plan to ferry mid November and I'm planning on buying ferry tickets when we get there (like we had always done pre-pandi). Recommend you watch this site for when the new schedules come out and plan accordingly.
2) Correct, that has been my experience. Again, check schedules beforehand.