Another confused traveler vs the Covid testing requirement question

[disnee9]

We hope to cruise to Alaska out of Vancouver after flying in and spending a couple of precruise days exploring Vancouver. We are thoroughly confused as to the necessary requirements to do so.

Understood that full vaccination is required. Do we have to do a Covid test before leaving the U.S. to fly to Vancouver ??? Are we required to pay for this test ??

To board the ship we have to take another test ??? Disney pays for this test ???

To fly home to the U.S. after the cruise, we have to take another test to reenter the U.S. ??? Are we required to pay for this test ???

For us that would be 3 tests within an 11 day time frame. Can this be correct ??

I understand that everything is fluid right now and subject to change.

 

[JulyMomOf1]

For us that would be 3 tests within an 11 day time frame. Can this be correct ??

Yes this is correct.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/t...ovid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada - says yes to PCR test (no antigen tests are allowed) within 72 hours to entering Canada. You pay for this (US has many sites/stores/etc that offer free testing).

To get on to the cruise at the port Disney tests- Disney fronts the fee.

To fly back into the USA: PCR or Antigen test within 3 days before arrival. You pay for this.

 

[disnee9]

After disembarking the cruise ship and heading to the airport to fly home, how would you go about getting a Covid test within 3 days before ??

 

[JulyMomOf1]

After disembarking the cruise ship and heading to the airport to fly home, how would you go about getting a Covid test within 3 days before ??

I know that a lot of airports have rapid tests available where you can test and get results (for a hefty fee within 6-12 hours). You might need to plan on staying overnight in Vancouver before flying back to the US in order to allow enough time to complete the test you schedule and get the results emailed to you.

google search results for covid testing at the Vancouver BC airport: https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/travel-planning/takecare/covid-19-testing

Looking there at that website it appears Rapid Antigen tests start at about $120 and go up from there. One of the medical facilities listed offers on site testing and give you immediate results so you wouldn't have to wait the whole day. That's good news! So if you flew out the evening of the day you disembark from the cruise this might give you enough time to get to the airport, test, get your results and make it to your flight and not require an overnight stay. You do need to book ahead for the appointments.

 

[mevelandry]

We hope to cruise to Alaska out of Vancouver after flying in and spending a couple of precruise days exploring Vancouver. We are thoroughly confused as to the necessary requirements to do so.

Understood that full vaccination is required. Do we have to do a Covid test before leaving the U.S. to fly to Vancouver ??? Are we required to pay for this test ??

To board the ship we have to take another test ??? Disney pays for this test ???

To fly home to the U.S. after the cruise, we have to take another test to reenter the U.S. ??? Are we required to pay for this test ???

For us that would be 3 tests within an 11 day time frame. Can this be correct ??

I understand that everything is fluid right now and subject to change.

Yes. You need a PCR test to enter Canada.

Depending on how long you are in Canada before you board the ship you may need to test again.

And indeed, you will need to test again (antigen) to go back to the USA.

 

[KMack]

At this time, all travellers — Canadians included - seeking to enter Canada must have negative PCR test from no more than 3 days prior to crossing.

Canada’s Public Health Agency of Canada is currently re-visiting the requirement for PCR testing to enter Canada. I believe they are looking at whether rapid antigen testing will suffice. There is no time-frame for the decision at this time.

By the time your cruise comes around, it is most likely that Canada’s testing requirements for border crossing will be different so I wouldn’t make any plans yet. Heck - I am sailing out of Miami in January and I haven’t even booked tests for coming back to Canada yet because I suspect the testing requirements will have changed by that time… only 53 days from now (not that I am counting or anything!)

 

[KMack]

After disembarking the cruise ship and heading to the airport to fly home, how would you go about getting a Covid test within 3 days before ??

We are looking at getting it done on a port call to Nassau. That would give us 2 days to receive the test results before we return to Canada. If we don’t do it there, we will have to stay an extra day in Miami after disembarkation to get tested and then pay a small fortune to get the results in 24 hours. (When I say a small fortune, we are a party of 13 and we received one offer to test us all with 24 hour results so we can catch our flights and -with a 25% discount - it was over $USD4800.

 

[tvguy]

And things keep changing, so who knows for sure? You, and or your travel agent have to keep up on the latest requirements.

 

[KVH]

I appreciate this discussion. I do get that things are changing. I've been wondering how this is going to work for the April repo from SD to Vancouver. Based on current conditions, they wouldn't sail. At least not without testing on board.

 

[tvguy]

I appreciate this discussion. I do get that things are changing. I've been wondering how this is going to work for the April repo from SD to Vancouver. Based on current conditions, they wouldn't sail. At least not without testing on board.

Well, other lines are doing on board testing right now, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect Disney to do it.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I appreciate this discussion. I do get that things are changing. I've been wondering how this is going to work for the April repo from SD to Vancouver. Based on current conditions, they wouldn't sail. At least not without testing on board.

Unless the Canada (and Hawaii) rules change, there will have to be on board testing on the Wonder sailings, including the SD to Vancouver repo, the Vancouver to Hawaii (because of Hawaii testing rules), the Hawaii to Vancouver, and the various Alaska cruises. All of these are long enough that passengers will need to be tested on board prior to ship arrival at the destination because of the need to show a negative test within 3 days of that.

 

[JennsBabySky]

We are looking at getting it done on a port call to Nassau. That would give us 2 days to receive the test results before we return to Canada. If we don’t do it there, we will have to stay an extra day in Miami after disembarkation to get tested and then pay a small fortune to get the results in 24 hours. (When I say a small fortune, we are a party of 13 and we received one offer to test us all with 24 hour results so we can catch our flights and -with a 25% discount - it was over $USD4800.

Have you considered the Walgreens Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID Now)? Officially Walgreens says results within 24 hours, but most people get results within an hour. It is a NAAT test (not PCR but still a nucleic acid amplification test) and accepted by Canada. Here's a link to the CDC website about NAAT tests: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/naats.html And here is an article I stumbled across when looking up the types of tests accepted by Canada. I have no affiliation and cannot verify the stated info: https://flytrippers.com/getting-covid-19-test-usa-for-canadians/

 

[KMack]

Have you considered the Walgreens Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID Now)? Officially Walgreens says results within 24 hours, but most people get results within an hour. It is a NAAT test (not PCR but still a nucleic acid amplification test) and accepted by Canada. Here's a link to the CDC website about NAAT tests: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/naats.html And here is an article I stumbled across when looking up the types of tests accepted by Canada. I have no affiliation and cannot verify the stated info: https://flytrippers.com/getting-covid-19-test-usa-for-canadians/

Thanks for this. I have not been looking at things too closely yet but this is definitely helpful. I am hoping that the testing rules change before January!

 

[mevelandry]

Thanks for this. I have not been looking at things too closely yet but this is definitely helpful. I am hoping that the testing rules change before January!

We'd all like them to relax some parts of the health measures but this week, at least two cruise lines extended the health measures (vaccines, testing) until the end of March 2022.

 

[KMack]

We'd all like them to relax some parts of the health measures but this week, at least two cruise lines extended the health measures (vaccines, testing) until the end of March 2022.

I am talking about the Canadian government’s rules for testing for crossing the border. I totally support testing requirements for cruise ships. I just would like to see Canada go to accepting rapid antigen tests to enter the country rather than PCR tests, as currently required,

 

[mevelandry]

I am talking about the Canadian government’s rules for testing for crossing the border. I totally support testing requirements for cruise ships. I just would like to see Canada go to accepting rapid antigen tests to enter the country rather than PCR tests, as currently required,

Yes, indeed, but whenever rules are extended somewhere regarding travel, I'm kind of expecting a certain domino effect. Especially considering the bad rep of cruises.

I'm speculating here but I wouldn't be surprised to see the PCR recommendation being kept under certain circumstances, like cruises.

 

[Sykes]

Many cruise lines are offering complementary onboard testing if a test is required for your return to your home country. I don't think that Disney is currently doing that (except for the antigen test for cruises longer than 5 days), but I wouldn't be surprised if they start doing it if they're sailing from Canada and a negative test is still required to return to the US.

 

[mmouse37]

I would expect, as mentioned a few posts back, that DCL will have to test onboard in the future. The Honolulu to Vancouver cruise is 10 days with the last 5 of those sea days so no way to get a test in port before entering Cananda. We are staying one night in Vancouver after the Hawaii cruise but I have not even looked into testing for the return into the US yet. We are staying at the Fairmont at the airport in Vancouver so if they have a testing site hopefully we can do it there.

MJ

 

[MomOTwins]

Alaska is the USA. Vancouver is Canada. Therefore I think it is fair to assume DCL will need to test all passengers before it can dock in Vancouver after visiting Alaska. I think it is likely they will provide the test results to guests so they can use it to reenter US.

I remain optimistic that by summer, vaccines will be widespread enough that some of the border testing will loosen up as we will all just be living with the virus by then. I guess we’ll see.

 

[Starwind]

I would expect, as mentioned a few posts back, that DCL will have to test onboard in the future. The Honolulu to Vancouver cruise is 10 days with the last 5 of those sea days so no way to get a test in port before entering Cananda. We are staying one night in Vancouver after the Hawaii cruise but I have not even looked into testing for the return into the US yet. We are staying at the Fairmont at the airport in Vancouver so if they have a testing site hopefully we can do it there.

MJ

Although it is quite possible testing requirements will change between now and your cruise, FYI the Vancouver (YVR) airport has a page about Covid-19 Testing at YVR with info and links to the various options in and around the airport: https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/travel-planning/takecare/covid-19-testing and one of the options is even a testing clinic right at the Fairmont airport hotel.

At the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel, "On-site testing for COVID-19 is available for international travelers, located at the Lobby Level by the Health Club & Spa." Of course, there is a cost - see the list YVR provides to compare options/costs/locations.

I do agree with you that if Canada or the US still require entry tests by then, DCL will need to provide it onboard for passengers. Timing will be important for those like you who will have a post stay in Canada before their entry into the US as it could kick up a need for a second test depending on how long the stay is and when the onboard test is taken [one for Canada on the ship, one for the US while in Vancouver].

We have a summer 2022 DCL Alaska cruise and will also be watching for the testing rules and options. For us, although we are Canadian residents, we plan to arrive in Vancouver a few days before the cruise, which could mean needing to test in Vancouver before the cruise. So we've been paying attention to the testing situation in Vancouver and YVR.

SW