Aug 9 Dream DCL email - what to expect with testing at Port

[KevinFL]

08/06/2021

Reservation #: 0000

Dear xxxx,
We appreciate you sailing with us and want to share some tips and reminders prior to your arrival at Port Canaveral.



In order to sail and prior to arriving at the port, all Guests 18 years of age and older must individually create an account associated with their reservation (or reservations, for Guest with back-to-back, consecutive sailings) on the Safe Passage website by Inspire Diagnostics, Disney Cruise Line’s third-party partner for COVID-19 testing and vaccination verification. Parents and legal guardians may use their own accounts to submit test results on behalf of their children. Guests may choose to opt out of testing by providing proof of vaccination through this process. After appropriate documents have been uploaded and reviewed by Inspire, Guests should see the word “Clear” under the Port Arrival heading when they log into their account before arriving at the port. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact 877-250-5132.



Online Check-in is required for your sailing and will streamline your port arrival experience. As part of this process you will need to submit the required citizenship documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. Guests arriving prior to their selected arrival time will be asked to return at the appropriate time. Online check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.



As we previously shared, Guests are required to undergo a rapid PCR COVID-19 test at the terminal prior to boarding. A $65 test fee will be charged to the folio of all Guests 12 years and older. Guests arriving by personal vehicle, will be directed to a testing location in the parking garage. Guests arriving by hired transportation will be directed to a testing location next to the parking garage. Guests who have chosen to provide proof of vaccination are not required to complete this testing.



The pre-embarkation COVID-19 test is a self-swab test and parents will need to assist children that are unable perform it on their own. Professionals will be on hand to help guide you through the process. Test results typically take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete but could take longer. We recommend that Guests plan accordingly and consider bringing any snacks, water or activities that may be needed while waiting. Guests will receive an email when their results are available and must log in to the Safe Passage website to determine whether their party is clear to embark. Guests in the garage will be provided with a telephone number should they have any questions while awaiting test results; Guests in the testing facility next to the garage will be able to address any questions to staff stationed there.



It is recommended that Guests also bring a copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result, or vaccination card showing the final dose was administered at least 14 days before sailing. Guests 12 years of age and older who choose not to opt out of the requirement by providing proof of full vaccination, are also required to present proof of travel insurance at the port.



We look forward to your arrival and appreciate your patience as we introduce these new health and safety protocols!

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line

 

[sethschroeder]

Are you vaccinated in Disney's eyes? I ask since I am wondering do they send this to everyone or only people who opt to tell Disney they are vaccinated.

 

[KevinFL]

I am guessing everyone will receive this one. We have 2 kids <12 years old. Sounds like a breeze though if you are vaccinated and nobody under 12! No hour wait in the garage for test results

 

[JWelch62]

I am guessing everyone will receive this one. We have 2 kids <12 years old. Sounds like a breeze though if you are vaccinated and nobody under 12! No hour wait in the garage for test results

I suspect that DCL will require a negative test result (PCR or Antigen) prior to embarkation for all passengers in the near future. Other cruise lines are starting to do that now. In addition, the Bahamas are requiring testing for all guests effective today. I expect that will include cruise line private islands.

 

[jrapps]

So I'm confused, after your under 12 takes the test, you go back to your car and wait in the garage for an email, or do you wait in the "testing facility"?

 

[n2mm]

So I'm confused, after your under 12 takes the test, you go back to your car and wait in the garage for an email, or do you wait in the "testing facility"?

maybe that’s why there are big tents set up in the parking lot, for people to wait? I guess we’ll know more in a few days.

 

[HiStitch626]

So I'm confused, after your under 12 takes the test, you go back to your car and wait in the garage for an email, or do you wait in the "testing facility"?

Based on the language in the statement, I think you wait in your car. If you are waiting in the tent, then you would not need a phone number for questions. "Guests in the garage will be provided with a telephone number should they have any questions while awaiting test results; Guests in the testing facility next to the garage will be able to address any questions to staff stationed there. "

 

[kathi]

I suspect that DCL will require a negative test result (PCR or Antigen) prior to embarkation for all passengers in the near future. Other cruise lines are starting to do that now. In addition, the Bahamas are requiring testing for all guests effective today. I expect that will include cruise line private islands.

I agree - I will be very surprised if DCL does not change that policy in the near future to match what other lines are doing.

 

[n2mm]

I agree - I will be very surprised if DCL does not change that policy in the near future to match what other lines are doing.

im expecting to see changes too, I leave in 3 weeks to arrive for the 8/30 cruise

 

[kathi]

maybe that’s why there are big tents set up in the parking lot, for people to wait? I guess we’ll know more in a few days.

Just speculation, but I think the tents are probably for folks who arrive by bus or other transportation service. I suspect that you will just sit in your car and do the test and then proceed to the garage to wait for results.

That is how pharmacies are doing it around us with their drive through. They hand you the test kit and tell you what to do, you swab your nose (the small swab, not the one that goes all the way up) and then hand the container back to the person in the drive through window. We got an email later with the results.

 

[n2mm]

Just speculation, but I think the tents are probably for folks who arrive by bus or other transportation service. I suspect that you will just sit in your car and do the test and then proceed to the garage to wait for results.

That is how pharmacies are doing it around us with their drive through. They hand you the test kit and tell you what to do, you swab your nose (the small swab, not the one that goes all the way up) and then hand the container back to the person in the drive through window. We got an email later with the results.

thanks for that insight. Of course, unless the process changes, we’re just 2 vaccinated adults, so hopefully we can skip all of that. But 3 weeks is a long time and lots could change.

 

[jrapps]

I thought the test done at the port was an antigen, but the letter above specifically said rapid PCR. I'll be honest, I've never heard of a rapid PCR. Didn't know that existed.

The 45min to hr wait seemed excessive for an antigen test so perhaps that is why. I know PCR is supposed to be more reliable. Kind of sucks waiting in the car that long. We have a 1:00 PAT so this makes it seem like it will be between 2:00 and 3:00 before we make it onto the ship.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I thought the test done at the port was an antigen, but the letter above specifically said rapid PCR. I'll be honest, I've never heard of a rapid PCR. Didn't know that existed.

The 45min to hr wait seemed excessive for an antigen test so perhaps that is why. I know PCR is supposed to be more reliable. Kind of sucks waiting in the car that long. We have a 1:00 PAT so this makes it seem like it will be between 2:00 and 3:00 before we make it onto the ship.

IIRC, the PCR test needs to be done a few days prior to sail date. An additional antigen test is done at the port. This is for unvaccinated. Hopefully they are just overestimating the wait time for the antigen test so that people are pleasantly surprised. As of right now, they have no way of knowing what is the typical % of passengers that are vaccinated and can currently skip this step. Once they have a few sailings under their belt, they will be better prepared to move people through each line as needed and give a more accurate estimate of wait times. JMHO.
This reminds me of the early Dream cruises where the port capacity was not in line with the amount of extra passengers compared to the Magic & Wonder. Lines were out the door. People were cranky. It was kind of a CF until they got a handle on things.

 

[ARLENE1]

08/06/2021

Reservation #: 0000

Dear xxxx,
We appreciate you sailing with us and want to share some tips and reminders prior to your arrival at Port Canaveral.



In order to sail and prior to arriving at the port, all Guests 18 years of age and older must individually create an account associated with their reservation (or reservations, for Guest with back-to-back, consecutive sailings) on the Safe Passage website by Inspire Diagnostics, Disney Cruise Line’s third-party partner for COVID-19 testing and vaccination verification. Parents and legal guardians may use their own accounts to submit test results on behalf of their children. Guests may choose to opt out of testing by providing proof of vaccination through this process. After appropriate documents have been uploaded and reviewed by Inspire, Guests should see the word “Clear” under the Port Arrival heading when they log into their account before arriving at the port. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact 877-250-5132.



Online Check-in is required for your sailing and will streamline your port arrival experience. As part of this process you will need to submit the required citizenship documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. Guests arriving prior to their selected arrival time will be asked to return at the appropriate time. Online check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.



As we previously shared, Guests are required to undergo a rapid PCR COVID-19 test at the terminal prior to boarding. A $65 test fee will be charged to the folio of all Guests 12 years and older. Guests arriving by personal vehicle, will be directed to a testing location in the parking garage. Guests arriving by hired transportation will be directed to a testing location next to the parking garage. Guests who have chosen to provide proof of vaccination are not required to complete this testing.



The pre-embarkation COVID-19 test is a self-swab test and parents will need to assist children that are unable perform it on their own. Professionals will be on hand to help guide you through the process. Test results typically take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete but could take longer. We recommend that Guests plan accordingly and consider bringing any snacks, water or activities that may be needed while waiting. Guests will receive an email when their results are available and must log in to the Safe Passage website to determine whether their party is clear to embark. Guests in the garage will be provided with a telephone number should they have any questions while awaiting test results; Guests in the testing facility next to the garage will be able to address any questions to staff stationed there.



It is recommended that Guests also bring a copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result, or vaccination card showing the final dose was administered at least 14 days before sailing. Guests 12 years of age and older who choose not to opt out of the requirement by providing proof of full vaccination, are also required to present proof of travel insurance at the port.



We look forward to your arrival and appreciate your patience as we introduce these new health and safety protocols!

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line

Thank you so much for posting this! We are on the cruise right after yours, the 3/day Bahamas cruise, and we have not gotten any emails from DCL yet. So it was really great to see some more information. I have gotten so much more information here from my DISboards fellow sailors then I have from DCL! I always come here to get the latest updates and information. Everyone is so generous with sharing and it really helps the all of us to prepare. Thank you!

 

[Karin1984]

I thought the test done at the port was an antigen, but the letter above specifically said rapid PCR. I'll be honest, I've never heard of a rapid PCR. Didn't know that existed.

The 45min to hr wait seemed excessive for an antigen test so perhaps that is why. I know PCR is supposed to be more reliable. Kind of sucks waiting in the car that long. We have a 1:00 PAT so this makes it seem like it will be between 2:00 and 3:00 before we make it onto the ship.

I had a rapid PCR test at Amsterdam airport with an hour return result. Crazy expensive, the girl explained to me that it was due to there is less room in the testing machine.

If it is an antigen test, they probably are just being cautious. A few weeks ago I had an antigen test, predicted results were 3 hours, reality was 40 minutes.

 

[Southern Pirate]

Not sure how many will be sailing without being vaccinated but the delay my be due to staffing. No company wants to over staff so based on the expected number that would be required to be tested it may take longer or shorted amount of time.