CDC Recommends Pre-cruise Testing 2 Days Prior

[ilovetotravel1977]

Just a heads up for any cruisers.

The CDC just updated its recommendations to start September 13 for pre-cruise testing from three day out to TWO DAYS out. Carnival has already adopted this policy starting September 13. John Heald mentioned Carnival would be looking into providing testing at the port (for a fee) hopefully by November 1.

MSC has announced it will be adopting this policy starting November 1. It's only a matter of time before they all do it.

 

[bcwife76]

We are AZ/Moderna so we can't cruise from the US any time soon anyway

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

I think this is important news because any WDW vacationers who depart FL on a Saturday and need the 72 hour test to come home, this could help for timing. Now you won't be competing with locals for any RT-PCR tests they would need to cruise. If their cruise is on a Saturday, they will need a test no earlier than Thursday now, versus Wednesday (72 hours out).

 

[hdrolfe]

We are AZ/Moderna so we can't cruise from the US any time soon anyway

I kind of assume that by the time I can cruise from the US with my AZ/Pfizer, we probably won't need so much testing...

 

[pigletto]

I kind of assume that by the time I can cruise from the US with my AZ/Pfizer, we probably won't need so much testing...

I’m still wondering if getting a booster of Pfizer will end up counting as two doses of Pfizer even though my first dose was AZ. More questions than answers on that front for now I guess .

 

[Marrila]

I’m still wondering if getting a booster of Pfizer will end up counting as two doses of Pfizer even though my first dose was AZ. More questions than answers on that front for now I guess .

I hope they thoughtfully address this for you and others in the same situation soon.

 

[peacefrogdog]

We have a RC cruise departing Dec 27th, for which we are flying YYZ - MCO the evening of Dec 26th.

It looks like to be allowed on the ship, we would need to get tested with a PCR test on Dec 25th (assuming there will be place open to do this, and also assuming the turnaround for results will not be delayed due to Xmas).

Can anyone think of a way that we could get tested to satisfy both the requirements of the CDC/cruise line, as well as satisfy the requirements to be allowed to board the plan to even fly to MCO?

Looks like RC will be offering at home testing that they will ship to you (it mentions they will ship to the US, but I could do cross border pickup).

https://RoyalCaribbean.com/HomeTestKit
Because we can do it at home It sounds like that may fit our needs to get on the cruise ship. But whether Air Canada will allow us on the plane with that test alone (without a PCR) is a different story.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

@peacefrogdog are you on Royal?

 

[peacefrogdog]

@peacefrogdog are you on Royal?

Yes I am.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

@peacefrogdog, you can do a rapid antigen test on either the 25th or 26th and that would work for both your flight into the US (3 days prior to flight) and the cruise (2 days prior to cruise). I have no idea if that will even be an option on Christmas and Boxing Days. Likely depends on where you live. Some posters have mentioned their local Shoppers Drug Mart does antigen tests for $40. It doesn't need to be a PCR test.

Here are Royal's FAQ. Scroll down to US Homeports sailings departing after September 13, 2021:
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/will-i-have-to-take-a-test-before-i-cruise
Their FAQ also states At-home tests are not accepted.
Tests We Do Not Accept

• Antibody tests are not accepted, as they do not detect a current infection.
• Home test kits that are self-administered at home, and not supervised live by a telehealth professional, are also not accepted.

Air Canada will let you on with a rapid antigen test. That is all you need to travel to the US, not a PCR test.

I strongly suggest you check regularly on the Royal Caribbean website for updates. All of the info I post above is found there under their Testing FAQ. These things change sometimes daily.

 

[peacefrogdog]

Awesome!
Royal Caribbean website currently says they accept any Abbott brand rapid antigen test.
My local Shoppers says they do the Abbott Panbio test.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Awesome!
Royal Caribbean website currently says they accept any Abbott brand rapid antigen test.
My local Shoppers says they do the Abbott Panbio test.

There ya go!

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Awesome!
Royal Caribbean website currently says they accept any Abbott brand rapid antigen test.
My local Shoppers says they do the Abbott Panbio test.

I found where Royal will be selling the at-home tests:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/...emedicine-option-for-pre-cruise-covid-19-test
You mentioned cross-border pick up. Maybe call Royal and make sure since you are Canadian you can do this test at home and that it is not just for US passengers? That would make your life much easier on Christmas Day! lol

 

[ElCray]

Deleted

 

[ElCray]

Posted on the wrong thread. Guess I'm tired.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Posted on the wrong thread. Guess I'm tired.

And i tried to quickly pull it over to the correct thread so you'll be able to use it for a reference when/if you need to chase it down but you beat me to the punch and deleted it before i could catch it!

I've stopped saying I'm tired, COVID-19 has a strange effect on time and everything has become a big muddled mess in my head!

 

[ElCray]

And i tried to quickly pull it over to the correct thread so you'll be able to use it for a reference when/if you need to chase it down but you beat me to the punch and deleted it before i could catch it!

I've stopped saying I'm tired, COVID-19 has a strange effect on time and everything has become a big muddled mess in my head!

Omg you are awesome and so kind.