COVID test still required for B2B?

[Justacruiser]

Getting ready to do a B2B2B in may. Does anyone know if covid testing is required in between cruises? These will cruises 48, 49, and 50 with DCL.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Getting ready to do a B2B2B in may. Does anyone know if covid testing is required in between cruises? These will cruises 48, 49, and 50 with DCL.

Until things change regarding ANY testing, yes, you must test between cruises.

 

[indylaw99]

Do you have to pack up everything in your room just in case you test positive? It was my understanding that we would NOT have to pack everything up pre-COVID as long as we were staying in the same room. They would just escort you off for a bit and then you would come back on. But if you test positive in the middle, you would not be able to get back on to get your stuff.

This is my biggest worry about our B2B in August!

 

[Kwami]

Do you have to pack up everything in your room just in case you test positive? It was my understanding that we would NOT have to pack everything up pre-COVID as long as we were staying in the same room. They would just escort you off for a bit and then you would come back on. But if you test positive in the middle, you would not be able to get back on to get your stuff.

This is my biggest worry about our B2B in August!

You don't have to pack up between cruises. I just did B2B cruises in February and I thought that we would have to pack up, too, because my travel agent asked a cast member on the phone and was told that we would indeed have to pack up because of Covid-19 sanitization requirements. But, when we got on the ship, we were told by multiple crew members that we wouldn't have to pack up and that the phone CM was wrong.

I don't know what happens if you test positive and your stuff is still in your room, though. I guess they would escort you back and let you pack up and then escort you off the ship? They won't steal your stuff, anyway!

 

[n2mm]

We are hoping and waiting for this to change. We have a b2b for august/September but am concerned about not being allowed back to pack if things don’t go well. Some folks recommend emptying your safe during the change. We also read that a CM will pack your stuff . Plus you won’t be allowed back on. Not sure what’s true or policy. I have until late June to PIF. OP, good luck! Post back if you find out more. I wish they would just test us onboard if doing a b2b.

 

[n2mm]

Getting ready to do a B2B2B in may. Does anyone know if covid testing is required in between cruises? These will cruises 48, 49, and 50 with DCL.

yes it is required in between cruises. We got off the fantasy 2 weeks ago and met a couple that was on their 3rd leg of a b2b2b (7 nights each). They said they had to test at the end of each cruise, each time.

 

[Dug720]

Plus you won’t be allowed back on.

If you test positive you definitely won't be allowed back on. That policy is NOT changing. They don't want people who have COVID on the ship.

 

[Kwami]

If you test positive you definitely won't be allowed back on. That policy is NOT changing. They don't want people who have COVID on the ship.

I guess "back on" is ambiguous here. There's "back on" for the next cruise (definitely not) and "back on" to pack up your stuff and debark (uncertain). I wouldn't want cast members to pack my stuff and I don't think that they would want to risk doing that, either. What if they miss something? Or break something? Or take something? I don't think so.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm thinking, even as much of a hassle it would be, packing up and leaving the bags ready to go in my room would be the best option. That way, if I couldn't re-board, all they'd have to do is pick up the bags and bring them off.

 

[n2mm]

I guess "back on" is ambiguous here. There's "back on" for the next cruise (definitely not) and "back on" to pack up your stuff and debark (uncertain). I wouldn't want cast members to pack my stuff and I don't think that they would want to risk doing that, either. What if they miss something? Or break something? Or take something? I don't think so.

I agree. Wouldn’t it be better to go back and pack our own things than having a crew member go into the room, now is protected hazmat gear and pack. I could do it faster myself. I still think if we could just be tested in our own cabin either the night before or in the morning, that would be the best solution.

 

[Kwami]

I agree. Wouldn’t it be better to go back and pack our own things than having a crew member go into the room, now is protected hazmat gear and pack. I could do it faster myself. I still think if we could just be tested in our own cabin either the night before or in the morning, that would be the best solution.

I suspect that Disney doesn't have the machinery to do a rapid PCR test onboard, unfortunately. Perhaps they could take the sample the night before, then deliver it shoreside as soon as the ship docks, then let you know the results while you're getting ready in the morning? That's pretty tight timing, though, and the Inspire Diagnostics crew might not be ready to go that early. And they'd have to get the samples off while the ship is still awaiting clearance to debark, which might not be possible.

 

[HeatherLassell]

I agree. Wouldn’t it be better to go back and pack our own things than having a crew member go into the room, now is protected hazmat gear and pack. I could do it faster myself. I still think if we could just be tested in our own cabin either the night before or in the morning, that would be the best solution.

True that would be nice wouldn't it? They just come to your room and do the test instead of having to leave the ship. I'm doing a B2B in January on the Wish and hoping the testing is gone by then, though not expecting it to be.

 

[MomOTwins]

I suspect that Disney doesn't have the machinery to do a rapid PCR test onboard, unfortunately. Perhaps they could take the sample the night before, then deliver it shoreside as soon as the ship docks, then let you know the results while you're getting ready in the morning? That's pretty tight timing, though, and the Inspire Diagnostics crew might not be ready to go that early. And they'd have to get the samples off while the ship is still awaiting clearance to debark, which might not be possible.

It's actually just an antigen test for B2B, not rapid PCR. See below excerpt from "know before you go." You've always had to leave the ship on B2B to clear customs, so I think they figure it is just more efficient to have you do your test while off the ship. Since it is an antigen, the odds of a false positive are extremely small to the point that you really don't need to worry unless actively symptomatic, in which case you should have already been tested on board.

Back-to-Back Sailings: All Guests on consecutive, back-to-back sailings, regardless of age and vaccination status, will be required to undergo a COVID-19 antigen test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal after debarking the ship following their first cruise and before reboarding the ship for their second cruise.

 

[Kwami]

It's actually just an antigen test for B2B, not rapid PCR. See below excerpt from "know before you go." You've always had to leave the ship on B2B to clear customs, so I think they figure it is just more efficient to have you do your test while off the ship. Since it is an antigen, the odds of a false positive are extremely small to the point that you really don't need to worry unless actively symptomatic, in which case you should have already been tested on board.

Back-to-Back Sailings: All Guests on consecutive, back-to-back sailings, regardless of age and vaccination status, will be required to undergo a COVID-19 antigen test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal after debarking the ship following their first cruise and before reboarding the ship for their second cruise.

At least in Port Canaveral, despite what the website says, B2B guests actually take the same rapid PCR test between cruises that other guests do.

 

[MomOTwins]

At least in Port Canaveral, despite what the website says, B2B guests actually take the same rapid PCR test between cruises that other guests do.

Well rats, that was one of the ways I persuaded my DH to do a B2B on the Wish (with 5 of us, he was wary of adding an extra test when we can't control our exposure beforehand by locking down at home). Oh well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him... and with any luck, they'll have done away with the at-port test by the time we sail in spring 2023

 

[HeatherLassell]

It's actually just an antigen test for B2B, not rapid PCR. See below excerpt from "know before you go." You've always had to leave the ship on B2B to clear customs, so I think they figure it is just more efficient to have you do your test while off the ship. Since it is an antigen, the odds of a false positive are extremely small to the point that you really don't need to worry unless actively symptomatic, in which case you should have already been tested on board.

Back-to-Back Sailings: All Guests on consecutive, back-to-back sailings, regardless of age and vaccination status, will be required to undergo a COVID-19 antigen test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal after debarking the ship following their first cruise and before reboarding the ship for their second cruise.

Cool thanks for posting that! I definitely didn't see this information!

 

[nick262]

From someone that tested positive after the first of a B2B cruise: 1) it is the same PCR test not antegen (does not matter the port) 2) You WILL NOT be allowed on the ship. They will send housekeeping in hazmat suits to pack your stuff. It took 2 hours for them to do it. I know about the Hazmat suit because another person on my cruise group saw them packing our stuff. The only thing we were allowed to do was let our not positive daughter write a note to our dining team to say good bye.

 

[HeatherLassell]

From someone that tested positive after the first of a B2B cruise: 1) it is the same PCR test not antegen (does not matter the port) 2) You WILL NOT be allowed on the ship. They will send housekeeping in hazmat suits to pack your stuff. It took 2 hours for them to do it. I know about the Hazmat suit because another person on my cruise group saw them packing our stuff. The only thing we were allowed to do was let our not positive daughter write a note to our dining team to say good bye.

Well apparently something changed on the Safe Passage website and it now says "Starting on March 26th, Embarkation Testing will change to Antigen" so maybe this will help with B2B also since it will def be antigen not pcr. (with all their false positives)

 

[MomOTwins]

Well apparently something changed on the Safe Passage website and it now says "Starting on March 26th, Embarkation Testing will change to Antigen" so maybe this will help with B2B also since it will def be antigen not pcr. (with all their false positives)

Wowza

 

[HeatherLassell]

Wowza

Right?! I'm still waiting for it to be added officially to the DCL website.