DCL dropping pre Cruise testing.

[magsnwonderland]

I'm glad we're sailing next week before it drops.

 

[Disneychick13]

It’s about time.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

thank goodness sorry to all of those who still want this antiquated option available but it’s about time we remove these barriers to cruising when people are stopping off at different ports and getting back on the ship regardless.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Sad to see they're doubling down on not letting different CC levels have different check in days.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Sad to see they're doubling down on not letting different CC levels have different check in days.

I still don’t get why the castaway club is so disregarded and the highest tier for spending absolute thousands of dollars on this cruise line is a free dinner at an upscale restaurant. There are so many little ancillary things Disney can do with their tier system, but don’t utilize it at all.

 

[Budzooka]

Glad for this change. So stressful to test at the port and potentially be denied boarding.

 

[DianaMB333]

Does it mean that Safe Passage is not longer required?
We are sailing in 18 days..

 

[goofy4prez]

That's good news BUT yeah, does that mean we don't need to bother with the Safe Passage step??? Hasn't really said, has it???

I'll find out in a couple of days. I begin my 30-day check-in for our December 5th sailing on the Dream this Saturday. I hope it's not necessary. I think this is the right decision for DCL. The need for testing has become an exercise of futility. I have been vaccinated, boosted, and twice after I had covid.

 

[Girl of the South]

I checked in last night. After a lot of trouble, I finally succeeded and then received an email from DCL with the following paragraph at the bottom:

In order to sail, every Guest must individually create an account associated with their reservation and upload their proof of vaccination and pre-trip COVID-19 test results to the Safe Passage or Sail Screen websites. To learn more about how to provide proof of your negative COVID-19 test result, or proof of vaccination, please visit the Before Leaving Home section of our Know Before You Go website.

So either it is still something we have to do OR they just haven't gotten around to updating this auto email. I did go to Safe Passage but it told me it was too early to make an account. Will try around the 18th of November which will be within 15 days and see if they are still around.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

I still don’t get why the castaway club is so disregarded and the highest tier for spending absolute thousands of dollars on this cruise line is a free dinner at an upscale restaurant. There are so many little ancillary things Disney can do with their tier system, but don’t utilize it at all.

The biggest thing that is hard to get people to understand is that they could but they don't NEED to.

Rewards programs/loyalty programs are being shrunk all across the board. Disney could really get rid of the Castaway Club all together and it really wouldn't affect their operations much.

Now, for my opinion As a Gold, almost to platinum, I think the LEAST they could do is let Platinum check in earlier and get better arrival times/boarding groups than Gold/Silver/Etc. I can understand them not wanting a large portion of their guests to just show up whenever they want at the terminal but it would be easy to tier check in like they do activities.

 

[MamaMermaid]

We sail the 17th. Honestly, I have mixed feelings. We sailed in July and my mom got covid even with the protocols in place so I guess people testing negative didn't really matter...

 

[Chirple]

This is from Safe Passage. I am ambivalent about this change, but it explains why our vaccination proof that we uploaded on Monday is still in Pending Review status. Our cruise departs 11/14.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

We sail the 17th. Honestly, I have mixed feelings. We sailed in July and my mom got covid even with the protocols in place so I guess people testing negative didn't really matter...

Nope it doesn't matter, the test is a point in time and many of those negative tests could very well be positive the next day but they wouldn't know. With symptoms that are so similar to allergies and colds its hard to know what you have especially those that deal with allerigies.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I think it does matter--sure some people can still slip through, but on our cruise upwards of 12 infected people were not on board due to the testing and the checks in place. With these rules, those people would've sailed with us.

 

[71 Truck]

That's what Insurance is for. They only worked with everybody during the major Covid outbreaks now it's back to business as usual (almost).

First let me say my wife and I do not travel without insurance.

I said way before Covid that the cruise lines should require either their travel insurance or a third party travel insurance.
I am not sure if it is required now because of Covid.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

First let me say my wife and I do not travel without insurance.

I said way before Covid that the cruise lines should require either their travel insurance or a third party travel insurance.
I am not sure if it is required now because of Covid.

I joke with everyone that I pay travel insurance so I never have to use it. Literally. We have had very high level travel insurance every time we travel and nothing happens. I just keep buying it because I know the one time I don't will be the time I need it. I consider it peace of mind more than anything else.

Look at the regular cost of repatriating remains from another country and you'll never want to travel internationally without insurance either. Its just such a smart thing to do.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I think it does matter--sure some people can still slip through, but on our cruise upwards of 12 infected people were not on board due to the testing and the checks in place. With these rules, those people would've sailed with us.

Many more likely slipped through than got caught and didn't cruise. At this point you can get covid anywhere and its personal responsibility to determine what risk level you are comfortable with. Everyone has a choice to cruise or choose other entertainment spots its not being forced on anyone.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I joke with everyone that I pay travel insurance so I never have to use it. Literally. We have had very high level travel insurance every time we travel and nothing happens. I just keep buying it because I know the one time I don't will be the time I need it. I consider it peace of mind more than anything else.

Look at the regular cost of repatriating remains from another country and you'll never want to travel internationally without insurance either. Its just such a smart thing to do.

We have never bought it before, but in the future we are thinking about adding it for international travel. Within in the US not as concerned yet.

But you thankfully buy the high level, but many people don't look to see what it all covers and may find out its not that good if they ever need it. There are so many choices out there.

 

[71 Truck]

We have never bought it before, but in the future we are thinking about adding it for international travel. Within in the US not as concerned yet.

But you thankfully buy the high level, but many people don't look to see what it all covers and may find out its not that good if they ever need it. There are so many choices out there.

When my wife and I buy travel insurance it is mostly for going on a cruise or going out of the country.
We look at who has the best coverage for thing like being brought back to the united states for medical emergency's and medical coverage abroad. I have read stories of people being trapped in other country's not being aloud to leave till they paid their medical bills.
I have also read about people being stuck till they could come up with the tens of thousands of dollars needed for medical flights home.

 

[bakerworld]

We sailed on Wishes Oct. 14. Our cruise did not require testing to board the ship but did require proof of vaccination via Safe Passage.

BIL didn't update his Safe Passage because he didn't understand how to add the current reservation to his account. At the Port building entry, he was directed out of the line to a tent where his Safe Passage was updated with his current reservation. His vaccination card was already loaded into his Safe Passage account and he had received the Clear to Sail email, just as we had, the week before sailing.