DCL Has Their Protocol Out!!!

[kathi]

Maybe, maybe not. I noticed that this is for sailings 5 nights or longer. This is another example of why I think DCL will stick with 3-4 night cruises to Castaway Cay only for a few months at least.

Well if that is the case, they should be telling those of use booked to sail on the Fantasy in September.

 

[DCLMP]

This week 2 fully vaccinated people on the Celebrity Edge tested positive after they went to the sick bay voluntarily after coming down with symptoms. I think, at least for Florida, or anywhere in the Red category, self tests will be required. (Either antigen or PCR)
From https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center/getting-ready-to-cruise?dPort=florida-august This change was made in the last couple of hours.
View attachment 593135
It's EXTREMELY likely Disney follows suit.

They should at least rapid test everyone. I used to get a free PCR test every week and I got my results back the next day. I think for a cruise I would be stressed going the free route, but the expedited are costly especially for a family.

 

[Cheburashka]

They should at least rapid test everyone.

If they mandate testing for everyone, that's our breaking point. We're both fully vaccinated, and we're not flying to Florida only to have a chance of not being allowed to board the ship, due a test result that could possibly be incorrect (we've all seen the examples of so and so tested positive one day, then negative the next day, etc.). I'm sure many others feel the same way. If Disney suddenly changes a major part of their policy, it's only reasonable that they extend their flexible refund period.

 

[jrapps]

They should at least rapid test everyone.

I agree but I can see why some people won't like this. I think it is the best way to ensure a safe cruise as we are obviously seeing vaccinated people with Covid, but some people just don't like being tested (probably due to the whole nose swab thing)

In the end of the day, they will sail in whatever capacity they think is necessary to be safe. Even if that is last minute.

For what it's worth Royal just announced their change in policy yesterday or today. It is effective for cruises leaving beginning July 31, and I saw no indication they were allowing people to cancel with refunds if they object.

 

[KashasMom]

They should at least rapid test everyone. I used to get a free PCR test every week and I got my results back the next day. I think for a cruise I would be stressed going the free route, but the expedited are costly especially for a family.

I agree. It's been required to enter many countries. It's not a big deal (and all the better if it's free!). It's great to know everybody on the plane/ship/whatever provided a negative test. I personally don't believe everyone who say they've been vaccinated. Is Disney requiring vaccinated people to upload their card?

 

[orum]

I agree. It's been required to enter many countries. It's not a big deal (and all the better if it's free!). It's great to know everybody on the plane/ship/whatever provided a negative test. I personally don't believe everyone who say they've been vaccinated. Is Disney requiring vaccinated people to upload their card?

Yes. Card has to be uploaded. I also have my state vaccine record that includes my 2 covid vaccine doses.

Dan

 

[Joe Brig]

Testing everyone is probably coming and prudent. Vaccines fade over time and may not be effective on new variants. There isn't a national or global registry of people who are vaccinated and forging the document isn't difficult.

 

[DCLMP]

I agree. It's been required to enter many countries. It's not a big deal (and all the better if it's free!). It's great to know everybody on the plane/ship/whatever provided a negative test. I personally don't believe everyone who say they've been vaccinated. Is Disney requiring vaccinated people to upload their card?

Where have you gone to get the Covid test for travel and how much did it cost?

 

[DCLMP]

Testing everyone is probably coming and prudent. Vaccines fade over time and may not be effective on new variants. There isn't a national or global registry of people who are vaccinated and forging the document isn't difficult.

MSC rapid tests everyone for free. I was kind of surprised DCL was charging 65.00 dollars for it.

 

[KevinFL]

How late would this get us TO the port? With concierge I'd like to take advantage of it to get on the boat as quickly as possible.

With Concierge, if anyone in your party requires embarkation covid testing then you want to be at port when they open at 1pm for quicker testing so you can move on to Concierge boarding. If you come later then you will be waiting longer as all guests (regular room, concierge, platinum) that are being tested will go through the same ‘line’.

 

[sethschroeder]

MSC rapid tests everyone for free. I was kind of surprised DCL was charging 65.00 dollars for it.

Goal is a little carrot to give vaccination card up.

 

[sethschroeder]

Testing everyone is probably coming and prudent. Vaccines fade over time and may not be effective on new variants. There isn't a national or global registry of people who are vaccinated and forging the document isn't difficult.

Very doubtful at this point for various reasons.

 

[sethschroeder]

You got a vaccine shot which is maybe good for YOU but it is now clear vaccinated are getting and spread covid. So you are ok with not being tested to avoid inconvenience and risking brining the virus on the ship for others?

I am fine if they want to mandate testing for everyone but I won't sign up for it as I will be taking on all the risk at that point. Where as just skipping the cruise I assure $0 is lost.

 

[KashasMom]

Where have you gone to get the Covid test for travel and how much did it cost?

We went to Egypt a few weeks ago and paid $220 pp at JFK. Egypt required very specific details on the report and no labs were providing them (in NYC metro). That price was in line with what others have paid for other travel though. We paid $30 in Egypt for our tests to come back into the U.S. We're going to Costa Rica in a couple of weeks - no test required to enter and we plan to get our tests done at the airport on the way home. Looks like those are $65 pp. My daughter also got one for camp - $30 copay at her pediatrician. It's an extra expense not to mention time and sometimes hassle but happy to be traveling again.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

If they mandate testing for everyone, that's our breaking point. We're both fully vaccinated, and we're not flying to Florida only to have a chance of not being allowed to board the ship, due a test result that could possibly be incorrect (we've all seen the examples of so and so tested positive one day, then negative the next day, etc.). I'm sure many others feel the same way. If Disney suddenly changes a major part of their policy, it's only reasonable that they extend their flexible refund period.

Our breaking point as well. If you need to test everyone, including vaccinated? Too much risk for us. Not flying to Texas and then not going. It's not just that the tests can be inaccurate at times, it is also how much viral load you have at the time of your test-thus the negative then positive results. As of now, I am leaning towards cancelling the NYE cruise. Things aren't looking good. Still watching, but I am almost at my breaking point. Maybe things will be better for a March 2022 cruise? I don't know, but my mental health over all of this is suffering.

 

[jujubiee4]

We went to Egypt a few weeks ago and paid $220 pp at JFK. Egypt required very specific details on the report and no labs were providing them (in NYC metro). That price was in line with what others have paid for other travel though. We paid $30 in Egypt for our tests to come back into the U.S. We're going to Costa Rica in a couple of weeks - no test required to enter and we plan to get our tests done at the airport on the way home. Looks like those are $65 pp. My daughter also got one for camp - $30 copay at her pediatrician. It's an extra expense not to mention time and sometimes hassle but happy to be traveling again.

* A little off topic but please come back and say how your visit went. We cancelled our trip in 2020 and
I want to rebook but Husband says not a good time to go there. Maybe pm me or post in another part
of forum. Thanks!

 

[Fruto76]

CVS and Walgreen's both do the PCR for free (with or without health insurance) you can schedule about 2 weeks in advance for CVS

 

[KashasMom]

CVS and Walgreen's both do the PCR for free (with or without health insurance) you can schedule about 2 weeks in advance for CVS

As far as I know, those were not accepted for international air travel. The CVS site also mentioned results may take longer than 48 hours, which is too nerve-wracking if you don't have the time! (It definitely wasn't okay for Egypt and timing was a big issue because of a transit through Germany.) May be okay for a Disney cruise? And free is great! I'll keep it in mind if we need a test for Dec. travel and we have 96 hours.

 

[SnappySerape]

As far as I know, those were not accepted for international air travel. The CVS site also mentioned results may take longer than 48 hours, which is too nerve-wracking if you don't have the time! (It definitely wasn't okay for Egypt and timing was a big issue because of a transit through Germany.) May be okay for a Disney cruise? And free is great! I'll keep it in mind if we need a test for Dec. travel and we have 96 hours.

I live in Florida. I scheduled a Walgreens PCR test to fly American Airlines from Miami to Nassau for the Adventure of the Seas cruise back in June. I scheduled it online, did it in the drive through in like 5-10 minutes, I got my results in 2 days and I didn't have to pay for anything. They emailed me a report that I printed and showed to AA and they were totally fine with it. It might not be the same for other countries or airlines but I wanted to share my experience in case it helps!

 

[KevinFL]

I live in Florida. I scheduled a Walgreens PCR test to fly American Airlines from Miami to Nassau for the Adventure of the Seas cruise back in June. I scheduled it online, did it in the drive through in like 5-10 minutes, I got my results in 2 days and I didn't have to pay for anything. They emailed me a report that I printed and showed to AA and they were totally fine with it. It might not be the same for other countries or airlines but I wanted to share my experience in case it helps!

Stuggling with the choice on whether to use a Walgreens for their PCR and hope it comes back in two days or go with Disney’s selected by mail test provider Inspire Diagnostics.
I called Inspire Diagnostics and spent 30 minutes on hold never reaching a live person and it transferred to a voicemail. Have not received a reply to that VM or my email in three business days now. So not sure how confident I feel with either testing vendor choice; I want to use Walgreens because I have been able to see videos of their actual tests but feeling a bit risky if the results are back in time.