Yup. And folks in that thread aren't convinced it is "great news".Already being discussed here: Know Before You Go Updated - May 17 - Testing rule changes
Some are, some aren't. Everyone has an opinion...funny how that happensYup. And folks in that thread aren't convinced it is "great news".
What's great about it?
I'm on the June 13th sailing and received an email from DCL at 12:14 today. Also, I'd love for testing to be dropped just to fly home to the States, but have given up hope on that so I don't think testing to sail is going away anytime soon.I don't want to pay anything when I expected to be tested for free at port for my pricy mid June cruise...and I have yet to get an email from Disney telling me about this change
Why would I get tested before my cruise anyway?These tests aren’t cheap.If you were planning to (or required to) get tested anyhow before your cruise, you can now use that test rather than waiting for testing at the port.
Granted, it’s not great for those who weren’t planning to get tested in advance with an “acceptable” test, aren’t concerned about traveling to the port and then testing positive, and don’t like the additional fees.
This is clearly in the “can’t please everyone” category. Some people over the past many months have posted thoughts such as “I wish we could just get tested in advance, or use test results we already have, instead of having to test at the port.” For such people, this is great. For people posting “I am upset at the cost of a cruise and don’t want additional costs,” this is not great.
My home airport and Mco charge 65.000. Not a huge difference from DCL. I’m not sure where people get free tests with short turn around times.Not great news. Dropping testing altogether for vaxxed would be great news. Passing the cost onto the passenger is not. I agree that it's better to know before you get to port but it's a hassle to do it, especially trying to do it a few hours before driving to the airport (or trying to find a place in Florida while on vacation). If you could submit home tests without supervision, sure, I'd be good with that--I have 8 free ones from the government. I don't want to pay anything when I expected to be tested for free at port for my pricy mid June cruise...and I have yet to get an email from Disney telling me about this change... DH is livid about it, and I'm annoyed.
They wouldn’t fill the ships otherwise. I looked for our Dec trip and couldn’t find a single Canadian insurer that actually - after you read the fine print - would cover costs that were non medical and covid related.RAT here in Ontario are 19.95 at WalMart, 40 at Shoppers Drugmart. A lot of people mentioned DCL passing the cost onto travellers. I could never figure out why they ever assumed the cost? Tour companies don’t pay for vaccines to go to Asia and Africa. Tour companies don’t pay for Visas when countries require them ? Yes DCL is expensive and I’ve made peace with that, my choice over other cruise lines.
I still can’t believe that Disney fully refunds the cost of a cruise if you test positive for Covid at the dock? I thought that was what insurance was for. I think their handling of Covid has been more than generous. They were paying for a test that, if positive, actually lost them money? Everyone turned away was lost revenue for that cruise IMHO, not meant to be argumentative.
My home airport and Mco charge 65.000. Not a huge difference from DCL. I’m not sure where people get free tests with short turn around times.
For us, our insurance will pay for the test no matter where it was taken or the reason. They are even starting to pay for a certain number of home test a month.They wouldn’t fill the ships otherwise. I looked for our Dec trip and couldn’t find a single Canadian insurer that actually - after you read the fine print - would cover costs that were non medical and covid related.
In BC to get a cheaper option I will need to use a telehealth service for about $30 a person and get to use the tests the BC govt gives out at all pharmacies. Convenient for us, for sure. However, if you want to have an in person test done in BC you are looking at a minimum of $79 per person. Those cheap $20 Walmart tests and $40 Shoppers test don't exist in BC.RAT here in Ontario are 19.95 at WalMart, 40 at Shoppers Drugmart. A lot of people mentioned DCL passing the cost onto travellers. I could never figure out why they ever assumed the cost? Tour companies don’t pay for vaccines to go to Asia and Africa. Tour companies don’t pay for Visas when countries require them ? Yes DCL is expensive and I’ve made peace with that, my choice over other cruise lines.
I still can’t believe that Disney fully refunds the cost of a cruise if you test positive for Covid at the dock? I thought that was what insurance was for. I think their handling of Covid has been more than generous. They were paying for a test that, if positive, actually lost them money? Everyone turned away was lost revenue for that cruise IMHO, not meant to be argumentative.
People would not cruise otherwise. No other time in history have you had to get a swab stuck up your nose to get on a ship. No way I would cruise if I couldnt get a full refund for a virus I didnt even know I had.RAT here in Ontario are 19.95 at WalMart, 40 at Shoppers Drugmart. A lot of people mentioned DCL passing the cost onto travellers. I could never figure out why they ever assumed the cost? Tour companies don’t pay for vaccines to go to Asia and Africa. Tour companies don’t pay for Visas when countries require them ? Yes DCL is expensive and I’ve made peace with that, my choice over other cruise lines.
I still can’t believe that Disney fully refunds the cost of a cruise if you test positive for Covid at the dock? I thought that was what insurance was for. I think their handling of Covid has been more than generous. They were paying for a test that, if positive, actually lost them money? Everyone turned away was lost revenue for that cruise IMHO, not meant to be argumentative.
It’s hard when you are traveling before the cruise… not good news!