Has anyone done this? - testing before flying

[mousefan73]

We fly in from Europe so we have to be tested anyways. When we cruised beginning of December that was the first hurdle of us actually getting on the Magic. It was mentally nice and a bit reassuring to have that first test negative.

I have been looking at a princess cruise and you test two days before. Technically I can use the same test for flying and boarding. But me personally I like to fly out three days before a cruise. The only thing that’s frustrating for me is that you have to use a verified testing place and the only ones in Germany are two testing lab companies and they cost about €50 for a rapid test where I can get the same test for free here in town. Local tests are also done officially and proctored and sent via email with QR Code etc. . So in a way I feel screwed about that.

 

[braysmommy]

Thankfully we live in area of country that PCR testing is plentiful so we will PCR test 5 and 3 days prior and rapid test before leaving for airport. Hopefully by May this will all look a little different though.

 

[DisneYE]

We sailed twice since cruising has resumed and didn’t bother getting test prior to leaving. We knew in the back of our minds that testing positive is always a possibility. We didn't really worry because if we did have a positive test, we’d get a refund and could rebook. Plenty of similar cruises to choose from.

The only reason I plan to start testing a few weeks prior to our March cruise is that I don’t want to just get a refund and get sent home. I really want to sail the cruise we have booked. It’s the last scheduled PC cruise for the rest of 2022 and 2023. We couldn’t do any cruise that long while our kids were in school and now we finally are able. I really don’t want to miss it.

In 2008 they offered it in August but dh balked at the price and ever since then, it was offered only while school was in session, and we regret that we hesitated in 08; it sold out the first day.

Covid is spreading around my coworkers so much that part of me wants to just get it now and be done with it so I can simply get a doctor’s note of recovery and stop stressing.

Same situation as you. We'd have cancelled already but we were waiting for this cruise for such a long time.
After reading the replies here, and other places before, I thought we would test 10 days and 1 day before flying
But then I think what's the point, we'll be in NOLA 3 days before embarkation, during Mardi Gras, going to restaurants and other places and if omicron is still around and we haven't caught it, we might catch it there

And now this fear of getting a positive test in our party at the port is compounded by something worse:
What if someone in our party has symptoms on the 2nd day or 3rd day of the cruise and we're sent to the dungeons on deck 2?
To me that's 1000x worse than being denied boarding
So, yeah... these are fun times

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Same situation as you. We'd have cancelled already but we were waiting for this cruise for such a long time.
After reading the replies here, and other places before, I thought we would test 10 days and 1 day before flying
But then I think what's the point, we'll be in NOLA 3 days before embarkation, during Mardi Gras, going to restaurants and other places and if omicron is still around and we haven't caught it, we might catch it there

And now this fear of getting a positive test in our party at the port is compounded by something worse:
What if someone in our party has symptoms on the 2nd day or 3rd day of the cruise and we're sent to the dungeons on deck 2?
To me that's 1000x worse than being denied boarding
So, yeah... these are fun times

You cancelled?
I am probably changing our flight to the day before sailing and skipping seeing anything in NOLA. We'd then need only one dinner and I can make instant oatmeal

We can visit some other time when there’s no pandemic and definitely when it’s not Mardi Gras.

 

[DisneYE]

You cancelled?
I am probably changing our flight to the day before sailing and skipping seeing anything in NOLA. We'd then need only one dinner and I can make instant oatmeal

We can visit some other time when there’s no pandemic and definitely when it’s not Mardi Gras.

No! And I won't unless we test positive a few days before but I'm so conflicted
We already have flights and hotel booked in NOLA... we'll just play it out and see what happens
But the thing that has me the most anxious is having symptoms on the ship on day 2-5 and then we are all sent to deck 2 jail cells...that would be the worst nightmare... can you imagine being locked up with no ventilation for 10+ days?

Do you know if they'd let you out at a port if that were the case? I would much rather disembark in Cozumel or PV and quarantine there as opposed to being isolated in deck 2 like a leper.

 

[lanejudy]

Do you know if they'd let you out at a port if that were the case? I would much rather disembark in Cozumel or PV and quarantine there as opposed to being isolated in deck 2

Doubtful. I suspect the ports don't allow covid-positive cases to debark unless needing medical attention -- and the whole point of the return-to-sail rules was for the cruiselines to show they could manage covid cases onboard without impacting the local ports.

 

[KMack]

Meaning, testing before flying to get on the ship... to see whether you should continue on.

We have a WBPC cruise in March and obviously we'd get tested on the cruise terminal
But we have to take a flight to NOLA (it's a long one) & was wondering if people get tested before flying to the city where they go to port.

Just to see if you're positive - and then if you are, better to postpone the cruise before you grab that flight.

Anyone done this or just play it and see what happens at the port?

I'd h8 to fly 4 hours, get told at the port someone in our party is positive and then have to fly another 4 damn hours back.

We just sailed on the Magic last week. Coming from Canada, we had to test before we could fly into the US. We could have had a rapid antigen test but we elected to do the more sensitive NAAT test. We didn't want to fly all the way to Miami just to test positive at the port because of a less-sensitive test used for entry into the US. The RT-LAMP test technology can be done at home under video supervision of a Telehealth professional. We had a suitable certificate within 45 minutes of starting the test all from the comfort of our own home.

We did the same thing in our hotel room in Miami because we required a PCR test in order to fly back to Canada.

I don't know who sells the Lucira RT-LAMP tests in the US but I highly recommend them.

 

[ChicosWife]

Meaning, testing before flying to get on the ship... to see whether you should continue on.

We have a WBPC cruise in March and obviously we'd get tested on the cruise terminal
But we have to take a flight to NOLA (it's a long one) & was wondering if people get tested before flying to the city where they go to port.

Just to see if you're positive - and then if you are, better to postpone the cruise before you grab that flight.

Anyone done this or just play it and see what happens at the port?

I'd h8 to fly 4 hours, get told at the port someone in our party is positive and then have to fly another 4 damn hours back.

I can tell you that knowing we will be tested at the port and could be denied entry onto the ship, we will definitely all be testing prior to our flight. I would rather know before we fly and make other arrangements, then be bawling my eyes out as the ship leaves without us!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

No! And I won't unless we test positive a few days before but I'm so conflicted
We already have flights and hotel booked in NOLA... we'll just play it out and see what happens
But the thing that has me the most anxious is having symptoms on the ship on day 2-5 and then we are all sent to deck 2 jail cells...that would be the worst nightmare... can you imagine being locked up with no ventilation for 10+ days?

Do you know if they'd let you out at a port if that were the case? I would much rather disembark in Cozumel or PV and quarantine there as opposed to being isolated in deck 2 like a leper.

Most flights can be changed without fees. Is your hotel non-refundable? Just saying.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

But the thing that has me the most anxious is having symptoms on the ship on day 2-5 and then we are all sent to deck 2 jail cells...that would be the worst nightmare... can you imagine being locked up with no ventilation for 10+ days?

Honey if this is your worst nightmare, you’re doing pretty good! I can think of a lot of horrible scenarios that are far worse than chilling out on deck 2. I work in a hospital and we are busy af. Being off from work and having room service all day really can’t be that bad. Sure, it’s not what I had in mind when we made our final payment but that’s a chance you take.

We have spent multiple 7-night cruises on deck 2 of the Magic. I think we were Gold before getting a balcony. We would survive.
Note to self: Pack some extra books that I never have time to read.

 

[braysmommy]

Honey if this is your worst nightmare, you’re doing pretty good! I can think of a lot of horrible scenarios that are far worse than chilling out on deck 2. I work in a hospital and we are busy af. Being off from work and having room service all day really can’t be that bad. Sure, it’s not what I had in mind when we made our final payment but that’s a chance you take.

We have spent multiple 7-night cruises on deck 2 of the Magic. I think we were Gold before getting a balcony. We would survive.
Note to self: Pack some extra books that I never have time to read.

Exactly what I was thinking and I also wonder if DCL will decrease isolation to 5 days? We are packing extra games any snacks just in case. My 15 yr old was like wait we get free WiFi and told me not to worry he’s be just fine gaming his days away And we typically book a cabin on deck 2 so we will survive.

 

[Avasmama]

We live in Canada so we have to test 24 hours before our flight. We fly in at night and cruise in the morning. We were even thinking of doing a at home rapid test right before leaving for the port too.

 

[DisneYE]

Honey if this is your worst nightmare, you’re doing pretty good! I can think of a lot of horrible scenarios that are far worse than chilling out on deck 2. I work in a hospital and we are busy af. Being off from work and having room service all day really can’t be that bad. Sure, it’s not what I had in mind when we made our final payment but that’s a chance you take.

We have spent multiple 7-night cruises on deck 2 of the Magic. I think we were Gold before getting a balcony. We would survive.
Note to self: Pack some extra books that I never have time to read.

haha. I meant worst nightmare during the cruise. It's a 14 night itinerary. If on day 3 you're quarantined bc you show symptoms, 11 days in an unventilated room can't be fun.. they don't let you out so not being able to breathe fresh air for that long is pretty bad, no matter how good the room service food is.
Good advice on taking extra books to read, maybe download a few movies on the iPad for when Disney movies get old.
PS. Thank you for what you do during these difficult times working at a hospital.

 

[DisneYE]

Doubtful. I suspect the ports don't allow covid-positive cases to debark unless needing medical attention -- and the whole point of the return-to-sail rules was for the cruiselines to show they could manage covid cases onboard without impacting the local ports.

I agree but Mexican ports have been pretty lax regarding protocols. And it's a government thing, their president has refused from day 1 to close the country or impose restrictions on tourism at all, even during times when the pandemic hit them pretty hard... so here's hoping.