Inspired Diagnostics or local pharmacy for PCR test Pre-Sail Screening

[Luv2run2WDW]

What about weekends? Our cruise departs on a TUESDAY, November 23 out of Galveston. I assume we will have to do the Safe Passage test from home...but will a UPS drop off site even be open on Saturday? Praying for more options by the time we cruise.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Honestly find a place that does Rapid PCR. Your sanity will thank you.

we did 3.5 tests for our 9/17 cruise:
Mail in Inspire
Walgreens PCR
CVS PCR

mail in test was quick (picked up at 6 delivered to CA by 9am results by 5 pm) but ours was invalid results (others in group had good results with same time frames)

walgreens got results 60 hrs later.. had I used that as the only test I’d have been frantic..

cvs- line was2+ hrs so didn’t wait

made a rapid PCR test appointment for next day. Results in 25 minutes. Best $150 spent.

 

[MomOTwins]

For those who have done a rapid PCR, can you say what the test was? I am very confused because some have mentioned Abbott ID NOW tests, but my medical provider says those are not PCR tests, although they use some share elements (i.e., NAAT technology), PCR requires repeated cycles and so by definition is not a rapid test. I can't tell if my doctor is just being hyper technical and science-y, or if he's right and I can't have my kids do the Abbott ID NOW. I'd prefer that to the mail away given the tight turnaround, but only if someone can confirm Disney will accept it.

Relatedly, is "3 days" from sailing "3 calendar days" or 72 hours? In other words, can my kids get the test in the morning 3 days before our sail date, or do they have to take it in the late afternoon or two days before to ensure they are within 72 hours of actual sail away.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

For those who have done a rapid PCR, can you say what the test was? I am very confused because some have mentioned Abbott ID NOW tests, but my medical provider says those are not PCR tests, although they use some share elements (i.e., NAAT technology), PCR requires repeated cycles and so by definition is not a rapid test. I can't tell if my doctor is just being hyper technical and science-y, or if he's right and I can't have my kids do the Abbott ID NOW. I'd prefer that to the mail away given the tight turnaround, but only if someone can confirm Disney will accept it.

Relatedly, is "3 days" from sailing "3 calendar days" or 72 hours? In other words, can my kids get the test in the morning 3 days before our sail date, or do they have to take it in the late afternoon or two days before to ensure they are within 72 hours of actual sail away.

Ours specifically says RT-PCR on the results.
The ID now are NOT accepted.
All PCR tests are NAAT but not all NAAT tests are PCR.

it’s 3 days with embarkation being day 0 so for Friday sailing Day 1 is Thursday Day 2 is Wednesday, Day 3 is Tuesday.
According to safe passage anytime during that day counts (so not 72 hrs)

 

[MomOTwins]

Ours specifically says RT-PCR on the results.
The ID now are NOT accepted.
All PCR tests are NAAT but not all NAAT tests are PCR.

it’s 3 days with embarkation being day 0 so for Friday sailing Day 1 is Thursday Day 2 is Wednesday, Day 3 is Tuesday.
According to safe passage anytime during that day counts (so not 72 hrs)

Thank you so much. I think maybe there just aren't really rapid PCR tests in our area since the ID NOW was the only thing I could find that was rapid but not antigen. Knowing we can test in the morning 3 full days before is VERY helpful though as most send away PCRs are results 24 to 48 hours around here. We are flying out the evening before (Thurs night for a Fri sailing) so really hoping to get the results sometime either Wednesday or early Thursday before we travel!

 

[Jimmy Vegas]

Juts got the COVID test back from CVS a few minutes ago and uploaded to safepassage. The CVS test was Wed at noon and results Thursday at 1030pm. So about 34 hours, several people at work used CVS to travel and told me 36 hours on average. Test type was
SARS-COV-2 RNA, QL, RT PCR (COVID-19)

 

[KerriL]

Sailing on the Fantasy the 18th so tested my daughter yesterday the 15th at CVS, they said 1-3 days for results so we are a little nervous we wont get the results in time. The 3 day window with results due 1 days before only gives you 2 days to get tested and get results. Hopefully we will get results tonight or early tomorrow as we fly out in the afternoon for Orlando. I guess 24 hours before requirement is based on ship sail time of 3:45pm, so I have until 3:45 tomorrow to upload results. Fingers crossed.

Did you get your results in time? If Labcorp was the lab that processed the test, you can make an account on their website and potentially get the results before CVS notifies you.

 

[TitoInTampa]

Hello all, new to this site and my very first post - figured I would chime in as I have direct experience on this topic.
My family and I, 2 adults and 2 children (7 and 9 years old), just got back from the Disney Dream sailing 9/13-9/17
Disney adjusted the dates for the 1st test, it used to be 5 days now it's 3 days prior to sailing. With the cruise sailing on Monday 9/13, that put us at Friday 9/10 for testing. We opted for free testing through CVS (book as early as possible), and made drive-up testing appointments for the kids after school. After paperwork and preparations, the entire process took about 30 minutes. The tests are self administered and you only need to stick the cotton part of the swab into the childs nose, my kids were not uncomfortable at all and thought the cotton tickled. The results were ready the very next day (Saturday) via email. I cannot thank CVS enough on how easy they made the process.

Now on to embarkation day - as you pull up to the parking garage (and after paying) you will be guided to a testing area before parking or leaving your car. It's at this point that everyone sailing, even if vaccinated, will need to test. Just like everyone else, we were nervous about our children testing. And just like CVS, the cotton swab only needs to clear the nostrils. These tests are not the kind that poke your brain! literally only goes in about as deep as an adults thumbnail. A super quick and painless process. After testing, you will drive up to an empty parking spot where you stay in your car and wait for the results of the tests via email or Safe Passage website (I was refreshing constantly). After about 45 minutes we were given the all clear to board!

Hope this helps any new cruisers.

 

[dlin2011]

Honestly find a place that does Rapid PCR. Your sanity will thank you.

we did 3.5 tests for our 9/17 cruise:
Mail in Inspire
Walgreens PCR
CVS PCR

mail in test was quick (picked up at 6 delivered to CA by 9am results by 5 pm) but ours was invalid results (others in group had good results with same time frames)

walgreens got results 60 hrs later.. had I used that as the only test I’d have been frantic..

cvs- line was2+ hrs so didn’t wait

made a rapid PCR test appointment for next day. Results in 25 minutes. Best $150 spent.

Where did you get your rapid for $150?

 

[cmash95]

ok they are requireing the test so why am I paying for it? my grandson is three and can't get a shot yet. frankly disney should be paying for this

 

[Toulou]

Hello all, new to this site and my very first post - figured I would chime in as I have direct experience on this topic.
My family and I, 2 adults and 2 children (7 and 9 years old), just got back from the Disney Dream sailing 9/13-9/17
Disney adjusted the dates for the 1st test, it used to be 5 days now it's 3 days prior to sailing. With the cruise sailing on Monday 9/13, that put us at Friday 9/10 for testing. We opted for free testing through CVS (book as early as possible), and made drive-up testing appointments for the kids after school. After paperwork and preparations, the entire process took about 30 minutes. The tests are self administered and you only need to stick the cotton part of the swab into the childs nose, my kids were not uncomfortable at all and thought the cotton tickled. The results were ready the very next day (Saturday) via email. I cannot thank CVS enough on how easy they made the process.

Now on to embarkation day - as you pull up to the parking garage (and after paying) you will be guided to a testing area before parking or leaving your car. It's at this point that everyone sailing, even if vaccinated, will need to test. Just like everyone else, we were nervous about our children testing. And just like CVS, the cotton swab only needs to clear the nostrils. These tests are not the kind that poke your brain! literally only goes in about as deep as an adults thumbnail. A super quick and painless process. After testing, you will drive up to an empty parking spot where you stay in your car and wait for the results of the tests via email or Safe Passage website (I was refreshing constantly). After about 45 minutes we were given the all clear to board!

Hope this helps any new cruisers.

Will 2 adults, vaccinated, need a test at cvs?

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Where did you get your rapid for $150?

BayCare Urgent Care- it’s the Tampa area equivalent of AdventHealth CentraCare.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

ok they are requireing the test so why am I paying for it? my grandson is three and can't get a shot yet. frankly disney should be paying for this

it’s not technically DCL requirement it’s the BahamianGovernment.

There are free options but they come with a great risk of not having the results in a timely manner.

 

[cmash95]

it’s not technically DCL requirement it’s the BahamianGovernment.

There are free options but they come with a great risk of not having the results in a timely manner.

still noone should have to pay for the test of the government any government is requiring them

 

[BadPinkTink]

still noone should have to pay for the test of the government any government is requiring them

It works both ways.
On January 12, 2021, CDC announced an Order requiring all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs.

This means all the American tourists who came to Europe this summer had to pay to get a Covid test to return to USA.

 

[MomOTwins]

still noone should have to pay for the test of the government any government is requiring them

I mean, we pay port taxes and when countries require a visa you have to pay for that too—sometimes a lot of money! Not sure how that is any different.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

still noone should have to pay for the test of the government any government is requiring them

If you travel somewhere that requires certain immunizations (for example, Malaria) before travel, you pay for those. If you choose to travel to a place that requires an pre-entry visa, you are responsible for paying the visa fee.

It's your choice to travel to those places. It's your choice to take a cruise during a global pandemic. You're informed of the testing requirement before and during the booking process, you can choose to cruise at a later date when it's not required, or take a vacation to a location that doesn't require covid testing.

 

[TCOOK]

I have a question....looking for a place to have our 2 year old granddaughter before the cruise. Most places appear to test 3 and up. Our cruise leaves out on Sunday, November 28. The three days would be Thanksgiving. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[MomOTwins]

I have a question....looking for a place to have our 2 year old granddaughter before the cruise. Most places appear to test 3 and up. Our cruise leaves out on Sunday, November 28. The three days would be Thanksgiving. Thanks for any suggestions.

Do you have any urgent cares in your area that do covid testing? They tend to be open on holidays and have doctors on staff so can test under 3s unlike the national pharmacy chains.

 

[bethy]

So - when they say 24 hours do they mean 24 hours before Sailing? Or midnight of your sail date? Or embarkation? Worst case scenario can we show up at the port with the documentation?

I have discovered that no one in our somewhat rural area does the rapid PCR tests (unless you have symptoms). We've got the Inspire tests and will send that in but I need a back up option.

I'm seriously thinking about changing our family's flights to a day or two earlier to make sure our 10yo gets tested. Ugh.