Is Disney the only cruise line requiring testing at port?

[Unclelude]

Hopefully this surge will be the end.

I don't know about you guys experience, but here in the Midwest infection has run wild last few weeks... Almost everyone I know is vaxxed and boosted has caught covid. Seems Vax doesn't do, doo-doo to stop getting covid (omicron) anymore, just might help help keeping from severe disease.

Point is vax, boost doesn't stop you from getting it... Seems like testing is the only way to really know.

 

[jujubiee4]

I see NCL is changing their testing policy beginning MARCH 1st. They were testing at
the port. Per their website

**For cruises with embarkation dates beginning March 1, 2022: At time of check-in, all guests will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result administered by a verified third party or via medically supervised home test (i.e. https://www.emed.com/ or BioReference-Scarlett Concierge testing service within two days prior to boarding for cruises originating in a U.S. port and three days prior for voyages departing from a non-U.S. port

 

[n2mm]

I see NCL is changing their testing policy beginning MARCH 1st. They were testing at
the port. Per their website

**For cruises with embarkation dates beginning March 1, 2022: At time of check-in, all guests will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result administered by a verified third party or via medically supervised home test (i.e. https://www.emed.com/ or BioReference-Scarlett Concierge testing service within two days prior to boarding for cruises originating in a U.S. port and three days prior for voyages departing from a non-U.S. port

im expecting dcl to do something similar. However, for us who do WDW prior will have to rethink our future trips. I can easily get tested at home, but trying to test while in WDW sounds like a pain.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

im expecting dcl to do something similar. However, for us who do WDW prior will have to rethink our future trips. I can easily get tested at home, but trying to test while in WDW sounds like a pain.

That’s a shame because it shouldn’t be. I get the whole concept of escaping the real world while at WDW but it they can add metal detectors at MK, they can do anything.
Even resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean are offering this as a convenience. Probably because no one would travel there if it were difficult to be tested before flying home.
I’m guessing Disney doesn’t want to touch that with a 39 1/2 foot pole. Then they’d have to deal with all those who test positive.

 

[princessmommyx3]

There is a testing site at WDW. It closed for a while when case numbers dropped but recently opened again:

https://wdwnt.com/2022/01/temporary...eopens-at-walt-disney-world-maingate-complex/

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

There is a testing site at WDW. It closed for a while when case numbers dropped but recently opened again:

https://wdwnt.com/2022/01/temporary...eopens-at-walt-disney-world-maingate-complex/

I stand corrected, but in reality, is this convenient for any onsite guests? It's on the most remote corner of Disney property. Will WDW transportation take anyone there?

 

[belle032]

If DCL does change to the NCL policy of 24-48 hours prior, they need to start accepting the proctored home tests. It would give their guests, especially those visiting WDW, another much more convenient option to get their tests done. The BinaxNow tests we use for cruising are currently accepted for international travel into the US. I really wouldn't understand DCL's reasoning for not allowing them.

 

[dreynolds1982]

Hmm with other cruise lines seemingly moving away from at port testing, and lots of places starting to loosen restrictions in general, I will be curious to see if DIsney does move to the 24-48 hr testing.

Also, for anyone that has done a cruise that required the prior testing, is the 48 hr thing exact (like if you board your cruise at 10am on a Monday, does the test have to be done at the earliest at 10 a.m. that Saturday) or is it like if the cruise embarks on a Monday, as long as the test is done that Saturday (any time) then it is OK?

Just something I've been curious about bc if DCL does make that switch then I could test at home that morning on our way out of town (we're driving) since we're leaving on a Saturday and our cruise leaves on a MOnday.

 

[n2mm]

I stand corrected, but in reality, is this convenient for any onsite guests? It's on the most remote corner of Disney property. Will WDW transportation take anyone there?

I assume this is the one at Main Gate I read about. We are a former Disney CM family so are familiar with main gate, (company D). But know this really is not in the WDW bubble and takes transportation to get there. We always have a car. But many don’t. Hope transportation will be provided somehow, at least from the AK park.

 

[hrhdhd]

Hmm with other cruise lines seemingly moving away from at port testing, and lots of places starting to loosen restrictions in general, I will be curious to see if DIsney does move to the 24-48 hr testing.

Also, for anyone that has done a cruise that required the prior testing, is the 48 hr thing exact (like if you board your cruise at 10am on a Monday, does the test have to be done at the earliest at 10 a.m. that Saturday) or is it like if the cruise embarks on a Monday, as long as the test is done that Saturday (any time) then it is OK?

Just something I've been curious about bc if DCL does make that switch then I could test at home that morning on our way out of town (we're driving) since we're leaving on a Saturday and our cruise leaves on a MOnday.

Celebrity says 2 days, not 48 hours. Cruise departs Saturday, get tested Thursday or Friday.

 

[n2mm]

Celebrity says 2 days, not 48 hours. Cruise departs Saturday, get tested Thursday or Friday.

im confused, is that enough time to get the results? I was going to get tested here at home at cvs before we leave home next week. Cvs says it takes 1-3 days for results.

 

[hrhdhd]

im confused, is that enough time to get the results? I was going to get tested here at home at cvs before we leave home next week. Cvs says it takes 1-3 days for results.

Celebrity allows rapid antigen. Results in 15 minutes.

 

[belle032]

Hmm with other cruise lines seemingly moving away from at port testing, and lots of places starting to loosen restrictions in general, I will be curious to see if DIsney does move to the 24-48 hr testing.

Also, for anyone that has done a cruise that required the prior testing, is the 48 hr thing exact (like if you board your cruise at 10am on a Monday, does the test have to be done at the earliest at 10 a.m. that Saturday) or is it like if the cruise embarks on a Monday, as long as the test is done that Saturday (any time) then it is OK?

Just something I've been curious about bc if DCL does make that switch then I could test at home that morning on our way out of town (we're driving) since we're leaving on a Saturday and our cruise leaves on a MOnday.

On the cruises we've done it for, it's just 2 days prior. It's not down to the minute or hour. So if you board on Saturday, it can be anytime on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

im confused, is that enough time to get the results? I was going to get tested here at home at cvs before we leave home next week. Cvs says it takes 1-3 days for results.

I was just tested Sunday at our local CVS. (PCR)
Ours also said 1-3 days. My appt was 2:20 pm Sunday and got the text for results around 11:30am Monday. They also offered rapid PCR in their search parameters. I don’t recall how much faster that was.
This was just my recent experience and I realize this can vary a lot with geography and demand for testing in each area.

 

[AquaDame]

im confused, is that enough time to get the results? I was going to get tested here at home at cvs before we leave home next week. Cvs says it takes 1-3 days for results.

You may have to shop around... we ran into this also and had to find a place that would gurantee it in a time frame that worked for us. Or, as a PP said you may be able to just use an antigen test which comes back much faster.

 

[bakerworld]

So when you say under-reporting are they reporting employees or employees and guests? Does other cruise lines report numbers differently? Would those be a daily number or when they hit every port? Maybe just report the last port? Anyway we could see those numbers somewhere?

DH cannot find the article he was reading but he told me it was both employees and passengers. I checked the CDC site and DCL is listed as yellow which only means a warning from what I can tell. I am wondering if he read the same article twice - LOL.

 

[Mrs_dee]

For just the reason you mentioned, I would do the following 3 steps. Which we did for our 3X vaccinated individuals a few weeks ago.
1. PCR Test 14 days before you sail to catch that unknown Covid but symptom free example.
2. Schedule a PCR test 12 days before so you can be ready in case your 14 day test is inconclusive. Then your still in the 11 day window and can get the doctor letter.
3. Rapid test everyone hours before you leave/fly to see if you picked up a last minute infection. Your cruise is shot but at least you don’t take a flight and scramble out of town to accommodate the infectious individual.
An OCD plan to minimize Covid travel risk.

Can you kindly explain this further - you can get a doctor’s note to bring with just in case somebody tests positive in your party within an 11-day window from day of sailing hence, running into a possibility of testing positive at the port? Thanks!

 

[AquaDame]

Can you kindly explain this further - you can get a doctor’s note to bring with just in case somebody tests positive in your party within an 11-day window from day of sailing hence, running into a possibility of testing positive at the port? Thanks!

No - you need to catch it and THEN you can get a note from your doctor saying you are recovered. It has to be 11 or more days prior to sailing (up to 90). It’s not a “just in case” waiver.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Can you kindly explain this further - you can get a doctor’s note to bring with just in case somebody tests positive in your party within an 11-day window from day of sailing hence, running into a possibility of testing positive at the port? Thanks!

No you have to apply in advance for the 90 day recovered status. It is now listed in the Know Before You Go section on the DCL site and there is a lengthy thread on these boards about how to apply as well.

 

[PirateFrank]

I still don't get how you are quarantined. Are they showing symptoms or are they close contacts. They're not getting retested on board right? I would like to see first hand accounts on how they ended up there.

They can/will get retested if they show symptoms... or feel unwell enough to visit the medical center...

There have also been cases on other cruise lines (though I dont know if this has happened on DCL) where someone was contact traced to a cruiser who tested positive. The tracing was done by either being in the same drink tasting or port excursion or through the use of on board security cameras and facial recognition software identifying the positive passenger sitting next to the traced cruiser at a show or even in the same elevator car with them. The contact traced cruiser was then required to take a test on board - resulting in an asymptomatic quarantine for the cruiser's family.

Its no accident that DCL and other cruise lines have increased the amount of scheduled activities, while reducing the amount of unscheduled ones (and virtually eliminating open bar times) Its alot easier to contact trace a group of people connected together by being in the same drink tasting but it gets more complicated if you can't trace someone in a ship bar, because the CCTV camera couldn't get enough facial markers due to a bad camera angle.