Know Before You Go Updated - May 17 - Testing rule changes

[Doingitagain]

Ug. DH is not going to be happy about this. We're flying out 2 days before the cruise...need to try to get it done before heading to the airport and the local sites want to charge if it's for travel.

DD22 currently has Covid at college...maybe I should try to get her a 90 day recovery letter...but are any ports currently preventing people from coming ashore with the recovery letter? I know Jamaica was at one point...are they still?

I would get the recovery letter. You can always test if you want that, too.

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

Wow - just checked a couple of places near us, and the cost for rapid PCR test for travel was $220 per test at one and $149 at another. CVS showed limited availability of rapid PCR and did not indicate cost.

 

[BeccaG]

Following bc like many we will not be coming directly from home and I'd like to hear what folks with pre Cruise WDW trips are doing.

 

[lklgoodman]

Wow - just checked a couple of places near us, and the cost for rapid PCR test for travel was $220 per test at one and $149 at another. CVS showed limited availability of rapid PCR and did not indicate cost.

We've done PCR tests at CVS numerous times(for travel and when dd was exposed at school) and it was always free. Last time we tested was early March. Ours may not have been the rapid though, we got results in 2 days.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I wonder if DCL will have similar requirements for the European cruises this summer. This could be problematic for those of us who fly in more than 48 hours before their cruise. I suppose we could test at the airport.

 

[indylaw99]

This is what my mom often uses:

https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-emed-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/

You order them in advance and then they watch you take the test via video. The tests end up being $35 each and your insurance may reimburse part of that. Plus you can schedule it at your convenience to take in a hotel room, at home, wherever.

 

[Calantha]

Ugh, we leave on the 6th!

 

[Bex258]

So as fully vaccinated, I need to take an antigen on Saturday at an in person site in the UK to get the all clear to fly out on the Sunday morning-ish. I wonder would they take that result for the cruise? I land Sunday evening and don't expect to get to the resort till near 8pm and the cruise is Monday so I have a very small window to get one in the US and I won't be driving. If I have to pay for it at the port, fine (it won't be anymore than it would cost me at home) but if I'm taking Resort to Port Disney transport, how do I ensure I leave enough time for testing if not everyone is going through that process now?

 

[sjwebster]

We used a rapid antigen test with telehealth for a Celebrity cruise back in September. It was super easy and convenient! The hardest was understanding the monitor‘s accent. I just bought a 6 pack of rapid antigen tests with telehealth via Emed, and I plan to pack those for our pre-cruise WDW trip. I wouldn’t bother trying to find an in-person location when the telehealth option is so convenient.

 

[bwolfe]

We used a rapid antigen test with telehealth for a Celebrity cruise back in September. It was super easy and convenient! The hardest was understanding the monitor‘s accent. I just bought a 6 pack of rapid antigen tests with telehealth via Emed, and I plan to pack those for our pre-cruise WDW trip. I wouldn’t bother trying to find an in-person location when the telehealth option is so convenient.

Do you have a link to where you purchased those? Thanks!

 

[sjwebster]

Do you have a link to where you purchased those? Thanks!

emed.com and click “order now”

It’s not exactly cheap- $150 for 6 plus FedEx overnight (no other delivery option). You get your results through the Navica app & everyone being tested needs a separate account with a different email address.

There may be cheaper options elsewhere, but I’m going with what I’ve used before. You’re looking for an antigen test WITH TELEHEALTH (that’s the most important bit since it has to be monitored).

Hope that helps!

 

[Madame]

Sorry but this is ridiculous - they REQUIRE testing and are downloading cost and accessibility to cruisers??? For foreign cruisers this is not cool - I thought I was done with the scramble for trying to find testing. This explains why availibility on my summer cruise is suddenly wide open today... probably cancelling ourselves.

 

[CVTmarie23]

This sucks. I have a family of 5, this was a cost I wasn't expecting.

 

[kathi]

Sorry but this is ridiculous - they REQUIRE testing and are downloading cost and accessibility to cruisers??? For foreign cruisers this is not cool - I thought I was done with the scramble for trying to find testing. This explains why availibility on my summer cruise is suddenly wide open today... probably cancelling ourselves.

Our June cruise is almost fully booked - I don't think this is going to stop folks from sailing. It's so much more convenient.

 

[EddieK76]

This is what my mom often uses:

https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-emed-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/

You order them in advance and then they watch you take the test via video. The tests end up being $35 each and your insurance may reimburse part of that. Plus you can schedule it at your convenience to take in a hotel room, at home, wherever.

I'll gladly pay for the convenience of nt having to struggle to find a rapid location near me. I assume these are good for US cruisers on Disney as well, right?

 

[EddieK76]

Our June cruise is almost fully booked - I don't think this is going to stop folks from sailing. It's so much more convenient.

So much more convenient and less stressful than getting to the port and wondering "what if?"

 

[Cfudge]

Sorry but this is ridiculous - they REQUIRE testing and are downloading cost and accessibility to cruisers??? For foreign cruisers this is not cool - I thought I was done with the scramble for trying to find testing. This explains why availibility on my summer cruise is suddenly wide open today... probably cancelling ourselves.

You can still just pay to have it done at the port, its going to cost you regardless, but no scramble...?

 

[Madame]

Do we know if the policy on refunds if you test positive is also changing? That really will be a sign to cancel our cruise.

 

[Madame]

Our June cruise is almost fully booked - I don't think this is going to stop folks from sailing. It's so much more convenient.

It's not convenient for foreigners - my sailing is full of Canadians and Brits.

 

[Madame]

You can still just pay to have it done at the port, its going to cost you regardless, but no scramble...?

Why should I have to pay for something that others have been getting as part of their cruise? Serious question, no snark. And if they've changed the refund policy if you test positive, well.....