Land Border Opening?

[Minniemoo15]

Hey maybe that'll mean that we don't have to pre-test before crossing into the US at the land border!! (if they don't like that idea for them)

You actually don’t need a test to cross into the US at the land border . My husband went for work a couple weeks ago and was scrambling to redo his test that was not done properly (long story). Turns out a pre test is only needed when flying into the US and he didn’t need one at all because he crossed at the land border.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

You actually don’t need a test to cross into the US at the land border . My husband went for work a couple weeks ago and was scrambling to redo his test that was not done properly (long story). Turns out a pre test is only needed when flying into the US and he didn’t need one at all because he crossed at the land border.

I’m guessing it’s because he went for work though.

 

[mamaofsix]

You actually don’t need a test to cross into the US at the land border . My husband went for work a couple weeks ago and was scrambling to redo his test that was not done properly (long story). Turns out a pre test is only needed when flying into the US and he didn’t need one at all because he crossed at the land border.

If your husband was crossing the land border for work, it was because he was considered an essential worker and is exempt. This thread is about the land border opening for recreational purposes, like vacation travel. Totally different thing.

 

[Minniemoo15]

If your husband was crossing the land border for work, it was because he was considered an essential worker and is exempt. This thread is about the land border opening for recreational purposes, like vacation travel. Totally different thing.

I’m guessing it’s because he went for work though.

Yes but my point is that there is currently no testing requirements at the land border. I had called US Border Services and they had said testing is only required when entering by air. When they open to non essential travel it would be something extra they would have to start implementing. Which of course, they could, but I don’t see them adding stricter measures especially for vaccinated Canadians.

 

[wdwmom3]

Don't you think eg cruise lines will require full disclosure of both vaccines in their online check-in questionnaire? Failing to fully disclose health info usually means barred from boarding once you arrive at the ship. Headlines today that Norwegian, Princess, etc have deemed mixing/matching vaccines not acceptable to cruise on their ships when departing from a US port. We all hope this changes in the near future and decisions are based on science. But for now, over 1 million Canadians who followed our govt's insistence that we take the first available vaccine to protect our communities are barred from cruising on most ships.

My experience on boarding is that the cruise line also has full access to the US border security (customs & immigration) information. I have watched the cruise line agent read their screen and confirm exactly when I entered the US and the address I was staying while in the US. I didn't provide the cruise line with that info. So once the cruise line finds out about the mixed vax status, they will certainly share that with the US border security. That could get nasty fast.

Royal had already reversed their decision regarding mixing. And I’m sure others will follow. Norwegian is allowing mixing on ships leaving non-us ports.

 

[Pumpkin1172]

Royal had already reversed their decision regarding mixing. And I’m sure others will follow. Norwegian is allowing mixing on ships leaving non-us ports.

I do hope that this will be the case going forward. Not that we immediately have a cruise planned, but when we start to travel again, a cruise is something dh and I would love to do if it was just us going on a little get away.

It could set a president that would be a slippery slope of vaccine hierarchy, and which vaccines are better than others. Especially in light of many countries who are struggling to even get 5% of their population immunized and are having trouble procuring vaccine due to the methods needed for it to kept cold.

 

[Kebby]

Does anyone know if travel insurance covers the cost of Covid swabbing?

 

[petunia]

I do hope that this will be the case going forward. Not that we immediately have a cruise planned, but when we start to travel again, a cruise is something dh and I would love to do if it was just us going on a little get away.

It could set a president that would be a slippery slope of vaccine hierarchy, and which vaccines are better than others. Especially in light of many countries who are struggling to even get 5% of their population immunized and are having trouble procuring vaccine due to the methods needed for it to kept cold.

We are doing a cruise next month (fingers crossed) so I have done some reading on this, I believe different lines are allowing different things, ie some no mixing at all, some allowing moderna and pfizer mix and no other combo and some allowing mixing if it was the standard/acceptable in your country of receiving them. Hopefully this will change in time..Im sure theyre scrambling with all the new rules.

 

[ellbell]

We are doing a cruise next month (fingers crossed) so I have done some reading on this, I believe different lines are allowing different things, ie some no mixing at all, some allowing moderna and pfizer mix and no other combo and some allowing mixing if it was the standard/acceptable in your country of receiving them. Hopefully this will change in time..Im sure theyre scrambling with all the new rules.

Quick question as I've been trying to plan a cruise that doesn't get cancelled for ages now. Are you planning on flying home the day you disembark and if so what cruise line are you sailing with because I know most of them don't do the requires tests to get back into Canada onboard. That's why I had to cancel my last one. My plan is to cruise with MSC because they don't have any restrictions when it comes to what vaccine you have and if it's mixed but the test is a whole other problem.

 

[petunia]

Quick question as I've been trying to plan a cruise that doesn't get cancelled for ages now. Are you planning on flying home the day you disembark and if so what cruise line are you sailing with because I know most of them don't do the requires tests to get back into Canada onboard. That's why I had to cancel my last one. My plan is to cruise with MSC because they don't have any restrictions when it comes to what vaccine you have and if it's mixed but the test is a whole other problem.

So right now I think my 2 options are getting one at MCO before we check in before coming home(they do the PCR in 20 minutes), or doing one in Nassau port 72 hrs prior to our flight.

 

[ellbell]

So right now I think my 2 options are getting one at MCO before we check in before coming home(they do the PCR in 20 minutes), or doing one in Nassau port 72 hrs prior to our flight.

I've heard the MCO ones aren't reliable even if you have an appointment you may not get the test. I never thought about doing it in another port.

 

[mamaofsix]

Well, another month closed. This is getting pretty discouraging.

 

[flav]

Well, another month closed. This is getting pretty discouraging.

Yes, discouraging and sad also in a way because if it was based on vaccination rates and active cases, the decision would be different. Which brings total uncertainty as to when the rules will change. It makes it hard to plan any trips in 2021 and even 2022.

 

[mamaofsix]

Yes, discouraging and sad also in a way because if it was based on vaccination rates and active cases, the decision would be different. Which brings total uncertainty as to when the rules will change. It makes it hard to plan any trips in 2021 and even 2022.

Agreed. If anything, it should have been the opposite decision based on the facts. I thought for sure things would be open by this fall. Never dreamed our trip in March would be in jeopardy. Not so certain now...

 

[Mikey15]

Bit of a leap for a 1 month extension to Aug 21 to put a March trip in jeopardybut I get the frustration.

I think we’re seeing government negotiations that were behind-the-scenes spill into the public sphere. Canada wants vaccine proof and testing. US assuredly wants things less strict. Canada called US bluff by allowing Americans in again. US is standing & playing hardball by not reciprocating, while probably angling behind the scenes for softening of requirements.

 

[spewey]

Bit of a leap for a 1 month extension to Aug 21 to put a March trip in jeopardybut I get the frustration.

I think we’re seeing government negotiations that were behind-the-scenes spill into the public sphere. Canada wants vaccine proof and testing. US assuredly wants things less strict. Canada called US bluff by allowing Americans in again. US is standing & playing hardball by not reciprocating, while probably angling behind the scenes for softening of requirements.

This.

I too was immediately discouraged - and frankly puzzled - by the US extension, as it doesn't really follow the science (assuming vaccines do their job, which they certainly seem to be). The same is true, I feel, of leaving the pre-return test in place for vaccinated Canadians. Then again I've always thought the value of testing asymptomatic people was perhaps overrated - but that's another story ...

However after some reflection it could be - I hope - that this the the beginning of the end of the status quo, with key details to be worked out, both politically and operationally. That is - can the US open the Northern border, but not the Southern? Are they comfortable with not mandating tourists be vaccinated if we do? And if they reciprocate, how exactly will they check our status - it's not like they have an app we can download, even one as bare-bones as ArriveCan.

My gut says all these are being worked on, as the extension was not well received seemingly by anyone. Chuck Schumer, for example, who is the second or third most powerful politician in the States, has put in writing that he will "do everything in his power" to open the border as swiftly as possible.

That's my long way of saying if I had to bet, I'd go with this being the last extension - the wild card of course, as it has been for nearly two years, being the trajectory of the pandemic. Fingers crossed.

 

[pigletto]

Bit of a leap for a 1 month extension to Aug 21 to put a March trip in jeopardybut I get the frustration.

I think we’re seeing government negotiations that were behind-the-scenes spill into the public sphere. Canada wants vaccine proof and testing. US assuredly wants things less strict. Canada called US bluff by allowing Americans in again. US is standing & playing hardball by not reciprocating, while probably angling behind the scenes for softening of requirements.

Bingo. I think it's fair to say there's a lot of posturing and strategic moves playing out behind the scenes that aren't always what they appear. It doesn't change much in the short term, but I do think there's info that the public just isn't privy to that makes this confusing if taken at face value.

 

[Gigi22]

We are doing a cruise next month (fingers crossed) so I have done some reading on this, I believe different lines are allowing different things, ie some no mixing at all, some allowing moderna and pfizer mix and no other combo and some allowing mixing if it was the standard/acceptable in your country of receiving them. Hopefully this will change in time..Im sure theyre scrambling with all the new rules.

Wow! May I ask which cruise line? I got a message from HAL a few days ago cancelling my spring 2022 cruise. They re-booked my entire party on a comparable itinerary in 2023. Waiting to hear the details in a few days.

 

[bcwife76]

Wow! May I ask which cruise line? I got a message from HAL a few days ago cancelling my spring 2022 cruise. They re-booked my entire party on a comparable itinerary in 2023. Waiting to hear the details in a few days.

Carnival and Celebrity for sure are not allowing it. Royal and Princess seem to have reversed their stance I believe. Don't know about HAL or MSC. NCL is not allowing it on US cruises but it's fine on their Europe cruises.

 

[dvcdisney]

Bit of a leap for a 1 month extension to Aug 21 to put a March trip in jeopardybut I get the frustration.

I think we’re seeing government negotiations that were behind-the-scenes spill into the public sphere. Canada wants vaccine proof and testing. US assuredly wants things less strict. Canada called US bluff by allowing Americans in again. US is standing & playing hardball by not reciprocating, while probably angling behind the scenes for softening of requirements.

I agree. This is essentially why there's another extension. US wants less requirements. It's difficult to agree on protocol if the views are different.