Our saga of testing positive at the port

[braysmommy]

2/18 we drove to the port to board 3 night Dream cruise. I have been PCR testing for the past 1.5 yrs at work 2-3 times a week and never been positive. We drove right to the nearest CVS and PCR tested again along with buying rapid tests and on the drive back to Orlando took another PCR test at a drive up site offered by State of FL hoping one would come back the next day. Both PCR tests results were back in under 24 hours and BOTH negative as was rapid test I took on the 18th and 19th. Clearly at this point it is safe to safe I don't have Covid and since I have been testing weekly haven't had it in the past 90 days. Crushed for my son who could have really used this vacation but thankful I don't have Covid as we try and make the best this weekend in warm weather! On the positive side DCL does give you a number to call to get a refund for parking so there is that and the very large credit coming back to my credit card since we had splurged on a one bedroom concierge suite. I'm all for testing and masking but this was crushing!

 

[twopackages]

I am so sorry you had to deal with all of this! How devastating!!

I wish they would do a second test at the port, not just retest the first sample they got.

Did you get a letter stating you were positive with a doctors name etc on it?

 

[braysmommy]

I am so sorry you had to deal with all of this! How devastating!!

I wish they would do a second test at the port, not just retest the first sample they got.

Did you get a letter stating you were positive with a doctors name etc on it?

On the safe passages site I downloaded my positive results document and it does have a doctors name on it.

 

[jujubiee4]

Were you out of pocket for any testing you did?

 

[dreynolds1982]

So you think the test at the port was a false positive? Scary to think that's even a possibility!

 

[braysmommy]

Were you out of pocket for any testing you did?

PCR tests were free and I paid for rapid tests. I took 2 PCR tests hoping one would come back the next day and they both came back right around 24 hrs after testing.

 

[braysmommy]

So you think the test at the port was a false positive? Scary to think that's even a possibility!

Since I have been PCR testing for about 1.5 years with the last one this past Wednesday and 2 negative PCR tests with 2 hours of testing positive at the port I’d say yes there was an error in my test at the port. The other 2 in my travel party were negative.

 

[dreynolds1982]

Since I have been PCR testing for about 1.5 years with the last one this past Wednesday and 2 negative PCR tests with 2 hours of testing positive at the port I’d say yes there was an error in my test at the port. The other 2 in my travel party were negative.

This is part of the reason I wish they'd allow for the option of pre arrival testing like other cruise lines. At least then if you tested positive before hand you could try another independent test just to be sure, not to mention be able to plan ahead much better if the test remained positive. I know false positives are pretty rare but they are possible.

 

[dianerroy]

I am not understanding this-when did you download a positive result on safe passage? Before you left? Did you have a doctors note saying you've been recovered as well?

 

[dianerroy]

If the test at the port was a false positive that is absolutely awful!

 

[dianerroy]

Since I have been PCR testing for about 1.5 years with the last one this past Wednesday and 2 negative PCR tests with 2 hours of testing positive at the port I’d say yes there was an error in my test at the port. The other 2 in my travel party were negative.

Omg that is awful-I am so sorry for you and your travel party-so ridiculous

 

[braysmommy]

I am not understanding this-when did you download a positive result on safe passage? Before you left? Did you have a doctors note saying you've been recovered as well?

The form I downloaded was the positive test at the port from Aspire.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I am not understanding this-when did you download a positive result on safe passage? Before you left? Did you have a doctors note saying you've been recovered as well?

Safe passage uploads your embarkation test to their site so OP was able to download the positive embarkation test from safe passage

 

[Alaska777]

Were you able to show them your two negative PCR tests? I guess they just won’t budge on doing another test vs. retesting same sample?

 

[braysmommy]

Were you able to show them your two negative PCR tests? I guess they just won’t budge on doing another test vs. retesting same sample?

No since I didn’t get results back until the next day. I did it more so I’d had confirmation since I was asymptomatic and needed to figure out hotels and flight home. If I was actually positive we would have rented a house for 5 nights so I could isolate away from family.

 

[lilsonicfan]

This is really, really upsetting, and a great reason for DCL to allow a second test

 

[dianerroy]

It all comes down to $$. My guess is even if she showed Disney proof of her 2 negative PCRs taken a half hour later showing them that a false positive is possible they still would not change their policy. Way too costly to run a second sample on every positive test.

 

[RysMomma]

What a mess! I'm so sorry you had to deal with that!

 

[yowcruiser]

I wish they would do a second test at the port, not just retest the first sample they got.

This is really, really upsetting, and a great reason for DCL to allow a second test

It all comes down to $$. My guess is even if she showed Disney proof of her 2 negative PCRs taken a half hour later showing them that a false positive is possible they still would not change their policy. Way too costly to run a second sample on every positive test.

It would be nice... but they can't... The CDC operating book for cruise lines (opting into guidelines) is pretty clear on that topic when a NAAT test is used... No retesting and a subsequent negative would not negate the previously obtained positive test.

 

[Intr3pid]

See if you can ask them to open an investigation into possible sample contamination or another error on part of Inspire. That is, using your two negative PCR tests.

This sort of pushback is needed to get DCL to own up for Inspire's port operations. Your cruise fare isn't the only cost you incurred.