Pre-Cruise Covid Tests

[KashasMom]

For the 11 and under I read the following:

For all sailings, Guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated and take a COVID-19 test upon embarkation. Guests 11 years old and under are not required to be vaccinated but must take a pre-trip NAAT test, rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test for COVID-19, as well as a rapid COVID-19 test upon embarkation.

We'll be flying to New Orleans on Sunday for our Tuesday cruise departure. We'd like to get our tests done on Saturday - assume 3 days/72 hours prior to departure is good?

Also, test results have to be uploaded to Safe Passage - is there a time limit on that - 24/48 hours prior to cruise? Thanks!

 

[Billy Phoenix]

You need to be careful because I don't believe Inspire Diagnostics (Safe Passage) works on Sundays and I don't know how long it takes for them to clear your uploaded test documents. My vaccination upload was cleared in about 4 hours. As a precaution, you should bring printed copies of all vaccinations/test results along with you. Safe Passage's site also states that you can bring a paper copy instead of uploading it online: "you may expedite your boarding process by securely uploading your test results to Safe Passage for pre-approval, or you may bring them with you to the port for on-site verification." So there's some peace of mind there.

 

[MomOTwins]

If you are on a New Orleans cruise I wouldn’t even bother planning. Those don’t leave until next year and the rules WILL be different, especially oncethe vaccine is approved for kids.

But to answer the question, you can either get a rapid NAAT/rapid PCR Saturday that gives you results same day and upload it then, or do the slower PCR, arrange for results to be emailed to you, and upload monday via phone/laptop.

Edited to add: I recommend the Saturday option so you will have time to change your cruise and flights before you fly down there.