Returning to the US after an Alaskan cruise

[disnee9]

My understanding is that to reenter the US from Canada you must show a negative Covid test result taken within 24 hrs of disembarkation. Thus will you be administered a test onboard the ship on the last day or on the day you disembark ?? Does anyone know when these tests would be taken because that 24 hrs might not matchup with the flight home if it is a very late flight.

Can you ship produce results that quickly ??
.

 

[BadPinkTink]

To enter USA you need to take either an antigen test or pcr test 1 calendar day before arrival in USA.

I'm sure someone else will know about testing procedures on the cruise

 

[mousefan73]

The whole Alaska, Hawaii, Vancouver Spring 2022 season is one BIG question how how testing will take place or be required for ALL touch points. and who will provide, when and where, Not a disney thing and entire industry thing. So many open questions. I have been dealing with these questions all week and to be honest there is no point asking them right now. Things will change by then. Honestly I have learned worry about it maybe 3 weeks before your trip. Then you might know. All I know the US requirements are easy, antigen. available cheaper everywhere. Challenge is what Canada will require getting there to embark and disembark.

 

[Colo17]

My understanding is that to reenter the US from Canada you must show a negative Covid test result taken within 24 hrs of disembarkation. Thus will you be administered a test onboard the ship on the last day or on the day you disembark ?? Does anyone know when these tests would be taken because that 24 hrs might not matchup with the flight home if it is a very late flight.

Can you ship produce results that quickly ??
.

You only need a test if flying into the US from other countries. Test is not within 24 hours, it is within one day. So anytime the day before is fine. You could just take a bus or drive down to Seattle and fly from there. But the antigen tests that cruise lines are using onboard only take around 15 minutes once they start processing them (Royal did them in batches of 24).

Agree with mousefan73, it is WAY too early to worry about Alaska cruising. Rules have been changing constantly for last six months including while we were onboard several ships heading towards a port. Cruising is working well at the moment but is kind of similar to cruising during hurricanes.

 

[disnee9]

Knowing how close-mouthed Disney is about everything and the fact that they traditionally don't give out information in a timely manner has created so many uncertainties.

We are at their mercy.

 

[mousefan73]

Knowing how close-mouthed Disney is about everything and the fact that they traditionally don't give out information in a timely manner has created so many uncertainties.

We are at their mercy.

Correct and this is why I am spending hours this week online in the other various forums and sites. Ex. we learned that the Wonder Hawaii sailing has most likely and itinerary change. We are due to arrive HNL at the end of the trip with an overnight, now we arrive HNL on the 2nd ( first stop) but many have assumed this as by reading other reports and news, HI requires all ships to port first in HNL for clearance. Disney hasnt told us yet of any changes. Guess what I am doing later today? googling all port/crew sites for the other ports to see where and when the Wonder pops up. I need to know now as I book private tours.

I believe I read yesterday that Princess cruises are offering testing in a tent outside of disembarkation for those passengers who need a test to fly back home.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I need to know now as I book private tours.

It will change 3-6 times before sailing so I would be very careful about change and cancel penalties. The islands are not as oriented to cruise excursions as the Caribbean.

The reality is that Hawaii changes their rules frequently.

 

[disnee9]

In this thread the timeframe of testing is listed as not within 24 hours but within one day. I don't see the difference. Am I missing something ??

 

[BadPinkTink]

In this thread the timeframe of testing is listed as not within 24 hours but within one day. I don't see the difference. Am I missing something ??

Yes there is a difference between 24 hours and 1 calendar day in relation to testing for entry to a country.

At Christmas Ireland had a requirement for 24 hours before the flight. Our flights back to Ireland left at 2.30pm, so we had to make sure to get the tests in the afternoon, not the morning.

When it is 1 calendar day , like the USA are requiring, it does not matter if you get a test in the morning and your flight is in the afternoon.

 

[disnee9]

I must be dense this morning !!! So if your flight leaves at 2:00 pm on Monday, you must test on Monday not the day before ?? That doesn't really leave much time to get it done after you disembark.

Am I still not getting this ??

 

[BadPinkTink]

I must be dense this morning !!! So if your flight leaves at 2:00 pm on Monday, you must test on Monday not the day before ?? That doesn't really leave much time to get it done after you disembark.

Am I still not getting this ??

If your flight leaves 2pm on Monday, you can get a test ANYTIME on Sunday

 

[disnee9]

Thank you. So basically you test the day before or the day of the flight, the time doesn't really matter.

Correct ??

 

[slindamood]

I must be dense this morning !!! So if your flight leaves at 2:00 pm on Monday, you must test on Monday not the day before ?? That doesn't really leave much time to get it done after you disembark.

Am I still not getting this ??

The U.S. counts days, not hours. So any time on Sunday is one day before a flight that leaves at any time on Monday.

 

[disnee9]

I think I finally get it !!!! Thanks

 

[Sykes]

The entire world will be different, yet again, by the time that these cruises depart, so while I'm usually critical of Disney for not releasing more information in advance (e.g. leaving Grand Cayman on itineraries that are departing in a few weeks), I'm not sure I blame them here. I personally expect that, if a test is still required for re-entry to the US after these cruises, Disney will come up with a convenient option for passengers (not necessarily complementary, but convenient).

If you want to put your own mind at ease for the time being though, know that the eMed BinaxNOW tests are a reasonable backup option (but wait a bit to buy them because they do expire). If you have a phone, tablet, or laptop with an internet connection, you can get certified test results that are good for entry into the US in about 15 minutes from anywhere. (It's important to note that a supervised test is required, so the ones you buy in the drug store won't be valid [but there are also other vendors that offer them]). Vancouver Airport also has good testing options inside and near the airport (with results in 20 minutes), although they're a fair bit more expensive than the eMed option.

 

[tvguy]

Correct and this is why I am spending hours this week online in the other various forums and sites. Ex. we learned that the Wonder Hawaii sailing has most likely and itinerary change. We are due to arrive HNL at the end of the trip with an overnight, now we arrive HNL on the 2nd ( first stop) but many have assumed this as by reading other reports and news, HI requires all ships to port first in HNL for clearance. Disney hasnt told us yet of any changes. Guess what I am doing later today? googling all port/crew sites for the other ports to see where and when the Wonder pops up. I need to know now as I book private tours.

I believe I read yesterday that Princess cruises are offering testing in a tent outside of disembarkation for those passengers who need a test to fly back home.

I understand the frustration with how rapidly things change, but I frequent a lot of other cruise Vlogs and Disney seems to be doing a better job than other lines. There is a thread where people are mad that Disney had to change ports "only" two days before the cruise. You need to look no further than the NCL's Gem, their ports were canceled two days AFTER the cruise began. It is just the nature of cruising now in a pandemic. Or the ships being denied access to the Panama Canal or other ports as the ship was preparing to dock.
As for Alaska, it is way way too soon to even try to firm things up.

 

[stkgator]

Agree with above, the Covid requirements are changing so frequently, so it is difficult to determine the impact of Covid testing on future Alaska cruise. FWIW, I am scheduled on the first DCL Alaska cruise in May.

If the current Covid requirements continue, you better enjoy taking Covid tests - My guess is this is how many tests you will need to take for the 7-night Cruise:

1. Within 72 hours of arriving into Canada
2. Prior to boarding the ship.
3. Prior to debarking in Juneau (as there is a sea day prior to the last test)
4. 72 hours prior to debarking in Vancouver
5. One day prior to flight back to the US.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

happy for our Alaska cruise that we are Canadian so I’ll only have to do:
Test the 2yo 3 days before the cruise
Test everyone at port
Test on board for re-entry to Canada

But here’s hoping we don’t get sick between now and then as none of us work in healthcare and my province currently doesn’t have the testing facilities for those with symptoms who are not either healthcare workers or have autoimmune diseases

 

[disnee9]

Sykes,

What do you mean by a supervised test ???

 

[Sykes]

Sykes,

What do you mean by a supervised test ???

They watch you take the test over your webcam in order to produce certified results.