Safe Passage test for 5 year old

[msuweather]

I looked around the boards, but didn't see an asnwer for my questions. I apologize if this has already been discussed.

We have booked a last minute (for us, I'm usually a long term planner) trip on the Dream for October 10th. My 5 year old is unvaccinated at this time (and our time period is to short to get him vaxxed) so we will test prior to leaving on the Friday before. From reading around on here, I understand you can order proctored covid test from safe passage? Are these available for kids? Am I also correct that once he completes his test we will immediately get the all clear (as long as it is negative)? The adults are vaccinated.

I really just want to make sure I understand the process correctly. I've considered getting his test at his pediatrician, but if Safe Passage clears you as soon as the test is back, then we might go this direction. Cost more, but allows us more time to plan for either a good to go, or worst case, rescheduling.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lanejudy]

Unvaccinated passengers need a PCR or NAAT test done within 3 days of embarkation. Last I knew you could order a kit from Inspire Diagnostics that they mail it to you and you mail it back. The proctored antigen tests are not acceptable for unvaccinated.

 

[slindamood]

We just traveled on the Wish this past week with an unvaccinated 5 year old. We ordered the inspire diagnostics (safe passage) PCR kit and did the test 3 days before sailing, sending it back as directed. Within a day her "clear to sail" appeared on her online record. Very easy. The rest of us are vaccinated so followed the protocol currently in place for vaccinated.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I looked around the boards, but didn't see an asnwer for my questions. I apologize if this has already been discussed.

We have booked a last minute (for us, I'm usually a long term planner) trip on the Dream for October 10th. My 5 year old is unvaccinated at this time (and our time period is to short to get him vaxxed) so we will test prior to leaving on the Friday before. From reading around on here, I understand you can order proctored covid test from safe passage? Are these available for kids? Am I also correct that once he completes his test we will immediately get the all clear (as long as it is negative)? The adults are vaccinated.

I really just want to make sure I understand the process correctly. I've considered getting his test at his pediatrician, but if Safe Passage clears you as soon as the test is back, then we might go this direction. Cost more, but allows us more time to plan for either a good to go, or worst case, rescheduling.

Thanks in advance.

Yes you can order a PCR test for the child. Order it right at 15 days when Safe Passage opens and they will ship it to you. You will swab on the morning of October 7 and they will include a bag and label for UPS Next Day Early AM (Including Saturday) service. Immediately after swabbing, get the package to a UPS Store (NOT a UPS drop box).

I have done this for three kids on three sailings. Two of the sailings, it worked perfectly. The third time, somebody at the lab dropped the ball and failed to upload a bunch of test results to the website and we didn't get our results until we were in the airport boarding our flight to Vancouver. It ended up working out just fine, but there was a day or two of stress mixed in. That said, I've heard similar things about Inspire taking a long time to validate uploaded results from third parties. It sounds like sometimes it's super smooth, and other times they drop the ball.

 

[msuweather]

Yes you can order a PCR test for the child. Order it right at 15 days when Safe Passage opens and they will ship it to you. You will swab on the morning of October 7 and they will include a bag and label for UPS Next Day Early AM (Including Saturday) service. Immediately after swabbing, get the package to a UPS Store (NOT a UPS drop box).

I have done this for three kids on three sailings. Two of the sailings, it worked perfectly. The third time, somebody at the lab dropped the ball and failed to upload a bunch of test results to the website and we didn't get our results until we were in the airport boarding our flight to Vancouver. It ended up working out just fine, but there was a day or two of stress mixed in. That said, I've heard similar things about Inspire taking a long time to validate uploaded results from third parties. It sounds like sometimes it's super smooth, and other times they drop the ball.

Thank you so much for this information! I appreciate you taking the time to answer with your experience.

 

[Van@Disney]

If you have the time before the cruise you could get him vaccinated.

 

[Lillebelle]

I tried to do the Inspire kits for my children who were too young to be vaccinated at the time, and the kits arrived too late for me to use even though I ordered them as soon as I could. Inspire refunded me but it was a scramble to find somewhere else to do the test in time. So, you can go that route, but be ready with a backup plan just in case.

 

[MartinoHeat]

Does Safe Passage have anywhere you can go for a test in NY? I'm coming from the UK but in NYC for a bit before cruising. Trying to find the best way to test for the little one (who as long as the timing works out will be vaccinated). I wonder if they'll post to the hotel.