tropical83

2 minutes ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said:

Yes, you can do it from the terminal while waiting to board.

1 minute ago, Anton said:

Yes.  I've done the videos (there are two of them) for each of the 17 cruises I've done since last summer before I got to the ship.  Then when the muster stations open for checking in, I go and I'm done.

Thank You!

1 minute ago, flamingos said:

It's GREAT.  Most people go as soon as they board, since you're on the proper deck anyway. Watch the video on the app so that's checked off, and just walk to your muster station, check in and get the little 2-minute lecture, and go on about your cruise. I hope it ALWAYS stays this way.

 

can you watch the video on the app before you are on the ship? 

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

I haven't seen it open at all.

1 hour ago, MichiganMan4 said:

Was not open at all last week.

Thanks to both of you for letting me know!

4 minutes ago, brillohead said:

My app isn't working today, but I'll try to find out later!

Thanks!

Thanks for sharing

Is the Solarium Bistro open at all for breakfast/lunch?

Have fun!

I'm sailing on the Symphony on May 7th. I got my balcony officially assigned exactly 30 days out, when the cruise documents were available. However, right after we did the online check in on the app at 45 days out, our set sail pass showed our room number as the last 4 digits of the bar code number. We were able to see the barcode number after we added our set sail passes to our iphone apple wallet.

It ended up being correct!

12 minutes ago, Princess Fi said:

Yes the rapid response tests BTNX. Azova has an official affiliation so I feel better using them. They are also the affiliation with WestJet. 

Thanks!

3 minutes ago, Airbalancer said:

I guess I don’t read your post often😁

our local Walmart has never done any testing , and our local Shoppers does 

all we know is you are somewhere in Ontario , it is a big place 

 

lol its ok, I didn't mean it like that. 

I'm in Windsor!

8 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

Do you have a Guardian London  drugs or Rexall in your area? If nothing comes up you may have to travel a bit further to find something. 

There may be a few, I'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

4 minutes ago, Airbalancer said:

What story straight ? 

I've posted in a few different topics on this forum about this. 

For example, Shoppers allows me to book appointments online for May 5th when I need my test. I stopped in at Shoppers the other day for my prescription and mentioned it to the pharmacist. He told me no that they wouldn't do the testing. He argued with me when I said but I can book an appointment online for this store. He said that doesn't matter, they wouldn't do the test. 

As for Walmart, there are no appointments online lately. I called the Walmart pharmacy last week and the pharmacy associate I spoke to said not to worry about booking online just walk in. My husband stopped in there today and the pharmacist told him no walk ins, and to keep checking if appointments open up. He said that only select staff members will do the testing and it depends what days they work. 

So I don't know if its just something about these places in my city or not but I definitely don't feel comfortable relying on them for testing at this point.

1 hour ago, Princess Fi said:

We booked basically 4 minutes apart different appointments but I don’t think it matters. We both have the apps on our phones. Will take the green box tests as very little testing options in San Diego. 

Thanks. When you say green box tests, I assume its the Rapid Response tests?

At this point I think I am going to book Azova as well. Walmart and Shoppers can't get their stories straight and I can't rely on them. Still nervous though with the lack of reports of people using these specific tests to get on their cruise.

2 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

I would not trust a walk in. They only have a limited amount of tests available and enter them into website as received   as mentioned i have a Costco test for April 21 and Walmart early morning on 22.  I will only cancel second appointment after I receive my results from Costco. Very sad we have to rely on booking this way 

I agree. My husband just went to Walmart and talked to the Pharmacist. He said no to walk ins. (so different story than what the person on the phone told me when I called last week.) He basically said keep checking online if any appointments open up and if they do it would only show a few days before. He said that only specific pharmacists/staff do the tests and it depends on what day they work etc. So it looks like I can't rely on Walmart as an option. This is driving me crazy!!

3 minutes ago, edrussell said:

A chain of mistakes filling out the results form.  The pharmacist who originally took our tests was completely inept.  Just an awful experience with them.  Then again we take our share of the responsibility for not analyzing every single thing they put on the results form.  I just don't trust them at all.  I've also heard a number of firsthand reports of similar experiences.  If you do go with them be sure to go over the results form very carefully.

 

When we compare the experience to ours with Walmart there is no comparison.  Now this is obviously only our experience with our local SDM, others experience have been flawless.  When it comes to testing though we always have a primary, a backup AND a third option just in case.

Thanks for replying! 

I am trying to come up with 3 options. I hope Walmart will be able to do it, but the person I spoke to at my local store told me no appointment needed just walk in. I don't know if I trust that!

37 minutes ago, Princess Fi said:

Haven’t done the test yet but rep said to set up an account for each adult but when doing the first test tell the proctor you have another appointment and you can do it immediately following on same device. We have appointments May 1. 

So when you first booked it, you booked 2 appointments? Same time slot or different?

5 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

You don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy services just go to website and choose location book and create account. Very simple and easy. Where do you live? I'm in Mississauga Ontario and mine is about a 15 minute walk. Try another Costco perhaps 

I live in Windsor. There are no other locations close enough to me. I’d have to drive hours to find another Costco unfortunately. 

12 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

Walmart only loads the appointments online 3 days in advance and you must also download the form print and fill out. It appears they have a shortage of antigen tests. I have an appointment for Friday first of the day but will cancel as I'm using Costco. I agree very stressful. Never heard of anyone accepting walk ins. 

Yeah, there are 4 Walmarts close enough to me. Only one of them has appointments available. They are scattered though with the farthest one out showing April 30th. I’m so tired of stressing about this lol. I saw your posts about Costco. I didn’t consider them because I figured you’d have to be a member to get tested there. Maybe I’ll look into that. 
 

Edit - nvm my local Costco doesn’t do the testing. 

16 hours ago, edrussell said:

I can't speak to embarkation specifically but we used them 2 weeks ago for airline travel and they are 100% fine.  In fact the sign in our local Walmart specifically mentions travel.  The pharmacist took our passports and our passport numbers are clearly indicated as the identification type.  We had VERY bad experiences with SDM and found our local Walmart to be much better prepared and overall the experience was painless.

 

What happened with Shoppers? I am already not off to a good start with them and my test isn’t until May 5th. I asked my local Shoppers and he told me they wouldn’t do the rapid antigen for travel. I argued with him a bit as I said I can book an appointment online for a test right here at this store so if I came in with that appointment you wouldn’t test me? He said no. I ended up booking an appointment at a different shoppers and I’m going to call them and see what they say about it. So stressful!

12 hours ago, drakes2 said:

Used Walmart for last 2 cruises. Very quick and efficient service. 20 bucks no tax only thing is now you must book online and download the form and have proof of  travel.  Previously I never had to do that.  For my cruise coming up this Saturday April 23rd I'm using Costco as my local Walmart did not have availability.  

There are no appointments to book online right now even though it says you must book online. I called my local Walmart and even though she didn’t sound confident, she said oh you don’t need an appointment, just walk in. 
This whole pre cruise test is stressful enough as it is, and these places that say they offer testing aren’t making it any easier with the contradictory information I’m getting lol. 
 

3 hours ago, shirley valentine said:

I feel for you . I totally understand and share your anxiety . I’m going to be using Azova now for Vancouver cruise departure April 27 . I’m going to bring extra rapid tests and give it the best try . If there’s a problem, I’m sure Holland America will assist us and there’s testing at the cruise port, but expensive . I’m feeling better seeing the positive posts here on Azova . Plus my airline West Jet recommended them . 
There’s only so much damage control one can do . Hopefully we arrive at the cruise port Covid negative. That’s a whole other rabbit hole . 
First World problems my kids keep telling me . 

Good luck and I hope you have a great cruise!

1 hour ago, Tink010 said:

Hey folks, currently on board Oasis of the Seas!  We did our rapid tests using Azova  tele-services for our flights into the US on Thursday and used the same services for testing for cruise today. No issues with either testing days and no issues with Royal accepting same!  Wouldn’t hesitate to use Azova again! 

Thanks for the post! Have fun!  Which test kit did you use with the Azova tele-service?

44 minutes ago, cmich068 said:

 

Sounds like they confused it with the publicly funded PCR testing offered by Shoppers as well. 

 

Shoppers doesn't use the term "testing" for travel, they call it "Rapid Antigen Screening" for whatever that's worth. And not every location offers it. 

I thought of that after. But I did keep repeating rapid antigen. The website also allows me to book an appointment at that specific store too. Who knows. I’ll see what other stores say tomorrow!

On 4/15/2022 at 8:27 AM, Sjmmclark said:

Update: did my Azova proctored video rapid test using rapid response test. So frigging easy. 2am we hopped online and immediately got representative to observe test.  Watched us swab nose and put in buffering solution and then drop 4 drops in the test. Told us to set timer for 15 minutes and take picture of results and upload in azova app. 

 

After uploading picture of results, had report 5 minutes later. I would definitely use them again. 

Thanks for sharing.

Any issues boarding your cruise? What cruise line?

I’m considering using Azova with the rapid response green box tests but I’m really nervous about it. I haven’t really heard much about people using this option besides those of you who have recently mentioned booking them.   My plan was booking Shoppers & Walmart. However Walmart seems to have few appointments available lately with none on May 5th when I need one. Also my local shoppers told me yesterday they wouldn’t do the testing. I’m getting really nervous!
 

I was at my Shoppers yesterday picking up a prescription so I asked the person that helped me about the rapid antigen tests. I’m not sure he knew what he was talking about, but he told me they wouldn’t test me if I was using it for travel. He made it sounds like they rarely test people unless they are immunocompromised. I said it says you test asymptomatic people for travel on your website and has appointments available to book. He still said no so I said, if I came here with an apt I booked online, you guys wouldn’t test me? He said no. 

With that being said, maybe be sure to actually  talk to someone at your location and don’t just rely on booking the apt online? 
 

I am going to call around to other Shoppers in my area tomorrow. I’m starting to worry that places are stopping the testing. Walmart in my area has no appointments available online anymore. Another store close by only has scattered dates but nothing for May 5th when I need mine. 

13 minutes ago, amurray88 said:

They had a hush party yep 👍 I didn't go to it but it was on

Thanks!

Thanks for posting! I’m sailing Symphony on May 7th. I was really hoping for the Solarium bistro to be open. 
 

Do you know if they had the silent party or not?