ALD18

Apparently, if I read it correctly, Viking wants a PCR test, not an optigen.  Optigen's are based on the calendar day.  PCR you are "on the clock".  Your timing on either end looks correct, but I would not get your tests to be exact to your actual departure times.  I would try to get them later in the day to give yourself some fudge factor for delays.  For example, if you flight is at 12:30 I would schedule the test for 3:00-4:00 for safeties sake.  Same on the other end if you can.  Build in a contingency plan.

18 minutes ago, powderhorn said:

Trying to confirm the distinction between 72 hours vs 3 days prior to sailing.....my scenario is that we are boarding our Viking cruise on Feb 6th.....so is it correct that I can get my test done anytime on Feb 3rd?...and, as I am a Canadian sailing from LA, would the test for the cruise have to be a PCR test or would an antigen test be adequate?

 

flight from Canada to San Diego is Feb 1st.....so I can get my antigen test done for Air Canada/ US Customs on Jan 30th?

 

is there any official posting on how this 3 days vs 72 hours is interpreted by CDC?....CLIA?.....Air Canada

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

Going into the States to the cruise port is based on a calendar day starting/ending at midnight.  The day of the test does not count.  When you return to Canada you have to depart from your final destination (scheduled direct flight or scheduled final layover departure) within 72 hours to the actual hour when your test was taken.  So if you have your test at 10:00 a.m on a Monday you have to be on your final departure by 10:00 a.m on Thursday.  If your scheduled flight goes at 11:00 test is invalid.  Be cautious of the usual 24 hour result turn around to get results as well.  Clear as mud:)

As long as flight is direct without a USA stop over you should be fine.  If you stop in say Chicago or Atlanta before heading to YYZ your PCR test time would have to be changed to reflect final departure time in US I believe.  At least it use to be.............................

Thanks for the update.  Indeed nice to hear everything went smoothly.  Prudent to give yourself some extra, extra time just to make sure.  With the way things are currently wouldn't hesitate to add another hour or two on top of normal arrival times for snags.  Rather sit at departure gate and relax the extra time.   Best of luck coming back too:)

All the testing requirements to board and come home are in such flux right now that nobody can safely say what is going on.  Everything is changing SO FAST it is overwhelming.  I'm with you in regards to trying to stay on top of things and to be prepared as best as you can to sail.  It does add a lot of duress and anxiety on either end of the cruise.  Why we need to enjoy those days at sea to the fullest.  I believe you are going to continue to see things change for the better, sooner rather than later, on testing requirements.  We're kind of going with the worst case scenario for testing on either end and that helps a lot to calm me down.  Optigen to go, PCR to come home.  If we need to stay an extra day before we come home and get a PCR by the cruise line or on our dime ashore so be it.  Here's hoping that changes asap.  But our cruise is not until May so we have that luxury........

Supposed to be announced this coming Friday.  As stated above, "it's a start":)

Think it will snow ball from here.  A "perk" to entice clients to get on board and be covered.  Now that things are starting to open up suspect you will see other items pricing go up as well as the actual cruise costs.  Inevitable.........

$95 for a PCR isn't too bad in the overall picture.  Have seen airports and resorts in the $200-300 range for PCR.  We were going to Rome this May and were staying a couple of extra days.  The $95 is about right for what we were going to have to pay.  I'm not surprised the cruise lines will probably start passing the cost to the customer due to costs, although doing it to currently booked guests is wrong.  I firmly believe you are going to see the PCR tests fall by the wayside in the relatively near future for the friendlier optigen test.  But how soon is the key.  Friends recently returned from Florida and got a neuro molecular test (?) for free at a CVS.  Met Canadian requirements instead of the PCR, had results in less than 4 hours, and they were good to go.  Good heads up to keep an eye on things as they continue to change.  Thanks.

Dependant on when your cruise goes keep an eye on things as the COVID restrictions and guidelines are changing weekly around the glove.  If your cruise is soon go with the expectation of what you learned today will be in affect.  If it is further down the road who knows what the rules and regulations will be then.   

In the Caribbean/Barbados forum.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2805941-cruise-ship-entry-requirements/

Yes, you have to read reeeeeal carefully.  May be a simple as "guided shore excursions only".  I know Barbados does or had some very stringent rules on entering.  Not long ago they shut the cruise port down and were not allowing cruise ships in.  They have since opened back up, but again you'll have to try and decipher what, when, and how shore access will be handled.  May be prudent to contact Princess directly for clarification. 

A lot depends on their disembarkment rules.  You may not be able to just get off the ship and walk around on your own.  They may have a policy you can only get off with a ship sponsored shore excursion.   They contain you within the shore excursion "bubble" and no testing required.  You may get an exclusion as you were probably needing to be double vaxxed to get on the ship and have some sort of COVID test to get on ship.  Port may allow you to walk around solo then.  You'll need to dig further into your cruise line rules, regulations, and port protocols.  Best of luck. 

55 minutes ago, joanne59 said:

Yes, this is truly a bummer…keeping fingers crossed that the remainder of European cruises aren’t cancelled, because we are booked on 4 more on this ship. Is the refurbishment being done overseas? 

Doesn't mention where it is or why on the cancellation, just dry dock issue.  We figured May 2022 would have some more of the COVID stuff calmed down and we would be good to go.  We were starting in Miami and ending in Rome so not sure where the dry dock is.  Gave us multiple options to either rebook or cancel outright so that was good.  We'll be take the money back cancel and do something else.  All the hotel rooms and flight juggling is the real pain.  Hope everyone else's go off without a hitch, good luck:)

Pretty bummed this just got cancelled.  Something about it will not be out of dry dock.  Was super excited to get back on the open seas.  Time to start juggling all the external travel plans.  PITA:) 

Freaking out is the common scenario for most people right now in regards to vaccinations and testing.  So many rules, regulations, "what ifs", "ya buts", and different scenarios it's hard to keep track of and it is changing weekly, if not daily right now.  And this is if you are double vaxxed:)  Hopefully the various testing procedures and guidelines are relaxed in the next few months and all testing is done via fast/quick optigen across the board valid for 48-72 hours across the board globally.  Hope so anyway:)

Wondering what embark and disembark process is for RC sailings.  With the required COVID testing to be done prior to arrival should speed things up.  Does RCL still designate your check in time slot or are you allowed to check in at your leisure?  What about getting off?  Are you allowed to keep your baggage and get off as soon as you dock?  Or are you given a designated get off time similar to check in regardless of what you do with baggage?  Marginally concerned about vaccine tests and requirements on disembark port as well if you plan on staying there for a day or so.  Understand some ports require no testing to get off if you go straight to airport and fly out that day.  But if you plan to stay overnight or any longer you need disembark countries COVID test requirements to enter.  Thanks.

I'm taking for granted you preorder your kit prior to leaving.  Carry it around and do the test prior to returning.  All for $149.  Our upcoming cruise will do the PCR test for free prior to disembarking and if you fly out on same day there are no timing or host country issues.  We plan on staying an additional few days and getting a PCR test in Rome is about $80 cdn.  Hotels will also direct you to labs close by authorized to do the test to Canadian standard.   Other country costs may be significantly higher so the $149 may be a bargain.  Is a good option and possible backup plan as time changes.  Thanks for the info.

Thanks Brillo.

For international travelers was a test (pcr or antigen) available on board?  I've looked around various cruise lines and RC either doesn't show it on web page or don't do it onboard.  There was one vague post else where, but test were only done on last full day at sea.  If you had a port of call on the day before your disembarkation day that pushed it back even further.  Thanks.

Indeed I was wrong on the connector flights.  Or it changed since I read it on weekend:)  It makes things even messier and complicated if you start to factor in delays or cancellations either on departure or connector flights.  You're stuck in a European airport due to a flight delay or cancellation and the 72 hour timer expires.  Now you're stuck with finding a PCR test centre, probably paying big $'s for it, possibly 12-24 hour result wait time, and then trying to reschedule another flight.  All while on the road.   Cringe just thinking about it:(

If you are concerned about your "going to" location you will need to check your leaving airport and cruise requirements.  Going to US would require an antigen test, not PCR for admittance, 48 hours prior to entering.  Dependant on cruise line they mandate what type of and duration of test required.  For example RCL wants an antigen test 48 hours prior to check in and you pay for it.  As well the flight antigen would probably be sufficient for RCL as long as it was in the time window.  Norwegian does the test at port prior to you boarding and they pay for it.  RCL check in therefore much quicker process, but NCL would eliminate cost and possible test time expiring.  Another issue I discovered is testing before you get off ship has to be handled carefully dependant on your itinerary.  Most cruise lines will do antigen or PCR testing prior to getting off ship.  Some have qualifiers on when you can get the test on board.  Some state you can only get tested on the "last" at sea day.  So if you have a scheduled port of call the day before getting off ship you would possibly have to move the testing day back to your last sea day, and that could affect your 72 hour timing.  That could be a BIG issue you you have consecutive ports of call before getting off.  Don't image if the day before your disembarkation is a port of call they are going keep there testing centre open after hours, but they might, to appease those who get off ship for the whole day and getting results may be an issue.  All of the above is how I understand it is right now.  We have until May to continue to decipher the process and hope things become easier in the future.  Best of luck for your investigation:)

You need a negative PCR test to return to Canada.  The test has to be done 72 hours before the departure of your first flight.  Connector flights are outside of the 72 hour window and have no affect on process.  As well the test time stamp is the 72 hour indicator, it is actual hour not calendar day.  So if your test is stamped at 10:00 a.m you have actual 72 hours to that 10:00 a.m on first departure time.  Anything after 10:00 on departure date is invalid.  I would suspect the clock would start on the actual test time, not results time. 

Stop watch.

Whole testing program, coming and going, is a pretty intricate web of details.  Some cruise lines are making it rather easy to meet all the requirements and footing the bill for the testing.  Others are passing the buck to the passengers to adhere to the lines rules.  You need to deal with all testing requirements down to the hour which makes it even harder to do.  But we can do it with a little patience and determination:)

That would be great LX200GPS if that was offered:)  Great perk for Princess.