odaisydukeo

Anyone have experience with a non-ship company? (sold out)

2 hours ago, CKCruising said:

I think the Switch tests give a couple of benefits (aside from being about $100 cheaper per test).  If you are flying out the day of debarkation, you can do the tests 3 days earlier onboard.  ie.  For a Sunday 2pm flight, do the tests Thursday evening.  By doing this, (a) there is less chance of testing Positive assuming there is covid on the ship, and (b) if you test positive, you can reduce your extra quarantine time (11 days would be Monday, so you would only be an extra 8 days, rather than an extra 11 if you did the tests before your flight).  The negative would be what happens to the rest of your cruise.

Now to throw a whole other wrench into the plan, my husband and I were talking this morning and he said that it may be beneficial to fly from Niagara to the port instead of internationally. That way, if you did happen to get a positive test you could fly domestically and then drive across the border (I know there is a fine now). This may be ethically on the edge, however I am trying to be as strategic as possible. 
 

I also know the Walgreens ones you can’t go inside, you need to use the drive-through. On some of my other groups people were using an Uber to go through the drive-through. We’ve done it three times and each time we had a rental car or our own vehicle so it didn’t matter. That would be the only thing. I’m also planning on getting off the ship Saturday and not having to be home until Sunday/Monday morning to go to work. Each time we’ve use Walgreens we had it within four hours but as another poster said they say up to 24 hours. Again, I looked around at some of the ports and there’s tons of testing available a week out, so you just have to be diligent in doing that. The disadvantage is if you paid $150 for the switch health and you didn’t use them. I guess the $200 one at the airport would be your back up  if you went for the free Walgreens one.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if the testing eased up or was gone by March break? 🙂

31 minutes ago, DirtyDawg said:

My understanding is that you can still test positive with a PCR/LAMP test for 90 days + post infection. Antigen tests are not as sensitive, so you might test negative with an antigen test in March but still test positive with a PCR/LAMP test the same day.  Getting a positive PCR/LAMP test result before you go to the States will allow you to re-enter Canada after the 10 day waiting period and up to 180 days. If you wait until near the end of your cruise to get the re-entry PCR test and you test positive, the 10 day wait period starts then. If you get an early PCR positive test you start the clock when you want to. 

 

Getting an early positive PCR test result is like buying insurance that you can get back in the country when you want to without the risk of getting fined. At $150 for the Switch test , it seems like cheap insurance to me. 

 

 

Interesting.

So buy the test a few weeks before and even if it shows positive it will be within the parameters.

I plan on getting the Switch Health and doing it after getting off the ship and the day before I fly/drive home. 
 

thank you everyone for the advice. 

Unfortunately I was sick over a week ago. I couldn’t get a PCR test and I didn’t know that I should go pay for one! I am sure I am negative now, but I could maybe try an antigen test.

As far as the testing by Walgreens we went end of Nov and early Jan in Vegas and Daytona respectively.  I went online and did a mock booking near cruise ports and seems like I could get an appt. Mind you, you can only book a week out.

We drove across early Jan without issue. I’m more worried I may not be able to get a test. 
I am pretty confident with double vax and having it that I have had my share of Covid!
 

I guess the logistics of getting of a ship, getting a test and getting home in 48 hours is the problem. Maybe the Switch Health ones will be recognized and that will solve part of the problem!!

Came to this forum to figure out how I am going to make a March Break cruise work. I tested positive for covid a few weeks ago, but couldnt get a PCR (I used a test my son brought home)-- was hoping to be able to use that instead of trying to find a PCR test.

We traveled in Nov and Dec and both times booked Walgreens Drivethru ID NOW tests without issue, had the results in hours and used them flying and driving back into Canada. I see now there are problems with this-- not sure if it is a timing thing? (people not reserving a week out) or just a general shortage.

Now I'm REALLY not sure what to do .

There is another thread with people saying there were no chairs- thinking of cancelling it as there are six ships in port the day we are there.

I booked this for my 11 year old son and I. I just looked at there are SIX ships in port that day. Ugh. I booked the Stingray encounter, and am frustrated because I don't think lunch is included anyway. Now thinking of cancelling after reading these reviews.

On 12/14/2019 at 12:19 PM, scott2165 said:

We did the seahorse sail and snorkel 2 years ago. It was a mix of rccl, carnival, and ncl passengers. We were picked up on the same dock the ship was on. 

 

It was my wife, daughter, and I. 

 

Overall it was enjoyable. 

 

We sailed through the port and the guides pointed out interesting things along the way. We anchored on a small reef with 3-4 other boats. Each boat carried around 100 people I’d say. 

 

We were able to spread out so it never felt crowded. We say lots of colorful fish, stingrays, and one huge barracuda. 

 

After an hour of snorkeling we boarded the sailboat and toured the islands. The water was so clear and the scenery was nice. 

 

They had free drinks on board that were simple rum punch’s and whatnot. 

 

The sail back to port took about an hour. 

 

They drop you outside the cruise port area forcing you to make your way down bay street to the straw market to return to the ship. 

 

This was in July so it was really hot out. 

 

For the price I think it was worth it. 

How long was the whole thing? Thanks!

Sorry I found the one trip ride- I was wondering about the all day pass- maybe sold out? We leave on March 10.

Where do you get tickets for this? I can't see it on the Royal Cruise Planner.

Not sure if anyone can answer this- I booked a guarantee Balcony, but now that I have been assigned my room, it says "Spa Balcony"-- do I get the spa perks?

Ah ok, so booking right with Mystic Mountain. I just worry how you would get there?

Where are you looking at the prices? Through ncl it is $169 each. On the Mystic Mountain site it is $115 each. Would like to take my son but seems pricey.

sorry, but ive read through and I am still not understanding.

to use HUb *(the app), you pay $5 per cruise. This lets you see the schedule and the deck maps. Amy other features?

For the social media package ($5 per day), can more than one device use this?

if there are two people cruising, could we share the media package? Either sign in one at a time, or use a hotspot?

Thank you!