RCL Denies vaccinated and negative tested couple boarding

[Jkaczanowski]

18 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

In some ways this is a "you get what you pay for". It's the free options that are having delays for the PCR and run out of antigen. There's an urgent care system by me that has plenty - they just charge you the cost up front. The airport has rapid antigen and rapid PCR, but you have to pay for them. 

 

The only reason I'm going for the free option when I need it for a few weeks is it's only me so seems crazy to spend money on 6 tests that might expire before I can use them. Worst case scenario I go to the airport and it's cheaper than those 6 at home tests. 

A lot of the “free” tests are also only available during business hours making it difficult for people who work.  Teens (homeschooled) and I will be doing CVS but DH is doing the Abbott emed.  2 packs are available for $70, 3 for $100

 

https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/

 

Any problems, then we have the local cash only rapid location, equivalent to MCO.  $60 each but guaranteed results in under an hour with 8PM Friday night appointments. I’d prefer not to pay that, but nice to know they are an option. 

 

Edited August 23, 2021 by Jkaczanowski
Spelling

[tserface]

1 minute ago, ace2542 said:

But the dry cleaner doesn't take it away on a ship with them. When you miss the flight they offload the luggage don't they? So why not the same thing on the ships? What if that happens to us when we fail at the Anthem check in in November which we will have to fail in order to get the refund? We would have nothing to wear in new york for at least a week?

 

I'd guess they'll ship it back as soon as they can, but the luggage guys likely didn't know that the people wouldn't be on the ship and, I'd guess, the people checked in their luggage before entering the terminal like the rest of us do.  I've had my luggage fly away without me before on airplanes.  There was one flight where the airline canceled it and we could see our luggage on the cart out the window and they wouldn't return it.  They said it would be waiting for us after the replacement flight they put us on the next day.  We had to go the night without it during the layover.

 

Nowadays we always carry a day or two's worth of clothes in our carry on luggage so we're not without if our luggage is delayed.

 

It's certainly not illegal or stealing that the luggage got on the ship.  The people told the steward to take it and likely even tipped them.

[Jkaczanowski]

2 minutes ago, ace2542 said:

But the dry cleaner doesn't take it away on a ship with them. When you miss the flight they offload the luggage don't they? So why not the same thing on the ships? What if that happens to us when we fail at the Anthem check in in November which we will have to fail in order to get the refund? We would have nothing to wear in new york for at least a week?

no, but a dry cleaner can close because of power outage, weather, etc. You’re still SOL.  Airlines don’t unload for your convenience, they do it because leaving it on is a flight risk.  If you don’t want to chance it, wheel your luggage onto the ship with you.  Even better, if there’s a chance you’re not going to pass your health check, maybe you shouldn’t be cruising at this time. 

[Iamcruzin]

9 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

it's not hard to get one. It's just that results are now taking longer than 3 days due to a surge in infections all over the US.

DW has to track covid results of patients who are having procedures. She says the labs are prioritizing procedure patients. If anyone is to blame it's the labs not the cruise line.  The cruise lines are following protocol the same way she has to reschedule patients whose results aren't back in time. 

[Iamcruzin]

8 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

I’d be more sympathetic if they hadn’t misled the the reporter that they had two days notice. We all know they had a minimum of two weeks notice. 
 

Contacting the media and then misrepresenting the facts to present yourself in a more favorable light only makes you look ridiculous to those of us in the know. 

We are the only people who care and know the facts. The general public don't have a clue and couldn't care less. I wouldn't be surprised if the media isn't hanging around the ports waiting for a story like this to develop.

[Dat Cruisin Couple]

1 hour ago, cruising mom 2 said:

I am not sure but I can only speculate that they may live in a rural area.  We live in rural MN the local hospital rarely does rapid test except for hospital admission.  Urgent care local clinic ect is all PCR and sent out they take 3 days at best to come back can take 7 days or longer if busy.  Closest Walgreens / CVS that offers  rapid test is 2 1/2 hrs away .  So it's not simple for everyone .

 

I understand the small town. I live in a town so small the main store sells mules because the local farmers prefer them to tractors. But suggesting that distance to a test site is a huge speculation. I am sure of the 1000+ people who got the same messages from RCCL, got tests, got results and sailed at least some of them were not in cities with CVS and Walgreens on every corner. They all made it work, it's just odd that people who for some reason didn't make the effort to have results in hand thought they would get onboard anyway, has some aspect of the story that isn't being told. As others, said, why show up to the terminal, hand off your luggage if you didn't think the rules would be bent for you and then complain to a news outlet.

 

 

 

[smplybcause]

1 hour ago, Jkaczanowski said:

A lot of the “free” tests are also only available during business hours making it difficult for people who work.  Teens (homeschooled) and I will be doing CVS but DH is doing the Abbott emed.  2 packs are available for $70, 3 for $100

 

https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/

 

Any problems, then we have the local cash only rapid location, equivalent to MCO.  $60 each but guaranteed results in under an hour with 8PM Friday night appointments. I’d prefer not to pay that, but nice to know they are an option. 

 

 

Good to know there's ones in smaller packs. 

[ONECRUISER]

3 hours ago, ace2542 said:

But the dry cleaner doesn't take it away on a ship with them. And if they are too full to clean it then they hand it back. When you miss the flight they offload the luggage don't they? So why not the same thing on the ships? What if that happens to us when we fail at the Anthem check in in November which we will have to fail in order to get the refund? We would have nothing to wear in new york for at least a week?

Always carried on couple days clothes, always have

[ONECRUISER]

10 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

I’d be more sympathetic if they hadn’t misled the the reporter that they had two days notice. We all know they had a minimum of two weeks notice. 
 

Contacting the media and then misrepresenting the facts to present yourself in a more favorable light only makes you look ridiculous to those of us in the know. 

Well Said, agree 100%

[kirtihk]

12 hours ago, ArthurUSCG said:

I don't understand why it's so hard to get a PCR test? In Maryland, testing is everywhere. Most physicians have PCR and rapid antigen testing  in house, same with most CVS or Walgreens that have the clinics, along with the urgent care facilities.

And I don’t understand why is it so hard to live with stress and breath through a muzzle?  We must sacrifice ourselves for a sake of a potentially saving someone else.

[daninwi]

I posted a similar note on a thread about folks being denied boarding at Galveston.  Just off the Allure on Sunday, Aug 22nd and we noticed a pop-up testing facility being set up in the passenger pick up and drop off area.  They were offering quick antigen test and PCR tests with results in a 'few' hours.  Sorry, I didn't catch the provider or costs, but clearly someone has figured there will be demand and are providing a service to meet it.

[mayleeman]

Back to the couple's story...to the email they claim they relied on (which says unvaxxed get tested at the port):

 

Did the email not say to keep checking back for possible updates on requirements? I am not too conversant with RC's emails, so what type of "keep checking" language do they use?

 

 

[smplybcause]

1 hour ago, mayleeman said:

Back to the couple's story...to the email they claim they relied on (which says unvaxxed get tested at the port):

 

Did the email not say to keep checking back for possible updates on requirements? I am not too conversant with RC's emails, so what type of "keep checking" language do they use?

 

 

 

The bigger issue is Royal never allowed adults to cruise from Galveston without being vaccinated. So any email they had that referred to unvax also said that it was only for those under 12. 

[ReneeFLL]

15 hours ago, wolfcathorse said:

With Royal sailing at a reduced capacity, you'd think they'd bend over backwards to make sure everyone that is booked is on board. Denying guests reduces RCG's ability to make money (drinks, casino, bingo, shops). You'd think they'd contract with a lab to have rapid tests available at the port for those who's results haven't come back yet. Even if a small fee was charged, it'd be a lot less stressful for the guest.

Can you imagine if 500 people needed to get tested within a short time frame the issues it would cause? Didn’t Celebrity try this and it was a disaster? I think it was right after the new requirement that made the test mandatory of everyone. This was when they still were letting unvaccinated on.

[ReneeFLL]

15 hours ago, Jkaczanowski said:

There’s no way they could have gotten the monitored test in 2 days. I ordered Friday and estimated delivery is Tuesday. 

Emed says overnight shipping. Since you ordered on Friday I’m guessing it was to late for it to be put in that day so it was put in on Monday. Next day shipping would be Tuesday. I ordered over the weekend and mine is coming on Tuesday (tomorrow).

[ReneeFLL]

13 hours ago, ryano said:

 

I think ANY test for ANY vaccinated guest is ridiculous, unless RC wants to perform said test at the port.  Prepare to read many more stories about this.   

I disagree. There was a lady that posted on here recently that her family of 4 were vaccinated. They were tested before the cruise and they all tested positive. That last minute test kept 4 covid people off of the ship.

[ReneeFLL]

12 hours ago, coffeebean said:

Does RCL offer a full refund when test results can not be obtained in time?

I read somewhere that they don’t, but I’m not 100% sure. It might have been on here.🤷🏼‍♀️ I don’t think I saw it on the Royal website.

[firefly333]

Having the cut off at age 12 is bound to break some hearts. I already read of a family of 4, the son is 11 now but turns 12 on the cruise and was told they cant board. 

[ArthurUSCG]

8 hours ago, kirtihk said:

And I don’t understand why is it so hard to live with stress and breath through a muzzle?  We must sacrifice ourselves for a sake of a potentially saving someone else.

I've had to breath thru some tough masks, filters and OBAs in my time in the USCG, 2 pieces of cloth are nothing. The only thing I hate is the dent the masks leave in my beard.

[Dat Cruisin Couple]

2 minutes ago, ArthurUSCG said:

I've had to breath thru some tough masks, filters and OBAs in my time in the USCG, 2 pieces of cloth are nothing. The only thing I hate is the dent the masks leave in my beard.

 

I just spent a few days in the hospital masked except for intubated and in surgery. It wasn't a problem. Makes you want to break out the Madea impression on someone when they say its tough to breath.

[andsail]

21 hours ago, Georgeny said:

I don't recall if you can post a link to interview but I'll try. This story also shows the receipts for test and notice.

Thanks for posting the story.  I hope they are able to get a refund or a cruise credit at least.  Very unfortunate situation.

 

 

[ryano]

4 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

I disagree. There was a lady that posted on here recently that her family of 4 were vaccinated. They were tested before the cruise and they all tested positive. That last minute test kept 4 covid people off of the ship.

 

I dont disagree with testing.  I disagree with Royal not having a backup plan instead of "too bad so sad".    Testing is ramping up all over this country again.   PCR results are taking longer than 3 days in many places to get results back. Rapid testing is becoming scarce to non existent in many places as well.  Many CVSs are cancelling appts because they have no testing kits.  Sure, 99% of the people made the ship but I guarantee not without unwanted and unneeded stress.    RC needs a back up plan. It appears others here agree with me      

Edited August 24, 2021 by ryano

[ryano]

13 hours ago, smplybcause said:

In some ways this is a "you get what you pay for". It's the free options that are having delays for the PCR and run out of antigen. There's an urgent care system by me that has plenty - they just charge you the cost up front. The airport has rapid antigen and rapid PCR, but you have to pay for them. 

 

The only reason I'm going for the free option when I need it for a few weeks is it's only me so seems crazy to spend money on 6 tests that might expire before I can use them. Worst case scenario I go to the airport and it's cheaper than those 6 at home tests. 

 

I was under the impression that COVID testing is suppose to be free to everyone, including the uninsured, according to The Families First Coronavirus Response Act.    The way I understand it is if your insurance doesnt pay, the govt will.  

[toddcruise01]

17 hours ago, ryano said:

 

Its just not worth the stress of this testing requirement and worrying about results being back on time.   Im vaxxed and have been for months.  I thought that would be enough and it was, until it wasnt.     

Oh Ryano,  it will be worth it to me sitting with my a-- in the sand and a cold beer in my hand and on my balcony.  Oh so worth it. BUt....different strokes for different folks.

[smokeybandit]

The reason some places are short on test kits is because Abbott destroyed much of it inventory earlier this summer thinking they wouldn't be needed anymore.