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Covid Testing costing wife and I another $500 US!

REDSTRIPETYPE

By REDSTRIPETYPE,
in Windstar Cruises

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REDSTRIPETYPE

REDSTRIPETYPE

Posted
Posted

We are flying from Calgary to San Francisco departing at 1100 on a Monday and will get antigen test at Shoppers on Sun evening to meet US entry requirements. 

 

Staying overnight in San Fran to catch United Air flight to Tahiti at 1300 Tuesday. Tahiti requires antigen test within 24 hours of departure NOT one day. United website states we must have our test no earlier than noon on Tuesday.

 

There are three locations in San Fran airport and all three charge $225 -$250 each US.

 

We are booked for one Monday afternoon after we fly in....yikes another $650 cost to our trip!

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Nearpost345

Nearpost345

Posted
Posted
51 minutes ago, TonyB99 said:

Just get the proctored self-test kits, about $25 each.

People are probably getting away with that but it’s considered a home test

by FP based on what they told me. I’ve heard the airlines official stance is also that they’re not acceptable . We didn’t want to risk it and are using lab processed tests.

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REDSTRIPETYPE

REDSTRIPETYPE

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So checked Walgreens...no go

Checked CVS …nothing close

Found a place 10 mins from Hyatt hotel called One Point back towards airport.

$69 for rapid antigen with one hour results.

Open late with walk in clinic so booked 5 pm test and will Uber both ways from hotel.

Cancellation anytime with full refund however after booking completed site says due to high volume results will take extra hour.

So $130 US plus prob $50 for Ubers way better than $500 US!

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caymancouple

caymancouple

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, REDSTRIPETYPE said:

So checked Walgreens...no go

Checked CVS …nothing close

Found a place 10 mins from Hyatt hotel called One Point back towards airport.

$69 for rapid antigen with one hour results.

Open late with walk in clinic so booked 5 pm test and will Uber both ways from hotel.

Cancellation anytime with full refund however after booking completed site says due to high volume results will take extra hour.

So $130 US plus prob $50 for Ubers way better than $500 US!

Hi, I am dealing with the  same issue.  We come into San Fran 4 days early to go visit Carmel.  I am also having issues finding a place.  What is the address of the One Point you booked at?  Thanks

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Pudgesmom

Pudgesmom

Posted
Posted (edited)

Another option is to contact the hotel and ask for a location nearby. We have a night in Madrid after another cruise next month. They recommended a place close to the hotel, and offered to make us a reservation. It’s a small hotel. 🙂

Edited by Pudgesmom
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6rugrats

6rugrats

Posted
Posted
On 3/3/2022 at 1:47 PM, Nearpost345 said:

People are probably getting away with that but it’s considered a home test

by FP based on what they told me. I’ve heard the airlines official stance is also that they’re not acceptable . We didn’t want to risk it and are using lab processed tests.

You certainly can use proctored home tests for many destinations.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Nearpost345

Nearpost345

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, REDSTRIPETYPE said:

For Windstar boarding antigen is now acceptable.

May I just confirm that on embarkation day in Papeete, the complimentary quayside PCR test administered by Windstar, that requires a two hour wait in one’s cabin, is now changed to an antigen test only?

 

That would be good as the results will presumably come back much quicker meaning less time in cabin lock down.

Edited by Nearpost345
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milepig

milepig

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 3/23/2022 at 12:17 PM, Nearpost345 said:

May I just confirm that on embarkation day in Papeete, the complimentary quayside PCR test administered by Windstar, that requires a two hour wait in one’s cabin, is now changed to an antigen test only?

 

That would be good as the results will presumably come back much quicker meaning less time in cabin lock down.

 

This is what is currently on their website: Updated March 7: https://www.windstarcruises.com/health-safety/overview/

 

All guests must take a PCR test within three days prior to boarding the yacht (except for Tahiti which requires a COVID-19 (PCR or antigen) test within 24 hours of boarding a flight, https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/covid-19) and a negative result is required. Home test kits will not be accepted.

As an extra precaution, all guests are administered a COVID-19 test at the pier prior to embarkation, at Windstar's expense, and a negative result is needed to embark.

 

I read this to mean we need to do both?  Seems a little odd. I can tell you that in November it was an Antigen test, administered by WS at embarkation - in our case on the pier which we waited for the results. This was at WS expense.

Edited by milepig
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Dbld777

Dbld777

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Posted (edited)

We boarded the Star Breeze on March 17th. An antigen or PCR negative test was required before boarding our flight in SFO to Tahiti. Windstar had dropped the requirement to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arriving at the ship, which was good for us since we stayed 5 days pre-cruise in Tahiti before boarding. They still administered a PCR test upon boarding and asked us to wait in our cabin for results and then gave us a wrist band to wear for the first day to show that we had tested negative and were allowed out of the cabin. Unfortunately the wait in the cabin for us was about 3 hours. We ordered some room service while waiting. It did start to get a bit nerve racking as we hit the 3 hour mark with no word, of course worst case scenarios run through your mind(they're suiting up in biohazard suits to escort us off the ship...lol) Fortunately we tested negative and began to explore the ship a bit, before the muster drill.  Others reported receiving their results a bit sooner than 3 hours. Good Luck and enjoy your cruise!

 

Edited by Dbld777
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  • 2 weeks later...
Babr

Babr

Posted
Posted
On 3/31/2022 at 12:55 PM, milepig said:

 

This is what is currently on their website: Updated March 7: https://www.windstarcruises.com/health-safety/overview/

 

All guests must take a PCR test within three days prior to boarding the yacht (except for Tahiti which requires a COVID-19 (PCR or antigen) test within 24 hours of boarding a flight, https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/covid-19) and a negative result is required. Home test kits will not be accepted.

As an extra precaution, all guests are administered a COVID-19 test at the pier prior to embarkation, at Windstar's expense, and a negative result is needed to embark.

 

I read this to mean we need to do both?  Seems a little odd. I can tell you that in November it was an Antigen test, administered by WS at embarkation - in our case on the pier which we waited for the results. This was at WS expense.


 

It means both.
 

Does anyone know if Windstar accepts the NAAT test offered by Walgreens? I think that means it is a rapid molecular PCR test as opposed to an antigen test, but I lack clarity.
 

Windstar does not provide the level of detail about what is acceptable that I’ve seen with other cruise lines. For example, Celebrity and Holland divide testing between molecular (NAAT) and antigen, but there are several kinds in each category. The PCR tests are listed under molecular. Both cruise lines accept the Walgreens test.

 

 

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