dsj22

Yes, this is what we are doing as well. 

I checked with Azova they confirmed as well that the FlowFlex (ACON white box version, blue box is recalled) is  FDA EUA approved and will be accepted.

Azova can proctor the test if you are in Canada or the US and have many appointments with competitive pricing. Each person requires an account and minors can be added to one account.

The caveat is being able to find them in stock (the stores I contacted in the US have many), and if needing them prior to leaving Canada, having a convenient drive or way to ship them. Our parcel service across the border will forward them to me however I will probably drive to purchase them in person. 

I also prefer this scenario (vs Switch) as our family requires 4 tests and , due to the low but possible failure rate of the test kits, we can purchase 1 extra instead of the 6 kits we would need to purchase for Switch.

This thread seems to confirm that the recent use of Abbot Panbio and SD Biosensor (Canada) RATs were successfully used for RCL/Carnival embarkations. 

I understand these are anecdotal experiences, however I have not been able to find any other information where they have not been accepted....yet

20 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

No, the test approved (EUA) by the FDA (not CDC) is not identical to the test kit sold by Switch Health. The FDA approval is for a selt-test kit with no telehealth proctoring and is not accepted by airlines, cruise lines or for entry to Canada. It is similar to the free kits handed out to schools and businesses across Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

The guidance certainly is not clear as the response I received was:

Telehealth self-tests taken at home must meet these requirements:

• Per U.S. CDC guidance, only vaccinated guests may present self-administered telehealth COVID-19 test results at the terminal to satisfy the pre-cruise testing requirement.
• The test must have Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA.
• The self-test process must happen under live supervision on a video call with a telehealth representative.
• The telehealth provider must issue you a result document that includes all the necessary information.

The Switch Health rapid antigen test (also known as a lateral flow) is manufactured by SD Biosensor

https://switchhealth.ca/en/support/articles/5671688

This test appears to meet the EUA of the CDC (there is a search box to check if the test you wish to use is approved or not). If this is the same test that is associated with proctoring, it should be accepted.

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas-antigen-diagnostic-tests-sars-cov-2

15 hours ago, em-sk said:

 

It has been a few years since I have done one of these repositioning cruises.  The practice with NCL at least was they collect the Canadian customs declaration card in LA.  

 

The cruise line sends all the information to Canadian customs ahead of time.  In Victoria, there are some PA announcements on the ship for the people that Canada customs want to see in person and everyone else is cleared with the ship.  The border control people in Victoria are not checking individual passports.   Anyone Canada has a problem with would have been electronically flagged and given to the cruise line before the ship is cleared.

 

Next day you arrive into Vancouver as a domestic journey from Victoria and there is no passport control of any kind.

 

Educated guess would be the Canada and the cruise line will use the same pre-departure test as the basis for entry.  The cruise lines and the Canadian authorities have been reviewing all the cruise line COVID plans for weeks.  We will now for certain when they make the announcement. 

It is the timing of the pre-departure test that I was concerned about - we take our antigen test to get on the plane (YVR-LAX) on the 28th, board Princess on the 29th (using the same test result as it is within 2 days) and then we don't arrive in Victoria for another 4 days. That would make our antigen result 5-6 days old. 

We are on a spring LA to Vancouver cruise and have similar questions.  The ship has a stop in Victoria and I assume this is where a negative antigen test would have to be shown to disembark (provided by Princess?). I notice that the listed port time is 1300 - 2000, which I assume may be to allow time to process all the testing.

It is possible that Canadian entry testing may be dropped all together by May but I think Princess pre-board testing could still be in place. 

Success!

Cruise date March 14 Royal

Cancelled by me Mar 10

Cancelled by Princess Mar 12 Phase 1

Option #2 selected mid-March

Full refund to credit card today

FCC received end of May

1 minute ago, snoozecrooze said:

Test results should be (or already is) finalized by then, so I would assume the company won't cancel, unless further circumstances arise that causes that to happen. (Another thread indicated that results did come in saying "negative," but I don't know if it will be publicized) Essentially, I don't think Princess is going to cancel as they're bleeding too much already.

 

I'm not sure where you will be travelling from, but there are also many ways for the virus to travel beyond just cruise ships, so it depends on how comfortable you feel with the trip altogether. By then, the outbreak could expand in exponential proportions, but it's not entirely predictable. Wishing you the best and that you can still have a good vaca wherever you go!

 

We're coming from the Pacific Northwest and not particularly concerned about the virus itself, more the potential for delays, quarantine, port closures (as has happened in some Caribbean stops). As I am composing this, Princess just released the canceled cruise list and The Royal is not on it for next week. I guess I'll flip a coin. Thanks for your advice. 

Hmmm. We are on the Royal this Saturday (14th). What would y'all do ? Any word if this sailing is a go?

My travel insurance provider was vague, but said that if I travel to a country with a known travel advisory or warning and need to make a claim,the claim could be denied. Has this been an issue for anyone?

Thanks Gary !

How close is the Butterfly Farm to Galion Beach? We would take a taxi from the port to the Butterfly Farm then were wondering how to get to the beach from there. Thanks!:)