Lane412000 Posted September 19, 2021 #1 Share Posted September 19, 2021 We are booked to cruise on Freedom out of Miami for three days with six grandchildren (ages 2-11). The RCCL Healthy Sail Center document indicates the children will need a PCR or Antigen test at least three days before sailing. Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. Kids’ pre-cruise test cannot be taken on boarding day, because that may affect the sample taken during the kids’ test at the terminal. We received email from RCCL with the following wording: Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11 must present a negative PCR test result taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing in order to board. (Antigen tests are not accepted.) There continues to be no testing required for guests under age 2 I am on hold with RCCL after calling earlier and not receiving any clarification if the grandchildren can board with an antigen test. PCR testing in south Louisiana right now is taking 3-4 days for results to return. Anyone has recently cruised with unvaccinated children ages 2-11 and can you tell me what protocol or pre-cruise testing was accepted? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wen_c82 Posted September 19, 2021 #2 Share Posted September 19, 2021 No children but Follow the latest protocol. PCR only for kids. Thats what my pre cruise email stated this week also maybe try to find out most recent actual turnaround time before booking. Or book 2 appointments at different locations. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted September 19, 2021 #3 Share Posted September 19, 2021 They changed it to PCR or antigen for children. Go by what is on the website as they usually update that with the latest protocols. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelblu Posted September 19, 2021 #4 Share Posted September 19, 2021 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Lane412000 said: We are booked to cruise on Freedom out of Miami for three days with six grandchildren (ages 2-11). The RCCL Healthy Sail Center document indicates the children will need a PCR or Antigen test at least three days before sailing. Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. Kids’ pre-cruise test cannot be taken on boarding day, because that may affect the sample taken during the kids’ test at the terminal. We received email from RCCL with the following wording: Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11 must present a negative PCR test result taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing in order to board. (Antigen tests are not accepted.) There continues to be no testing required for guests under age 2 I am on hold with RCCL after calling earlier and not receiving any clarification if the grandchildren can board with an antigen test. PCR testing in south Louisiana right now is taking 3-4 days for results to return. Anyone has recently cruised with unvaccinated children ages 2-11 and can you tell me what protocol or pre-cruise testing was accepted? TIA Changed to 2 days from the original 3 days effective with sails beginning Sept. 12th (?). Edited September 19, 2021 by nelblu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinsusin Posted September 19, 2021 #5 Share Posted September 19, 2021 When we cruised earlier this month with a 5 year old, it was PCR no more than 3 days before embarkation and then a Royal administered antigen test at the pier. It appears now it can be either PCR or antigen for the first test. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine3601 Posted September 19, 2021 #6 Share Posted September 19, 2021 33 minutes ago, nelblu said: Changed to 2 days from the original 3 days effective with sails beginning Sept. 12th (?). The 2 day rule is for vaccinated 12 and older. The 3 day rule of pcr or antigen, which I heard rapid pcr is acceptable too, is for children 2 thru 11 then the kids also get tested at terminal before embarking and tested during the cruise if 5 nights or longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelblu Posted September 19, 2021 #7 Share Posted September 19, 2021 48 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said: The 2 day rule is for vaccinated 12 and older. The 3 day rule of pcr or antigen, which I heard rapid pcr is acceptable too, is for children 2 thru 11 then the kids also get tested at terminal before embarking and tested during the cruise if 5 nights or longer. Sorry, so confusing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted September 19, 2021 #8 Share Posted September 19, 2021 4 minutes ago, nelblu said: Sorry, so confusing. Not really kids 11 and under get antigen or PCR test 3 days prior to embarkation vaccinated adults get antigen or PCR test 2 days prior to embarkation Not confusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCHENG Posted September 19, 2021 #9 Share Posted September 19, 2021 (edited) Looks like Royal changed its testing protocol again and will now accept Antigen test for the unvaccinated. I don't understand the rationale of allowing unvaccinated cruisers a 3 day window of testing while only giving the vaccinated cruisers a 2 day window, but I am not complaining since this allows me to make full use of the 6 pack Abbot Antigen tests I purchased from E-Med. Not having to do RT-PCR on my children saves me at least 330 bucks. Edited September 19, 2021 by PCHENG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ughreally Posted September 19, 2021 #10 Share Posted September 19, 2021 37 minutes ago, PCHENG said: Looks like Royal changed its testing protocol again and will now accept Antigen test for the unvaccinated. I don't understand the rationale of allowing unvaccinated cruisers a 3 day window of testing while only giving the vaccinated cruisers a 2 day window, but I am not complaining since this allows me to make full use of the 6 pack Abbot Antigen tests I purchased from E-Med. Not having to do RT-PCR on my children saves me at least 330 bucks. Don't use the emed tests on unvaccinated kids. Royal will not accept them. It is on royal's website. Only vaccinated guests can use the monitored Abbott test kits that emed sells. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted September 19, 2021 #11 Share Posted September 19, 2021 I'm hoping things change for the better (easier) by the time we sail with grandkids under 12 next April 2022. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCHENG Posted September 19, 2021 #12 Share Posted September 19, 2021 25 minutes ago, ughreally said: Don't use the emed tests on unvaccinated kids. Royal will not accept them. It is on royal's website. Only vaccinated guests can use the monitored Abbott test kits that emed sells. Hopefully Royal will change its protocol. It makes no sense for Royal to reject telehealth antigen test results for the unvaccinated, yet accepts in person antigen test results performed at my local pharmacies such as CVS or Walgreens, when both uses the same Abbott Antigen test kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ughreally Posted September 19, 2021 #13 Share Posted September 19, 2021 57 minutes ago, PCHENG said: Hopefully Royal will change its protocol. It makes no sense for Royal to reject telehealth antigen test results for the unvaccinated, yet accepts in person antigen test results performed at my local pharmacies such as CVS or Walgreens, when both uses the same Abbott Antigen test kits. Yeah, I agree. I don't understand the logic of why the Abbott antigen monitored at home is good enough for me but not my kids. We could all get covid, vaccinated or not. But that doesn't change what the rule is for right now and I don't want to be told I can't get on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine3601 Posted September 19, 2021 #14 Share Posted September 19, 2021 3 hours ago, PCHENG said: I don't understand the rationale of allowing unvaccinated cruisers a 3 day window of testing while only giving the vaccinated cruisers a 2 day window, but I am not complaining since this allows me to make full use of the 6 pack Abbot Antigen tests I purchased from E-Med. Not having to do RT-PCR on my children saves me at least 330 bucks. I assume the logic was because unvaccinated kids under 12 previously had to do get the pcr test 3 days prior so left time for the results to come back by day of cruise. Remember the unvaxxed kids get tested at cruise terminal before boarding too. While the vaxxed do not. Not sure if children can do the at home version, best double check their website before your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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