Options for Covid test pre=cruise

[swigso]

Hello 

can anyone help with this.

we are from the uk and arrive 18 Feb the ship sails on Feb 21

returning to port Everglades on March 3rd. Here is the problem

we fly from Mia to Tampa the flight leaves at 13.45, do Celebrity provide 

testing on the ship. If not has anyone used an online test 

thanks

 

[naburleson]

On 12/22/2021 at 9:47 PM, lifeisrealygood said:

My wife and I have a March 13th cruise out of Fort Lauderdale.  We are flying into Fort Lauderdale on Thursday for a Sunday sailing.  So, we need to be tested in Fort Lauderdale.  I have been calling around, and up until yesterday, everyone I called said to just come on in, no problem.  Many said you do not even need an appointment.

 

I called many of those same establishments today, and received a completely different answer.  They all stated now that March is still a ways off, but there may be shortages of tests in the future and they can no longer guarantee that they can perform the tests in March.

 

So, this is a BIG deal for cruisers.  I guess I should start looking into the tests I can do from my hotel room.  

 

Anyone else getting nervous about the testing requirement for January, February or March cruises?

We are booked for Jan 9, flying into Ft Lauderdale on Jan 6.  Booked rapid antigen tests with FastTestNow.com,1008 W Oakland Park Blvd, Ft Lauderdale early morning on Jan 7. They charged our credit cards $89 each when we made the reservation, so they had better have tests available for us!  But in light of possible shortages of tests, we also ordered the proctored tests from Celebrity and had them shipped to a friend's house (where we are staying pre-cruise).  Hope it is all  worth it, travel is so stressful these days!

[Host Anne]

On 12/30/2021 at 8:06 PM, swigso said:

Hello 

can anyone help with this.

we are from the uk and arrive 18 Feb the ship sails on Feb 21

returning to port Everglades on March 3rd. Here is the problem

we fly from Mia to Tampa the flight leaves at 13.45, do Celebrity provide 

testing on the ship. If not has anyone used an online test 

thanks

 

 

Celebrity is currently not doing testing on the ship for embarking passengers.  However you have multiple options for testing in Florida.  Walgreens does offer testing for passengers from the UK.  I had multiple family & friends sailing with us tomorrow, including four guests from the UK, take the on-line test yesterday.  Very quick and easy.  Our UK friends purchased their tests in the UK and brought them with them.  I will ask where they purchased them and post here.

[swigso]

4 hours ago, Host Anne said:

 

Celebrity is currently not doing testing on the ship for embarking passengers.  However you have multiple options for testing in Florida.  Walgreens does offer testing for passengers from the UK.  I had multiple family & friends sailing with us tomorrow, including four guests from the UK, take the on-line test yesterday.  Very quick and easy.  Our UK friends purchased their tests in the UK and brought them with them.  I will ask where they purchased them and post here.

Thanks Anne, the problem is in order to take the flight we will need 

to take a test while we are on board the ship 😱

 

[Host Anne]

42 minutes ago, swigso said:

Thanks Anne, the problem is in order to take the flight we will need 

to take a test while we are on board the ship 😱

 

If you are talking about the flight home, yes, Celebrity provides those tests for you.

[swigso]

11 hours ago, Host Anne said:

If you are talking about the flight home, yes, Celebrity provides those tests for you.

Thank you Host Anne for that information 👍

[weregoingcruising]

Is there a testing site in Tampa airport or where is closet to it?

[Host Anne]

12 minutes ago, weregoingcruising said:

Is there a testing site in Tampa airport or where is closet to it?

It doesn't look like they do right now.  They used to but I'm not finding anything that says it is available today.  There are lots of Walgreens and CVS pharmacies near the airport that offer testing, though.

[weregoingcruising]

Thank You

[anniedave]

On 1/1/2022 at 3:50 PM, Host Anne said:

 

Celebrity is currently not doing testing on the ship for embarking passengers.  However you have multiple options for testing in Florida.  Walgreens does offer testing for passengers from the UK.  I had multiple family & friends sailing with us tomorrow, including four guests from the UK, take the on-line test yesterday.  Very quick and easy.  Our UK friends purchased their tests in the UK and brought them with them.  I will ask where they purchased them and post here.

I'm looking for the same info - travelling from the UK 18th Feb, staying with family in Pembroke pines for a couple of days then embarking 21st Feb so need to know how/where to get a test pre cruise.  Be great if we can just buy in uk to take with us. Any heko would be much appreciated 

[Host Anne]

Our friends do have the information to give me to give you but she hasn't provided it yet.  I'll get it from her tonight and post it here.  She was very happy with the kit and service they received.

 

I'll be back!

[Fly and Sail]

FYI the small collection of strip malls next to the Renaissance near the Fort Lauderdale ports has several minute clinics where you can get tested. I was there today in between sailings. Went to Chase to deposit casino withdrawals, Publix and Panera (good to get off the ship for a while) and saw long lines in front of these clinics. No doubt almost all of these are cruisers.

[royalcruz]

On 1/2/2022 at 3:06 PM, anniedave said:

I'm looking for the same info - travelling from the UK 18th Feb, staying with family in Pembroke pines for a couple of days then embarking 21st Feb so need to know how/where to get a test pre cruise.  Be great if we can just buy in uk to take with us. Any heko would be much appreciated 

There is a CVS out west  in Plantation that does rapid antigen tests. There are also CVS stores in Miramar and Cooper City that do either rapid antigen or rapid PCR. just be sure to schedule way in advance online! 

Edited January 3, 2022 by royalcruz

[Nebr.cruiser]

There was a test site set up outside the Rodeway Inn when we were there in November; also was advertized in December.  I didn't go check on it as we had our negative test at home, but it would be worth a call to see if they are still doing it.  It is the Airport/cruise port Rodeway.

[zitsky]

Has anyone done a test in Lisbon or some other international location?  We (4 of us) will be flying to Lisbon a few days before an October cruise.  I don't know yet if we will try to find a local facility or bring with us a proctored test?  I'm trying to stay optimistic that we will go.

[TeeRick]

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

Has anyone done a test in Lisbon or some other international location?  We (4 of us) will be flying to Lisbon a few days before an October cruise.  I don't know yet if we will try to find a local facility or bring with us a proctored test?  I'm trying to stay optimistic that we will go.

October is a "horse of a different color" at this point.  Maybe check in mid-summer when ships are (hopefully) cruising around Europe.

 

 

[zitsky]

7 hours ago, TeeRick said:

October is a "horse of a different color" at this point.  Maybe check in mid-summer when ships are (hopefully) cruising around Europe.

 

 

 

Hopefully?  I don't appreciate your pessimism.   🙂

[helen haywood]

If anyone had suggested back in March 2020 that we would still be dealing with covid…and cruise cancellations 22 months later…I would have probably accused them of pessimism.

[phoenix_dream]

On 1/2/2022 at 7:33 AM, Host Anne said:

It doesn't look like they do right now.  They used to but I'm not finding anything that says it is available today.  There are lots of Walgreens and CVS pharmacies near the airport that offer testing, though.

I am looking at Walgreens in the Tampa area.  I am not seeing a single site that has testing options available for any upcoming dates.  Any advice?  

[Nap3025]

The celebrity website last night said PCR… it used to say either PCR or rapid antigen but the words rapid antigen were no longer there. I will call them later to find out if only PCR tests are accepted now or whether it’s a typo

[Nap3025]

I just copied and pasted from the website and the sentence makes no sense “as either as an”??

Testing & Screening

All vaccinated guests must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken as either as an PCRtest conducted within two days of embarkation

[TeeRick]

12 hours ago, zitsky said:

 

Hopefully?  I don't appreciate your pessimism.   🙂

I am actually quite optimistic.  We have a cruise out of the UK to Iceland in August.  I am planning on going.  Omicron will be a distant memory and summer has been a low in the peaks and valley pattern of the virus since the beginning.  Your October cruise will likely be just fine.😀.  At this point I would not plan a cruise in the December to April peak time period for the virus.

[itching2cruiseagain]

For those looking for testing in South Florida. No lines, no waiting. They offer Rapid tests.

 

https://pharmostarlabs.com/
Pharmostar Labs
9540 Griffin Road
Cooper City, FL 33328
1-800-815-7088
cross street is Palm Avenue

[zitsky]

2 hours ago, Nap3025 said:

I just copied and pasted from the website and the sentence makes no sense “as either as an”??

Testing & Screening

All vaccinated guests must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken as either as an PCRtest conducted within two days of embarkation

Wasn’t there a choice of two and now there is only one?

[Turtles06]

4 hours ago, Nap3025 said:

I just copied and pasted from the website and the sentence makes no sense “as either as an”??

Testing & Screening

All vaccinated guests must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken as either as an PCRtest conducted within two days of embarkation

The FAQs continue to say PCR or antigen

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/faqs