Timing and Type of Disembarkation Test

[thedoc29ca]

Hoping to be on the Epic Sun Dec 26 - Sun Jan 3.  Returning to Canada via Detroit.   The current requirement to cross land border is  a PCR test within 72 hours.   
 

Any info about the timing and type of PCR test prior to disembarking from recent cruisers would be really appreciated.   
 

Thanks

[BULLOCK]

Just off the Escape on Saturday.   We were tested on Thursday afternoon at 4 PM which was a sea day.  Nasal PCR test,   advise to wait in our room for 90 minutes after the test.   If there was a positive result we would be notified within the 90 minutes.  

 

Negative result letter arrived in our room on FRIDAY morning.  We flew back to Toronto on Sunday afternoon.

 

Present regulations stipulate that your flight into Canada must be within 72 hours of your test.  
 

Just ensure the time of your second flight departing Detroit is within the 72 hours of your test.

 

Regulations change daily,  it’s difficult to predict 2-3 weeks time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Traveling Man]

We were on the Epic in the Mediterranean in October.  We got our rapid test on the last day before debarkation.  We were not required to wait around for the results, but were free to roam around the ship as soon as the swab was completed.  We received a notice in our stateroom that evening of the negative result.  YMMV.

[Sixtytwo]

20 hours ago, BULLOCK said:

Just ensure the time of your second flight departing Detroit is within the 72 hours of your test.

Original poster may want to check this. I believe the time is based on the time you board the first flight on your trip, not a connecting flight as long as you go from the first right to the second flight without a "Layover".

We have this same issue returning from Europe to the USA. original flight has a 2-3 hour layover in another European country but the US rules say the time is based on the original flight. 🤷‍♂️

[thedoc29ca]

Thanks for the info.   Flying into Detroit and then crossing via land.   Will post for others when we find out how it goes.  

[CruisingRJY]

My wife and I cruised on the Epic in the Mediterranean in early November.  Our cruise ended in Athens on Thursday, Nov. 11th and we were originally 'instructed' to take our PCR test on the Tuesday, later afternoon, which barely met the 72 hour time limit.  That was quickly followed up with a notice that the test had been moved up to the Tuesday morning, which put us outside of the 72 hour timeframe.  We argued and argued for the test to be pushed until the next morning and even had the medical supervisor admit that they were not meeting the commitment for timely testing, but there was no give. They had all kinds of excuses why it could not be done, but were quick to say that if we did get our test on  the ship later, it would cost us $150.  (Funny how they could not do it a day later for free, but they could for $150!!)   Our cruise ended up in Athens a day earlier than expected and so we ended up spending that day running around the city to get a PCR test that would meet our needs. Along the way, we found out that some others, in our same predicament, were able to get tested that day, at no cost.  

Our flight back to Toronto from Athens was made up of 3 legs with a layover in Rome between the 2nd flight and the last one into Toronto.  It was the flight from Rome to Canada that we had to be within 72 hours from.  It's your last flight, not your first, that you have to worry about. 

We are still fighting with NCL to get reimbursed for our testing costs that we should not have had to incur had NCL been flexible, been committed to delivering what they promised, and treated everyone fairly. Why could they delay the tests for some, but not for us?  (They probably thought we would not find out about it - but we did.)

So my message to you would be to speak with the medical team and do your best to get a test scheduled that works for your flights.  Don't just accept what they tell you they are limited to.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease!  Hope this helps.