On-board COVID testing (QE)

[porsena]

I’m booked on Q218N, the QE’s first cruise of this year’s abbreviated Alaska season, which is scheduled to depart Vancouver on June 4. A reminder yesterday, two weeks ahead of the final payment date, prompted me to phone Cunard about COVID testing onboard.

 

Canada’s present border entry requirements for entry by ship are at https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#pre-entry-testing. They are out of step with common international practice and have been for quite some time. Everyone entering the country must present the results of a molecular test taken within the previous 72 hours; results from a rapid antigen test are not acceptable. Foreign nationals without such a test result can be turned away at the border, while Canadian residents in such a position can face quarantine and a potential administrative penalty.

 

Unless this requirement will change, and who is to know that in advance, every passenger on Q218N would have to get a molecular COVID test on-board or at the last port stop in Alaska (Ketchikan) within 72 hours of the QE’s return to Vancouver. After consulting his supervisor, Cunard’s agent was unable to tell me on the phone that the onboard option would be possible. He did say that Cunard presently offers testing onboard QE for a fee. He had, however, no information about QE’s onboard practices after May 14 and said that it would be unsafe to assume that the present onboard testing would continue beyond that date.

 

Cunard’s booking agents do not seem to have been prepared to answer the obvious questions related to Canada’s border entry requirements. Does anyone have information?

[Tira04]

As you say, it's hard to predict what will happen in the future. 

 

I was on QE in December out of Southampton.  We had an overnight in Lisbon and Portugese govt required anyone who wanted to go ashore had to test 24 hours before arrival. Cunard organised this very efficiently with time slots allocated based on dining (ie. First sitting,  second or grills) and had enough staff to turn around results in the time frame. 

 

I would guess that if they are stopping in Vancouver they will be set up to meet those requirements as well.  Or they wouldn't really be able to stop there. But I know it's hard to plan based on best guesses. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

Vancouver isn't just a stop. It's the homeport for QE's Alaska cruises, so testing rules will affect everyone onboard. I'm on one of the later Alaska cruises and we visit Victoria right before Vancouver. Because it's two days in a row, I'm hoping that one test will cover both ports, the way Immigration at Victoria covers Immigration at Vancouver. 

 

Canada's rules for entry from the US are complicated. In addition to vaccine card and negative test results, I'll need to report where I've been and have a "quarantine plan," which I guess is a hotel reservation for a place to isolate if I am "randomly tested" at the border and turn up positive. I sent a query to find out more about the quarantine plan, but it the auto reply said will be a few weeks before I get an answer.

 

Calling Cunard is useless, since these cruises sail after the existing protocols end. Any new protocols haven't been announced. 

 

[porsena]

@3rdGenCunarder is right in thinking that the quarantine plan could include a hotel reservation, or at least a place where accommodation can be found. People entering Canada are being told they must use the ArriveCan app, online or on their phone, to submit the information required on arrival https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html. The link has more information. 

[porsena]

@Tira04 do you know what kind of COVID test (molecular or antigen) Cunard performed for the overnight in Lisbon? 

[bluemarble]

Not meaning to speak for @Tira04, but here is some info pertaining to Lisbon testing requirements.

 

From Cunard's "A-Z destination entry requirements guide for port calls January - March 2022":

"Before going ashore, am I required to have an onboard Covid-19 test?

Lisbon - yes, an antigen test is needed for all guests 12 years and above."

 

From @LadyL1 who is currently onboard QE heading for Lisbon next week:

"Thursday is now Lisbon. Antigen test for this port $25."

 

As you probably know, Cunard is currently stating that they will provide onboard testing, both antigen and PCR. From their FAQ:

"We organize testing that may be required to go ashore in various destinations on your itinerary. These tests will be available to purchase on board (at a cost of $25 per antigen test per person and $35 per PCR test per person)."

 

Now I appreciate one place this verbiage appears is in the "Vaccination and testing policy" section of the Cunard website which currently only applies up to May 17, 2022 for QE. All I can offer is my opinion, but I think it's highly likely Cunard will continue offering onboard testing required by any ports on their itineraries for the foreseeable future. In the case of an embarkation/disembarkation port such as Vancouver, I don't see how a cruise could operate without providing pre-arrival testing if it's required by that port.

[lissie]

Unless the requirement changes  Iwonder if the cruise will even run. Most people will be flying into Vancouver from  internaitonal so will ened to provide a PCR test for arrival on today's rule. That would be either expensive or difficult or both in most/many countries 

[david,Mississauga]

13 hours ago, porsena said:

@3rdGenCunarder is right in thinking that the quarantine plan could include a hotel reservation, or at least a place where accommodation can be found. People entering Canada are being told they must use the ArriveCan app, online or on their phone, to submit the information required on arrival https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html. The link has more information. 

 

In the past few days there have been many comments in the media by health experts who are saying that testing at the border is no longer necessary. As long as hospital admissions are high - especially in ICUs - I doubt this requirement will change immediately, but it might not be too long.

 

My wife and I are booked on the Alaska cruise of 14 June. We have another concern: the inability to purchase full travel insurance including coverage for cancellation and trip interruption. The Canadian government still has a "level four" advisory against taking a cruise. I have heard the same level of advisory now applies in the U.S.

 

Cunard's "Sailing with confidence" and "Booking with confidence" doesn't apply to voyages after April. They say regular cancellation penalties apply after that. So unless there is some change soon we will have to cancel in three weeks. We are watching closely.

[watsonbeau]

It was the complications of disembarking in Vancouver that made us book the 30 night ending in San Francisco - it replaces the currently en routeQM2 Caribbean that we were going on but caught Covid in the week before so couldn’t go. Hopefully USA option will be fine. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 hour ago, david,Mississauga said:

 

In the past few days there have been many comments in the media by health experts who are saying that testing at the border is no longer necessary. As long as hospital admissions are high - especially in ICUs - I doubt this requirement will change immediately, but it might not be too long.

 

My wife and I are booked on the Alaska cruise of 14 June. We have another concern: the inability to purchase full travel insurance including coverage for cancellation and trip interruption. The Canadian government still has a "level four" advisory against taking a cruise. I have heard the same level of advisory now applies in the U.S.

 

Cunard's "Sailing with confidence" and "Booking with confidence" doesn't apply to voyages after April. They say regular cancellation penalties apply after that. So unless there is some change soon we will have to cancel in three weeks. We are watching closely.

 

I agree that making final payment now looks like the proverbial "pig in a poke." I'm on the same cruise, and recently upgraded myself to PG, so now I'll have more money to lose if I can't go. I stupidly did not buy the "cancel for any reason" rider, as the cruise wasn't all that expensive. And now it's too late to add that rider. My travel insurance will cover me if I actually get sick. But if I'm quarantined because of a positive test or cancel because I don't want to go, they won't pay for that. 

 

Last fall, when I was worrying about my Feb cruise (which I just cancelled), the covid policy only ran to the end of December.  I called Cunard to ask about the covid policy after Dec. The agent assured me that I would know the covid policy/protocols before final payment. And that did turn out to be true. 

 

But we're sailing in June, with final payment nearing and we have no idea what the covid policy will be. I know the situation and numbers are changing--hopefully for the better--but Cunard needs to be clear about their policy or push back the final payment date while they figure it out. 

 

[2Oldpeopleinlove]

We’re also on this June 4-14 cruise. We have some antigen tests, as well as hotel reservations on both ends (thanks to Delta’s inconvenient changes coming back), so we’ll follow this in hopes that more information is forthcoming. I wish we could resolve it before final payment on Feb 4, but The Plague has me wishing for lots of things….

[elmsliebev]

Following with interest. We are on the July 11 cruise and will be flying into Canada the day before. May have to consider moving it, though we really don't want to as it's my OH's 60th when we will be in Ketchikan. 

[2Oldpeopleinlove]

An FYI from us. We use Chase Sapphire cards for all travel because of the perk of free travel insurance coverage. Just spoke with a specialist who says that, yes, we will be covered for cancellation even if we are prohibited from entering Canada not only because of one of us contracting COVID but also if we’re prohibited from entrance due to exposure.

 

Obviously, this coverage depends on our submitting LOTS of paper proving circumstances, but it’s there for us. If you have access to either the “preferred” card or Reserve, this can make final payment feel way safer.

[3rdGenCunarder]

31 minutes ago, 2Oldpeopleinlove said:

An FYI from us. We use Chase Sapphire cards for all travel because of the perk of free travel insurance coverage. Just spoke with a specialist who says that, yes, we will be covered for cancellation even if we are prohibited from entering Canada not only because of one of us contracting COVID but also if we’re prohibited from entrance due to exposure.

 

Obviously, this coverage depends on our submitting LOTS of paper proving circumstances, but it’s there for us. If you have access to either the “preferred” card or Reserve, this can make final payment feel way safer.

 

Reading the "fine print" for my credit cards is on my to do list.

[Ukulele girl]

My husband and I are taking the Alaska cruise leaving Vancouver on 14th June. We fly in 2 days early to enjoy Vancouver and have 4 nights after the cruise driving the Rockies to Banff. This thread is very helpful thank you, although there are so many uncertainties at the moment. We pay final amount in 2 weeks and I have a lot of checking to do before that day. The 72 hour test element will be tricky to manage going out as there is a 10 hour flight to include. I will seek help from the travel company where necessary. I hope I can be brave enough to go for it. As a retiree I feel we have to get back to travel before we are too old. I write this from the French Alps as our first foray into going abroad - scary amount of red tape and paperwork but we worked through it carefully and all has been fine. 

 

I suppose if we don't get back to cruising then there won't be a cruise industry to enjoy by the time the Pandemic is more settled.

 

I look forward to hearing further from those ahead of us on the first cruises and thank everyone in advance for that sharing of information.

[bunny76]

On 1/22/2022 at 7:31 PM, Tira04 said:

As you say, it's hard to predict what will happen in the future. 

 

I was on QE in December out of Southampton.  We had an overnight in Lisbon and Portugese govt required anyone who wanted to go ashore had to test 24 hours before arrival. Cunard organised this very efficiently with time slots allocated based on dining (ie. First sitting,  second or grills) and had enough staff to turn around results in the time frame. 

 

I would guess that if they are stopping in Vancouver they will be set up to meet those requirements as well.  Or they wouldn't really be able to stop there. But I know it's hard to plan based on best guesses. 

We're on QM2 next month  and will need on board tests to go ashore for both Hamburg and Cherbourg. I daresay it will be the same testing plan as Lisbon on QE. We may not go ashore if the weather is bad on the day ( we don't fancy any of the tours), so wondering how much in advance you have to book the antigen tests?- I know the tests have to be done within 24hrs before, but can you book them the same morning or are tests done the evening before?( I assume Cunard staff administer the tests and they are nose swabs the same as when you board?) 

[LadyL1]

3 hours ago, bunny76 said:

We're on QM2 next month  and will need on board tests to go ashore for both Hamburg and Cherbourg. I daresay it will be the same testing plan as Lisbon on QE. We may not go ashore if the weather is bad on the day ( we don't fancy any of the tours), so wondering how much in advance you have to book the antigen tests?- I know the tests have to be done within 24hrs before, but can you book them the same morning or are tests done the evening before?( I assume Cunard staff administer the tests and they are nose swabs the same as when you board?) 

Last week I am sure the tests fie Lisbon closed 48 hours in advance. You can get fairly accurate weather data on the internet.

[starquake]

3 hours ago, bunny76 said:

We're on QM2 next month  and will need on board tests to go ashore for both Hamburg and Cherbourg. I daresay it will be the same testing plan as Lisbon on QE. We may not go ashore if the weather is bad on the day ( we don't fancy any of the tours), so wondering how much in advance you have to book the antigen tests?- I know the tests have to be done within 24hrs before, but can you book them the same morning or are tests done the evening before?( I assume Cunard staff administer the tests and they are nose swabs the same as when you board?) 

 

Depends on the itiniary, if Hamberg is after Southampton you may arrive under 48 hours from a test being done to board ... so no need to test again.    Thats what we are expecting for our voyage in a week (hamberg round trip).  

 

For Lisbon in December on QER the tests were done day before arrival, with 6pm diners having a slot between 4 and 6 allocated by Cabin, and 7:45pm diners allocated a slot from 6-7:45pm.  You had to enroll for the tests the day before by dropping a letter to the Pursers mailbox (supplied in room day before) opting in.   It was VERY well organised, with about ~5 people being done in parallel so the lines moved super fast.   Scan card, they attach and print label to a "sample collection", hand you that back, you move to next station hand over the sample collection to the person doing test, you sit down, they take test, put in sample jar, you walk out, 10-20 seconds total per test.    They managed entire ship in 4 hours.

 

Following that, the morning after they put the results (needed in Portugal if asked to enter bars etc) in a envelope by door so you could take that out.

Also worth noting they whitelisted the Porugese website/app via the wifi so you did not need a package to access it (the normal list of "non-paid for websites") it appeared in.   So you could complete the required paperwork onboard via wifi on phone fine.

Summary is I doubt there will be issues on any itinary for test requirements, given the ships are "very" well setup for testing, what with the requirement of some detinations for both all passengers AND crew to be tested before arrival.

 

[bunny76]

On 1/22/2022 at 7:31 PM, Tira04 said:

As you say, it's hard to predict what will happen in the future. 

 

I was on QE in December out of Southampton.  We had an overnight in Lisbon and Portugese govt required anyone who wanted to go ashore had to test 24 hours before arrival. Cunard organised this very efficiently with time slots allocated based on dining (ie. First sitting,  second or grills) and had enough staff to turn around results in the time frame. 

 

I would guess that if they are stopping in Vancouver they will be set up to meet those requirements as well.  Or they wouldn't really be able to stop there. But I know it's hard to plan based on best guesses. 

We're on QM2 next month  and will need on board tests to go ashore for both Hamburg and Cherbourg. I daresay it will be the same testing plan as Lisbon on QE. We may not go ashore if the weather is bad on the day ( we don't fancy any of the tours), so wondering how much in advance you have to book the antigen tests?- I know the tests have to be done within 24hrs before, but can you book them the same morning or are tests done the evening before?( I assume Cunard staff administer the tests and they are nose swabs the same as when you board?) 

[bunny76]

Thank you LadyL1 and starquake 🙂

[kinshasa]

We are on board Queen Elizabeth now. They are offering antigen test for $25 in PCR for 35. Pre-booking available for testing 24 hours and 48 hours before disembarkation depending on your personal needs

[porsena]

Canada's requirement for a PCR test will change on Feb 28, well before the Alaska cruise season begins. Fully vaccinated travellers arriving at the border will then have the option of presenting results from a cheaper, faster rapid antigen test or from a molecular test. The government hinted that further relaxations may be forthcoming in the next few weeks. 

[porsena]

And Canada's border entry requirements have changed again. Fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air, land or sea after the end of March will not have to present results of a COVID test unless they are randomly selected for testing on entry at the border. 

 

Travellers entering Canada should be aware of Canada Border Services' requirement to submit arrival information in their ArriveCan app. 

[elmsliebev]

1 hour ago, porsena said:

Fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air, land or sea after the end of March will not have to present results of a COVID test unless they are randomly selected for testing on entry at the border. 

Does that mean that travellers will still have to have a covid test before entering Canada but will only have to show the result if randomly selected OR if you are randomly selected, you'll then have to have a test eg at the arrival airport? 

 

[TouchstoneFeste]

17 hours ago, elmsliebev said:

Does that mean that travellers will still have to have a covid test before entering Canada but will only have to show the result if randomly selected OR if you are randomly selected, you'll then have to have a test eg at the arrival airport? 

 

From the Travel.CA website

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

Starting April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water. Until then, follow the pre-entry test requirements.

 

Meaning - no testing in advance.