End of pre-cruise testing???

[GA Dave]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Reports from March 12, 2022 sailing of the Seashore NO testing at the port for fully vaxxed passengers prior to embarkation. Only still need 48 hr test negative paper in hand. Perhaps mask mandate on board will be optional ? 

I saw that on another large social media site as well.  I think with the much, much larger numbers cruising out of both Miami and Canaveral this week and next, it is no longer financially feasible and timing-wise feasible for MSC to continue the testing at the port.  Crew have been saying that the 3/13 and 3/17 Meraviglia cruises will both have over 3,000 passengers onboard.  There is no way they can test all of those people and still depart on time.  Plus, where are they going to find enough medical techs to perform all of those tests?

[CampNCruise74]

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

That is one reason why I won't be cruising for awhile.  

 

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

That is one reason why I won't be cruising for awhile.  

Fake CDC testing cards are still out there so unfortunately that's probably why they keep the prior testing requirement.  The eMed tests are ultra easy what you've seen others talk about here.  We used them in September and February and again next month.  testing at home at your own dinner table through a phone and an app is wonderful and we don't mind ponying up the money to buy them. Plus within 5 minutes after they verify a negative they've already sent you your documents in an email.

Edited March 13, 2022 by CampNCruise74

[HappyInVan]

On 3/10/2022 at 8:14 AM, Debde said:

Would love to see pre-cruise testing gone. I'm double vaxed and boosted. The fear of not knowing you have a mild case or a false positive keeps me from cruising just yet. 

 

Thank You. I'm sailing in May.

[blueslily]

On 3/11/2022 at 12:25 PM, SUSIEK said:

I am ok with it too..... BUT I live 1 1/2hours  from the port.  If, for some odd chance, I test positive at the port after testing negative 2 days before, I turn around and drive home.  Think of those that are flying in.  That's a huge hassle and anxiety for those people.  I can understand that. 

 

I'm hours away and well. Wish I did live closer. I would cruise even more 😁

[blueslily]

On 3/12/2022 at 6:47 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

Unfortunately you are not in the minority. All we can attest to is that we have sailed every month for a week since July (except for Jan). It has been the best cruising we have ever experienced. The service is phenomenal. As much as we detest chair hogs (they can always ruin a cruise when a ship is sold out), but there were always many more available lounges in every venue at any time. No long waits for meals, no lines anywhere. We leave again for another repeat on the Seashore on the March 19, 2022 sailing this time with an overnight in Ocean Cay (the best port IMHO) which we missed the lighthouse show on Feb 12, 2022 sailing. Noticed a great dearth of reporting from cruisers. Suggesting many are still waiting things out, and really missing out on some fine dining, good Caribbean weather and perhaps the lowest prices that are already increasing. 

 

So glad I cruised as well, with protocols and all. Had great cruises while everyone else stayed home for various reasons. Hope to sneak in one more before all the folks who despised the protocols decide to return to cruising now that protocols are changing.  What a bummer. It was certainly good for the time it lasted. 

[spinnaker2]

Are the at home covid 19 tests (antigen) acceptable to MSC preboarding?

I have some that are distributed by Roche under the US COVID 19 /FDA emergency use.

[justcrusn]

4 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

Are the at home covid 19 tests (antigen) acceptable to MSC preboarding?

I have some that are distributed by Roche under the US COVID 19 /FDA emergency use.

As far as i know, they are NOT, unless sponsored, in other words someone watches you do the test and verify the results.

[juancarlosgarciasanchez]

Hello -

Apologize if this question had been previously asked but what happens if passenger shows positive a day before the cruise is scheduled to depart? Does the positive passenger get a refund for the entire cruise or a cruise credit ? What about his fellow guest  cruising with him? 

[Debde]

With the CDC dropping travel health notice-anyone think this pre-cruise testing may be a thing of old soon??

Vaxed, boosted, just the whole test thing is what keeps me from cruising so hope to be out there again.

 

Hotel and airfare prices getting higher and higher. just can not take the risk to test positive after spending all that money, feel great and get a positive test.

[deliver42]

Michael Bayley of RCCL predicted at the cruise line's meetings, that he thinks testing will be over by summertime.

[Dreamer68]

On 3/11/2022 at 9:23 AM, Debde said:

THIS!!!

By the time I plan, get flights, get hotel, transfers which is a major cost right there-then my cruise fare. Here I am at the port, feeling fine and I test positive and watch the ship sail away with my family in tow. Insurance will not make me feel any better.

Until the pre-testing goes away for fully vaccinated, I'll wait to cruise.

 

Yesssss! This is also my concern!! Coming in from Canada the night before to catch cruise out of Florida and concerned about the possibility of this despite being triple-vaccinated. That possible positive at the port would make me just aaaarrrggghhhh... I think I might have to give up on booking my cruise for this May and wait a bit longer. Dang!

[dexddd]

13 hours ago, Dreamer68 said:

Yesssss! This is also my concern!! Coming in from Canada the night before to catch cruise out of Florida and concerned about the possibility of this despite being triple-vaccinated. That possible positive at the port would make me just aaaarrrggghhhh... I think I might have to give up on booking my cruise for this May and wait a bit longer. Dang!

And to add, the airlines.

 

We had a trip in September with early Friday flight to Miami with connection for a Saturday trip.  AA had mechanical and best they could do was next day arrival around one.  Too tight.  Would not put us on Delta at next gate.  Paid ourselves.   Got in 1 a.m.

 

Had coworker leaving Friday for Saturday recently.  Weather in Florida, flight canceled.  They did get air to Tampa and drove to Miami.

 

Other friends last week coming home from Florida delayed four days due to weather.  

[Fiona2011]

On 3/11/2022 at 11:34 AM, Rhea98 said:

Terminal testing is the more nerve-racking to me. We did that in Civitavecchia in December on NCL. We'd tested within a 72 hr range as well as a 48 hr range before leaving Orlando. We maintained our personal health protocols through Miami, Boston, LHR, and FCO before a night at the port.  Our next cruise is out of Genoa in April, and we are glad just to have to test within 48 hrs (we may have to get tele-monitored tests, though). At least, I think what the protocol is at the moment.

We are also out of Genoa on 4/27 and according to the website, we need to have PCR tests within 48 hours and I don't think we can do those ourselves. We have appointments at our airport to get them before we fly from the West Coast, but will be en route when the results are back, fingers crossed.

[ginger123snaps]

On 4/7/2022 at 6:46 PM, deliver42 said:

Michael Bayley of RCCL predicted at the cruise line's meetings, that he thinks testing will be over by summertime.

Gosh I sure hope so.  Its time to stop this now.

[neptuno]

On 3/10/2022 at 10:14 AM, Debde said:

Would love to see pre-cruise testing gone. I'm double vaxed and boosted. The fear of not knowing you have a mild case or a false positive keeps me from cruising just yet. Am I in the minority here???

Millions of people have died from covid, and our hospitals have been overwhelmed.  As long as it remains a killer why not test?  I look forward to our next cruise, and will feel safer knowing that crew is vaxxed and passengers tested.

[Debde]

16 hours ago, neptuno said:

Millions of people have died from covid, and our hospitals have been overwhelmed.  As long as it remains a killer why not test?  I look forward to our next cruise, and will feel safer knowing that crew is vaxxed and passengers tested.

I feel safe knowing I am vaxed also. Testing-IMHO is not what makes me, personally feel safe.

I see you're from Florida so if you test positive-its probably just a car ride home or a rescheduled cruise. I do respect your concerns and I hope some day-I will be able to cruise again but not while this testing is demanded.

[tallnthensome]

19 hours ago, neptuno said:

Millions of people have died from covid, and our hospitals have been overwhelmed.  As long as it remains a killer why not test?  I look forward to our next cruise, and will feel safer knowing that crew is vaxxed and passengers tested.

Hardly anyone who is fully vaccinated and boosted is dying from covid anymore. Our hospitals and not overwhelmed anymore. Most have cold symptoms or nothing. I agree, if you're from Florida you have a five minute turn-around.  Those of us flying from the north with kids makes testing that much more inconvenient.... just because it's easy for some, especially five minutes from the port, does not mean it's a huge hassle for most others. 

[Rhea98]

On 4/10/2022 at 2:01 PM, Fiona2011 said:

We are also out of Genoa on 4/27 and according to the website, we need to have PCR tests within 48 hours and I don't think we can do those ourselves. We have appointments at our airport to get them before we fly from the West Coast, but will be en route when the results are back, fingers crossed.

FWIW, two (maybe three) days ago, the website posted (as the app web link had already posted) that antigen tests--changed from 24 hrs on the first day to 48 hrs on the second day- are acceptable for US and non-schengen residents. This is to begin on April 23 per earlier MSC post.

Edited April 11, 2022 by Rhea98

[HappyInVan]

I'm in favor of vax and testing. Vax to protect against serious illness. Testing to reduce spread on a ship. Recently, we've seen large outbreaks on the Princess ships. We've seen mass outbreaks on the industry's entire fleet in December-February.

 

The bottom line is that cruise ships need permission to enter a port. Many ships have had to change or cancel their itineraries. Most pax have no interest in sailing in circles. Nor wind up in quarantine.

 

Frankly, I would much rather embark on a Green ship.

[tallnthensome]

1 hour ago, HappyInVan said:

I'm in favor of vax and testing. Vax to protect against serious illness. Testing to reduce spread on a ship. Recently, we've seen large outbreaks on the Princess ships. We've seen mass outbreaks on the industry's entire fleet in December - February 

It will be May in a couple weeks and a LOT has changed since then for the better. That was the peak season...... at some point the testing has to stop even if the vaccine mandate continues. Do we keep testing when there are 10 cases country wide? Forever? How many fully vaccinated and boosted people have died in the past few months? I spend a lot time working at the hospital and there is hardly any covid patients and zero fully vaxxinated patients hospitalized. There has to be a means to an end.

[HappyInVan]

30 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

I spend a lot time working at the hospital and there is hardly any covid patients and zero fully vaxxinated patients hospitalized. There has to be a means to an end.

 

Thank you for your opinion.

 

I take it that you're not a medical or science specialist. Suggest that you check out the WHO and CDC who have tons of epidemiology and virology experts. They can explain it clearly. Also, please check what Philadelphia just announced.

 

People from many countries embark on cruise ships. As long as there are large outbreaks onboard, I'd expect safety protocols to continue. IMHO, that would be a good thing.

 

 

Edited April 12, 2022 by HappyInVan

[Floridado2020]

On 4/11/2022 at 5:41 PM, Rhea98 said:

FWIW, two (maybe three) days ago, the website posted (as the app web link had already posted) that antigen tests--changed from 24 hrs on the first day to 48 hrs on the second day- are acceptable for US and non-schengen residents. This is to begin on April 23 per earlier MSC post.

Omg is that true ! My parents are freaking out for their Northern Europe cruise in may 2 about where to get a PCR in marseille 48 hours prior to cruising  they can’t find a place for a quick PCR outside of the airport 

When they go to the MSC website it still says PCR only , where did they post that antigen would be accepted too ? Thanks 

Edited April 16, 2022 by Floridado2020

[dexddd]

DW works at a large, regional hospital and clinic group.  Out of the blue last night she tells me they have zero hospitalized Corona patients.

[tallnthensome]

1 hour ago, dexddd said:

DW works at a large, regional hospital and clinic group.  Out of the blue last night she tells me they have zero hospitalized Corona patients.

I believe it ..... it's time to move on now from this . Enough of testing healthy people to go on vacation. 

[Rhea98]

7 hours ago, Floridado2020 said:

Omg is that true ! My parents are freaking out for their Northern Europe cruise in may 2 about where to get a PCR in marseille 48 hours prior to cruising  they can’t find a place for a quick PCR outside of the airport 

When they go to the MSC website it still says PCR only , where did they post that antigen would be accepted too ? Thanks 

If you'd clicked the link, you would have seen that is for the Mediterranean. Northern Europe still posts PCR only. I have both scheduled but the N. Europe part starts on the second leg of our B2B--booked as two separate cruises. I haven't bothered calling MSC about how we test if we are already on the ship but will next week.  If you search for tests in Marseille, many sites show up.  Marseille has a very efficient metro system and buses, but you have to check based on their location. If they are staying overnight, their hotel can probably direct them ahead of time to a nearby testing site. Local hotels have always been the best resource for local information when we travel--anywhere.

It may be that the airport is the best location. It's looking that way for us in Orlando. There's no free antigen testing that is documented. The tests at the airport appear to be half the cost of other facilities in the area. We have the free tests from the usps plus the iHealth app so we will try that first thing the morning of our departure. Those are antigen so they won't work for Northern Europe. 

How do they plan to test for their return to the US?