QM2 Onboard tests

[TravelDee43]

We're leave on the QM2 in 3 weeks from Ft. Lauderdale FL. for a 2 week Caribbean cruise. We've got the Binax tests from Navica which are proctored (2 for $75). My question is Cunard says some ports may require a test and they happily sell you one for $25 (antigen) $35 (pcr) so you can leave the ship. 

 

My question is, can we use our own tests if they are done in front of someone on the ship.  We've got enough for 6 tests each--8 free ones from .gov/usps and regular 2 Binax as well as a box of 5 from Costco.  Will we be forced to buy theirs on board?

[Host Hattie]

I'm not sure anyone here is going to be able to answer that question.

This might be an occasion where it's better to ask Cunard and be prepared for a different answer on the ship.

[2Oldpeopleinlove]

If OP does get an answer, I’d like to know. I asked a similar question a while ago.

[starquake]

TBH I doubt it's Cunards place to answer to be honest.   It'll be the individual port authority plus the country it reside in and what they accept to let you on land at the tiem of sailing -> and every country/port has own requirements to "acceptable tests", and when you dig into the detail it can be quite complex, and may change the day before sailing, or during.   Ie, it depends on the situation on the day.  Remember there are many varieties of both PCR and antigen, and every country have their own "requirements" as to which antibody tests were acceptable, ditto which PCR tests they accepted (ie, it was not all varieties of Antigen on our first cruise in 2021, some were ruled out)..   Most require a proctored test (or have since cruises restarted), and for us UK people have always placed a "dim" view of self-administratored tests fullstop (none of the NHS ones were accepted by the EU ports similar to the US govt ones you have I suspect).   Equally I doubt the QM2's wifi is good enough to allow a good enough quality of a proctored third party link to even allow this.   

 

Equally I would imagine it would be way too much hassle to agree individual peoples individual tests on a one by one basis, when they will have agreed with a port, everyone on board will be tested with antigen test X or PCR test Y variety Z if allowed off.   To be fair to Cunard their testing regime on the 2 cruises we have taken since November on Cunard have been VERY well organised, and highly professionally delivered, and often for less than a test would have cost off-ship in UK at least (particuarly for PCR's which were retailing at nearer $60-70 pp when these were a requirement by the UK govt).   They also did manage to arrange testing when at time of sailing none was required, but by time we hit Lisbon with the rise of Omicron it was.   I'd also note that to our surprise, they then arranged with UK government parties that we then didn't need a test the "next" day for our UK arrival following a sea day in middle - given we had had one just over 48 hours, but 2 business days before.   Ie, they were "fair" as a company and were not testing twice to just "profit" on 2 antigen tests when they could "easily" have done that (we were willing to pay if required).   If a port authority like the UK on your cruise was to accept a 48 hour window it may be conceivable you will only need a test every other port day -> but it is dependant on carnival/Cunards negotiation during the time of your sailing I guess.

 

The Cunard/Carnival proctored test certificates showed "who" done the test, which type of test it was, which manufacturer, which batch, and which particular varient of antigen or PCR was used for reference, and was suitable for all entry requirements (and on land requirements) where such certificates were required over the Christmas period on our first earlier cruise when such testing was more commonly required (which is similar to the carribean regime at moment)..   The UK had actually removed the entry test requirement on the day we left on the 2nd cruise on QM2, so we found ourselves in a position where the ship had clearly been prepared to test everyone, but ended up needing zero tests as the requirement literally changed the day before sailing.

 

Wish you luck as we expect the same to be in place when we sail on the QM2 to Carribean over this Christmas sadly -> testing will likely be part of cruising life for at least a year in this posters view.   We are happy to pay for any testing required on said cruise to access land at each port, as in reality that will be a tiny amount compared to the cruise itself.    We also do not expect to be able to use NHS or privately acquired tests, just based on experience on the 2 cruises we have taken since December last year.

[Lakesregion]

Can you refuse all tests and simply remain on board for the full cruise, never setting foot on land until back home in the US where tests are no longer needed?

[sogne]

8 hours ago, Lakesregion said:

Can you refuse all tests and simply remain on board for the full cruise, never setting foot on land until back home in the US where tests are no longer needed?

Not on our QM2 Caribbean cruise Jan 14th compulsory for all for Lisbon whether ashore or stay on board 

[starquake]

5 hours ago, sogne said:

Not on our QM2 Caribbean cruise Jan 14th compulsory for all for Lisbon whether ashore or stay on board 

 

I'd add on Dec 20th the Lisbon test was optional on QE, but as a UK govt requirement for the ship to arrive the test on Dec 22nd was not an optional one (arriving back 23rd).   So people did stay on board without testing and visiting port in Lisbon on 20/21st December on the pre-Christmas QE cruise, and were happy with this. .  As mentioned however they got a waiver agreed such that the 20th tested people catered for the one on 22nd (when everyone except those with land access on 20th/21st was tested) despite it being outside the 48 hours by almost a day!, so only those NOT going to land ended up tested on the 22nd.   Everyone on the ship (including staff) was obviously tested in that 2-3 day period however.    And yes, those tests were chargable at the $25, but we ended up with a 10 day cruise with a SINGLE $25 test as that was what the rules ended up being at time.   Before we left on 13th December we knew/budgeted for up to 8 total (for 2 of us) $25 tests as we had expeceted needing them for Gibraltar, Spain and Porugal as well as return to UK... but we found the rules had changed (during cruise) for fully vaccinated passengers such that only portugal and UK needed tests for entry.

 

TLDR is as mentioned things will change month by month and week by week, but the company has demonstrated it is fair in above by not charging for tests when governments accept a previous test, and the price is "fair" for a proctored test compared with pre-flight testing.   Remember it's the governments of the countries that set the policys, not Cunard -> and these would likely be same regardless of which cruise line you would take at present time, so this is not really a Cunard question to be honest.

 

[chatdad]

On 3/16/2022 at 7:13 PM, Lakesregion said:

Can you refuse all tests and simply remain on board for the full cruise, never setting foot on land until back home in the US where tests are no longer needed?

A negative Covid test is still required for re-entry to the United States (believe this is covered in the COVID section on the Cunard website and they will provide that testing for a fee prior to your disembarkation in New York).  Right now, the UK has discontinued requiring a Covid test for entry into the UK (and I believe it was previously for stays beyond 24 or 48 hours, but could be off on that one).