BroadwayGirl

20 minutes ago, wkucrprez said:

Just passed my at home test... ready for my flight to Miami in the morning. Ready to get back on a cruise ship Saturday morning.

 

Please report back on your experience if you can. Many in this thread would love the reassurance you got on your cruise

1 hour ago, Razor_Poke said:

We sail Monday, so the sudden cancellation was for tomorrow. 

We found a CVS about an hour away that has PCR so fingers crossed they can turn it around in a day.

 

Also made a preflight appointment for the paid testing center at Cleveland airport on Sunday before our flight. Will cancel if not needed. Plan C if somehow all that falls through is to use the testing center at MIA. 
 

What a pain. These are unusual times but CVS needs to be better. We got the appointment reminder by text this morning and then a few hours later, boom, it’s canceled. 
 

We got hit with a late cvs rapid cancellation this past weekend..thankfully not for a cruise.  Good luck as I was scrambling here for a testing site. Would’ve much more stressed had it been for our cruise. 

7 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

For anyone that has done the eMed version, can you share (with pertinent information blocked out) that it has all the information Carnival requires on the results sheet?

It's in the OP's video at the very end. He shows you the app results and the PDF.  It's got everything

Here’s the link to my video. Please Subscribe, Like (or not), Comment: https://youtu.be/gdewvrKGPwM

https://youtu.be/gdewvrKGPwM

9 minutes ago, LHARTWICK said:

Could someone briefly explain (W/O DEBATES!) why the vaccinated passengers only get a 2 day window instead of 3 like the unvaxxed?  

Testing is a point in time.  You can test negative one day and positive the next.  Since the unvaxxed need to test before coming and test at the pier, 3 days is fine.   For the vaccinated , there is no test before boarding at the pier. They are closing the window to eliminate more cases slipping thru that go from negative at 72 hrs to positive in the next few days before stepping on board. Royal put out some stats that they eliminated approx 10 cases each week with the pre testing. This may eliminate more. 

24 minutes ago, bafinegan said:

I wonder how it works if more than one person is being tested.  I am a retired nurse and have been asked by hubbs and the couple with whom we are traveling to do the test on all.

Each person will have to start their own "session" and account for the test...so logging in and out of accounts and starting their own test session. You won't be able to get a guide on the screen and run through your whole party at once. 

I believe the only way you can swab someone else is if they are a minor child, etc and you "manage" their account under yours bc they are unable to do so on their own.  I'd prepare them to potentially have to swab themselves on camera. 

33 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

Does anyone know if you can get a day pass at the Hilton Resorts World? Can you get chair and umbrella rentals anywhere else without doing the $65 cruise package?

I found a day room there but that was crazy expensive. No day passes that I’ve seen. I was looking too. 

I have it for October and November out of Baltimore. No cancellations yet.  If they cancel, they cancel and give me my money back.  However, its worth noting Royal is bringing back their version of this called The Key in October or November...forget which.  These are revenue generators for the lines and they can use all the help in that department.   I wonder if they will bring FTTF back on some smaller ships first or one port at a time to phase it in. 

3 minutes ago, Kellyann said:

If they put the 2-day window for Nov. cruises, then we'll be forced to cancel and pray that we recover something.  Our test day would be on Thanksgiving and we're flying on Friday.  Am I to understand that they will only accept a rapid test that has been monitored?  Is there any chance that we could find someone to monitor tests for the 4 of us on Thanksgiving?  What happens to our FCC and onboard credit since this is our 3rd attempt.  The forgotten souls are the poor T.A.'s who don't get anything for rebooking over and over.

Emed.com is your ticket.  They are the online proctoring test company. You can get 6 monitored test kits for 150 bucks. They arrived in less than 48 hrs on my doorstep. They are pretty much open 24/7 online with their medical guides to do the tests. You may have more of a hold queue around Thanksgiving with a high volume of travelers but multiple family members can “wait in line”..each on their own device for their personal test. 

2 hours ago, ontheweb said:

What happened to they do not have to follow the CDC's CSO as that judge in Florida ruled that it was arbitrary and harmful to the economy of Florida? Remember that his decision has NOT been overturned.

The cruise lines in Florida are voluntarily following the CSO and have stated as such. Remember, the cruiselines declined to participate in the suit. This was a Desantis suit..not one from the lines.   The cruiselines have to work with the cdc for years to come. Also, the CDC said any ship not following the CSO (designation grey on their color chart) will be subject to complete masking requirements for federal transportation, extra inspections, etc.  They are going to follow the CSO. 

1 minute ago, crewsweeper said:

I've heard stories but not seen posts.  And it does appear that test scheduling varies by state and location.   Right now schools are testing all students frequently.

 

If your state appears to have scheduling delays maybe look into cruise line approved home tests.

My emed home tests are on a fedex truck now arriving today. Pulled the trigger on those after our CVS rapids cancellations fiasco this weekend.  Money well spent for both of our fall cruises to not have to stress about appointments or results timing.  And since we’re doing two fall cruises, 150 dollars total was cheaper than the backup options that ranged from 50-139 dollars a person at some of the out of pocket guaranteed turn around testing sites here. 

22 minutes ago, Top_of_the_Cube said:

Are there any stories of people who are within days of their cruise but either couldn't get a test in the required time frame, didn't get results back before embarkation, or had results come back positive a day or two, or even just hours before sailing?  How is it actually handled by the would-be passenger and by the different cruise lines?  I am guessing that is the real concern when discussing the original post.

There’s already been denied boarding (believe it was in Alaska) for people coming with no test. There have also been some news stories of people having to find rapid tests locally after showing up at the pier without one.  I think the stress for me comes in where I can do everything right on my end:  Get tested as soon as allowed and not get results back in time or have to scramble after a canceled appt.  We experience cancelled rapids this weekend and struggled to even get a pcr same day.  Luckily not for a cruise. One PCR took 48 hrs ..the other took 36.  If you’re in a hard hit area like Florida..labs are backed up. We’ve had posters scrambling for tests and praying for results to come back for cruises after cancellations of rapids. Go read Saint Greg’s review for one account. 

MSC updated their guidance last week.  No longer doing pier tests on everyone. Same policy as RCCL and Carnival now. 

42 minutes ago, surfjock27 said:

I just bought this one.. this is the correct one, right? *fingers crossed*
 

Yes that’s the correct one with telehealth via emed 🙂 

6 minutes ago, bafinegan said:

I'm thinking Carnival just might as well offer the rapid antigen test at the port ( for a fee- say $25?) with the understanding those choosing this last minute method run the risk of a Positive

result and not cruising.

We were wondering the same thing.  Will they start saying "bring the test results" or "pay and get one here"?  Alot of people will be willing to pay to avoid the stress I think. 

I would have done the same thing OP.  Glad you spoke up. 

28 minutes ago, Kellyann said:

I am so ready to cancel our 11/27 cruise even though this is our 3rd time trying to use our FCC.  There's no way on a busy Thanksgiving weekend that we're going to be able to test on Thanksgiving Day (our 2-day window) and we're flying out on Friday for our Saturday cruise.  We are all vaccinated but still we're being forced to jump thru hoops by the CDC and I guess Carnival hasn't thought of the impossible position they are putting us in.  Why are the cruise lines allowing a bunch of bureaucrats to dictate policy.  How come people visiting Universal Studios, Disney, SeaWorld and sporting arenas around the country not being forced to be tested before entering.  Come on cruise execs do something to protect your industry before we decide to take our vacations at an AI resort.

You can order the emed home kits and do them at your convenience. It’s worth the peace of mind to know we’re not waiting on a lab. 

11 minutes ago, sammee said:

I'm near that Walgreens. I just called Hackensack and they said no appts. necessary. I asked about the  supply shortage. They deny, so I'm be having a backup plan. I'm going for Thursday and let Friday be a backup.

We did find that independent Silverton Pharmacy in Toms River is doing $0 cost, rapid PCRs.  Take it on a weekday and results by 7p the next day. They have a scheduler on their site and reviews look good online. 

1 minute ago, sammee said:

Where are you from? I'm in Whiting. Where did you end up getting one? 

I'm in Mercer County.  We took PCRs at CVS on Don Connor Rd in Jackson and Lacey Rd in Whiting. All we could get last minute. Nothing rapid at our local CVSs or Walgreens after the rapid appts we booked got cancelled.  This whole mess and 45 min looking for new tests drove us the emed route for our two upcoming cruises. 

2 minutes ago, sammee said:

I'm in NJ to and hearing the same. I'm going to try for an appt at Hackensack Meridian.

We ended up in Whiting and Jackson after scrambling for PCRs yesterday after our CVS rapids were cancelled. I'm not too far from you.  I just don't want the stress before the cruise.

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I too have other cruises past vista, which is why I'm interested lol. We are swamped too as far as hospital beds, just havent heard of problems getting a CVS appointment.  Until I have my negative test, it's hard not to worry. 

 

I sure dont want to go the emed way. I'm not tech enough I'm comfortable with doing it that way. If getting tested gets that bad .. people will just quit booking. 

We've got no issues of getting appointments here in the Northeast either. I can go on CVS right now and book one...but actually having the appointment happen and not get cancelled has been the issue. CVS and Walgreens have been canceling rapids left and right due to no supplies. We had that problem over the weekend and scrambled.  Just because you can make an appointment doesn't mean they have the supplies. That's what I don't want to run into for the cruise. 

18 minutes ago, sushitex said:

I'm not making excuses for the CDC, but I read in another forum that the unvaccinated are allowed 3 days because they must take the PCR (NAAT) test, which takes longer to process. However, because the vaccinated are allowed to take the same test, should not they also be allowed 3 days, instead of 2?!

I am seeing a dearth of appointments for the antigen test every day online at my local CVS (non-existent, actually) and Walgreen pharmacies. It looks like our options for testing for our upcoming cruise on September 19th will be : 1. keep checking online in the hope that Walgreens or CVS will actually have availability for the day(s) we need to take the tests; 2. give up and order the 6-pack of home tests through eMed; or 3. do both. 

 

Option 3 it is! I just placed an order for the eMed test kits. We will still try to get appointments for the rapid tests, but I'm afraid that they may cancel any appointments we manage to snag. 

Testing is a point in time...no tests at the pier for the vaccinated so they are tightening the window and cutting out a day where one could be negative and board the ship 3 days later positive. Stressful but I get it. 

We ended up ordering the emed kits last night. We have an Oct cruise and a Nov cruise. We'll be covered for both and have 2 extras just in case.  We found it worth it to just have the kits and not stress over a CVS rapid appt getting cancelled and scrambling which we went through this weekend for a work exposure. That's what really drove us to the emed route.   And emed was cheaper than if we both had to get tested at some of the urgent cares or rapid results places that are charging for guaranteed quick travel results around here.  Just that much less stress. We can now test on Friday night and know our results for our Saturday travel day before Sunday boarding. 

37 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

Do you have to buy the eMed BinaxNow for them to do the online video or just purchase any BinaxNow and you can use eMed? We only need 3 tests and would prefer buying them locally since they have to remain in a temperature range. 

You have to buy them from emed or I believe Optum rx sells them too. The test is packaged differently, licensed differently, and is not the one you can pick up at your local Walgreens etc for 23.99.  Emed needs to get paid somehow for their services…which is why you have to buy the one with proctoring included from them. 

12 minutes ago, Bevv said:

We are doing the antigen test.. so 30 minute turn around time. But I have a list of other sites in case CVS closes testing for some reason

 

We had a rapid one scheduled for today at CVS for my husband as he got exposed at work. They cancelled it on us yesterday. We have yet to find another rapid spot that actually has supplies and/or appointments and I’m in the northeast where it’s not super crazy right now. 

2 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

Good point.

 

As it's currently written, if adopted by the cruise lines a rapid test is pretty much the only option since a PCR test typically might take 2 to 3 days to get results. Particularly for anyone who needs a negative test result before flying to the port a day early.

Yep and trying to find rapids is hard at the major pharmacies. Husband got cancelled for today. We have found two urgent cares who will do PCRs with results by 7 pm the next day for travel with 0 cost and they have rapids we can pay out of pocket for as well. However, their rapid price is more than the emed test cost. We’re weighing our options for October and continuing to look for places in our area.  

15 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:

I suspect a CDC clarification is forthcoming. As it is, in this new guidance their table says an unvaccinated passenger needs to get a NAAT test within 3 days, but an vaccinated passenger needs to get either a NAAT or antigen test within 2 days.

 

Which would make a vaccinated passenger taking a NAAT test as more restrictive than an unvaccinated passenger, which makes no sense. I assume they meant to say NAAT within 3 days (regardless of vaccination status) or, if you're vaccinated, you can take an antigen test within 2 days.

It actually isn’t as backwards as we all think. Unvaxxed still need to test at the pier so 3 days prior and they will retest before boarding.  They are tightening the window for the vaxxed since they do not have to test again at the pier. We all know testing is just a point in time and I’m guessing they feel like they’d weed out more positives as you can be neg one day and positive the next. Just cutting one more day out. Does it make it much more stressful trying to get a test? Heck yes.