**** CARNIVAL COVID TESTING THREAD #2 **** JANUARY 6, 2002

[ekendall2]

Ill leave this right here...so many different "opinions" on the three day for vaccinated vs. booster.

 

This is straight from carnival website...

 

What is considered "up to date" relative to COVID vaccines?

Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose, when eligible. If a guest is fully vaccinated and not yet eligible for a booster, the guest is also considered up to date and may take their pre-cruise COVID test as early as three days before the cruise. Fully vaccinated guests are encouraged to visit the CDC's website  to determine when they are eligible for a booster.

[waytoodeep03]

I'm confused. So if you are vaccinnated, can you or can you not use the Rapid Test from CVS or Walgreens?

 

Carnival is vague on this. 

[ledges1]

Yes, I personally used CVS on my last cruise on the Valor (1/29) and I am using CVS RA for tomorrow's cruise on the Freedom. See my post above about CVS and the future.

[layteacher]

I have read and CAN NOT seem to get a straight answer. I live in a small town with only one drug store, Walgreens.  Are either of the bottom two of these test acceptable to Carnival??? Cruising in March. 

Thank you for anyone who has used these with experience . 

 

[RichYak]

2 hours ago, layteacher said:

I have read and CAN NOT seem to get a straight answer. I live in a small town with only one drug store, Walgreens.  Are either of the bottom two of these test acceptable to Carnival??? Cruising in March. 

Thank you for anyone who has used these with experience . 

 

All 3 are listed on Carnival's accepted tests here. ID NOW is a molecular test.

[Win4Me]

LynnB, I think you can wait until your husband is off work to do the proctored Abbot test on March 4. I'm going on same cruise (3/6/22 Carnival Magic) with my fiancé. We bought the eMed test as backup but plan to do the Walgreens test Friday morning. 

[Win4Me]

RichYak, I have read that the Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID Now) is the one to take. I'm scheduled to take that one on Friday, March 4 for my 3/6/22 cruise. 

 

[Buffettfan 225]

Here is my Step by step experience for Binax Now Home test (NOT the self test type)I did the “proctored test precruise today” wanted to give the anxious cruisers a boost of easiness. First cleaned off large area for laptop to sit and plenty of room for test card to not fall off table (IMO do not use a desk- as have to put the test card undisturbed in front of keyboard for 15min) 
1.Create NAVICA app, or as I did, I logged in thru emed whom bought test kits from. Answer screen questions on location etc., and it runs a test of sound,camera, mic etc. 

2.Have test UNOPENED by you, I had two by me in case of a defect. Also an ID, scissors to help open box. 
3.click test- I was next at 10:30am on a Sat. 
4. show them the sticker with QR code using web camera holding it close. Focus it on little green square as guide. They noticed my ID and test registered name was missing middle- I left no middle name as my covid card is written without middle name and MUST match test. I also did not use middle name on Carnival booking. 
5.per proctor now open blue box- inside is packet, swab and liquid bottle.

6.Tip laptop lid so can see card an likely half of yourself. Open packet with card per proctor, laying in front of keyboard like an open book with holes on right. I made sure to flex it so it laid flat, Touch only edges.

6.Per proctor Open vial, hold vertical so 5-6 drops fill small hole on top- more is better.

7.per proctor open swab by stick end- swab circling each nostril 3x

8.now proctor has you slide swab end into larger hole and twist it 3 times. 
9.proctor will tell you to take off paper on edge and close the booklet. DO NOT touch it at all, they will video monitor it for 15min with timer on screen. 
10.You can see the liquid moving up toward control line. It will be horizontal lavender. Hopefully only line you see!

11.Be in front of computer at 14-15min it will chime. A new proctor will come back on and ask a few questions. Pay attention! Hope you see one line = negative. They will log off.

12.My results were almost immediate in email. click on link to download and print.  The NAVICA app also has results button on bottom left click on it. 
* my glitch it only lets me log in to my NAVICA app only for results and not see family. I had spouse log in on his cell. 
Cruising in two days!!! 
Hope this long of a post is allowed, I was worried about using my laptop camera for the first time but worked great. I also watched a YouTube video, on Binax home testing. 
Any questions ask- sailing Radiance 4 Monday 28th. 
ps- if you have a pet maybe do in a closed room or sit and guard your test. If it gets touched during 15min is invalid.

 

. 

 

 

Edited February 27, 2022 by Buffettfan 225

[Pellaz]

15 hours ago, Buffettfan 225 said:

Here is my Step by step experience for Binax Now Home test (NOT the self test type)I did the “proctored test precruise today” wanted to give the anxious cruisers a boost of easiness.  [....]

 

Wow, thanks for that great step-by-step description!  

 

[simplelife]

On 2/21/2022 at 9:53 AM, RichYak said:

Sorry, posting this 3 times doesn't make it any less wrong. What you cut/pasted even says you're wrong.

 

It says you can test 3 days prior if you're up to date with your vaccines. If you've been recently vaccinated (less than 5 months ago in the US), you are considered up to date without having had a booster shot.

You are correct, because it says booster "when available" and it is not available for those vaccinated less than 5 months ago; those people are considered fully vaccinated. Those who are eligible for the booster and have not taken it are NOT considered fully vaccinated.

[simplelife]

On 2/23/2022 at 11:08 AM, medi130 said:

Does carnival accept Walgreens rapid antigen test Binax now? Results back

under an hour. Thanks 

Yes. We are scheduled for the CVS Rapid antigen test (same one as Walgreens) on Thursday. Just in case, I have two of the home proctored Binax now tests. If all is well, we're on the Elation on Saturday.😀

[simplelife]

On 2/25/2022 at 10:11 AM, waytoodeep03 said:

I'm confused. So if you are vaccinnated, can you or can you not use the Rapid Test from CVS or Walgreens?

 

Carnival is vague on this. 

YES

[simplelife]

On 2/20/2022 at 5:03 PM, Momma1980 said:

Where did you find this information? Just curious because most people are saying you must have had the booster. 

 From the Carnival Website (Have Fun. Be Safe):

Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose(s), when eligible. If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines (i.e., is eligible for a booster but has not received one), they must take their pre-cruise COVID-19 test within two days prior to sailing.

[simplelife]

On 2/19/2022 at 12:51 PM, abby1257 said:

Ok, did I read correct, if I am fully Vaccinated (had my booster)....I can get my pre-boarding test 3 days before boarding?

Yes, effective March 1. from Carnival site (Hve Fun, Be Safe):

 Effective March 1, guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within three days prior to sailing. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose(s), when eligible. If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines (i.e., is eligible for a booster but has not received one), they must take their pre-cruise COVID-19 test within two days prior to sailing.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, simplelife said:

You are correct, because it says booster "when available" and it is not available for those vaccinated less than 5 months ago; those people are considered fully vaccinated. Those who are eligible for the booster and have not taken it are NOT considered fully vaccinated.

You are conflating the CDC phrases fully vaccinated and up to date. Both groups in your examples are fully vaccinated but only one is up to date.

 

Corrections to your examples:

 

Those vaccinated less than 5 months ago are considered fully vaccinated AND up to date.

 

Those who are eligible for the booster and have NOT taken it are considered fully vaccinated but NOT up to date.

[dsfitz]

Carnival's At The Pier Testing at Miami for the Carnival Conquest - Here's How it Works

 

I haven't seen a post that describes the process in any detail so here goes.

 

When you arrive, you simply tell them that you have an appointment to get your COVID Test when you check in inside.  (Although I think you are supposed to have an appointment - it appeared that even if you did not, you could still get a test.   I would recommend making an appointment though).  They do have a list of appointments and will check you off.  After your passport and vaccination card are checked - then someone will escort you upstairs to where they are doing the testing.   You check in again, and you are given a plastic bag with your test inside it.    You then proceed to an area where there are a few testers present.  When one is available, they administer the test, and then tell you to go sit down and wait until you receive a text or an email with your results.

 

Here's where it got interesting for me.  The advertised time to receive the results is 15-20 minutes - and that appeared to be the case for most people.  However, after 45 minutes and no text - I went up to a woman that was sitting at a table near where the tests were being administered (she occasionally shouted out people's names - that was how I knew to talk to her) and inquired.  She looked me up on her computer and said nope - your results aren't in yet.   So I waited another 30 minutes and then walked up and asked her again.   This time she found that my test was indeed negative - and stamped my boarding pass as such.

 

You then walk out to another desk where a person checks your test results - either looking at the text on your phone or viewing the stamp on the boarding pass - which was actually a reasonably common thing - so perhaps their computer-text interface frequently has problems.  Once you are through with that - you then proceed to the "main" check-in desks and proceed normally after that.

 

As I'm writing this it's been 3 hours since the test and I still never got a text.  Maybe I didn't enter my phone number correctly?

 

This was quite popular and there were lots of people getting tested - other than the hiccup I had with getting my text it seemed like an orderly and well-organized process.  If anyone tested positive - I sure didn't notice it.  That of course is the risk, you wait until the very last minute to get your test and then if you are positive, you can't go.  But it all worked out for me.

[waytoodeep03]

I'm vaccinated with the booster. 

I lost my original cards but I do have the booster card. (They put each shot record on a different card for reasons...)

 

Will Carnival accept the booster alone? It literally says Booster on it. I do have photocopies of the other two but Carnival states they don't accept photocopies.

[ober134]

12 hours ago, simplelife said:

Yes, effective March 1. from Carnival site (Hve Fun, Be Safe):

 Effective March 1, guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within three days prior to sailing. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose(s), when eligible. If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines (i.e., is eligible for a booster but has not received one), they must take their pre-cruise COVID-19 test within two days prior to sailing.

More clarification: did I miss something? Is only a PCR test acceptible? We are fully vaxxed (2 jabs + booster). This past November we only needed Ag test. I don't see that mentioned in the most recent update

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, ober134 said:

More clarification: did I miss something? Is only a PCR test acceptible? We are fully vaxxed (2 jabs + booster). This past November we only needed Ag test. I don't see that mentioned in the most recent update

Nothing has changed with respect to the type of test.

[sunonfire]

I just received email.

 

A new COVID-19 At-Home Rapid Antigen Testais now available that not only provides convenience, flexibility, and results in 15 minutes, but also virtual supervision that may meet testing requirements for travel and eventsb—including current CDC guidelines for travelers returning to the US.

BUY NOW

•Available for adults and children 4+ for $70

•Includes 2 tests plus online observation from a trained telehealth proctor from eMed

•Enables improved confidence in your results and the supervision required to meet many testing guidelinesb

a This product has not been FDA cleared or approved but has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories; This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS- CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

How it works

1Purchase your test through QuestDirect (remainder of process is completed by eMed)

2Receive your test kits in the mail, usually within 3 business days

3Create a free NAVICA™ account and, if desired, download NAVICA™ app

4When you want to be tested, go online to start an appointment with an eMed proctor—available 24/7

5Receive your results from eMed via email and the NAVICA™ app—results you can show to demonstrate a negative test result

BUY NOW

 

[mondello]

Sounds just like the Abbott BinaxNOW AG Card kits, especially with the Navica/eMed connections.

[cruisingguy007]

1 hour ago, mondello said:

Sounds just like the Abbott BinaxNOW AG Card kits, especially with the Navica/eMed connections.

 

It is, they are just another reseller like Optum that is marking them up. Emed is still the best deal at $25 per, when you buy a 6 pack. I was just looking into this last night in fact. Insurance should cover them too and they are FSA/FHA eligible also.  

[Joe817]

I got that same email yesterday. I think I'll pass. 

[Minnesotians]

Quick question for a 9 year old.  She has had both shots but not eligible for booster.  The way I read it is she can now test 72 hours out as well?  Thanks!!

[cruisingguy007]

43 minutes ago, Minnesotians said:

Quick question for a 9 year old.  She has had both shots but not eligible for booster.  The way I read it is she can now test 72 hours out as well?  Thanks!!

 

Correct. That is considered "up to date". I had the same question for my little guy and another poster replied in the affirmative and I eventually found an official section from Carnival that confirms it as well. GTG for 3 days.