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

[captainmayi]

I have relatives that are joining us on our cruise to Alaska.  They live on a farm in the middle of no where.  They are not tech savvy, AT ALL... Can they go to their doctor and take a Covid test?

[1kaper]

On 7/3/2022 at 11:25 AM, jiggs said:

sailing from Seattle to Alaska which includes a stop in Canada -  I have the ArriveCAN app ready to roll.  I know I have to test to get on the ship, just trying to understand some timing.  

 

If I don't need proof a test in CA, I can book my test 3 days in advance, if I do then I only get 2 days.

 

but my confusion is here - 

 

Canada says -

 

To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada, you must:

• have received at least 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine accepted for travel, a mix of 2 accepted vaccines
  • or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine
• have received your second dose at least 14 calendar days before you enter Canada
  • Example: if your second dose was anytime on Thursday, July 1, then Thursday, July 15 would be the first day that you meet the 14 day condition
  • this timing is only required for your second dose, not for third or fourth doses
• have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19
• have ArriveCAN receipt with letter A, I, or V beside your name by uploading proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN

 

Carnival says -

 

BERMUDA AND CANADA: Fully vaccinated guests traveling to Bermuda and Canada, including those who are up to date with their vaccines, can take either a PCR test within 72 hours prior to sailing, or an antigen test no earlier than two days prior to sailing, in order to comply with CDC and destination regulations.

 

I'm not sure what the confusion is but to clarify, when you are travelling to/thru Canada there are two sets of requirements - Canada's and Carnival's.  They may not be the same. 
Canada just very recently got rid of the requirement to be tested before entry.  They used to require the same as Carnival. 

So basically, at this point (it may change), Carnival still requires you to be tested to get on a ship but Canada no longer does.  

[CarolSW]

7.5.22

I thought it would be a good idea to have a running list of where members are CURRENTLY finding the type of CoVid testing Carnival CURRENTLY requires for boarding their ships.  
https://www.carnival.com/legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols

On this link below, the CDC specifies what type of test is required. Scroll down to TESTING.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-travel-during-covid19.html#before-you-board

It was relatively easy to get these required tests FREE prior to the end of June 2022.

Now, my go-tos - Walgreens & CVS - have no longer offer  the FREE testing for travel and asymptomatic folks unless you have been exposed.

Each of those pharmacies is now charging over $100 for the test for asymptomatic travel testing.

While there is currently a debate on a thread here regarding how to fudge the answers on the screening to qualify for FREE testing, let’s not bring that discussion here, and instead keep this one for where members are getting testing - FREE or for a FEE.

Let us know where you have found testing, and please include FREE or FEE in your post.

 

In my Houston area - 

https://www.randalls.com/vaccinations/test/Cue COVID-19 Test  

FEE

NAAT. $99

 

https://rapidcovidclinic.com/covid-19-testing

FEE

Rapid Anigen test. $145

($75 for first responders/teachers/health care workers/children 17 and under)

($100 group rate 4+)

PCR  $200

PCR expedited 4-6 hours  $350

https://covidcheck.hctx.net/

FREE testing at specific locations in the Harris County area with a Harris County address.

I was able to sign up, BUT I do have the pre-existing condition high blood pressure.

 

 

HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL!

 

 

 

 

 

I am still searching for a source of FREE testing, but am collecting the sites for testing fir a fee, which may or may not be reimbursed by insurance.

Here is what I have found so far - no free sites discovered yet.

 

 

Edited July 5, 2022 by CarolSW

[jiggs]

3 hours ago, 1kaper said:

 

I'm not sure what the confusion is but to clarify, when you are travelling to/thru Canada there are two sets of requirements - Canada's and Carnival's.  They may not be the same. 
Canada just very recently got rid of the requirement to be tested before entry.  They used to require the same as Carnival. 

So basically, at this point (it may change), Carnival still requires you to be tested to get on a ship but Canada no longer does.  

I guess my confusion was around timing of the test.  Can I now test 3 days early if Canada no longer requires the test, or do my results need to be within 72 hours.  We sail on a Wed and I would like to test on Sunday which would fit Carnival's normal requirement but not the 'Bermuda and Canada' rules.

[Kellyann]

I'd like to change topic to where not to get tested and that would be CVS.  In January, 4 of us got earliest test at 10 AM on Thursday for Saturday cruise.  The results never came in till 9PM Saturday night for the cruise which left at 4P.  We had to pay $100 each for testing at Miami terminal.  So I'd like to know if any South Jersey/Philly people got their results in a timely manner and where they went.  The stress of all of this almost ruined our vacation to say nothing of our flight getting cancelled too.  As long as somebody is making a boatload of money on these tests, they will never go away.

 

[tallnthensome]

32 minutes ago, Kellyann said:

I'd like to change topic to where not to get tested and that would be CVS.  In January, 4 of us got earliest test at 10 AM on Thursday for Saturday cruise.  The results never came in till 9PM Saturday night for the cruise which left at 4P.  We had to pay $100 each for testing at Miami terminal.  So I'd like to know if any South Jersey/Philly people got their results in a timely manner and where they went.  The stress of all of this almost ruined our vacation to say nothing of our flight getting cancelled too.  As long as somebody is making a boatload of money on these tests, they will never go away.

 

What type of test would be helpful.  PCR or antigen? 

[BoozinCroozin]

eMed and don't ever have to worry about it. Login, follow instructions, get PDF file, print, and done.

[siestakeys04]

Just ordered mine from eMed the 6 pack, I was able to use my FSA card.

[jiggs]

turns out I was wrong and cruise ships are still an exception from the other rules and require testing.  guess 48 hours it is

[trish4bruce]

We  cruise out of Port Canaveral on July 22nd but are coming a week early from Canada and spending the time in Orlando prior to our cruise.  To simplify the whole testing process we decided to book our tests directly with Carnival. $100 pp but just seems easier all around.  Has anyone else done this and do you know where you get tested in PC?

[Calnev1]

On 7/1/2022 at 7:43 AM, CruisingFromLA said:

Purchase the test kits through eMed instead (link) for $150 for a pack of 6. Also, you can get partial reimbursement from your health insurance (for up to 8 tests, per insured member, per month, and the reimbursement is up to $12 per test). Therefore, you will get $72 back from your health insurance, making the 6 test kits $78 ($13 each).

Does the $150 cost of a 6 pack also cover the cost of remote monitoring?   Or is the all in cost something more than $25 per test kit?

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Did ours at Walgreens on 6/25.

[CarolSW]

eMed multi-pack (6) if you have a family to test.

Cost is $150 for 6, $25 per test.

We bought a multi-pack to have on hand in case we couldn’t get free testing for the 2 cruises we had scheduled back in the fall.  We did find free testing so we kept them in reserve. 

Unfortunately they expired in Feb., so we ended up wasting that cost. 
Once I found out Walgreens was no longer doing free testing for travel, I have now purchased only 2 eMed tests to use on our next cruise in a week.  I bought them online on Thursday June 30.  
$70 for 2, $35 per test.
Have not been delivered yet, but the notification says they have been shipped. 
Either pack is significantly less than the $100 fee for one test most places are charging now for asymptomatic and travel testing. 

[CarolSW]

To clarify, AS OF JULY, WALGREENS AND CVS ARE NO LONGER OFFERING FREE COVID TESTS FOR TRAVEL.

You can still do testing there, for a fee, of upwards of $100 per person. 

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, Calnev1 said:

Does the $150 cost of a 6 pack also cover the cost of remote monitoring?   Or is the all in cost something more than $25 per test kit?

 

The proctored tests from eMed do include remote monitoring, but don't include shipping - which adds $15 to $30 per 6 pack.

[CarolSW]

Saw this today in the Houston, and checked it online. 
Says no out-of-pocket cost for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

https://curative.com/covid-testing

 

[GottaLuvCruising]

We cruise Saturday.  We booked OnPoint proctoring for $14.99 each using the "free" tests we got by mail.  This service allows one to use a cell phone or tablet whereas many require a laptop or PC.  

OnPoint Testing - Rapid Antigen and PCR Testing Specialists (onpoint-testing.com)

[CruisingFromLA]

Los Angeles County resident here in California. Lots of free testing throughout the county. Check out the LA County Department of Health's website (link) first to find one near you. My go to place is DoctorNow (link) in Beverly Hills. You can get both a rapid antigen test and PCR at the same time at DoctorNow (both free with insurance). 

Edited July 5, 2022 by CruisingFromLA

[trbarton]

I think that the testing options vary depending on where you live. Here in San Francisco there is a CVS that does the testing & I get the results back in 1hr or less. I never been charged anything. 
 

We need to be clear if it’s mentioned that CVS or Walgreens no longer does testing to add where you are talking about as it can vary depending where you live. 
 

Tom😀

[MississippiMom]

Last month (yes, June 2022), I called various Orlando, Florida clinics to ask about Covid testing.  There are TONS of options in that area for a fee.  At that time, we were able to schedule free pre-cruise testing through one of the Kissimmee Walgreens, however, we had flown in from out of state through crowded airports and crowded planes.  We answered the questions reflecting that we had been in crowds where social distancing was not possible but we also checked the box that we needed the test to travel.

[Cruise, J.D.]

Miami has several free testing options through the county. We did rapid antigen tests at the 17th Street garage in Miami Beach.

 

https://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/testing-locations.page

[debnjoe1438]

2 hours ago, GottaLuvCruising said:

We cruise Saturday.  We booked OnPoint proctoring for $14.99 each using the "free" tests we got by mail.  This service allows one to use a cell phone or tablet whereas many require a laptop or PC.  

OnPoint Testing - Rapid Antigen and PCR Testing Specialists (onpoint-testing.com)

Do the cruise lines accept this?

[GottaLuvCruising]

10 hours ago, debnjoe1438 said:

Do the cruise lines accept this?

Yes...according to others who have used the service.  

[bar1068]

13 hours ago, trbarton said:

I think that the testing options vary depending on where you live. Here in San Francisco there is a CVS that does the testing & I get the results back in 1hr or less. I never been charged anything. 
 

We need to be clear if it’s mentioned that CVS or Walgreens no longer does testing to add where you are talking about as it can vary depending where you live. 
 

Tom😀

Absolutely on point. We are in the Washington DC area, and wanted to use CVS again for our Horizon cruise this past May, as we used them on 2 previous cruises. Our local CVS informed us they were no longer doing the tests as they had in the past, stating the demand for testing had fallen way off. They would now only do the rapid test with a Minute Clinic visit and the fees associated with that, plus the test cost. 

[BrianMD]

2 hours ago, bar1068 said:

Absolutely on point. We are in the Washington DC area, and wanted to use CVS again for our Horizon cruise this past May, as we used them on 2 previous cruises. Our local CVS informed us they were no longer doing the tests as they had in the past, stating the demand for testing had fallen way off. They would now only do the rapid test with a Minute Clinic visit and the fees associated with that, plus the test cost. 

I'm also in Maryland and did the same thing for a May cruise. I previously used CVS for previous cruises but this time I did rapid test with Minute Clinic inside of CVS and was told I could be charged since it was for travel. I guess it depends upon your insurance but I was never billed. Minute Clinic provided results before leaving whereas CVS took a couple of hours via email.