Pre-Boarding Covid Testing

[cruising.mark.uk]

Hi,

 

Could someone with recent experience of sailing from Italy please confirm the pre-boarding testing requirements?  We are due to depart on Fascinosa on 15 May from Savona and understood from the website that we would be tested on arrival at the terminal.  But we have today received a pre-boarding email from Costa which includes the following paragraph:

NEW TRAVEL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
All guests over 2 years of age must present a negative antigen test result carried out no later than 48 hours before boarding (24 hours before boarding in a Greek port); otherwise boarding will be denied.
Click here to carefully read all the information necessary for boarding.

 

Clicking on the link takes you to the web page that says they are testing everybody at the terminal in Italy!  So, we are thoroughly confused.  Grateful for any clarification that anyone who has boarded in Italy recently can provide.

 

Many thanks

[Alex71]

When we boarded the Toscana 2 1/2 weeks ago, testing was done as part of the check-in process in the terminal free if charge. Results became available after about 10 minutes.

[cruising.mark.uk]

18 minutes ago, Alex71 said:

When we boarded the Toscana 2 1/2 weeks ago, testing was done as part of the check-in process in the terminal free if charge. Results became available after about 10 minutes.

Excellent.  That's what we thought.  Thanks very much for coming back so quickly.

[jennjess]

48 minutes ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

Excellent.  That's what we thought.  Thanks very much for coming back so quickly.

I received the same email today and have been busy trying to find out how to get tested in Italy since we will be there within the 48 hours before the cruise.

Seems this is a new thing since the beginning of this month so experiences on previous cruises will not be of much help.

[BVILady]

hm that will be difficult, we will reach Mestre by train after 6 pm and the following morning leave Mestre for Trieste at 10.30 am.We will have an antigen test before reaching Italy but older then 48 hours. Anybody aware of a place to get tested within out night time hours? Costa makes it more difficult then any other cruise line, not happy.

[cruising.mark.uk]

UPDATE

We have confirmed today with both Costa and our TA that the rules changed wef 1 May and that there is no testing at the terminal, so it is a requirement to show up with results of a test taken within the previous 48 hours.  We have booked antigen tests in Paris on route.  It's not entirely clear from the website whether proctored / web monitored tests will be acceptable, so we are playing safe and having one done person-to-person at a pharmacy.  

 

BVILady - we're thinking of booking a back-up test in Savona as well.  Haven't done it yet, but this website boasts 500 test centres across Italy, so you may find one that works for you in Mestre or Trieste  https://onecheck.org/?lang=en

 

[jennjess]

1 hour ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

UPDATE

We have confirmed today with both Costa and our TA that the rules changed wef 1 May and that there is no testing at the terminal, so it is a requirement to show up with results of a test taken within the previous 48 hours.  We have booked antigen tests in Paris on route.  It's not entirely clear from the website whether proctored / web monitored tests will be acceptable, so we are playing safe and having one done person-to-person at a pharmacy.  

 

BVILady - we're thinking of booking a back-up test in Savona as well.  Haven't done it yet, but this website boasts 500 test centres across Italy, so you may find one that works for you in Mestre or Trieste  https://onecheck.org/?lang=en

 

Yes it's been a bit of a nightmare to find a test centre in Genoa but think we may have something sorted.

[latin princess]

Email states test to be done up to 48 hours prior to departure. Is this 48 hours before your embarkation time or all aboard time or ship sailing time? TIA

 

 

 

 

[gerryuk]

If you are looking for a testing centre ask at the nearest pharmacy / chemist, they should be able to point you in the right direction.  

[BVILady]

for Barcelona, have not found anything for Trieste yet. https://creu-blanca.es/en/noticia-interior/180/centros-y-horarios-de-pruebas-covid-19.html

[jennjess]

13 hours ago, latin princess said:

Email states test to be done up to 48 hours prior to departure. Is this 48 hours before your embarkation time or all aboard time or ship sailing time? TIA

 

 

 

 

I'm assuming embarkation time, it's what I'm planning to do anyway.

[latin princess]

I am assuming it's a lateral flow and not PCR ( same as P&O last week) I have ordered some to take withe me ( randox) same as for P&o. Do the test scan onto app get certificate back in less than three hours. Will do at the hotel when we arrive in Venice before cruise