YellowBrickRoad

^^^This^^^ Please let this happen!

Thought I would post recent feedback on RT Lamp tests: A friend just crossed over the Manitoba land border yesterday and used the RT Lamp tests without any problem.  

Just did my check in…it was 45 days out

Thanks! That’s what we will do… 🤞🏼

🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

We also have another cruise……on Oasis July 8 leaving from Bayonne…..

Ahhhhh…..yes. Missed that. Same date, different ship. I’m Anthem. 

Yes...it was me who called CBSA and Public Health who both advised the Switch Health Lamp Kits are not accepted because they are not performed in a lab.  I would think since Air Canada promotes that they partnered with Switch Health to provide these as options for international travel back to Canada that they would be accepted to board the flight.  It's the coming through customs at the airport....or at land borders.....that appears to be the issue.  At the airport, I would think perhaps an argument could be made that you purchased the test through Air Canada in good faith.  I would be more concerned at the land borders but the whole thing is such a mess.  

Yes, I read that after I posted. I’m checking with my friend who is the chief Covid officer at the airport. This is turning out to be a nightmare!!!! 

Royal only accepts one at home test and it's the Abbott Binax now ag card test

What it comes down to is the federal government is doing everything possible to make international travel difficult and confusing. I’m not sure what the objective is but the result is extremely confusing.

We were just about to purchase these tests from Switch Health but I thought best to do some due diligence before doing so and wanted to share what I have just  learned:
1.  I contacted Canada Border Services Agency and was adamantly told that whether you are providing a PCR, NAAT or LAMP test it must be done so in a licensed facility.  I explained that the Switch Health tests were proctored and was told they are not valid.
2.  I contacted Switch Health and was told that while their website states that they are accepted, it is up to the customer to verify and remain up to date with protocols.  As far as they were concerned, their LAMP tests are accepted upon entry back to Canada.  They did suggest I contact Public Health.
3.  I was advised by Public Health that these tests would not meet entry requirements because sample collections must be sent to a lab in order to be valid.
I find it extremely frustrating and misleading that Switch Health and Air Canada are recommending these tests when the border agency and public health are saying that they are not acceptable.  It is also not very accurately stated on the government of canada travel site that the tests must be lab based.  It simply lists the type of tests that can be used.
I suppose it may come down to which land or airport border representative you happen to get upon arrival into Canada but I don't think it's worth taking a chance unless clearer information is updated.
 

Or you can go to SwitchHealth or Air Canada site for a home testing kit that you can take with you and use before driving back to Canada. They have PCR testing at some ports but appointments may be limited. 

Will Do! YAY! Same cruise!

I just read it.  Hopefully, it gets cleared up and everyone is on the same page with this at the border.  Either way, I’m going to explore all my options.  
 
Thanks for this!

Absolutely I will share any responses I receive form Switch Health and RCCL.  With regards to the LAMP test that is good to know about the US address requirement.  If the test is taken at the port on them morning of disembarkation, I'm thinking the address of the port would satisfy this requirement.

Wow. That’s interesting.  I talked to SwitchHealth just now and they said that it would work for Land border crossing into Canada if taken in the USA.  I’ll have to check into it more.  
 
Thanks fir the info! 

The LAMP test does seem to be the best option.  Order and bring across with us and test before leaving the ship.  With that and fully vaxxed lets hope they remove the fine should anyone test positive and just allow us to implement our quarantine plan.  

Yup, we paid for a mobile testing lab to meet us at the Marriott in terminal hotel at YYC airport early Friday morning for our Sunday cruise before the airport testing centre opened. This was Christmas 2021.  

That's exactly what we did for our Dec 24th Anthem cruise from Cape Liberty.
We took the antigen test at Shoppers on Wednesday (Dec 22nd) morning and received the results in 30 mins...went home, made copies of it.
We packed up our luggage and drove to the land border, showed our vaccination records, crossed, stayed at a hotel for 2 nights in Jersey city.
Woke up in the morning of Dec 24th, drove to Cape Liberty for our 11:30am check in.
Unfortunately, they were not checking for check in times and people who were in front of us in the line had 12:30pm check in. In the end, it wasn't as long as it looked even though we had to wait outside for awhile.
They checked our Antigen test results for date and name (and of course that it was negative). No issue at all with the the Shoppers results.
 

With some reopenings in different phases, hoping March is different 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

We are driving for our March 13 cruise and will be driving. Thanks for the info! Wanted to verify! 
 

We did the same for sailing earlier this month.  Test on the Friday, flew to Miami on Saturday and boarded the ship on Sunday.  As long as your paperwork is completed properly you will be fine. 

We didn't make our cruise out of New Jersey due to close contact beforehand, but our plan was:
Wed morning - take our scheduled antigen test Wed morning - If tests were negative, leave for New Jersey (driving) Fri - board ship 

We did the same in December.  Went to Shoppers on Friday, flew out Saturday morning, sailed on Sunday.  Plan to do the same in March as long as there are no major changes.