As a Canadian - Wait (yet again) or Go on Cruise

[WannaCruise]

1 hour ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

We did eventually get the results, 2.5 hours later (after being told results would be 45 minutes) but the results for BOTH my wife and I were “inconclusive”.

While the Miami airport option (Nomi Health) is expensive I will be using it in the future for peace of mind. They had a very efficient set up and had our results in 17 minutes. I don’t mind paying for peace of mind.

Am really sorry that happened to you.  How stressful!  So "inconclusive" result is pretty useless.  Don't blame you at all...definitely worth the extra cost at the airport, and glad it worked out for you.

[Censored]

I live in Toronto. I have the same issues.  Mine is Drive or Fly?   Im doing a B2B Feb 20,  and I love to fly from Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. The flight is an hour, with no line ups and easy boarding. I arrive one hour before the flight.   The problem is getting the PCR test after the cruise as Royal have stopped their complimentary testing . The charged last I checked at the Bayonne terminal is $210 US  !  ouch!     Convert that to CAD for a family of 4!   I have no idea how long the results take . For me the logistics of the whole thing is simply too stressful. I have decided to drive and pay $300 for parking,  pay the fuel to drive 6-7 hours to and from Toronto.  I will try a rapid test at a local Walgreens in Buffalo or Niagara Falls New York and try my luck. If  worse comes to worse I will stay at the local Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino to figure things out. 

[Lovetocruise2002]

2 hours ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

While the Miami airport option (Nomi Health) is expensive I will be using it in the future for peace of mind.

They say on their site that the wait is about an hour but there have been a few accounts elsewhere that some were waiting way longer than that.  That is what has me nervous about airport testing.  NCL doesn't use the same shoreside testing as Royal right?  

[recogneyes]

57 minutes ago, Edmund said:

I live in Toronto. I have the same issues.  Mine is Drive or Fly?   Im doing a B2B Feb 20,  and I love to fly from Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. The flight is an hour, with no line ups and easy boarding. I arrive one hour before the flight.   The problem is getting the PCR test after the cruise as Royal have stopped their complimentary testing . The charged last I checked at the Bayonne terminal is $210 US  !  ouch!     Convert that to CAD for a family of 4!   I have no idea how long the results take . For me the logistics of the whole thing is simply too stressful. I have decided to drive and pay $300 for parking,  pay the fuel to drive 6-7 hours to and from Toronto.  I will try a rapid test at a local Walgreens in Buffalo or Niagara Falls New York and try my luck. If  worse comes to worse I will stay at the local Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino to figure things out. 

Thank you for posting the recent cost at the Bayonne terminal - I've been trying to find cheaper rapid PCR testing but cannot find anywhere who will guarantee same day results so we may be stuck paying that unfortunately!

[WannaCruise]

1 hour ago, Edmund said:

I live in Toronto. I have the same issues.  Mine is Drive or Fly?   Im doing a B2B Feb 20,  and I love to fly from Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. The flight is an hour, with no line ups and easy boarding. I arrive one hour before the flight.   The problem is getting the PCR test after the cruise as Royal have stopped their complimentary testing . The charged last I checked at the Bayonne terminal is $210 US  !  ouch!     Convert that to CAD for a family of 4!   I have no idea how long the results take . For me the logistics of the whole thing is simply too stressful. I have decided to drive and pay $300 for parking,  pay the fuel to drive 6-7 hours to and from Toronto.  I will try a rapid test at a local Walgreens in Buffalo or Niagara Falls New York and try my luck. If  worse comes to worse I will stay at the local Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino to figure things out. 

Wondering how you found out the price at Bayonne? The current Anthem cruise would be the first one where they are charging and it hasn't returned yet.  We're driving home too, and will split the drive up over two days (as I have a bad back and can't sit too long) so if we can't get it at the port, we can find other options.  I believe the website used to say "starting at $2xx" (I forget the exact amount) but now it mentions $130...but that's just the the min amount they would charge.  

[Jax]

I think provincial mandates are going to look a lot different in the coming weeks. As provinces begin to eliminate mandates, it may pressure the feds to reassess its border mandates. Our premier recently announced several changes he wants Trudeau to adopt relating to border mandates including the elimination of the 72 PCR testing, quarantine, isolation etc.  The province you reside in may be another consideration; here are recent statistics on fines broken down by province. Enforcement authorities can’t issue fines under the contraventions act in Alberta, Sask or the Territories. 
 

 

Regardless of the outcome or it’s timing, my vote is to go on the cruise. As others have said, time with our kids is precious and limited; we don’t get to turn back the clock and recreate memories from cancelled trips.  Our son is in grade 10 and we have no regrets cruising this past Christmas.  We had forgotten how good it felt to travel again and turn off Covid. 

[WannaCruise]

5 minutes ago, Jax said:

 

Regardless of the outcome or it’s timing, my vote is to go on the cruise. As others have said, time with our kids is precious and limited; we don’t get to turn back the clock and recreate memories from cancelled trips.  Our son is in grade 10 and we have no regrets cruising this past Christmas.  We had forgotten how good it felt to travel again and turn off Covid. 

I'm crossing my fingers, toes and nose that they re-evaluate the border crossing restrictions.

And 250% agree with your comment above.  This is time we don't get back and time is ticking.

So great you were able to cruise at Christmas.

 

[Jax]

4 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Maybe the Freedom convoy can get us out of this before March Break? 

^^This!  

[travellingtannis]

10 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Why not just test shoreside with Royal then right when you get off the ship?

https://covlc.gomeyra.cloud/services/tests

This is how the Royal Caribbean guest services told me to reserve the testing. I booked a time slot for when our ship returns to port, but you don't have to prepay. Hopefully that can help a few others still looking for pricing, depending on their ship and port.

[Lovetocruise2002]

11 hours ago, travellingtannis said:

https://covlc.gomeyra.cloud/services/tests

This is how the Royal Caribbean guest services told me to reserve the testing. I booked a time slot for when our ship returns to port, but you don't have to prepay. Hopefully that can help a few others still looking for pricing, depending on their ship and port.

Thanks! That is helpful. $175pp for PCR is not as high as I thought it would be. Question still remains as to how fast those results will come. How was your experience with them? 

@Vancity Cruiser how much did you say that Nomi at MIA was charging for rapid PCR?

[WannaCruise]

11 hours ago, travellingtannis said:

https://covlc.gomeyra.cloud/services/tests

This is how the Royal Caribbean guest services told me to reserve the testing. I booked a time slot for when our ship returns to port, but you don't have to prepay. Hopefully that can help a few others still looking for pricing, depending on their ship and port.

Thanks for sharing the link.  Strangely, I'm not seeing Anthem.  Maybe they use a different company for that port?  Good you don't have to pre-pay.

Can't quite see all the prices as the amounts get cut off...not sure if it's the browser I'm using.

[Lovetocruise2002]

5 minutes ago, WannaCruise said:

Can't quite see all the prices as the amounts get cut off...not sure if it's the browser I'm using.

I turned my phone the other way and saw the prices.

[WannaCruise]

13 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I turned my phone the other way and saw the prices.

Ha ha...brilliant.  Didn't think to check on my phone.  Thanks for the tip!

[Last Lion]

I registered but then was asked to pre-pay. Is this the same for you guys?

[travellingtannis]

Our cruise leaves on the 13th and returns on the 20th, from Port Miami. I will report back on efficiency, ease of locating, speed of getting results, etc as soon as I can!

[Vancity Cruiser]

4 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Thanks! That is helpful. $175pp for PCR is not as high as I thought it would be. Question still remains as to how fast those results will come. How was your experience with them? 

@Vancity Cruiser how much did you say that Nomi at MIA was charging for rapid PCR?

Nomi health at MIA was $179USD per person. 

[bellemiche]

23 hours ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

We did eventually get the results, 2.5 hours later (after being told results would be 45 minutes) but the results for BOTH my wife and I were “inconclusive”.

While the Miami airport option (Nomi Health) is expensive I will be using it in the future for peace of mind. They had a very efficient set up and had our results in 17 minutes. I don’t mind paying for peace of mind.

Thanks for the information. Did you book the testing ahead of time at the airport?

[bellemiche]

15 hours ago, travellingtannis said:

https://covlc.gomeyra.cloud/services/tests

This is how the Royal Caribbean guest services told me to reserve the testing. I booked a time slot for when our ship returns to port, but you don't have to prepay. Hopefully that can help a few others still looking for pricing, depending on their ship and port.

Thank you for sharing the link. I'm just wondering how far in advance the appointments are open to schedule. I tried to book for March 20, but it it is saying No Time Available. 

[Lovetocruise2002]

2 hours ago, travellingtannis said:

Our cruise leaves on the 13th and returns on the 20th, from Port Miami. I will report back on efficiency, ease of locating, speed of getting results, etc as soon as I can!

That would be perfect!  Thanks!

I assuming you meant back on the 20th of February right? I come back on the 20th of March so that is when I would be looking to book something.

[travellingtannis]

6 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

That would be perfect!  Thanks!

I assuming you meant back on the 20th of February right? I come back on the 20th of March so that is when I would be looking to book something.

Yes, February!  This is the dreaded week where I pray myself and my kids do not test positive a day before our flight! Fingers crossed...

[travellingtannis]

1 hour ago, bellemiche said:

Thank you for sharing the link. I'm just wondering how far in advance the appointments are open to schedule. I tried to book for March 20, but it it is saying No Time Available. 

It opens exactly one month before the day you want to test...so I booked our disembarkation testing on January 20th, for testing to be done February 20th. Hopefully that helps!

[Lovetocruise2002]

16 minutes ago, travellingtannis said:

Yes, February!  This is the dreaded week where I pray myself and my kids do not test positive a day before our flight! Fingers crossed...

I hear you!  I am a teacher and Hubby sees patients all day and kids are in school.  I hold them the last two weeks before the cruise, everyone better mask up and be extra diligent lol.

[Vancity Cruiser]

2 hours ago, bellemiche said:

Thanks for the information. Did you book the testing ahead of time at the airport?

No. We had done the portside testing. By the time we got our “inconclusive” results it was 2 hours before our flight. We rushed to Nomi Health in the airport. They have a qr code out front that you can scan and register. We then got in immediately and had our results 17 minutes later. You can book ahead of time but it is not necessary 

[Dreams of Cruisin]

Hello Cruise Fans.

 

Hoping to hear your feedback from the PCR testing at the terminal before flying home to YYZ or YVR. 

Has anyone had the PCR test done at the New Jersey terminal coming off Anthem of the Seas?

[Censored]

On 2/5/2022 at 4:33 PM, WannaCruise said:

Wondering how you found out the price at Bayonne? The current Anthem cruise would be the first one where they are charging and it hasn't returned yet.  We're driving home too, and will split the drive up over two days (as I have a bad back and can't sit too long) so if we can't get it at the port, we can find other options.  I believe the website used to say "starting at $2xx" (I forget the exact amount) but now it mentions $130...but that's just the the min amount they would charge.  

you need a PCR test. The most expensive kind because of our beloved PM Its on Royal's website

[travellingtannis]

This is almost a moot point for Canadians now, except for anyone sailing this week.

PCR testing at the Miami port is outside, directly across the road from Zone 01 (first post). As I believe @Vancity Cruisermentioned, the whole outfit does seem a bit sketchy, as it is a portable van and they just set up with tables from the storage room located at the testing site. We booked early in the morning, and they were still setting up until 745am. The testing was easy, and I specifically asked for a card with a phone number to call them in case there was any questions or concerns when we received the results (they won't give you a contact card unless you specifically ask!). We had our results to my email inbox by 930am. Prices are $175 USD per person.

Glad most of you will not need this by the time you sail!