deep1 Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 Yeah yeah, I know there is a lot of chatter about dropping testing like other companies have done. Right now though we are still required to test. Here is the building problem that goes with it. Lack of places to get the testing done. In the past I have had a pretty rough go with Emed. One set of tests was sent already past the extended expiration date. Another set came without the drops. A couple second wifi disruption voided yet another. So you can see that my trust in them just isn't very strong. I had a testing company in neighboring town that I made bookings with. Drove by the place a few days ago and building vacant and telephone no longer in service. So.... I look up on google and Bing, Covid testing near me. About 25 places came up . Mostly CVS, Walgreen's, and rite Aid. all three have been cancelling, or not testing people without doctors scrip, or not testing any more period, or not even fully open due to staffing shortages. There were a hand full of emergency clinics listed. Most not doing any tests, a few were but not rapid. So I find myself scrambling. I live in Monmouth County, New Jersey for the summer and will be doing Oasis out of Bayonne middle of next month. Does anybody have a RELIABLE place in this area to get tested at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djandyb Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 7 hours ago, deep1 said: Yeah yeah, I know there is a lot of chatter about dropping testing like other companies have done. Right now though we are still required to test. Here is the building problem that goes with it. Lack of places to get the testing done. In the past I have had a pretty rough go with Emed. One set of tests was sent already past the extended expiration date. Another set came without the drops. A couple second wifi disruption voided yet another. So you can see that my trust in them just isn't very strong. I had a testing company in neighboring town that I made bookings with. Drove by the place a few days ago and building vacant and telephone no longer in service. So.... I look up on google and Bing, Covid testing near me. About 25 places came up . Mostly CVS, Walgreen's, and rite Aid. all three have been cancelling, or not testing people without doctors scrip, or not testing any more period, or not even fully open due to staffing shortages. There were a hand full of emergency clinics listed. Most not doing any tests, a few were but not rapid. So I find myself scrambling. I live in Monmouth County, New Jersey for the summer and will be doing Oasis out of Bayonne middle of next month. Does anybody have a RELIABLE place in this area to get tested at? Agreed, we are flying from the UK to the US so will need to get a test there before our Cruise (Oasis end of Sep) and there's a huge lack of testing centres. The EMED things aren't available in the UK so it's getting very difficult to get tested in the timeframe needed. RC are very behind the times with testing being abandoned everywhere, it makes testing not very profitable anymore hence everywhere closing. Bit of a nightmare! deep1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teddy Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 I know it’s not local to you, but our local airport still has testing. Maybe an airport in your area has testing. It’s done by Curative. Info says no out of pocket expenses. I don’t know if it’s subsidized by the state or not. I just scheduled an test for Thursday to use on our Sunday boarding of Liberty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 @deep1 I’m also in Monmouth County. I use CVS. I go on their website, enter my zip code, and have a choice between PCR…or Antigen with Minute Clinic visit…or just a rapid Antigen. There are multiple CVS locations near me offering both PCR and Antigen at Minute Clinic, and one nearby on route 9 with the rapid Antigen. Lots of dates and times available. Hopefully they will still be available for my Sept cruise. Fingers crossed. But then again, fingers crossed that the pre-cruise testing mandate goes away. I also have the eMed tests and have never had a problem with any of them…either the actual test or my WiFi. I even used some of them that were due to expire…I figure it’s good practice…and never had a problem connecting with a monitor or conducting the test. Good luck @deep1and happy cruising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho and Barb Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 If you have any of the US Government free tests, there are a few companies offering online proctored testing using the Gov provided tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 Testing protocols updated today. No testing required for US cruises less than 10 nights after Sept. 5 except to Bermuda or Canada. deep1 and Pattycruise 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 25 minutes ago, twangster said: Testing protocols updated today. No testing required for US cruises less than 10 nights after Sept. 5 except to Bermuda or Canada. …for vaxxed pax… deep1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 14 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said: …for vaxxed pax… OP is vaxxed given their other cruise travel since the restart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 I guess having fingers crossed really helped! deep1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGus Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 I have some eMed tests, that are going to go to waste, but it was rather cheap, just having that peace of mind not to worry about where i was going to test. Chalk it up to my misc cost for cruising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: …for vaxxed pax… Soon I hope Raye, for no other reason than I want an opportunity to meet you! WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep1 Posted August 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 7 hours ago, BrianB said: @deep1 I’m also in Monmouth County. I use CVS. I go on their website, enter my zip code, and have a choice between PCR…or Antigen with Minute Clinic visit…or just a rapid Antigen. There are multiple CVS locations near me offering both PCR and Antigen at Minute Clinic, and one nearby on route 9 with the rapid Antigen. Lots of dates and times available. Hopefully they will still be available for my Sept cruise. Fingers crossed. But then again, fingers crossed that the pre-cruise testing mandate goes away. I also have the eMed tests and have never had a problem with any of them…either the actual test or my WiFi. I even used some of them that were due to expire…I figure it’s good practice…and never had a problem connecting with a monitor or conducting the test. Good luck @deep1and happy cruising! The CVS's up here at Red Bank, Middletown. Highlands, Rt 35 and rt 36 used to do them then started cancelling frequently many stopped all together in last couple to few weeks ... Walgreens as well. Found one Walgreen's that would do em today but they wouldn't guarantee that by sail time they would still be doing em. Came away with that then saw that they dropped the requirement for cruises of less than 10 nights or less with Bermuda and Canada as still requiring. I'm for now off the hook but can't help feeling for those that still do need to test. 5 hours ago, Psycho and Barb said: If you have any of the US Government free tests, there are a few companies offering online proctored testing using the Gov provided tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep1 Posted August 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 5 hours ago, Psycho and Barb said: If you have any of the US Government free tests, there are a few companies offering online proctored testing using the Gov provided tests. I didn't know that... They just dropped the test requirement for my next but its good to know.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blur Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 Now you can take any home covid test and either bring it in or take a picture of the result yourself. Onus is on you to be a good person, if you so choose. (Unless you're going to Canada or Bermuda which may have different protocols) asquared17 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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