I wanted to add more information now that I have completed my cruises on Celebrity and am almost finished my first leg on Majestic Princess.
On Celebrity we were contacted to say we required a PCR test to fly home to Canada. We got off early, one of the first groups, and we were tested right at the pier after we picked up our bags and cleared customs.
We then drove to the airport and an hour later we had our results in our inbox.
We are now on the Majestic Princess on our 2nd to last day of this voyage.
A few days ago we received a letter saying since we are on a back to back we need to have a rapid Antigen test taken on last day. We are to meet in the Vista lounge at a set time where the tests are administered free of charge.
Then yesterday we received a call saying since we are flying home to Canada we need at rapid PCR test that will be administered at the pier after we get our bags and clear customs. Results will be sent to our phones within a short period, probably before we arrive at LAX.
Now we told him we were on a back to back and he said to ignore then. But the test applies to us when we do get off in a few weeks.
These protocols are also good for any other non US citizens it is just I can not speak specifically about any other country entry requirements except my own.
But one thing is for sure. Travelling on a cruise ship is wayyyyyy easier than any of the time we have spent on land prior to cruise or the time in between the cruises. And we have felt much much safer. No hotel or resort on land requires everyone to be vaccinated who is staying there. Nor do they require you to have a negative test to stay there.
Update!
We have now returned home after five weeks on the Majestic. The night before we disembarked we received word that we would get off the ship, collect our bags, go thru customs then reenter the terminal to get our Covid test for our flight.
We did just that. We got off at 9 am and collected our bags, breezed thru customs and then dragged the bags to the check in tent. There were people already there reading to check in - which is crazy I think.
We were directed to a seating area where they took our name, cabin number. We sat and waited for about a half hour when we were called. We had to wheel our bags behind a partition and gave our names, email, address, phone etc. Note make sure they spell everything correctly. They entered our email wrong and I noticed and she said she would correct. She corrected my email, but Bernie's email which is the same she did not. Needless to say this caused some issues if you had to access your results online as you had to verity with that email. j
The test was administered quickly and we were directed to a new area where we sat and waiting for results. About a half hour. Some people got their results but they had to be redone because of an issue. However ours were completed in about a half hour. We were handed paper copies of our negative results. Thankfully we got the paper version as we had no way to access Bernie's because of the wrong email.
We were then free to go. The entire process took 1.5 hours. So please make sure you plan accordingly. Do not book a flight that is too early!
Currently the costs of the test is complimentary with Princess; however other companies are now charging for these test needed post cruise for travel home.
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