I did for work. You sign into the waiting room, someone comes on the camera and you show your ID and do the swab. Then you drop it off at Fedex (the one I took had a preprinted label). I'm not sure how the one day turnaround would work, though. Maybe it's a home test to make sure it's really you?

A ”send-off” test will not work for us. We are docking about 6 a.m. and our flight leaves at 12:30 p.m. The day before we dock, we are at sea the entire day.

According to The Points Guy, Abbott’s Binax Now test can be proctored by video and the results sent to a previously downloaded app in 15 minutes. There is also a test sold by Ellume and proctored by AZOVA with test results in 15 minutes. A third test is from Qured with test results in 2 hours. I’m very skittish about getting the results in the stated time frame. I’m wondering what other’s experience has been.

Because on-board ship wifi is notoriously bad and because a strong, uninterrupted wifi signal is needed, it is best that we wait until we are on land to have the test.

I did proctored eMed one to come home from Egypt. It was very easy, but you need a strong internet connection and plenty of time. Doing one on a cruise ship might be a challenge. Also, you can‘t open the box ahead of time and it’s kind of big.

Like @texanjana, I did one with eMed. Just did this yesterday. I had to have my computer camera tilted to show the test card for the duration of the incubation period and then hold the card up to the camera and confirm that I agreed with the results. It took about 20 minutes, and was easy to do.

Y’all have brought up another problem. I don’t intend to have a computer with me. I will have my iPhone but I’m debating taking my iPad. Since I posted this, I watched a YouTube video of someone taking one of the proctored Binax tests. Doesn’t really look doable while sitting in an airport terminal or anywhere without a desk or table.

No experience with the proctored tests, but I am traveling to Scotland soon so am following along. I just told my hubby this morning that before we go to the pharmacy to do our pre-departure test, I am self testing in our hotel room. I want to know my results before I do anything "official".

Also, and I am sure you know this already, you only need an antigen or viral test, to return to the US at this time. A PCR or lateral flow test is not required.

It's certainly a "work around" for when you have to have a quick test but also cannot "self verify." The test is easy peasy IMHO but I do lab tests all the time for work, even teach lab protocols. The biggest challenge I can see would be managing the computer technology--the connection and the camera and video sharing program on the computer. It was hard enough during low input video meetings or a baby shower. I would test it out ahead of time, testing out how it worked with a computer interface and connection similar to what I would be using on board. I'd also feel fine doing a test at an airport or ship terminal. Again, to me it is an easy in, easy out, but the wait to GET in might be problematic, standing or sitting around for a long time in a crowd. I'd double mask with a K95 and fabric cover for that part of it. I always wear a double mask including tight K95 in crowded indoor spaces where I have no idea the health status of anyone else there.

Has the protocol changed? When we were in the Bahamas a year ago, we just needed a negative test within 3 days of our return flight. It definitely wasn’t 24 hours. A nurse came to our villa to perform the tests. I cannot imagine why on earth the cruise ship doesn’t do this for the passengers…surely everyone is in the same boat? (haha, pun sort of intended.😂) Maybe I am missing something.

Nini, apparently, it has changed since you traveled out of the country last. Of course, the situation is so fluid, it is liable to change before my mid-July cruise. Below is a screenshot from American Airlines website saying 1 day:

HAHA, love a good pun! According to someone at the cruise line, they were testing on the ship but have recently stopped. I can see why. I’m sure they don’t want to know that someone on the ship has Cv.

It's not 24 hours, it's any time the day before your flight. So if you depart at 3 pm on Thursday you can do the test anytime Wednesday or Thursday.

Wow…that is really interesting…i had no idea it had changed. Honestly, I guess I understand why cruises don’t want the liability of a cv positive person on board, but I really would expect better customer service from the cruise line irt this. They should make this process as easy as possible for their passengers. I think it is not very relaxing to know at the end of your trip you have this complicated *thing* to go through.

And if the person WAS positive…they were there and infecting everyone just before they disembarked anyway. Now the cruise can just play dumb.

Self tests are easy, and at least you don't have to pee on a stick.

Oh criminy. Lord only knows what it will be when (if?) we go to the Maldives for Christmas. I'm already worried about unrest in Sri Lanka, which we fly through to get there and back, and where we planned to spend another week or so.

Hope you have a great trip!

Mtn, The Points Guy reported that there are a number of travel groups encouraging the Feds to eliminate the tests for US citizens returning home. If they are successful, I doubt that it will affect my return, but may be instituted in time for your December trip.

I’m looking at a cooking tour of Italy next June. I haven’t put down a deposit yet because I don’t know what the situation will be. Guess I ought to just bite the bullet and do it….and buy insurance! I never used to buy insurance. Now, I don’t take a trip without it.

P.S. I was feeling so crummy last week, I finally broke out one of the free COVID tests and tested myself. With the help of the video, I found it to be quite easy and straightforward. My results were ”you have seasonal allergies!”

I am thinking you are doing an Alaskan cruise? Would you have a shore day one day prior to your final day? The timing could work for that

I'm sorry, but this is so weird about not testing those entering the US from international travel. Why eliminate the procedure that is most likely to keep us safe from the spread of covid and variants. Most other countries require various health verification before letting you in . . . I thought we were all about protecting our borders. A virus infection cares not one whit for your nationality . . . Maybe I am incredulous because I find the testing protocols easy peasy. A godsend rather than an inconvenience.

However, an institution can do a LOT to make it easy for their customers and staff to follow reasonable protocols. It's no different than any other type of safety protocol for your staff and customers.

cmm, the day before we dock is a sea day. Sea days are notorious for having poor wifi connections. In fact, in my experience, wifi and cellular at sea are both spotty at best.

If we had taken the cruise all the way to Anchorage and disembarked there, this would not be an issue. I would be flying from the US back to the US. But because I transit from the Vancouver cruise terminal to the Vancouver airport to fly home, I’m returning from a foreign country and must have the test.

Does your airline have a private lounge at the Vancouver airport that you could buy a pass to? Perhaps that would be a location where you could do your test in relative quiet, with a table to use for the required amount of time?

Many international airports also offer nap rooms, that can be booked for a short time - for a fee.

I was thinking what Raee was thinking. Lots of business travelers need quiet spaces with good wi fi while traveling so I've seen them in some airports although I don't know how common they are, I've only traveled in the major east coast and midwest airports. That would work out great for taking the test . . .

Good idea raee, but nope. My outbound airline doesn’t have a lounge at YVR.

Not that it matters for the test, but flying in I’m on a different airline and I have access to their lounges. I have a 2 hour wait for my traveling companions and I was looking forward to spending it in the lounge. Nope. No lounge for them either in YVR.

Is YVR some sort of lounge desert? HAHAHA

Unfortunately, I can't help with cruise experience. But I returned from Europe last week and did a video proctored test before returning to the U.S. I took with me a couple of the iHealth tests that we received free from the government a few months ago, and scheduled the test on the iHealth web site for $24.99. They offer test times around the clock. You have to use a laptop (not cell phone or tablet). It took about 25 minutes to do the test and obtain my results.

Last summer I used eMed tests. We bought a pack of 6 tests for $150, which included the proctoring, before we left the U.S. For that test, we could use a phone, tablet or laptop. From start to finish it took about the same amount of time. I was traveling with a family group of 11, and two had connection issues so it took a little longer, but eventually they got their results.