Americans returning From Europe

My crystal ball didn’t have an answer since nobody knows. Until the requirement changes, be prepared to get an antigen test within one calendar day of your return.

April 18 ................

The rules were last updated at the onset of Omnicron, when the window for required testing to reenter was reduced from 3 days down to one.

The April 18th date James cites is actually the expiration of the current mask mandate. There's an expectation that it won't be renewed, and testing requirements will be lifted at the same time. But it's an expectation, without a whole lot of info to support it, one way or another.

You can keep track of any requirements here on the CDC website:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/travel-assessment/index.html

I thought I remember reading that there may be possible changes in April, but that might just be the masks on airplanes which is currently set to expire on April 18 if not extended.

The airlines just sent a letter to the White House just last week asking for the masks and testing to be lifted. Fingers crossed.

To the OP - Your trip is in August. First piece of advice is to start thinking in dog years - no, COVID years, or, maybe COVID months. I don't know what to call them, but the pandemic has even changed time. That is, August is a long, long time ahead. Stop thinking of things (like time) as we did before, when 5 months ahead of your departure, you could find out the rules and just file that away on your pre-travel task list.

It's not like that any more. Things change, sometimes quickly. Many things will change between now and August. Heck, some things will change in the next week or two. And some things will change more than once, and some might go back to the way they were before they changed.

So, in March, don't worry about what the requirements will be in August. Ask again in July. And then remain flexible, ready to adapt, until you are settled in your airline seat, they close the door on your flight, they push back the plane, and start up the engines. Until then, don't be shocked if the rules change. Once your flight has taken off, the rules probably won't change before you land. Probably.

The thrill of travel during the pandemic times!

Scudder, the question was "when do you think they might". That would be April 18th, they "might". Seriously doubt anything before then. But only "might" as that is their next review date.

James E. I wrote to add clarifying information—it was no rebuke to your statement.

I think you should keep track of whether the Federal Public Health Emergency Declaration gets renewed, since it's unlikely that airline rules will be relaxed while we're under a designated public health emergency. Each designation is in effect for a 90-day period, and has been renewed 8 times now since 2020. State Governors receive a 60-day advance notice, so that is another marker of what's likely to come. I would check back in July; by then you will know what will happen in the next 90 days.

See this article:
https://stateofreform.com/commentary/2022/03/the-status-of-public-health-emergency-declarations/

Inportant excerpt:
"Former HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the first PHE declaration for COVID-19 on January 31, 2020. It has been renewed eight times over the subsequent two-year period, with the latest extension approved by current HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on January 14. Pursuant to section 319, this extension will allow the PHE to last until April 16 unless the administration chooses to end it early.

Separately, the Biden administration committed in January 2021 to provide the nation’s governors with at least 60 days advance notice of an intention to terminate the federal PHE. No such notice has been given to this point, so it is unlikely that the federal PHE will end on April 16, or before at least mid-May."

Hi David from Seattle,

Here is my problem.

I am booked on a cruise that will leave from Amsterdam and end in Reykjavik for August.

Ok so that is a long ways away in COVID Time but I need to fully pay up by mid April, over $3.500.00.

Once I pay up, it is non refundable. I have insurance and will have to put in an insurance claim but will still have to forfeit at least several hundred dollars.

If I am going to have trouble getting tested within 24 hours to fly back to the United States, I need to change my cruise so as to sail closer to home, i.e. leaving and coming back to an American Port.

I have not traveled since 2019, nowhere, so this testing to travel is new to me.

Why do you assume you will have trouble getting tested in Iceland within 24 hours of your return? Iceland is one of the most super efficient, tourist friendly places there are with a robust infrastructure. Surely, there will be others in your boat, no pun intended. If you want a cushion, then stay an extra night/ day after your cruise arrives in Reykjavik.

You will not have trouble getting tested in time unless you are so far off the beaten path that there’s no health services AND the airport you fly from does not have a testing facility on site.

Also it’s not 24 hours. It’s one calendar day before - anytime the day before or the day of your flight is allowed. For example, I flew home on a 2PM flight on a Saturday. I did my test at 6AM on Friday. That gives you plenty of extra leeway if your flight is later in the day.

I highly recommend the binax now emed tests. You do it from anywhere there is internet. Like your hotel room. Just log on, you are connected with a person who watches you do a self test, they check the result 15 minutes later, and email you a negative test certificate within minutes. It worked perfectly for 4 of us. Just be sure to buy the travel test, with proctor - self tests without the online visit don’t count.

OP, I am curious as to the cruise line.

When I booked my May cruise last summer it carried the proviso I could cancel and get a voucher for another cruise. This was with payment in full. The cruise line also has arranged for post flight testing for the cruise/post cruise extension. So long as I don't travel on "my own", my re-entry test will be timely.

I am surprised similar measures are not more widespread.

Hello GoWest,

I am traveling Norwegian.

NCL was testing free to board until the end of March. Now passengers are required to test on their own or test at the NCL terminal and pay.

My memory is before COVID, you were required to have to pay in full 90 days before the cruise. but now it is 120 days before cruise.

If I wanted to have NCL take me to the airport from the cruise ship (after the cruise), they would test me on the ship before taking me to the airport and I think that that would be free.

But I am choosing to spend two nights in Reykjavik and thus, I am responsible for testing before I fly home.

Hi Agnes,

I am staying two nights in Reykjavik. That is why I need to find a place to test before returning home.

If I were flying home directly from the ship, NCL would test me free on the ship and then take me to the airport.

Reykjavik has relaxed rules for coming in but we Americans still have to test to fly home. Reykjavik has closed most of their testing sites for those who are not experiencing symptoms.

I can still test at BSI Bus Terminal but I have to make an appointment and now pay about $50.00.

OP,

makes more sense now. Those extra two days sure make it complicated. Hope it works out for you.

First of all. Sounds like a wonderful cruise/trip. I know you will have a great time.

Reports are that covid testing is easy to get in Iceland. However, many travelers are bringing the Binax Now proctored (telemedicine) test with them to make sure that they have an option. I'm putting the link for how to purchase these below, but I would wait to purchase. First, you want to make sure the government is still requiring this testing and secondly you want to have test with expiration dates that are farther in the future.
https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/
They are also available in 6 packs from this website.
https://www.emed.com/products/covid-at-home-testkit-six-pack?hsLang=en