CRUISE NEWS
Mask up and be prepared Europeans were among the first to enjoy the return of cruising. Sue Bryant joined that initial wave and discovered what Australians need to know before they
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he rollout of COVID vaccinations in Europe and beyond has brought new freedom to cruise fans, but cruising is far from ‘normal’. Here are some of the lessons we’ve learned while travelling during a global pandemic — and a taste of what fully vaccinated Australians should be ready to encounter.
far from it. Every country has its own rules regarding masks, vaccination, boosters, social distancing and public gatherings. And in some countries, these rules vary according to region. It’s your responsibility to understand the rules for wherever you’re going; sometimes cruise lines can barely keep up themselves.
Prepare for paperwork
Italy has the Green Pass and France has the Pass sanitaire, which you download onto your phone. While we didn’t have an actual Green Pass in Italy in October, I had to show my vaccination certificate, with QR code, and ID to get into any public building. In France, you’ll even need the Pass sanitaire to get into a café. As Europe heads into winter and what’s predicted to be a tough flu season, there’s no reason to assume any of this will have changed by the time Australian travellers arrive in spring.
At times this year, completing the paperwork before a cruise has felt like a full-time job. At the moment, most European countries require sighting of a detailed track-and-trace form, which generates a QR code, before you’re allowed in. Various administrative joys include scanning your vaccination certificate, scanning your fit-to-travel COVID test, and knowing exactly what seat you’re sitting in on the aircraft. Tip: Travel with a tablet or laptop to complement your phone, as some forms must be filled out in detail while you’re in transit. Do not expect your ship’s crew to be across the nuances of every country’s form.
Every country is different You may have thought the European Union was one homogenous bloc, but it’s
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cruisepassenger.com.au
Green passes in varying forms
Masks everywhere Mainland Europeans are pretty compliant when it comes to masks in public spaces. In Spain, France, Greece and Italy, you wouldn’t expect to enter a shop or use public transport without a mask. So you’ll need a good supply of masks on hand.
