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

The 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.

Prepare for paperwork 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 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.

Green passes in varying forms 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.

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.

Mask chic Some cruise lines have started a trend in mask fashion. Celebrity offers silky blue ones, while Variety Cruises gave us smart navy cotton versions and Regent offers its own logo-ed fabric mask. Others are stricter; Saga Cruises bans all masks apart from the standard paper ones it issues itself, so no glittery facewear there on formal night.

Protocols on board No two cruise lines have the same rules on board. P&O Cruises didn’t allow dancing when we sailed on the new Iona in August, although Saga and MSC did. Uniworld’s SS La Venezia, a small riverboat, allowed public gatherings in the bar, three opera singers and a band — but no cruise director’s nightly briefing.

The one thing I’m grateful for is that of the seven cruise lines I’ve sailed with this summer, none have had a self-service buffet. The last thing you want is other passengers breathing over your food.

Every line has different testing rules Generally speaking, you can expect to be tested at the cruise terminal before you board, again mid-cruise and possibly before disembarking. These are rapid antigen tests in most cases.

Celebrity Cruises is stricter and, at present, requires PCR tests to be done a couple of days before sailing, as does Seabourn. Depending on where you join your cruise, you may need a separate test to enter some countries. Be prepared for a lot of tests. The antigen tests at the terminal are free, as is any mid-cruise testing. Viking, for example, conducts saliva tests most days on each cruise.

If you need a fit-to-fly test to travel home or to your next destination, you don’t need to go hunting down a chemist on a remote Greek island. Cruise lines will supply these tests, but you usually have to pay.

Bubble tours are a bore Several cruise lines still insist on ‘bubble’ excursions, so you can’t go ashore independently. You’re at the mercy of the cruise line to provide affordable, entertaining excursions.

I’ve done some that were very good (an MSC tour to a superb stately home in Dorset comes to mind), while others were frankly depressing. In November last year, I sat on a beach in the Caribbean watched over by police so we didn’t mix with the locals.

The rules for going ashore depend on local protocols and the cruise line’s own policy. So far this summer, Greece has been the best bet, with independent exploration allowed everywhere.

Situations change rapidly Snap local lockdowns can happen if COVID rates spike. I was in Mykonos in July the day a week-long lockdown was announced. None of the bars were allowed to play music and a curfew was in place. This doesn’t tend to affect cruise passengers, as ships usually leave in the evening, but you need to keep an open mind.

COVID does get on board I’ve been on three ships so far where COVID has slipped past the testing. All cruise lines have different protocols for dealing with this, but it’s becoming an inevitability rather than a drama, unless you happen to be the person with COVID.

If someone develops symptoms or tests positive, they’ll be isolated in their cabin. Close contacts, including crew, are tracked and traced, isolated and tested.

Once you’re cleared, you’re allowed out again.

CRUISE NEWS SAILING TO VENICE? THERE’S A TAX WITH THAT

Venice is set to impose an entry fee for visitors in order to regulate the huge numbers of tourists descending on the city. Day-trippers, including cruise passengers, will need to book in advance, pay a fee and enter the city via electronic turnstiles.

The plan is set to be imposed in the northern hemisphere summer of 2022. The entry fee is reportedly set to be between €3 and €10 (between around AUD$4.70 to AUD$15.60), depending on the season. Lawmakers approved the package of restrictions in August.

The measures were originally intended to be launched in 2019, but were postponed due to the impact of COVID-19. Previously, up to 80,000 people a day visited the historic Italian city.

During the height of the pandemic, tourism came to a grinding halt and the locals noticed a visible change to the environment, even spotting dolphins in the newly clear waters.

Earlier this year, a plan to stop large cruise ships from sailing into the centre of Venice was approved and now all large ships must berth at a location outside of the city.

REGENT AND OCEANIA SET TO LAUNCH NEW SHIPS

Luxury brands Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises are each set to take the luxury market by storm with the addition of new ships in 2023. Ultra-luxe Regent Seven Seas’s new Seven Seas Grandeur will come with 15 suite categories. This includes the Regent Suite, which carries a price tag of more than $100,000 per person on some voyages.

There are new spaces on board, including The Parlour and fresh designs of favourite restaurants such as Prime 7 and Chartreuse. Seven Seas Grandeur’s inaugural journey will be from Barcelona to Miami in November 2023.

Meanwhile, when Oceania’s Vista launches in April 2023 it will be the line’s first debut in 11 years. Oceania is known for its fantastic culinary offerings, and Vista will have 12 dining venues, four of which are new to the ship. One of the highlights will be the Culinary Center, where guests can partake in hands-on cooking classes. Or you can head to the Culinary Center Dining Room for a private dining experience.

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST – THE NEW HOT SPOT CRUISE REGIONS

The Middle East is bidding to become the next major fly-cruise hub, with a number of big-name cruise lines homeporting in the region and a massive new cruise terminal opening in Dubai.

MSC and Scenic have both pledged to sail in the Arabian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, with MSC announcing it would be homeporting its ships in the port of Jeddah for the next five years. MSC World Europa is set to debut at the end of 2022 by sailing in the Middle East, with bookings opening for MSC’s first World-class vessel.

Scenic revealed earlier this year it would be sending the luxurious Scenic Eclipse to the Red Sea, after its Australian Kimberley season was cancelled.

A number of luxury cruise lines, like Regent Seven Seas and Silversea, have also dedicated calls in the region for their 2022 and 2023 world cruises.

And Africa is set to become a new bucket-list cruise region, with lines like Hurtigruten unveiling new itineraries to the African West Coast. Hurtigruten will offer its first-ever 13-day African itinerary on MS Spitsbergen calling at The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Cape Verde. The cruise departs from Dakar, one of Africa’s vibrant cities, on November 27, 2022.

THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

Ecruising Travel and Azamara have launched a new fly-and-sail 15-night itinerary that includes an 11-night cruise between Reykjavik and Dublin on board Azamara Journey.

The Icelandanic Treasures journey begins in the capital of Iceland, where cruisers can soak up Viking history and enjoy some of the best craft beer in the world.

Azamara Journey then sets off to picturesque Seyðisfjörður. This quaint town has striking, colourful architecture. And it’s worth walking along the east bank of the Fjarðará River to take in breathtaking waterfall views.

From there you’ll sail to Akureyi, nicknamed the capital of North Iceland, and spend the night here. It’s one of the best places to base yourself for a tour to one of the longest fjords in the country – and hopefully catch a glimpse of the northern lights.

Next on the itinerary is the country’s whalewatching capital of Húsavík, where locals often spot a number of different species enter the bay.

Azamara Journey continues to the Faroe Islands, which are known for their ruggedly handsome cliff faces and colonies of adorable puffins, before setting off for Ireland. Prior to disembarking in Dublin, Azamara Journey calls at the Northern Ireland city of Belfast, home of the Titanic.

Azamara is known for its fleet of smaller ships and the line is focused on more overnight stays and more time in port. Its itineraries are

Call Ecruising’s cruise specialists on 1300 369 848 or visit www. ecruising.travel for more details. designed to include overnight stays and late evening departures, giving cruisers more time to experience the local culture, arts, history and to explore the natural beauty further inland.

Azamara offers personalised shore excursions that includes meeting locals and dining in their homes, as well as exploring the markets of cities, towns and villages.

The itinerary includes return economy-class flights, two-night’s accommodation in a five-star hotel in Reykjavik, an 11-night cruise on board Azamara Journey, accommodation in a five-star hotel in Dublin and more.

Prices start from $8,959 per person, with up to $900 onboard credit per cabin.

Exclusive offer:

Cruise Passenger readers receive additional $250 on board credit per cabin.