Mary Seas

October 12, 2021

Dear Valued Holland America Line Guest,

We look forward to welcoming you on board Eurodam.

We wish to advise you of a change to our scheduled departure. Due to operational reasons, Eurodam will set sail from Trieste, Italy, rather than Venice. Guests should proceed with their arrangements to the Venice terminal as planned, where COVID-19 testing will take place before we depart for Trieste. Please be aware that the motorcoach ride to Trieste is approximately 2.5 hours and local authorities have mandated that no interim stops will be allowed. To help you prepare for the ride, please ensure that you use the restroom prior to our departure for Trieste. Also, please remember that masks are required for all guests both in the terminal and on board the motorcoach.

In preparation for our upcoming voyage we also wish to ensure that you are aware of updated requirements that have recently been enacted by government authorities.

Passenger Locator Forms

• Italy - All non-EU guests are required to complete the European Union Digital Passenger Locator Form (EUdPLF) prior to entering Italy. The EUdPLF application form for Italy is available at https://app.euplf.eu. Please click “start here” at the top of the page.
• Greece - All guests are required to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) prior to entering Greece. The form for Greece is available at https://travel.gov.gr/#// You will receive an email confirmation with a QR code once you have completed and submitted your PLF. Please have the QR code available on your phone or smart device when going ashore.

Both forms must be completed no later than 24-hours prior to arriving into either country.

COVID-19 Testing Requirements

• Proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival into Italy is required for entry into the country. Guests should check for the latest requirements on the destination official government website to understand what documents and tests may be required upon arrival.  https://app.euplf.eu/#/
• All guests going ashore in Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome), and/or Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy will need to complete a PCR test within 72 hours of disembarking. Non-EU guests disembarking in Cannes or Marseille, France will need to complete a PCR test within 3 days of arrival. Non-EU guests disembarking Lisbon, Portugal will need to complete an Antigen test within 48 hours prior to going ashore.
• Regardless of vaccination status, guests will likely have a viral COVID-19 test administered 3-5 days into their voyage . The test will be scheduled and administered by the onboard medical team and will be provided on a complimentary basis. This testing policy will be reviewed on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
• Required testing to go ashore in Italy, France and Portugal will be available on board and charged to guest accounts for the cost of $35 for PCR and $25 for Antigen on a per person basis.

Shore Excursion Requirements ALL guests

• Please be aware that the updated local requirements only allow in-transit guests who are participating in a Holland America Line shore excursion to go ashore in Italy. Self-exploration and independent tours will not be permitted. We invite you to go to our website or visit Exploration Central once on board to see some of the experiences we have available for you in our Italian ports. We will advise you of any applicable changes to the Shore Excursions Program in Italy.
• When embarking in Trieste or going ashore in Italy, please be sure to have the following available to present to local authorities: Original proof of COVID-19 vaccination, negative COVID-19 antigen test, and Italian PLF QR code for non-EU guests.

We very much appreciate your understanding regarding the necessary changes and updates to your cruise experience. Our highest priority is protecting the health and safety of our guests, our team members, and the communities we visit. Thank you for your cooperation.

Once again, we look forward to hosting you on our journey together.

Best regards,

Holland America Line

 This is the email I received last night. The first time I posted it Cruice Critic dropped it. Let's try again

59 minutes ago, Brite Eyes said:

Re Venice - Trieste on Oct. 18.  I asked the front desk and they said they had no idea of what I was talking about as they have had no official notice.  

I also asked  Gretchen(shore excursions), and she said I was spreading a very bad rumour re docking in Trieste.  I asked if they would still have tours from Trieste for Venice shore excursions and she said of course.  I then asked if on Oct. 6 if all the Venice shore excursions went ahead and she really didn't answer, saying she had to tend to shore excursions guests.  I do not know if any shore excursions did go, but I have talked to a lot of passengers that stayed on that their shore excursion into Venice was cancelled and of course no one could get off the ship.

Would it be possible to post a copy of the e-mail from HAL stating the berth location change?  I would love to show the Front desk as they said no way off board future customers would know where the ship was docking before the ship knew. 

 

RE charge for COVID Test:  Oct. 13- Angelic (front desk) said that "We (HAL) will not charge for any COVID testing as they are done on board as required and will be complimentary"

 

Really enjoying the cruise, meeting new great people and enjoying the almost 1 to 1 passenger to crew ratio.  

 

Terry & John

Terry and John,

This is the email I received last evening

October 12, 2021

 

Dear Valued Holland America Line Guest,

 

We look forward to welcoming you on board Eurodam.

 

We wish to advise you of a change to our scheduled departure. Due to operational reasons, Eurodam will set sail from Trieste, Italy, rather than Venice. Guests should proceed with their arrangements to the Venice terminal as planned, where COVID-19 testing will take place before we depart for Trieste. Please be aware that the motorcoach ride to Trieste is approximately 2.5 hours and local authorities have mandated that no interim stops will be allowed. To help you prepare for the ride, please ensure that you use the restroom prior to our departure for Trieste. Also, please remember that masks are required for all guests both in the terminal and on board the motorcoach.

 

In preparation for our upcoming voyage we also wish to ensure that you are aware of updated requirements that have recently been enacted by government authorities.

 

Passenger Locator Forms

• Italy - All non-EU guests are required to complete the European Union Digital Passenger Locator Form (EUdPLF) prior to entering Italy. The EUdPLF application form for Italy is available at https://app.euplf.eu. Please click “start here” at the top of the page.
• Greece - All guests are required to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) prior to entering Greece. The form for Greece is available at https://travel.gov.gr/#// You will receive an email confirmation with a QR code once you have completed and submitted your PLF. Please have the QR code available on your phone or smart device when going ashore.

 

Both forms must be completed no later than 24-hours prior to arriving into either country.

 

COVID-19 Testing Requirements

 

• Proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival into Italy is required for entry into the country. Guests should check for the latest requirements on the destination official government website to understand what documents and tests may be required upon arrival.  https://app.euplf.eu/#/
• All guests going ashore in Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome), and/or Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy will need to complete a PCR test within 72 hours of disembarking. Non-EU guests disembarking in Cannes or Marseille, France will need to complete a PCR test within 3 days of arrival. Non-EU guests disembarking Lisbon, Portugal will need to complete an Antigen test within 48 hours prior to going ashore.
• Regardless of vaccination status, guests will likely have a viral COVID-19 test administered 3-5 days into their voyage . The test will be scheduled and administered by the onboard medical team and will be provided on a complimentary basis. This testing policy will be reviewed on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
• Required testing to go ashore in Italy, France and Portugal will be available on board and charged to guest accounts for the cost of $35 for PCR and $25 for Antigen on a per person basis.

 

Shore Excursion Requirements ALL guests

 

• Please be aware that the updated local requirements only allow in-transit guests who are participating in a Holland America Line shore excursion to go ashore in Italy. Self-exploration and independent tours will not be permitted. We invite you to go to our website or visit Exploration Central once on board to see some of the experiences we have available for you in our Italian ports. We will advise you of any applicable changes to the Shore Excursions Program in Italy.
• When embarking in Trieste or going ashore in Italy, please be sure to have the following available to present to local authorities: Original proof of COVID-19 vaccination, negative COVID-19 antigen test, and Italian PLF QR code for non-EU guests.

 

We very much appreciate your understanding regarding the necessary changes and updates to your cruise experience. Our highest priority is protecting the health and safety of our guests, our team members, and the communities we visit. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Once again, we look forward to hosting you on our journey together.

 

Best regards,

 

Holland America Line

 

 Pretty much what I tried to convey in my earlier email .  Sad .

Perhaps the front desk might appreciate that the customers are as blinded as they are by management 

Mary Seas

 

 

 

15 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

We had a letter this morning about our return to Italy.  If we don’t get off the ship in Venice we don’t have to update our PLFs, bu

VictOriann,Surprise you are not ging to venice on october 18 it appears!

WE just got notificatin that the Eurodam is not coming to Venice but is in Trieste for our boarding after going thrugh the Venice cruise terminal.  

They warn that the bus is 2.5 hours with no stops They do not mention your comments about food.

The other news I find outrageous.  HAL announces it is charging for the COVID testing required to get off the ship in Italy,  France and Portugal.  $25-$35 depending on the test required by the government.  I do remember the HAL  statement that COVID testing would be complimentary. WEll some "upper management "  genius considered the lost revenue . Now to get off the ship you must get a new COVID test  before Naples, before Cannes and before Lisbon . Is any one outraged by this new cost thrown in less than a week from embarkation? 

WE tendered to Waitangi and then took the free shuttle bus to Paiha , walked 50 feet to the ferry ticket booth, paid our RT ticket and boarded and left in minutes to Russell . This is a small ferry and goes back and forth all day when ships are in Not expensive and certianly not worth the money to use a shore excursion.

WE walked the whole Island to the beach on the far side Lunch along the water front would be fine We returned to our chip.

We did also walk all of Paiha and the Waitangi historic park.

This was one of the most enjoyable days in the sun for us

Take th ferry and feel the freedom of setting your own pace .

Surprised not to find a thread about the May 16 New York Manhattan departure of the MS Rotterdam to transAtlantic to Rotterdam NL. Is there any one else on this interesting itininery?

is there a Cruise Critic forum or leader?