Markanddonna

As I read it, everything depends on where you first embark your cruise. It it is at the port of Athens (Piraeus). I bolded that part. Greece Cruise Protocols Country Requirements Testing must be administered by a verified third party. For cruises originating from a Greece port (i.e. Piraeus and Crete😞 Age Vaccinated Unvaccinated < 12 Nothing required. Nothing required. 12 to 17 Years Nothing required for embarkation NOTE: Guests who are unable to provide proof of completed series of one-dose or two-dose primary vaccination regimen at embarkation will be considered unvaccinated. Unvaccinated guests may be required to test occasionally throughout the voyage if deemed necessary by Greek Authorities. Guests would be responsible for the cost* Nothing required for embarkation NOTE: Guests who are unable to provide proof of completed series of one-dose or two-dose primary vaccination regimen will be considered unvaccinated. Unvaccinated guests may be required to test occasionally throughout the voyage if deemed necessary by Greek Authorities. Guests would be responsible for the cost* ≥ 18 years Nothing required for embarkation NOTE: Guests who are unable to provide proof of up-to-date vaccination regimen, including booster**, at embarkation will be considered unvaccinated. Unvaccinated guests may be required to test occasionally throughout the voyage if deemed necessary by Greek Authorities. Guests would be responsible for the cost* Nothing required for embarkation NOTE: Guests who are unable to provide proof of up-to-date vaccination regimen, including booster**, will be considered unvaccinated. Unvaccinated guests may be required to test occasionally throughout the voyage if deemed necessary by Greek Authorities. Guests would be responsible for the cost* * Approximate cost per Covid-19 Antigen test is $95. The approximate cost per PCR is $199. This cost may vary and is the responsibility of the guest. ** All guests over the age of 18, whose primary COVID-19 vaccination will be beyond 270 days at the time of disembarkation from their voyage, must have a COVID-19 booster prior to embarkation. In lieu of a booster 270 days after the primary series, guests may present a government recognized or official medical Certificate of Recovery. For European Citizens, this would include an EU Green Pass or comparable certificate. For all others unable to present an EU Green Pass (i.e. U.S. citizens) a doctor’s note, plus a laboratory confirmed PCR test result with the proper information (i.e. name, date, date of birth, positive result, etc.) will be accepted.

That's correct. I asked our attendant about that. He said they were to report things like excessive tissue use, a person staying in their cabin too much, etc. We asked when we saw security at someone's door and a sickly woman answered. Interesting what you observe just walking by!

You get that card by cruise ship also.

We booked a last minute TA cruise that sailed in May and all the WWII excursions were booked far in advance. There are no tours at the port like in the Caribbean. Even the private companies were fully booked.

I understand that is still happening for cruises to Israel. We won't know the process or day until we board. I don't know when they would process the passengers for our cruise since our only sea day in day #4. We were able to get off the ship quite early and even agreed on GTI tour days to meet 30 mins early to "get ahead of the tour buses." Israel is typically very efficient and I doubt they want a lot of passengers in the terminal at one time.

Did you find your roll call? Several roll calls have arranged excursions with GTI. We are also using Bein Harim.

Viator is a consolidator and not the actual company who run the tours. Guided Tours Israel is the actual company and highly regarded by cruise critics. We used them in 2019 and were so pleased that we booked them for our upcoming November trip.

Visitors need the backstory. A nun in Germany who had never been to Turkey had a vision of where Mary's house was. Sixty years later, someone searched for it, and low and behold, they found a little ruin of a house. Archaeologists weren't impressed... but some people believe it is authentic. That said, I do believe the Apostle John took Mary to Ephesus. The religiosity there is something to behold.

I did this tour also and while it was wonderful, it wouldn't be offered because of the very short time you are there (6:30-12:30.) Personally, I would eliminate House of the Virgin Mary and the Artemis Temple (now a single column in a field.) Ephesus and the Basilica are wonderful.

I took a private tour of Ephesus which include the Terrace houses in 2019. For the first timer, the house's tour is superior. We are doing the Magnifcent Ephesus tour next month and assume it does not include the houses. It might even be a "see you in three hours" tour since it is only $35. No mention of a private guide.

Does this mean we can board at whatever time we wish?

I read that visitors are to carry their passports while touring in Israel. Most countries just accept other ID like a driver's license. Is that accurate?

We will be arriving at Patmos on a Friday in November between 2PM-9 PM. I have looked all over for specifics on the Cave of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of St. John but have found little, especially hours. It seems they have very limited times. We were hoping to go by taxi but these sites might be closed by the time we get onto the island. I've seen photos and YouTube videos but nothing that can help me plan. This is a tender island. I understand you can walk but that hill looks steep!

I have heard several cruise directors and commedienes from other lines make jokes about the more senior population on HAL. One HAL enthusiast mentioned that HAL cruisers are about 10 years older than other mainstream cruise lines. I'm in my early seventies, so I am not mocking this demographic. Haw accurate is this?