Summer Cruises in Med?

[commander courageous]

We have a Rome to Venice cruise booked for September 11.

 

At the moment, we are not permitted entry to Italy, though SD has indicated the

Government has said  that in all likelihood the ban will be lifted by early

summer.

 

What is not clear, however, is what quarantine requirements if any, will be

required on arrival, prior to boarding Sea Dream.  At this writing, some visitors

must self quarantine for 10 days in a government approved hotel.  No fun!

 

Now, if the travel ban is not lifted, SD has indicated we can transfer funds 

already paid to a future booking, which is welcome news.  BUT, if the

ban is lifted, the uncertainty with respect to what quarantine might be in

effect gives one pause, and doubt SD would be amenable to transferring 

monies paid if we didn’t want to quarantine ... and we don’t blame them.

 

Those travelling to Italy should look carefully to the ever changing

entry rules and government  papers to be submitted on arrival.

 

 

[JES4845]

On 5/12/2021 at 10:45 AM, BeignetBoy said:

Jes4845... Just wondering, did SD say anything about requiring a negative PCR test 72 hours in advance of boarding?  It seems that it wouldn't be necessary if they are requiring vaccines for everyone?  

 

Thanks again for the posting.

No mention of any testing - just vaccination of all passengers and crew.  That does beg the question of which vaccines qualify since the Chinese vaccine has been less effective by their own admission.  Since EU says it must be an EU-approved vaccine to travel in the EU that should effectively exclude the Chinese or Russian vaccines.

 

[JES4845]

23 hours ago, commander courageous said:

We have a Rome to Venice cruise booked for September 11.

 

At the moment, we are not permitted entry to Italy, though SD has indicated the

Government has said  that in all likelihood the ban will be lifted by early

summer.

 

What is not clear, however, is what quarantine requirements if any, will be

required on arrival, prior to boarding Sea Dream.  At this writing, some visitors

must self quarantine for 10 days in a government approved hotel.  No fun!

 

Now, if the travel ban is not lifted, SD has indicated we can transfer funds 

already paid to a future booking, which is welcome news.  BUT, if the

ban is lifted, the uncertainty with respect to what quarantine might be in

effect gives one pause, and doubt SD would be amenable to transferring 

monies paid if we didn’t want to quarantine ... and we don’t blame them.

 

Those travelling to Italy should look carefully to the ever changing

entry rules and government  papers to be submitted on arrival.

 

 

By all recent accounts I’ve read, Italy and others in the EU are saying if vaccinated with an EU-approved vaccine, which covers the USA shots for us, no further testing or quarantine will be required - they know requiring the vaccinated to quarantine would be a big barrier for the very travelers they are eager to have visit them this summer/fall.

 

[commander courageous]

We are booked to depart Rome on September 11 for Venice.

 

At present, Italy os CLOSED to travel from our country of origin.

 

While SD has said that IF Italy did not reopen, they would credit

the funds we have paid to another cruise ... as it would be

impossible for us to enter Italy to board the ship.  That is more

than fair on the part of SD.

 

BUT, should Italy reopen, we assume we would have to quarantine in Rome

for 14 days in a hotel BEFORE embarking on SD, as visitors

now permitted entry to Italy must do.

 

We love Rome, but can’t envision spending fourteen days in

a hotel BEFORE we can embark on the ship ... and this policy

has nothing to do with Sea Dream and one would assume if

you want to take the cruise, you would have to comply.

 

We have brought this to the attention of SD management,
who are investigating options that might be available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[commander courageous]

Right now, citizens from the US, United Kingdom and Canada can NOT enter

Italy, and many other countries that can, are required to quarantine for up

to TEN DAYS.

 

Yea, this may all change ... Italy may allow tourists BUT still very uncertain

with respect to quarantine requirements in the future.

[JES4845]

11 hours ago, commander courageous said:

Right now, citizens from the US, United Kingdom and Canada can NOT enter

Italy, and many other countries that can, are required to quarantine for up

to TEN DAYS.

 

Yea, this may all change ... Italy may allow tourists BUT still very uncertain

with respect to quarantine requirements in the future.

Like you we are eager to travel - and also like you, we are booked on a fall voyage that includes Italy.  We’ve been keeping in touch with airline sources working on these issues around entry/exit requirements.  You captured the current state of play snapshot, but this is all in flux and being actively worked on.  It is an understatement to say these countries, especially tourist-dependent Italy, are beyond eager to have us visit.  Reading these tea leaves isn’t easy by any stretch, but the odds are in our favor.  I can’t imagine a scenario likely in which they open to vaccinated persons - but then impose quarantine rules on them.  Either they will remain closed - in which case our voyages can’t happen - or Italy and others allow vaccinated travelers to enter/exit without further testing or quarantine.  We should know more within the next two weeks.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by JES4845
Grammar

[napoxoguk]

On 5/13/2021 at 6:25 PM, JES4845 said:

it must be an EU-approved vaccine to travel in the EU that should effectively exclude the Chinese or Russian vaccines.

Now, that would be interesting - thinking about Italy and San Marino here. San Marino is not an EU member, is located smack in the middle of Italy, and the majority of SM population (which, at about 55% vaccinated, currently boasts one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe) has been vaccinated by Sputnik ...

Edited May 16, 2021 by napoxoguk

[JES4845]

Relative to Italy, received emails this weekend from both American and Delta airlines, plus a travel writer in Italy, that those airlines are being allowed to operate and expand quarantine-free flights between the US and Italy.  The flights require multiple tests before departure and possibly on arrival in Italy, but are not based on vaccinations.  In other words, tests required even if vaccinated.  However, there are limits in Italy in terms of curfews and limited restaurant seatings, at least for now.

[JES4845]

Anybody hearing anything one way or the other as to the start of SD voyages in the Med?  The present website schedule says the first voyage is June 16 from Venice on SD2 followed by an Athens round trip departing June 26.  Not clear how feasible these voyages are given all the known travel restrictions and vaccination challenges for crew and passengers, etc.  Hearing all kinds of rumors in both directions - go and no go - so any insights welcome.  We’ve been thinking of trying to do something in the Med this summer but want to be smart about it.  Thanks in advance for whatever you can share.

[ho-hum]

Surprise, surprise 

Edited May 27, 2021 by ho-hum
V

[JES4845]

23 minutes ago, ho-hum said:

Surprise, surprise 

 

Ho-Hum … missing you, your better half and the Australian gentleman … saw your post on another thread here that June 16 from Venice has cancelled … hope you are right about speculation June 26 from Athens will be start of the summer Med season … any further news you can share will be greatly appreciated, as always.  

[Lazy Sailor]

As of June 10th, SeaDream I is still moored in Allesund, Norway and Seadream II in Lisbon, Portugal (according to MyShipTracking.com), and SeaDream website still shows a voyage starting from Athens on June 26th! Sounds optimistic.

Our next booking is for end of September, so hopefully that has a better chance of going ahead in some form or another.

[Lazy Sailor]

Just heard from a good source that 6 of our favourite SeaDream I crew are in transit to Norway! So looks like SeaDream are optimistic.

[laurelguy]

Yay! Yay! Does anyone know if SD is requiring folks to take excursions if they want to go ashore? I'm hearing many ships have this rule in place.

[JES4845]

4 hours ago, Lazy Sailor said:

Just heard from a good source that 6 of our favourite SeaDream I crew are in transit to Norway! So looks like SeaDream are optimistic.

 

Hearing same for SD2 crew - meeting the ship later this week or early next week when SD2 will be en route from Lisbon to Athens for the June 26th voyage.  The SD1 crew going to Norway soon or now is interesting because there are no public voyages on the website for SD1 until middle of August (earlier ones in Spain, Portugal and France were deleted).  Anyone know what’s up - another summer in Norway until mid-August?

[JES4845]

2 hours ago, laurelguy said:

Yay! Yay! Does anyone know if SD is requiring folks to take excursions if they want to go ashore? I'm hearing many ships have this rule in place.

 

Not hearing SD is requiring excursions - those ships doing so are following country and local port rules to protect their local citizens from tourists!

[Reunionmama]

I will be glad when Seadream publishes their guidelines - vaccinations, testing, tours. Heading out in September and there is a lot of fuzziness right now that makes it difficult to plan shore excursions.  
 

and JES - the first SD1 trip I see is Aug 2. 7 weeks doesn’t sound like a lot of time to get the ship ready for passengers and down to the Med. 

 

 

[JES4845]

8 hours ago, Reunionmama said:

I will be glad when Seadream publishes their guidelines - vaccinations, testing, tours. Heading out in September and there is a lot of fuzziness right now that makes it difficult to plan shore excursions.  
 

and JES - the first SD1 trip I see is Aug 2. 7 weeks doesn’t sound like a lot of time to get the ship ready for passengers and down to the Med. 

 

 

 

Pleased to report on very good authority that many key SD1 crew - deck and engine for example - have been on board in Norway for quite some time now - many weeks if not over a month - to get things ready.

 

We too have several upcoming bookings.  Clarity is always preferred over ambiguity, at least ideally.  That said, one has to assume the major cause for fuzziness is the very fluid situation country to country and maybe even port to port as to rules, processes and restrictions.  Totally agree the more SD communication - even to say TBD - the better.

 

[Lazy Sailor]

SeaDream II left Lisbon this morning, next destination Valletta, Malta and presumably en route to Athens to start voyage June 26th?

[JES4845]

On 6/16/2021 at 2:17 AM, Lazy Sailor said:

SeaDream II left Lisbon this morning, next destination Valletta, Malta and presumably en route to Athens to start voyage June 26th?

 

Yes indeed on SD2 - good to see.  Heard many SD2 crew including wait staff are now in Malta awaiting SD2’s arrival June 20 and then on to Greece.  We are booked on the Athens round trip June 26-July 3 and SD confirms it is a GO!  We are working through the testing issues and other requirements now.  SD1 crew are also being recalled to duty in coming days with crew heading to Oslo per reports.  No doubt there will be bumps in the road but this is all progress.  Welcome learning what others are hearing.

 

[Rowaytongirl]

Did the round trip Athens go off on June 26th and if so how was it?  😀