Italian ports now require shp tours ONLY again!

[mpk]

On 8/24/2021 at 1:48 AM, hank_moody_pl said:

You can find this regulation in italian DPCM from March 2, 2021. Point 53, paragraph 5: "Stopovers are permitted only in the states and territories listed in lists A, B and C of Annex 20 and free excursions are prohibited, for which the cruise services cannot adopt specific measures to prevent contagion. "

 

I don't know why, NCL, knowing this rule, was still advertising the cruise with the slogan: "No Restrictions on Shore Excursions, Feel Free to take the shore excursion you've been dreaming of or explore on your own!"

 

We can say that they cheated on us by selling West Mediterranean cruises without telling us what the truth is.

 

I checked the Italian website, and this section has not changed, as far as I can tell.  Particularly interesting is that Lists A, B, and C does not list USA.  So USA travelers couldn't even use a bubble excursion sanctioned by NCL, if you read the regulation strictly.

 

This March 2021 regulation is way out of step with the May2021 loosening of requirements for USA tourists.  The loosening provides that no self-isolation is required, just vaccination card and negative test.

 

I guess cruise lines are treated differently for some reason, or more likely, ignored.  Local Italian tour operators that cater to cruise passengers should be angry and protesting this uneven treatment.

[zdcatc12]

1 hour ago, mpk said:

 

I checked the Italian website, and this section has not changed, as far as I can tell.  Particularly interesting is that Lists A, B, and C does not list USA.  So USA travelers couldn't even use a bubble excursion sanctioned by NCL, if you read the regulation strictly.

 

This March 2021 regulation is way out of step with the May2021 loosening of requirements for USA tourists.  The loosening provides that no self-isolation is required, just vaccination card and negative test.

 

I guess cruise lines are treated differently for some reason, or more likely, ignored.  Local Italian tour operators that cater to cruise passengers should be angry and protesting this uneven treatment.

Based on the prices that NCL was charging for captive Italy tours, I am sure that they are in no hurry to get the rule changed.

[Twolittleboys]

5 hours ago, zdcatc12 said:

Based on the prices that NCL was charging for captive Italy tours, I am sure that they are in no hurry to get the rule changed.

Not so sure - I do think some people are deterred from cruising due to the regulation and I also think there are a lot of complaints.  So overall it might not be to the benefit of cruise companies.

[cwatts15]

On 8/17/2021 at 5:15 AM, Fun4Us2013 said:

Here’s an interesting side note. Wonder how this will affect people, like us, who plan on a 2 day stay over in Rome after the cruise? Will we be allowed and if so what will we be able to do and see?

Wondering the same thing? Has anyone recently done a post cruise extension in Rome? Any problems? what about the return Covid test for US?

[vinob]

WE are on the Getaway later this month, having left it til mid Sept to book  instead of constantly been cancelled.  We were advised can only leave the ship in Italian ports using NCL's tours, They are all quite expensive for what they are and as we did Naples with RCL in 2019 we may just do Florence.   I have queried with NCL that several of the excursions are misleading as they still say you will have free time on your own, they've confirmed that's not the case, but there doesn't appear to be any reduction in their hefty prices nor is there anything saying the free time will be replaced with additional places to visit.  They need to get their act together, they said they would pass on my query to the excursions team. I just keep hoping something will change in the next couple of weeks and that we will be allowed off ship on our own.

[_Mr.G_]

We just got of the Epic last week and had a rather strange experience with the Italian Bubble Tour "Escorted Day in Capri". Upon arrival in Capri with the ferry, the Italian tour guide charged everyone 20 Euro "Cash only" in order to get on a bus and further information from her. Otherwise everyone was free to roam Capri until meeting again 4hrs later for the ferry trip back to Naples.

 

We and about 1/4 of the participants were free and left the Tour Bubble and wandered around Capri without limitations. That was wired and we did not expect to be charged during the tour in order to attend the further tour. Also it was not in the NCL description that there were further costs. Did anyone experience the same in Capri?

 

Apart from that, we did have a great time in Capri 😉

Edited October 5, 2021 by _Mr.G_

[zdcatc12]

7 hours ago, cwatts15 said:

Wondering the same thing? Has anyone recently done a post cruise extension in Rome? Any problems? what about the return Covid test for US?

Yes, did two days before and two days after with no restrictions. Just needed to show our vaccine cards at some places. At the Vatican and Colosseum, I saw ship "bubble" tours going on while we were on our own.

 

 As for the test, they gave us one on the ship the day before (Tuesday) we disembarked. Even with two more nights in Rome, it was still within the time to use the results for the return to the US.

[zdcatc12]

4 hours ago, vinob said:

WE are on the Getaway later this month, having left it til mid Sept to book  instead of constantly been cancelled.  We were advised can only leave the ship in Italian ports using NCL's tours, They are all quite expensive for what they are and as we did Naples with RCL in 2019 we may just do Florence.   I have queried with NCL that several of the excursions are misleading as they still say you will have free time on your own, they've confirmed that's not the case, but there doesn't appear to be any reduction in their hefty prices nor is there anything saying the free time will be replaced with additional places to visit.  They need to get their act together, they said they would pass on my query to the excursions team. I just keep hoping something will change in the next couple of weeks and that we will be allowed off ship on our own.

On our Epic sailing, we needed to stay in the group except for the Amalfi tour, we had a few hours on our own there. In  Florence and Sardinia, they were strict about staying in the group. While onboard, we got notified of our Sardinia tour being 90 minutes shorter due to no more free time. So they are changing it for some tours. I'm not sure if free time was advertised on our Florence/Pisa tour.

[oliver67]

9 hours ago, _Mr.G_ said:

We just got of the Epic last week and had a rather strange experience with the Italian Bubble Tour "Escorted Day in Capri". Upon arrival in Capri with the ferry, the Italian tour guide charged everyone 20 Euro "Cash only" in order to get on a bus and further information from her. Otherwise everyone was free to roam Capri until meeting again 4hrs later for the ferry trip back to Naples.

 

We and about 1/4 of the participants were free and left the Tour Bubble and wandered around Capri without limitations. That was wired and we did not expect to be charged during the tour in order to attend the further tour. Also it was not in the NCL description that there were further costs. Did anyone experience the same in Capri?

 

Apart from that, we did have a great time in Capri 😉

Yes, on my Epic tour two weeks ago, it was the same show. But the bus was optional and you could easly just walk off. I just did it on my own by funicular und public bus. So it was 6 Euros for transportation in total. 

[Yinster]

12 hours ago, _Mr.G_ said:

 Upon arrival in Capri with the ferry, the Italian tour guide charged everyone 20 Euro "Cash only" in order to get on a bus and further information from her.

Sounds dodgy. Was there any instructions beforehand this was required. To pay euros for a bus?

[GizmoCat]

On 10/6/2021 at 11:49 AM, Yinster said:

Sounds dodgy. Was there any instructions beforehand this was required. To pay euros for a bus?

It was basically to make life easier - you paid 20 euros and were transported by minibus to the very top of the island to Anacapri and given an hour or so to wander around.  I went up and then took the chairlift to the very top which was amazing - well worth the 12 euros that cost.  The group were then transported down to Capri town and left for a couple of hours.  We were given a ticket for the funicular to get back down to the port area and met at 3pm for the hydrofoil back to the ship.  Yes it cost more than it would do to get the local bus/funicular however a lot of people feel unsure about getting local transport/ how long it takes etc so at least it was an option.  The extortionate cost of the trip compared to just getting the ferry over (would have been 36 euros) is the most annoying thing about it though!!!

[steamboats]

Wow, I´ve been to Capri many times and used the public buses there. Last time one ticket (same as for the funicular) was 1.80 Euro. Yes, there are timetables for the buses and no, I´ve never seen running on of those buses on time. Anway it never was a problem to get around. No way I would pay 20 Euro.

 

steamboats

Edited October 12, 2021 by steamboats

[NolesFan98]

We just booked the Epic in June 2022. I am hopeful that some things will change in the Italy rules. I have already decided to skip getting off in Naples if it hasn't, since I  was there on a previous cruise. 

[pnm655]

Was on the September 23rd Getaway cruise. Here is my thoughts. At Naples I did the escorted Pompeii trip. I bought a skip the line and audio guide ticket ahead of time.  Highly recommend because the ticket office no longer gives out maps. The audio guide has a map and a gps function. Where you are shows up as a blue circle on the map. Tested the function walking around at is very accurate. The audio guide has a playlist function where each item has a thumbnail picture and and title. I started looking at the thumbnail pictures first to determine what to see and then went to the map.

 

The bus drops you off at the lower entrance I had to walk up a small hill to the upper entrance to use the ticket.

 

At Livorno I did the Pisa and trolley ride tour. Would not recommend. The guided tour only covers the outside of the buildings. If you want to see the inside of the buildings you have to buy the ticket and there is not enough free time to see the inside of the cathedral. The cathedral is timed entry guided tour. I should have paid for the escorted Pisa trip and bought my own ticket.

Guide tried to force everyone to go to a bar restaurant/cafe. Several of us argued with him that the tour is supposed to include an hour of free time. He finally gave in and some of us went on our own. But we only had half an hour by then.

[hawkeyetlse]

On 10/14/2021 at 1:35 AM, pnm655 said:

The bus drops you off at the lower entrance I had to walk up a small hill to the upper entrance to use the ticket.

 

Which entrance did you buy your skip-the-line ticket for? And how did you know what time you would be arriving? Or are they not very strict about the timed tickets? Thanks!

[The Traveling Man]

We are on the Epic now and have taken tours to Capri and Pisa.  Masks were required except when eating or drinking, but several on the tour “forgot” to put them back on afterward.  We were given an hour or so of free time to shop or explore on our own on each tour.  We arrived in Rome a week before the cruise and travelled without restrictions around Rome as well as by bus and train to Anzio, Florence, Luca, Sienna, and Civitavecchia.  To comply with NCL’s guidelines regarding compensation if we tested positive during embarkation, we got pre-tested at a pharmacy in Sienna two days before we got on board the Epic.  It cost 20 Euros each for the assurance that NCL would take care of things in case we tested positive at the pier.  Most every restaurant, museum, and other indoor locale requires you to wear a mask, and most are quite strict about it.  You need to show your proof of vaccination to be seated indoors at restaurants or bars, and some require it even if you sit outdoors.  A bit of a hassle, perhaps,  but not a total lockdown as some have suggested.

[jay3bar]

Various websites mention rules that were in effect until October 25.  Is anyone aware of whether the rules have been updated or changed at all?  We board Epic on November 11 and reach Italy on the 17th (Catania).  As we have already done excursions from Naples we'd really like to be able to simply walk around in the city, as we will in Rome once we disembark the ship.

[julig22]

1 hour ago, jay3bar said:

Various websites mention rules that were in effect until October 25.  Is anyone aware of whether the rules have been updated or changed at all?  We board Epic on November 11 and reach Italy on the 17th (Catania).  As we have already done excursions from Naples we'd really like to be able to simply walk around in the city, as we will in Rome once we disembark the ship.

I can't say what rules are in effect but I can tell you my experience.  On my tour out of Napoli, our guide told us the restrictions were regional/city specific.  My tour took us to Sorrento and Pompeii and we were allowed to roam free in those cities.  Our guide for Pompeii said not really true but also gave us plenty of free time to explore on our own.

[steamboats]

1 hour ago, jay3bar said:

Various websites mention rules that were in effect until October 25.  Is anyone aware of whether the rules have been updated or changed at all?  We board Epic on November 11 and reach Italy on the 17th (Catania).  As we have already done excursions from Naples we'd really like to be able to simply walk around in the city, as we will in Rome once we disembark the ship.

 

So far I haven´t heard anything different yet. Currently on the Harmony of the Seas there are still cruise ship tours only in Italy.

 

steamboats

[steamboats]

I found the new Decreto (in Italian) which is valid Oct 26th til Dec 15th. But actually I can´t tell you whether something has changed regarding the shore tours. Cruise ships are not mentioned in this new Decreto but this is only changing older ones and so far I wasn´t able to find out whether the part about the cruise ships and shore tours has been skipped or not.

 

steamboats

[jay3bar]

My travel agent called Norwegian today, they told her still ship tours only.  Thanks to all who have responded, please let me know if you find any changes this week.

[pasto5]

On 11/15/2021 at 9:03 AM, riffatsea said:

 

Edited February 3, 2022 by pasto5
Delete post- wrong message

[RaRaGranPhil]

Does anyone have an update on this, now that restrictions seem to be easing in other areas in Italy (such as, no longer have to test before entry into the country if you are vaccinated and boosted)?

[steamboats]

10 hours ago, RaRaGranPhil said:

Does anyone have an update on this

 

Looks like the state of emergency will expire March 31st and not prolonged. MSC announced now that the passengers are free to go out on their own by April.

 

steamboats

[GOTTODOIT]

12 hours ago, steamboats said:

 

Looks like the state of emergency will expire March 31st and not prolonged. MSC announced now that the passengers are free to go out on their own by April.

 

steamboats

 

Great news Steamboats,   thank you for posting