Does Azamara allow shore excursions on your own?

[zipcruise]

Hello from Germany,

 

hubby and I are Azamara newbies. We’ll sail the pursuit May 17th from Athens. Including Italian and French ports of call. Does Azamara allow shore excursions on your own or just in the bubble?

Thanks  in advance  for any hints. 

[LeCommandant]

Hi,

Thanks for raising an important question. According to this webpage (https://www.azamara.com/it/booked-guests/before-you-board/explore-well-at-sea/explore-well-travel-requirements), you can go independently ashore in Spain, France, Croatia, among many others. 
 

Italy remains the only big country still preventing entry to independent people going ashore. But this may change from 1st April (we will get news soon). 
 

I really hope we can go independently ashore. In my opinion it is the best way to really explore new areas 😉 

Edited March 18, 2022 by LeCommandant

[KirkNC]

Azamara allows it if the port allows it.

[zipcruise]

Thank you Kirk, so it depends on the individual government’s rules. 

[zipcruise]

And thank you le Commandant  for the helpful link.

[HalifaxYorksCruiser]

I am really hoping that the rules change very soon as I really would prefer to wander around ports of call in Italy independently. 

[Tuscany4]

Italy just announced its mask mandate for inside any buildings will completely cease on May 01 as will the super green pass requirements.

The state of emergency ends on April 01.

I believe that May 01 will also be the date when bubble excursions officially end although I cannot find any info on this in the press.

Fingers crossed.

[LeCommandant]

Let’s hope Italian cruise line do lobbying to change this asap 

[HalifaxYorksCruiser]

18 hours ago, Tuscany4 said:

Italy just announced its mask mandate for inside any buildings will completely cease on May 01 as will the super green pass requirements.

The state of emergency ends on April 01.

I believe that May 01 will also be the date when bubble excursions officially end although I cannot find any info on this in the press.

Fingers crossed.

I’m hoping it will be 1st April as our cruise is on 23rd April. Don’t fancy walking around in a tour party let alone paying for the privilege.

[ma1924]

I just received news from Carolina @ Destination Insider/Private Journeys Specialist, an Azamara shore excursion representative that Italy has ended bubble touring restrictions starting as of now...see email thread.

[HalifaxYorksCruiser]

That’s fantastic news

[LeCommandant]

Oh yeah!! 2 days in Livorno will be fantastic 😉 Let's now book a car to roam there 

[Josephgray1]

Hopefully this information will be updated on the Azamara website. 

[Mrs Miggins]

Looks like great news.  Would love to see some confirmation from elsewhere. 

[zipcruise]

On 3/23/2022 at 12:48 PM, Josephgray1 said:

Hopefully this information will be updated on the Azamara website. 

Azamara Website is. It yet updated…

[zipcruise]

Is not yet… sorry

[Tuscany4]

Sept 2021 info on their website so 6 months old. I don’t think the cruise lines or the airlines are very quick at updating anything covid related. A week is a lifetime when it comes to changing covid rules.

Im assuming that as the mask mandate for indoors is being lifted in Italy on May 01 we will no longer need to wear them for check in.

Regarding bubble tours, it seems it’s the hardest info to find on the internet. If the Italian tour companies have been informed that independent tours are ok then I guess they are the ones that would know first.

[LeCommandant]

In Italy, it should be understood that the end of the "state of emergency" from April 1, 2022 will also mean the end of the mandatory "bubble" circuits. Here you can find an interesting link in Italian: https://blog.ticketcrociere.it/2022/03/22/escursioni-libere-in-crociera-dal-1-aprile/

Edited March 27, 2022 by LeCommandant

[Leo_On_Geo]

12 minutes ago, LeCommandant said:

In Italy, it should be understood that the end of the "state of emergency" from April 1, 2022 will also mean the end of the mandatory "bubble" circuits. Here you can find an interesting link in Italian: https://blog.ticketcrociere.it/2022/03/22/escursioni-libere-in-crociera-dal-1-aprile/

I was just informed that "on your own" tours were avaiable for Italian port for my May cruise.😃

[HalifaxYorksCruiser]

31 minutes ago, LeCommandant said:

In Italy, it should be understood that the end of the "state of emergency" from April 1, 2022 will also mean the end of the mandatory "bubble" circuits. Here you can find an interesting link in Italian: https://blog.ticketcrociere.it/2022/03/22/escursioni-libere-in-crociera-dal-1-aprile/

Google translation 

Free excursions in the Mediterranean from 1st April. An important and long-awaited date for cruise lovers , who will finally be able to decide to visit the destinations independently and not only with the tours organized by the cruise companies. Without prejudice, of course, to compliance with any requirements requested by local authorities with which the operators are in constant contact.

The end of the state of emergency on March 31 brings with it this first novelty in the health and safety protocols of the cruise sector, awaiting further developments in the coming weeks

The excursions in free mode also concern those traveling with unvaccinated children , who can go ashore independently.

MSC Cruises ' managing director Leonardo Massa spoke about free excursions from summer to April 1st  during the 25th edition of BMT in Naples.

And Costa Cruises has also communicated to travel agencies the possibility of returning to visit destinations independently.

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 hours ago, HalifaxYorksCruiser said:

Without prejudice, of course, to compliance with any requirements requested by local authorities with which the operators are in constant contact.

This is the crucial language that is often overlooked.  The most draconian restrictions on cruise tours were never from the central Italian government but from the local port authorities.  That's why no one could ever find the regulations in writing.

[LeCommandant]

In that particular case, the ban of independent excursions in Italy was decided through a Presidential Decree (look at the article 53 of the attached decree...if you are brave enough 😉 )

 

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