COVID-19 Entry Requirements

No one said it was going to be easy to cruise these days ... even if the world seems to be moving from a pandemic to an endemic stage for COVID-19.

I received an email from O a few days ago outlining the COVID-19 entry requirements for the various ports of call on our cruise. Missing were Turkey and Greece. But I found those on the O website, so all’s good. I’ve already developed a checklist to deal with each requirement as they come due throughout our cruise.

Bermuda, the first port of call after we sail from Miami, seems to have the most onerous requirements … mostly because we will have to deal with them prior to embarkation. They include a PCR test 96 hours ahead of our arrival at the port of embarkation; an online form that we need to complete 72 hours ahead of embarkation … and for which we need to cough up $75pp; a PCR test on arrival. All doable.

There is one requirement mentioned by O for Bermuda that is confusing, however … mandatory pier-side testing at the Miami terminal on embarkation day. Is this in lieu of the recent 48-hour testing O is requiring of us? Or is this in addition to that test? That is the question. I’ve sent my O contact an email asking for clarification.

The remaining ports are requiring either PCR or antigen testing ... or the completion of a passenger locator form [PLF] ... or both. All but one test will be handled by O at no cost to us. Israel is requiring a PCR test on arrival at our expense … which O may or may not cover.

When all is said and done, between home and our arrival in Piraeus, we will undergo 9 tests and complete 6 online forms. On the latter front, I’ve already completed the forms for Morocco and Malta. The PLF for Italy is pending until after 1 March because the requirement for no-testing is changing then and the form will be updated accordingly. The remaining forms have to be done 24-72 hours in advance of the port arrival … fingers crossed the internet signal on the ship cooperates or that O has an alternative option for paper forms.

As well, we have to complete an online entry form for Turkey … within 72 hours of our flight from Athens. I can deal with that when we are in İstanbul or on arrival in Piraeus, where we have quite a bit of time prior to our flight.

Of course, all this could change between now and when we embark the ship or before we arrive at those ports of call. We’ll be checking the requirements again about five days prior to leaving home. Fingers crossed that any changes are for the better and not the reverse.Lue lisää