Question 1

REQUIREMENTS TO EMBARK

Accepted Answer

Starting from February 12, 2023 all Guests (of any age) are no longer required to provide a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or pre-boarding test. 
  All Crew members are required to be fully vaccinated   and   are regularly screened according to MSC Cruises Health & Safety protocol.  
   
  For more information visit our     FAQ section  .    
   
  Please click    here    to check the requirements for MSC Grand Voyages cruises.

Question 2

OTHER TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Accepted Answer

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there might be international travel restrictions depending on your cruise destination and your country of residence.  
   
 The wearing of face masks is highly recommended. In certain circumstances this recommendation might be due to a mandatory requirement in accordance with applicable health authorities regulations of a country or port of call visited. When ashore, guests must also follow any local regulations regarding face mask usage. These protocols are subject to change. 
   
 Other requirements such as a COVID-19 test a Passenger locator form (PLF) may still be necessary for national or international mobility requirement: it’s every guest’s responsibility to verify this requirement before departure. For more information, it is recommended to check your country’s competent authorities official channels. 
   
  To verify all the required documents, passports and visas for your cruise, please click     here    .  
   
 As during a cruise, you may be exposed to specific COVID-19 risks that may not be usually covered by existing insurance policies, to ensure your peace of mind is strongly recommended – for all new reservations from 1 July 2022 onwards - for all guests to have in place an insurance policy that specifically covers them against COVID-19 related risks, such as cancellation, interruption, repatriation expenses, quarantine, medical assistance and related expenses, as well as hospitalisation. If you have no insurance in place, please note that you might be exposed to additional costs that could not be covered by the Company. 
   
  The insurance should be in place to cover you and your family, from the confirmation of your booking until the end of the cruise, your cruise and flight or your Stay & Cruise package.   
   
  To fully protect you from the above risks, MSC offers a COVID Protection Plan - an insurance policy specifically designed for these COVID-19 risks - that can be added to the cruise whilst making the booking. The   Covid   Protection Plan is applicable to all departures on sales. Before finalizing the reservation, it will be possible to add to the cruise the MSC COVID-19 Protection plan at the price of 25€ per person.  
   
  Alternatively, you may travel with another insurance policy covering the above risks.

Question 3

GOING ASHORE & TRAVELLING BACK HOME

Accepted Answer

Guests are able to go ashore independently according to local requirements which are continually monitored and subject to change. Guests who are travelling with unvaccinated children are also able to go ashore independently. For the best ashore experience, we recommend all guests explore destinations with the comfort, convenience, and safety of an MSC Cruises Shore Excursion, bookable pre-cruise and on board.   
   
  A COVID-19 test or Passenger locator form (PLF) may still be necessary for national or international mobility requirement: it’s every guest’s responsibility to verify this requirement before departure. For more information, it is recommended to check your country’s competent authorities official channels.   It is the responsibility of each Guest to ensure they are in compliance with any local regulations related to COVID-19 testing when returning to their final post cruise destination.

Question 4

MEASURES TO EMBARK

Accepted Answer

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there might be international travel restrictions depending on your cruise destination and your country of residence.Currently the passengers residents in Iran, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore are not allowed to cruise (until October 2022). 
 
  The below requirements are valid for current and following sailings (health and safety measures are subject to change and will adapt according to the evolution of the pandemic).  
     
 Please note that all Guests over 2 years will need to follow the following requirements to be allowed on board:
  
 
     Must provide a certificate of a negative RT-PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours before embarkation. Guests must bring the valid negative test certificate with them to the terminal.  
 
   
  In addition, all Guests over 18 years old must:  
   
 
     Be fully vaccinated with at least two doses of vaccine (for Johnson & Johnson a single dose is accepted). Guests will need to show an EU Covid Digital certificate or equivalent valid documentation. A booster dose is not required but strongly recommended. 
 
   
 OR 
   
 
     Have recovered from Covid-19 within the last 6 months. Guests will need to show an EU Covid Digital certificate or equivalent valid documentation. 
 
   
 OR 
   
 
     Have received only one dose of vaccine and have also recovered from Covid-19. Guests will need to show an EU Covid Digital certificate or equivalent valid documentation. 
 
   
 The original test results certificate or vaccination certificate or recovery certificate must be presented at the terminal (paper or electronic format) and must be in one of the following languages: English, Italian, German, French or Spanish.  The COVID-19 test certificate must contain: guest’s personal data (verifiable with the other travel documents), date of the test, identification / contact details of the centre that performed the analysis, technique used and negative test result.  
   
 To note: Antigen self-test is not accepted for Embarkation. 
   
   Additional Travel Requirements for Israel   
   
  Information for Guests embarking in Haifa (Israel)  
   
 An entry statement must be filled out by all Guests within 48 hours before ship’s departure. The declaration should be filled as an exit statement before departing  https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/. 
   
   
  Information for Guests in transit in Israel  
   
 All Guests must complete and an entry statement before departing Kusadasi  https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/

The original test results certificate or vaccination certificate or recovery certificate must be presented at the terminal (paper or electronic format) and must be in one of the following languages: English, Italian, German, French or Spanish.  The COVID-19 test certificate must contain: guest’s personal data (verifiable with the other travel documents), date of the test, identification / contact details of the centre that performed the analysis, technique used and negative test result.

Question 5

OTHER TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Accepted Answer

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there might be international travel restrictions depending on your cruise destination and your country of residence.  
   
 The wearing of face masks is highly recommended. In certain circumstances this recommendation might be due to a mandatory requirement in accordance with applicable health authorities regulations of a country or port of call visited. When ashore, guests must also follow any local regulations regarding face mask usage. These protocols are subject to change. 
   
 Other requirements such as a COVID-19 test a Passenger locator form (PLF) may still be necessary for national or international mobility requirement: it’s every guest’s responsibility to verify this requirement before departure. For more information, it is recommended to check your country’s competent authorities official channels. 
   
  To verify all the required documents, passports and visas for your cruise, please click     here    .  
   
 As during a cruise, you may be exposed to specific COVID-19 risks that may not be usually covered by existing insurance policies, to ensure your peace of mind is strongly recommended – for all new reservations from 1 July 2022 onwards - for all guests to have in place an insurance policy that specifically covers them against COVID-19 related risks, such as cancellation, interruption, repatriation expenses, quarantine, medical assistance and related expenses, as well as hospitalisation. If you have no insurance in place, please note that you might be exposed to additional costs that could not be covered by the Company. 
   
  The insurance should be in place to cover you and your family, from the confirmation of your booking until the end of the cruise, your cruise and flight or your Stay & Cruise package.   
   
  To fully protect you from the above risks, MSC offers a COVID Protection Plan - an insurance policy specifically designed for these COVID-19 risks - that can be added to the cruise whilst making the booking. The   Covid   Protection Plan is applicable to all departures on sales. Before finalizing the reservation, it will be possible to add to the cruise the MSC COVID-19 Protection plan at the price of 25€ per person.  
   
  Alternatively, you may travel with another insurance policy covering the above risks.

Question 6

GOING ASHORE & TRAVELLING BACK HOME

Accepted Answer

Guests are able to go ashore independently according to local requirements which are continually monitored and subject to change. Guests who are travelling with unvaccinated children are also able to go ashore independently. For the best ashore experience, we recommend all guests explore destinations with the comfort, convenience, and safety of an MSC Cruises Shore Excursion, bookable pre-cruise and on board.   
   
  A COVID-19 test or Passenger locator form (PLF) may still be necessary for national or international mobility requirement: it’s every guest’s responsibility to verify this requirement before departure. For more information, it is recommended to check your country’s competent authorities official channels.   It is the responsibility of each Guest to ensure they are in compliance with any local regulations related to COVID-19 testing when returning to their final post cruise destination.

Question 7

GOING ASHORE & TRAVELLING BACK HOME

Accepted Answer

Guests are able to go ashore independently according to local requirements which are continually monitored and subject to change. Guests who are travelling with unvaccinated children are also able to go ashore independently. For the best ashore experience, we recommend all guests explore destinations with the comfort, convenience, and safety of an MSC Cruises Shore Excursion, bookable pre-cruise and on board.   
   
  A COVID-19 test or Passenger locator form (PLF) may still be necessary for national or international mobility requirement: it’s every guest’s responsibility to verify this requirement before departure. For more information, it is recommended to check your country’s competent authorities official channels.   It is the responsibility of each Guest to ensure they are in compliance with any local regulations related to COVID-19 testing when returning to their final post cruise destination.

Question 8

REQUIREMENTS TO EMBARK

Accepted Answer

Starting from February 12, 2023 all Guests (of any age) are no longer required to provide a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or pre-boarding test. 
  All Crew members are required to be fully vaccinated   and   are regularly screened according to MSC Cruises Health & Safety protocol.  
   
  For more information visit our     FAQ section  .    
   
  Please click    here    to check the requirements for MSC Grand Voyages cruises.

Question 9

DENIED BOARDING

Accepted Answer

We will deny boarding in case of: 
   
 
     Symptoms i.e fever (>37,5 C C / 99.5 F), cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle/body aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat and loss of taste/smell in the 14 days prior to embarkation 
     Potential exposure to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID 19 in the 14 days prior to embarkation 
     Temporary travel restrictions based on local circumstances. For example, certain countries may deny visas or prohibit entry based on travel history or nationality. 
     Failure to provide the proof of the mandatory COVID-19 insurance policy (which must be in English, Italian, German, French or Spanish)

Question 10

HEALTH SCREENINGS & EMBARKATION CHECKLIST

Accepted Answer

As per our stringent MSC Health & Safety protocol, all guests both vaccinated and unvaccinated, will need to undergo some  Health and COVID 19 screenings  including but not limited to a health questionnaire and a contactless temperature check, at the terminal before boarding.
 
 For a seamless embarkation process, please make sure to review our Health & safety measures in place in our terminals and to bring:  
   
 
     A printed copy of the embarkation form (available in your cruise ticket) 
     A printed copy of the mandatory health questionnaire duly completed and signed within 6 hours prior to the embarkation (available in your cruise ticket) 
     The original test results certificate and vaccination or recovery certificate (paper or electronic format)  
     A valid identity document

We will deny boarding in case of:
   
 
     Symptoms i.e fever (>37,5 C C / 99.5 F), cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle/body aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat and loss of taste/smell in the 14 days prior to embarkation 
     Potential exposure to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID 19 in the 14 days prior to embarkation 
     Temporary travel restrictions based on local circumstances. For example, certain countries may deny visas or prohibit entry based on travel history or nationality.

Question 11

COVID-19: MEASURES TO EMBARK FOR RESIDENTS FROM NON-SCHENGEN COUNTRIES

Accepted Answer

Before booking your cruise, please check  HERE  if you are allowed to embark according to your country of residence. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there might be international travel restrictions depending on your cruise destination and your country of residence. 
 
 The below requirements are valid for current and following sailings (health and safety measures are subject to change and will adapt according to the evolution of the pandemic). 
 
Please note that all Guests will need to follow all of these requirements to be allowed on board:  
 
   
 
     All Guests (2 years old and over) need to  provide a certificate of a negative RT-PCR test or antigen test taken within 48 hours before embarkation .    Guests must bring the valid negative test certificate with them to the terminal.  If you embark on your cruise at 15:00 on a Saturday, you should take your COVID-19 test on the Thursday as of 15:00.  
    
        
     
     All Guests (12 years old and over) have to  be fully vaccinated . 
     
    Guests are considered fully vaccinated if: 
        Within the last 9 months and 14 or more days prior to departure they have completed two set of vaccines in accordance with local regulations including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax. A “mix-and-match” combination of the above list of vaccines is also accepted. If more than 9 months (270 days) have passed since receiving the two set of vaccine shots, a booster vaccine will be required to embark. If the booster was done before expiration of the second vacccine (therefore within nine months) it is not necessary to respect the 14 days waiting period before boarding. However, if the booster is taken after nine months from the second dose, it is necessary to have had the booster at least 14 days before the departure date. Guests who received a booster vaccine are exempted from the 9 months restriction.  Fully vaccinated Guests who have recovered from Covid-19 are also exempted from the 9 months restriction.      Vaccination certificates must be valid for the duration of the entire cruise.  Guests who recovered from Covid-19 and received only one shot of the vaccine are considered as fully vaccinated, as long they have got their vaccine shot and have recovered from Covid-19 within the last 6 months   and have a verification certificate or QR Code confirming as such.      Please note: 2 doses of a non European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved vaccine plus an European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved booster (including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax) will be accepted for embarkation only if the booster shot was given within 6 months of receiving the second vaccine shot and administered at least 28 days after receiving the second vaccine shot.   
     Antigen self-test is not accepted for Embarkation  
         
  Important notice for Guests embarking in Valletta (Malta)

- Guests embarking in Valletta (Malta) must: 
   
 
     Be fully vaccinated and provide a negative RT-PCR test or antigen taken within 48 hours before embarkation (only for Guests over 2 years old).  Guests must bring the valid negative test certificate with them to the terminal.    
     Guests are considered fully vaccinated if they received the full set of vaccine shots more than 14 days before the start of the cruise with an approved Covid-19 vaccine in accordance with local regulations including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax. A “mix-and-match” combination of the above list of vaccines is accepted.

The original test results certificate and vaccination certificate must be presented at the terminal (paper or electronic format) and must be in one of the following languages: English, Italian, German, French or Spanish.  The COVID-19 test certificate must contain: guest’s personal data (verifiable with the other travel documents), date of the test, identification / contact details of the centre that performed the analysis, technique used and negative test result.

Question 12

OTHER TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Accepted Answer

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there might be international travel restrictions depending on your cruise destination and your country of residence.  
   
 The wearing of face masks is highly recommended. In certain circumstances this recommendation might be due to a mandatory requirement in accordance with applicable health authorities regulations of a country or port of call visited. When ashore, guests must also follow any local regulations regarding face mask usage. These protocols are subject to change. 
   
 Other requirements such as a COVID-19 test a Passenger locator form (PLF) may still be necessary for national or international mobility requirement: it’s every guest’s responsibility to verify this requirement before departure. For more information, it is recommended to check your country’s competent authorities official channels. 
   
  To verify all the required documents, passports and visas for your cruise, please click     here    .  
   
 As during a cruise, you may be exposed to specific COVID-19 risks that may not be usually covered by existing insurance policies, to ensure your peace of mind is strongly recommended – for all new reservations from 1 July 2022 onwards - for all guests to have in place an insurance policy that specifically covers them against COVID-19 related risks, such as cancellation, interruption, repatriation expenses, quarantine, medical assistance and related expenses, as well as hospitalisation. If you have no insurance in place, please note that you might be exposed to additional costs that could not be covered by the Company. 
   
  The insurance should be in place to cover you and your family, from the confirmation of your booking until the end of the cruise, your cruise and flight or your Stay & Cruise package.   
   
  To fully protect you from the above risks, MSC offers a COVID Protection Plan - an insurance policy specifically designed for these COVID-19 risks - that can be added to the cruise whilst making the booking. The   Covid   Protection Plan is applicable to all departures on sales. Before finalizing the reservation, it will be possible to add to the cruise the MSC COVID-19 Protection plan at the price of 25€ per person.  
   
  Alternatively, you may travel with another insurance policy covering the above risks.

travel requirements for mediterranean cruises

REQUIREMENTS TO EMBARK

OTHER TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

GOING ASHORE & TRAVELLING BACK HOME

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