TROUBLE ONBOARD MSC SEASHORE/ MED CRUISES

[sidari]

Reports from another social media site says that trouble has broken out with Italian passengers on MSC Seashore due to changes implemented regarding Excursions and the need to have the EU Green Card!

 

 

For the 2021 summer season cruises in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, excursions are now available only to guests with the EU Digital Covid / Green pass certificate.

Everyone over the age of 12 must submit a copy of their EU COVID Digital Certificate / Green Passport in both digital and paper formats to access certain services and activities: museums, restaurants and internal bars and cultural places, open to the public.

For this reason some excursions are open only to the Guests in possession of the said certificate.

Guests not in possession of a valid EU Digital COVID / Green Pass certificate, may alternatively:

- change their excursion - subject to limited availability;

- contact the MSC excursions office on board. (Free test swab will be carried out to obtain the Green Pass).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Guests in possession of the EU Digital / Green Passport Covid Certificate, but travelling with children over the age of 12 not fully vaccinated, will be considered - for the purposes of excursions - as guests not holding the EU Covid Certificate / Green Passport.

[Beamafar]

Thankfully we have ours.  I’ve emailed MSC today to ask them to confirm that we’ll be allowed embark as non-Schengen area residents.  I haven’t seen anything to say that that particular restriction has been lifted for Med sailings.  

[Number34]

1 hour ago, Beamafar said:

Thankfully we have ours.  I’ve emailed MSC today to ask them to confirm that we’ll be allowed embark as non-Schengen area residents.  I haven’t seen anything to say that that particular restriction has been lifted for Med sailings.  

Can you give more detail on what you have? I’m wondering if the  UK NHS version be acceptable?

 

[Beamafar]

We have the EU Covid Digital Certificate (CDC) as EU members. 

[8420PR]

2 hours ago, sidari said:

Guests not in possession of a valid EU Digital COVID / Green Pass certificate, may alternatively:

- change their excursion - subject to limited availability;

- contact the MSC excursions office on board. (Free test swab will be carried out to obtain the Green Pass).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Guests in possession of the EU Digital / Green Passport Covid Certificate, but travelling with children over the age of 12 not fully vaccinated, will be considered - for the purposes of excursions - as guests not holding the EU Covid Certificate / Green Passport.

 

The important part is quoted above.  Every guest can do every excursion, just that those that are not vaccinated need a covid test no earlier than 48 hours before the excursion.  MSC is providing these tests for free, and they will be the same ones you get on embarkation, midway through the cruise and on disembarkation..

 

You can get a EU green pass either through being fully vaccinated, through having recovered from Covid-19 (valid for up to 6 months after recovery) or having a negative test (valid for 48 hours after an antigen test).

 

For non EU visitors the procedure to get a green pass varies by country - for example if you are travelling to France you can provide your vaccine certifcate (e.g. CDC card) by email and get a green pass from the consulate emailed back.

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/coronavirus-statements/article/applying-for-a-covid-certificate-if-you-were-vaccinated-abroad-procedure-for

Edited August 11, 2021 by 8420PR

[KeepSailing]

19 minutes ago, 8420PR said:

For non EU visitors the procedure to get a green pass varies by country

8420PR - do you know if Italy has initiated a similar procedure to obtain digital pass for non-EU?  While I know the US CDC card is considered the equivalent of the EUDCC there, it would be nice to have the digital version for initial stay in Italy/side trips.

 

Thanks for the info on France!

[8420PR]

It looks like you can just present your CDC card as the 'green pass'.

 

 

Source: http://www.italia.it/en/useful-info/covid-19-updates-information-for-tourists.html

COVID-19 DIGITAL GREEN CERTIFICATE TRAVEL AND ACCESS TO CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS

In Italy, the COVID-19 green certificate facilitates attendance at certain public events (such as trade fairs, concerts, sports competitions, parties following religious or civil ceremonies) and access to health care facilities for the elderly (RSA). It is also mandatory when moving into and out of areas that may be classified as "red" or "orange" zones in the absence of valid reasons for work, health or proven urgency.

As of 6 August 2021, everyone over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green certificate to access certain services and activities:

• Restaurants, bars, ice cream parlours and pastry shops for consumption at table indoors
• Performances open to the public, sporting events, both outdoors and indoors
• Museums and places of culture, shows
• Swimming pools and gyms
• Private parties, such as wedding receptions
• Festivals and trade fairs
• Conventions and congresses
• Spas and fitness centres
• Gaming halls and betting shops, bingo halls and casinos

Access to these services and activities is allowed on presenting the EU Digital COVID Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by the health authorities of Canada, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

[marielco]

4 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Thankfully we have ours.  I’ve emailed MSC today to ask them to confirm that we’ll be allowed embark as non-Schengen area residents.  I haven’t seen anything to say that that particular restriction has been lifted for Med sailings.  

My husband and I have our EU covid digital passes but have the same query about being from a non-shengen country. I have e mailed MSC but so far no useful response. I got a reply which said the ship would be sailing!  Hopeless answer as I had basically asked if I would be sailing not the ship 😀

[Beamafar]

Just now, marielco said:

My husband and I have our EU covid digital passes but have the same query about being from a non-shengen country. I have e mailed MSC but so far no useful response. I got a reply which said the ship would be sailing!  Hopeless answer as I had basically asked if I would be sailing not the ship 😀

I’m expecting a similar response 🤣

[ocdb8r]

6 hours ago, sidari said:

Reports from another social media site says that trouble has broken out with Italian passengers on MSC Seashore due to changes implemented regarding Excursions and the need to have the EU Green Card.

 

I don't understand why the Italian passengers would be causing trouble...if they've been vaccinated, they have the EU Green Card (good indefinitely)...if they were tested upon embarkation, they have the EU Green Card good for 48 hours.  It would seem to me non-EU passengers would be the ones concerned as the "EU Green Card" is something a bit more difficult to obtain from outside the EU (but as has been posted above...not that hard).

Edited August 11, 2021 by ocdb8r

[MarkusToe]

The problem occur on day 3 and after...

MSC test these guys and is unable to issue them the test certificates to get the green card

[Twolittleboys]

Okay, stupid question: I am from Germany and have the digital Covid immunization record but have never heard of a "green pass". What exactly is it? I thought the digital Covid immunization would be sufficient.

[Beamafar]

13 minutes ago, Twolittleboys said:

Okay, stupid question: I am from Germany and have the digital Covid immunization record but have never heard of a "green pass". What exactly is it? I thought the digital Covid immunization would be sufficient.

It was originally known as the Digital Green Cert

 

[MarkusToe]

German cov pass will work

[Twolittleboys]

11 hours ago, MarkusToe said:

German cov pass will work

 

Great, I do have that

[DCGuy64]

The restriction on non-Schengen area passengers was lifted last month. The CDC-issued card from the US is being recognized as compatible with/equivalent to the Italian Green Pass.

 

[marielco]

4 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

The restriction on non-Schengen area passengers was lifted last month. The CDC-issued card from the US is being recognized as compatible with/equivalent to the Italian Green Pass.

 

The MSC website is saying the restriction on non-shengen for their Mediterranean cruises  is in force to August 31.  Do you know where you saw that it had been lifted? 

[DCGuy64]

12 minutes ago, marielco said:

The MSC website is saying the restriction on non-shengen for their Mediterranean cruises  is in force to August 31.  Do you know where you saw that it had been lifted? 

Let me be more specific. The Mediterranean cruises are for Schengen area residents and residents of Croatia, Romania, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the USA until August 31. The US was not allowed until July 15, but WAS after that. As a US citizen, that made a big difference to me. Even so, I would contact MSC or my travel agent if I were not part of the groups mentioned above. They may have more information such as when ALL non-Schengen guests will be welcome onboard.

https://www.msccruises.ie/en-ie/Itinerary-Updates.aspx

Edited August 12, 2021 by DCGuy64
added URL