Italian ports now require shp tours ONLY again!

[lambs2]

NCL just announced  on their site:

 

https://www.ncl.com/sail-safe#d4m1

[kayjaypea42]

Bummer, but not the end of the world. That said, I do wonder how long that will last...

[zanzibargirl]

 

• •  52
• September 18, 2012

• #128   

Posted 9 hours ago

I wonder what that means for excursions such as Capri on your own, where the ship-run excursion drops you off and then picks you up at the end…..On the Sept 13 Getaway from Rome 

[Joanniebop]

Does that mean that you must have an excursion booked through NCL just to be able to get off the ship, in Italy?

[SpainAlien]

2 hours ago, Joanniebop said:

Does that mean that you must have an excursion booked through NCL just to be able to get off the ship, in Italy?

Yes for now. Italy are going to review it again on 31st August

[roxette]

EU citizens can register at EUPLF and register before they travel to Italy. There you can choose Cruise ship as transportation to Italy. So, according to official EU/Italian web sites, EU citizens who are fully vaccinated can travel to Italy and do as you wish.

 

I find this very strange, with such different information from NCL.

 

I do hope that NCL Will add some inexpensive sightseeing tours if passengers must take tours. It will be very, very pricey just to put a foot om land, otherwise.

 

[julig22]

8 minutes ago, roxette said:

EU citizens can register at EUPLF and register before they travel to Italy. There you can choose Cruise ship as transportation to Italy. So, according to official EU/Italian web sites, EU citizens who are fully vaccinated can travel to Italy and do as you wish.

 

I find this very strange, with such different information from NCL.

 

I do hope that NCL Will add some inexpensive sightseeing tours if passengers must take tours. It will be very, very pricey just to put a foot om land, otherwise.

 

It might be due to requirements for visiting other countries also on the cruise.  When covid first hit in 2020 and ships were still sailing, certain ports restricted entry to people who had visited known hot spots for example.

[Fun4Us2013]

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?

[Joanniebop]

6 hours ago, SpainAlien said:

Yes for now. Italy are going to review it again on 31st August

Thank you 

[Gen X Life]

2 hours ago, 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?

This is an EXCELLENT question... Exactly what I was asking in another thread.

 

NCL needs to give information and direction on these issues.. They need to keep clients informed and up to date as to changing protocols and how it effects them..  Not a third party website for information!!

 

I think they are afraid to address these issues with the fear of MORE cancellations ... This is just to many rules and regulations and most people are not aware..

 

No longer fun>>  NOT A VACATION.. IMHO

[soccermom104]

I emailed the tour company I had booked in Naples and they have told me this is NOT true.  They had previously provided this information:

 

Travellers from the Schengen area, Israel, Canada, Japan and the United States can enter Italy without any quarantine obligation, provided that:

1. They fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy

2. They present on arrival a COVID-19 Green Pass issued by the Health Authorities their home country, certifying:

• complete vaccination against COVID-19 performed at least 14 days beforehand
• recovery from COVID-19 and the termination of medical isolation
• negative result for a rapid molecular or antigenic test performed in the 48 hours prior to entry into Italy
•  

Green Passes must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish and can be presented in digital or printed formats.

 

I called NCL Shore Excursions and the woman I spoke to said all they knew was what was posted on the NCL website.  They have been getting many calls about this and have escalated it to a supervisor for clarification, with hopes to provide actual notification from the Italian government that this is the case.  She said to watch the website.  One of the reasons we chose this itinerary was to visit Positano and it does not appear that the NCL shores excursions visit there so I will be very disappointed if this is actually the case.    

[OurAnniversary25]

6 hours ago, 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?

Exactly what I'm worried about!  We arrive two days only!

[soccermom104]

38 minutes ago, soccermom104 said:

I emailed the tour company I had booked in Naples and they have told me this is NOT true.  They had previously provided this information:

 

Travellers from the Schengen area, Israel, Canada, Japan and the United States can enter Italy without any quarantine obligation, provided that:

1. They fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy

2. They present on arrival a COVID-19 Green Pass issued by the Health Authorities their home country, certifying:

• complete vaccination against COVID-19 performed at least 14 days beforehand
• recovery from COVID-19 and the termination of medical isolation
• negative result for a rapid molecular or antigenic test performed in the 48 hours prior to entry into Italy
•  

Green Passes must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish and can be presented in digital or printed formats.

 

I called NCL Shore Excursions and the woman I spoke to said all they knew was what was posted on the NCL website.  They have been getting many calls about this and have escalated it to a supervisor for clarification, with hopes to provide actual notification from the Italian government that this is the case.  She said to watch the website.  One of the reasons we chose this itinerary was to visit Positano and it does not appear that the NCL shores excursions visit there so I will be very disappointed if this is actually the case.    

I've just heard back again from the company we are using in Naples RomeInLimo - we've used them before in Naples and twice in Rome and they are amazing.  Jany - my contact at RomeInLimo - info@romeinlimo.com has been working closely with the local authorities to comply with either the national and local guidelines and protocols to ensure that passengers are safe during their visit. Also, since they are following the Italian government guidelines, they are offering only small groups, private groups, instead of large buses in shared excursions that could potentially be less safe. I highly recommend them.  Hoping this gets cleared up soon.    

[emerald6273]

We're anxiously waiting to see what the Italian PM does on 30th August. We live in Northern Ireland which is still park of UK despite us being separated from UK by the Irish Sea. We actually will be flying to Barcelona from an EU country airport, Dublin in Ireland. Currently UK residents, even if vaccinated have to self isolate for 5 days on arrival in Italy. If this rule is still in force in September,  when we're due to cruise, I couldn't see NCL allowing us on board as there are 4 Italian ports on our itinerary. 

Edited August 17, 2021 by emerald6273

[nikki maestas]

8 hours ago, Gen X Life said:

This is an EXCELLENT question... Exactly what I was asking in another thread.

 

NCL needs to give information and direction on these issues.. They need to keep clients informed and up to date as to changing protocols and how it effects them..  Not a third party website for information!!

 

I think they are afraid to address these issues with the fear of MORE cancellations ... This is just to many rules and regulations and most people are not aware..

 

No longer fun>>  NOT A VACATION.. IMHO

 I agree! I've called a few times about this and each time I'm told something different. Today I was told an e-mail was sent out informing passengers. I haven't received one, has anyone else?

[dowsk]

Soccermom it appears it does not matter what company you use for tours. At this point NCL will not let you off the ship in Italy ports unless you have an NCL excursion booked. However, prior to the cruise and after NCL cannot stop you from going anywhere you want per the Italian Health Ministry guidelines(with proof of vaccination).  This is my understanding after reading the Italian guidelines for US vistors. 

 

I also spoke to NCL today as I am on the 9/13/21 sailing of the Getaway. I spoke to a resolution manager. I was told NCL emailed passengers today and advised of the new excursion rule which was based on the Italian Authorities requirements. I asked When the Italian authorities gave NCL this new requirement and she said she would not/could not answer that. 

 

I explained I did not recieve the email and she said it was my responsibility to check the website daily for new information, not theirs  to send emails. NCL is trying to avoid cancellations and that is the bottom line. 

 

 

 

 

[mapleleaves]

This restriction is probably related to the GREEN CERTIFICATION instituted Aug 1 which restricts access to public places, events, museums,etc

Copied from the Ministry of Health web site.  If you go to the FAQ's, it says visitors from the US can use their CDC vaccination card in lieu of a Green Certif.

 

The COVID-19 Green Certification is required in Italy to participate in parties for civil and religious ceremonies, access to health care residences or other facilities, move in and out of territories classified in "red zone" or "orange zone".

It is also necessary to access any type of catering service at the indoor table, shows, events and sports competitions, museums, institutes and places of culture, swimming pools, gyms, wellness centers, fairs, festivals, conferences and congresses, spas, theme and amusement parks, cultural and recreational centers, gaming halls and casinos, public competitions.

 

Home - COVID-19 Green Certification (dgc.gov.it)

 

Ministry web page - Covid-19, travellers (salute.gov.it)

 

If you're travelling to Italy next month, you should follow the Ministry web site in order to stay current with restrictions.  I believe they will review the situation at the end of August to see if restrictions should be changed.

 

I believe RCI is requiring ship tours also, so perhaps this restriction is a govt stipulation for cruiselines ??

Edited August 17, 2021 by mapleleaves
rc

[dowsk]

Could be a gov restriction except for the fact this restriction for US travelers is clear, you need to show a vaccination card to move freely in Italy. Our ship is mandatory 100 % fully vaccinated so all passengers will have vaccination cards to move freely in Italy. NCL has decided to now tell everyone you cannot get off the ship once on it Italian ports unless it is NCL sponsored excursion. This was not ever told to the passengers and it was not posted on the website until yesterday in fine print for Italy. 

NCL adverstised becuase the ship is 100% vaccinated you can do what ever you want on shore.  So my question is what changed yesterday with the ministry to cause NCL to put this mandate in place now?

[mapleleaves]

RCI has the same requirement, as does MSC and Costa , which is why it seems likely that the govt imposed this restriction on cruiselines if they want to dock in Italy.

Edited August 18, 2021 by mapleleaves
costa

[Gen X Life]

9 hours ago, soccermom104 said:

I emailed the tour company I had booked in Naples and they have told me this is NOT true.  They had previously provided this information:

 

Travellers from the Schengen area, Israel, Canada, Japan and the United States can enter Italy without any quarantine obligation, provided that:

1. They fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy

2. They present on arrival a COVID-19 Green Pass issued by the Health Authorities their home country, certifying:

• complete vaccination against COVID-19 performed at least 14 days beforehand
• recovery from COVID-19 and the termination of medical isolation
• negative result for a rapid molecular or antigenic test performed in the 48 hours prior to entry into Italy
•  

Green Passes must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish and can be presented in digital or printed formats.

 

I called NCL Shore Excursions and the woman I spoke to said all they knew was what was posted on the NCL website.  They have been getting many calls about this and have escalated it to a supervisor for clarification, with hopes to provide actual notification from the Italian government that this is the case.  She said to watch the website.  One of the reasons we chose this itinerary was to visit Positano and it does not appear that the NCL shores excursions visit there so I will be very disappointed if this is actually the case.    

YOUR TOUR OPERATOR IS GIVING YOU FALSE INFORMATION --- I called and was given a different answer... I WAS TOLD YOU WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED OFF THE SHIP IN ITALY  ( AS OF TODAY 8/17/21) WITHOUT AN NCL EXCURSION.  ALL CRUISE LINES ARE AT THIS TIME REQUIRING SHIP EXCURSIONS AGAIN.. 

 

Ncl is trying to avoid answering the QUESTION - because they know this will be the final straw for many and they will CANCEL!! THEY ARE HOPING THIS MANDATE WILL CHANGE BY SAIL DATES, so they are trying to put it out there but keep it quiet!!  Or that people will remain ignorant and not find out until they are on the ship!!

 

We all booked under the option of being able to book our own Excursions.....

 

NOW ALL THE GOOD EXCURSIONS WILL BE GONE!! NOT TO MENTION THE EXPENSE.... 

 

 

[roxette]

But NCL are the only ones that sails 100% vaccinated.

[emerald6273]

2 hours ago, roxette said:

But NCL are the only ones that sails 100% vaccinated.

With UK Seacation departures Princess Cruise are also only sailing with 100% vaccinated passengers. We completed a Seacation cruise last week. 

Edited August 18, 2021 by emerald6273

[Trimone]

I don’t know what the fuss is all about? Just book a NCL excursion, personally I can’t be bothered booking independent tours, the cost difference is minimal and your guaranteed the ship will wait, if you don’t book a tour, the ports in Italy are mostly industrial and not worth walking off.

[roxette]

8 minutes ago, Trimone said:

I don’t know what the fuss is all about? Just book a NCL excursion, personally I can’t be bothered booking independent tours, the cost difference is minimal and your guaranteed the ship will wait, if you don’t book a tour, the ports in Italy are mostly industrial and not worth walking off.

No, you are not. They will make sure you will get to the ship in next available port. But they will not always hold the ship for you. A very common misunderstanding. 

 

I agree with you about the tours otherwise. Same same. But many people want to take the train to Rome ad explorer by themself. And I actually like to walk around in Naples, and have a pizza for lunch. 

[emerald6273]

45 minutes ago, roxette said:

No, you are not. They will make sure you will get to the ship in next available port. But they will not always hold the ship for you. A very common misunderstanding. 

 

I agree with you about the tours otherwise. Same same. But many people want to take the train to Rome ad explorer by themself. And I actually like to walk around in Naples, and have a pizza for lunch. 

I think NCL are so restricted by the Italian PM restrictions and are trying to respond to the ever changing rules. Itinerary change avoiding Italy probably wouldn't even be an option for them as at this stage they would struggle with port availability.