Transatlantic USA to Italy Declaration of Presence form and other docs?

[RSKittens]

We are travelling to Italy via the Celebrity Beyond TA sailing in April, and are trying to figure out the proper requirements/documents for travelling to Italy. It's been hard to find detailed information. I do keep finding the Declaration of Presence form mentioned, is this something we will be giving to fill out while on the sailing? Anyone that has done this kind of sailing before, are there any documents (other than vacc. cards and passports) or special information that we need to know for travelling overseas? Thank you! ❤️

[fruitmachine]

1 hour ago, RSKittens said:

We are travelling to Italy via the Celebrity Beyond TA sailing in April, and are trying to figure out the proper requirements/documents for travelling to Italy. It's been hard to find detailed information. I do keep finding the Declaration of Presence form mentioned, is this something we will be giving to fill out while on the sailing? Anyone that has done this kind of sailing before, are there any documents (other than vacc. cards and passports) or special information that we need to know for travelling overseas? Thank you! ❤️

I think that only applies if you are staying on in Italy and that stay is not in a hotel.  Even then, you have 8 days to register 

 

You will enter the Shengen zone at your first Shengen port of call.  From there on, any movement between Shengen countries is border-free.

[RSKittens]

37 minutes ago, fruitmachine said:

I think that only applies if you are staying on in Italy and that stay is not in a hotel.  Even then, you have 8 days to register 

 

You will enter the Shengen zone at your first Shengen port of call.  From there on, any movement between Shengen countries is border-free.

Thank you! That makes sense and makes me feel a lot better about it. We are staying for 6 days after the cruise before flying home, but it's just in a hotel.

[LB_NJ]

Our first stop is Maderia so that is where we do customs?

[fruitmachine]

19 hours ago, LB_NJ said:

Our first stop is Maderia so that is where we do customs?

Madeira is part of the Shengen zone, so I'd expect that's where any immigration will be done.

[Hlitner]

We assume you are talking about April 2024!  As one who routinely goes to Europe (from the USA) there are not any special documents you need if you have a US Passport.  However, the Schengen counties (think...EU) is in the process of adopting what they call ETIAS, which is a new authorization process that will apply to US Passport holders (and many others) who plan to travel to the EU.  They keep pushing back the implementation date (the latest info is sometime in 2024).  Once implemented this should be a simple online form (and small fee) that must be completed (and approved) prior to traveling to most of Europe.  

 

Clearing EU (Schengen) immigration is really no big deal on a TA cruise.  It will normally be done at your first EU port and may not even involve any kind of face to face.  Hard to know what will happen in 2024, but you would likely need to clear Passport Control at your first EU Port, or this might be handled in the background by your ship (where you turn-in your Passport and it is handled by the ship's Pursers Office.  

 

But for you, the ETIAS is the only pre-cruise issue...if it is adopted.  Currently, without the ETIAS requirement, there is nothing you need to do other than have a valid Passport (it should be valid for at least 90 days after your scheduled departure date from the Schengen area).

 

Speaking of that 90 day validity rule, most experienced travelers like to have at least 6 months of validity on their Passport (from the time they plan to return home).

Hank