ETIAS for a Mediterranean Cruise

[Cruise till you drop]

It seems like ETIAS is coming in mid 2025 as the system won’t be ready until late 2024 or early 2025

So we’re booked on a 2026 Med cruise and probably have lots of time but does anyone know if the cruise line will take care of ETIAS applications for their passengers or all passengers on their own to do this ?

 

And if I’m on my own, will the cruise line offer any assistance in the application process ?

[SCX22]

That’s a passenger problem.  If the EU makes it as easy as it sounds, applying will be as easy as applying for the Australia or New Zealand ETA, where the hardest part for both is taking a photo of yourself on your smartphone that the App will accept.  The only times the cruise lines help with procuring visas are for countries with visa on arrival like Vietnam.  Cruise lines tend to forgo countries that are hard to get visas for like how India has been dropped from cruise itineraries.

[Charles4515]

33 minutes ago, Cruise till you drop said:

It seems like ETIAS is coming in mid 2025 as the system won’t be ready until late 2024 or early 2025

So we’re booked on a 2026 Med cruise and probably have lots of time but does anyone know if the cruise line will take care of ETIAS applications for their passengers or all passengers on their own to do this ?

 

And if I’m on my own, will the cruise line offer any assistance in the application process ?

You will have to do it on your own. I doubt they will offer any assistance. Passengers are responsible for having the correct documentation. Cruise lines generally don’t take any responsibility except for refusing boarding if you don’t have it. 

[VibeGuy]

The average time to apply for ETAs is something like ten minutes.  With your passport and itinerary in front of you and a payment card handy, it should take even less.  All you’re doing is providing the information that your airline or cruise line would usually provide via manifest, or that the border agent would get on examination, as electronic info before you go to the airport.  It’s nicer to deny admission before you spend the money to get there and it doesn’t put your carrier in the awkward position of having to haul you back to your departure point on their dime.