Civitavecchia Port Covid rules

COVID-19. Here are the new rules for entering Italy

The new rules from March 2022: basic green pass and no quarantine to enter Italy

The new rules for entering Italy

The anti-Covid 19 vaccine is no longer needed to enter Italy. On March 1, 2022, the new ordinance signed on February 22, 2022 by the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza came into force, softening the existing rules until February 28. Any traveler or tourist who comes, for example, from Australia, Japan, the US or Canada must observe the same rules that apply to European citizens.

The state of emergency expires on March 31 and the Italian government has already said that it will not be renewed.

The ordinance of the Ministry of Health

The new rules for entering Italy were established by the Ministry of Health with an ordinance of 22 February. “Starting from March 1, 2022, for arrivals from all non-European countries, the same rules already in force for European countries apply.

One of the conditions of the green pass will be sufficient for entry into the national territory:

  1. vaccination certificate,
  2. recovery certificate, or
  3. negative test “.

This means that the vaccine is no longer mandatory.

Stop quarantine (but not always)

The order of the Ministry of Health also provides for a stop to quarantine for those arriving in Italy from non-EU countries. The measure remains for those who do not present one of the three required certificates (vaccination, recovery or negative test).

Should it be necessary, the quarantine must be observed for 5 days at the address indicated in the Passenger Locator Form (Plf). At the end of the quarantine, a molecular or antigenic swab must be done, which means that the vaccine is no longer mandatory.

new rules for embarking cruise

COVID-19. Here are the new rules for going on a cruise

Many people ask us at Civitavecchia Port: are there still cruises of the past (before Covid 19)? The cruises in which you went around the seas of the world and got off at every port. Where on board you jumped between buffets and pools, slides and karaoke, pecked between theaters and endless long drinks. Cruises where you posed with the captain, and at the gala you were ready to show off your best suit.

We at the Port of Civitavecchia answer: yes and no. Because unfortunately there are many limitations compared to pre-Covid cruises, but the cruise passenger is aware that he is in a sort of bubble, where the coronavirus is kept very far away. Going on a cruise today is the safest holiday!

Let’s see how the major cruise lines are adapting embarking protocols.

Covid rules for embarking MSC Cruises

On MSC Cruises you can only travel if you have a complete vaccination cycle certification. MSC Cruises has extended, starting from 4 December, the measures already adopted for winter travel in other regions to itineraries in the Mediterranean – therefore including the Port of Civitavecchia.

Guests on all ships in the fleet must be vaccinated against Covid-19 and carry out a Covid-19 test within 72 hours prior to the scheduled embarkation date. The new rule applies to all guests aged 12 and over, and adds to the existing health and safety measures introduced by MSC Cruises in summer 2020, which today form the basis of a protocol that has become a model worldwide.

Any booked guest who will not be fully vaccinated in time for their departure date can choose to postpone their MSC cruise to a later date or request a refund. It seems to us a very flexible and correct decision.

We at Civitavecchia Port believe that the Covid-19 test before boarding, in particular, constitutes an additional safety element that offers all guests and crew the highest level of protection.

Covid rules for embarking Celebrity Cruises

From February 1st, Celebrity Cruises will introduce additional security measures, even more stringent than MSC. In fact, the company will require coverage with a complete vaccination cycle even for children aged 5 and over to board their ships. For children under the age of 2 to 4 years, a negative response from the Covid-19 test performed before boarding will be required.

Celebrity Cruises is the second company, in chronological order, to adopt such a stringent protocol, after Disney Cruise Line, which established the vaccination requirement for children aged 5 and over for cruises from January 13, 2022 onwards. A choice made after the approval on November 2, 2021, by the CDC, of ​​the use of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.

Covid rules for embarking Royal Caribbean

The provisions panel is constantly evolving. Consider, for example, Royal Caribbean, which belongs to the same Group as Celebrity, currently allows unvaccinated children to sail, as MSC Cruises is regulating: for ages up to 11 you can get on board by presenting a Covid test negative.

Covid rules for embarking Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises

On the other hand, brands such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises allow children between 5 and 11 years old on board only if vaccinated, as a consequence of the choice of having only passengers with the complete vaccination cycle, without exception. The consequence is that, for these two companies, children under the age of 5 will not be able to board the ship. A decision that leaves us definitely surprised

MSC Magnifica returns to sail safely, with Covid-19 tests to be done before boarding the ship

MSC Magnifica sailed on October 19 from the Port of Genoa, making it the second MSC Cruises ship to resume operations since the Company returned to sail safely in mid-August. MSC Cruises has introduced a rigorous health protocol, which was done together with international experts, and with the collaboration of the Italian authorities.

MSC Magnifica will embark in the four Italian ports of Genoa, Livorno (for excursions to Florence and Pisa), Messina and Civitavecchia (Rome). Thanks to boarding from the Port of Civitavecchia, this 10-night cruise (a stopover in Piraeus for the visit to Athens, Katakolon for Olympia, Valletta in Malta) is easily accessible for guests residing in Schengen countries, only ones who can currently take part in the cruise in this first phase of resumption of operations.

MSC Cruises’ health and safety protocol includes universal health screening of all guests and crew, with Covid-19 tests to be carried out before boarding the ship; high hygiene, sanitation and cleaning measures throughout the boat; social distancing; mandatory wearing of masks in public areas and on-board contact tracing technology. In this initial phase, the ship’s capacity was also reduced to 70% to ensure social distancing on board.

By the end of the year, the ship is planning a total of six Mediterranean cruises, including a special 8-night Christmas trip that will depart Genoa on 18 December.

Coronavirus. What cruise lines are doing to mitigate the effect of the emergency on reservations

Cruise companies focus on discounts to mitigate the effect of the Coronavirus emergency on bookings, and put in place different discount options that can be estimated, depending on the cruise companies, in a range between -10 and -25% .

Certainly the cruise sector is not helped by the news that a ferry for the transport of vehicles and passengers, the Gnv Rhapsody, now stopped on site in Genoa for maintenance, has been placed in isolation at the Port of Genoa, with 50 crew members on board, after a passenger, who landed in Tunisia on February 27, tested positive for the virus.

What is Costa Crociere doing now?

Costa Crociere, for example, launches several promotions, including Voglia d’estate, which allows you to book an all-inclusive cruise with the possibility of free cancellation until April 30. While Costa Club Members (including new members) by 8 March can book and cancel without penalty until the end of May, also enjoying a 25% discount on the cabin price.

Finally, for all new reservations, it is possible to book an external cabin at the internal price, or one with a balcony at the external price. Other companies, such as MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise line, are also running a promotion campaign.

What is MSC doing now?

In particular MSC, for all individual bookings already confirmed and for new confirmations by March 31st, allows you to withdraw from the contract within 21 days on the departure date with a practical management charge of 50 euros per person. The promotion is valid for the departures of March April May and June. In addition, for bookings until March 15, the Aponte group company offers the possibility to book a cruise with 50 euro deposit (per person) and a 25% deposit to be paid 60 days from the departure date.

Our opinion

Almost all companies are making discounts ranging from 10% to 25%. All companies are applying the utmost attention from the health point of view. Those who board, for example, must fill in a document certifying that they have not been in areas or countries at risk.

Currently booking a cruise is an excellent opportunity to tick off a great discount!