Greece Travel Requirements
Preparing for Your Cruise
Know Your Country's Additional Requirements
Below are the latest Greece travel requirements for visitors as of July 28, 2021. For the best cruise experience, be sure to look into local health authority or government travel advice regarding any requirements your own home country may have for exiting or re-entering its borders. For more information, please click here.
Cruising from Greece
The protocols communicated here apply only to guests departing from Greece in August and September. We will continue to update these protocols as public health guidelines evolve. Guidance for all other departure ports is still in development with federal, state, and local authorities. Booked guests will be provided full details specific to their port of departure prior to sailing.
Vaccination Requirements
All guests of vaccine-eligible age departing from Greece must be vaccinated in order to join us on board.
Vaccinated Guests
- As of August 1, 2021, all guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. Acceptable proof of vaccination must be in the form of the original vaccination record document issued by the country’s health authority or healthcare provider that administered the vaccination.
- Crew members onboard will also be vaccinated.
- Proof of a negative test is not required for all travelers that have completed their vaccination (i.e., 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the dose required) and hold a vaccination certificate.
Travel Documents Checklist
- Proof of Vaccination
For the health and safety of all on board, at the terminal, all guests 12 and older will be required to provide proof of full SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, with the date of your final vaccination at least two weeks before your sail date.
Verified documentation should be in the form of the original vaccination record document issued by either (1) the country’s health authority that administered the vaccination (e.g., U.S. CDC’s Vaccination Record Card) or (2) the guest’s medical provider that administered the vaccination.
- PCR Test Result
Travelers must provide evidence of a negative result from a PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 that has been conducted within the 72 hours period before your arrival time in Greece. Proof of a negative test is not required however for all travelers that have completed their vaccination(i.e., 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the doses required) and hold a vaccination certificate.
- Tourists must fill in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) no later than 11:59 PM the day before arriving in Greece. For more information, please click here.
- Passport
Guests of all ages must have a passport book (not card) valid for at least 6 months after the date you will be returning to your home country.
- Visa
All guests must ensure they check their visa requirements for entering Greece and the ports of call included within the itinerary.
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What vaccines are accepted?
Vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) are accepted. Please be aware that certain countries we sail from or visit during a voyage may require a specific vaccine, and only those travelers vaccinated with the requisite vaccine will be considered fully vaccinated. Be sure to review your departure country's requirements or consult our guest materials prior to sailing for these requirements.
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Will I be considered fully vaccinated if my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is from one manufacturer and the second dose is from another?
Following CDC guidelines, Azamara will consider a guest fully vaccinated with proof of vaccination that can include mixed doses of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines. Guests sailing on Azamara Quest sailing from Athens can have mixed doses that include AstraZeneca as long as the AstraZeneca dose is administered first, and then either the Pfizer or Moderna dose within 8-12 weeks. No other mixed vaccine doses will be accepted.
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If I lost my original vaccination card, but am able to show electronic proof of vaccination on a government sponsored site/app, will that be accepted as proof of vaccination?
Yes, if a guest can furnish proof from the government site or app, we will accept as proof of vaccination.
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What if I or someone in my party is not able to receive a vaccine?
We understand that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine may not be a possibility for some guests because of medical restrictions or other personal reasons. While we value each of our loyal guests, Azamara is responsible for the collective safety and wellbeing of all who sail aboard our vessels and therefore, at this time, we are unable to accommodate any guest who cannot be vaccinated. Azamara will continue to monitor recommendations by global public health experts.
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What if I’m on a back to back voyage? When I debark the first leg of my voyage, would the testing requirement fulfill the second leg of the voyage?
The same test that guests will have to undergo during debark will be valid for the next cruise as the embarking test.
What to Expect on Boarding Day
Please wear your face mask at all times during the boarding process and maintain social distancing.
Testing & Screening Requirements
Pre-Arrival Testing
- Country Entry: Travelers arriving from Canada, Japan and USA must provide evidence of a negative result from a PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 that has been conducted within the 72 hours period before your arrival time in Greece. Proof of a negative molecular or antigen swab test is required. Children that are of age 5 and under are exempt from the pre-departure swab test. There currently is no requirement for testing prior to arrival for Israeli citizens. Isolation for 5 days and subsequent testing is required if travelers arrive without proof of a negative test.
- Early Country Entry: If visiting Greece earlier, be sure to comply with the 72-hour time period or a second test may be required prior to boarding.
- Boarding the Ship in Italy: An additional SARS-CoV-2 rapid test will be conducted upon arrival for guests 2 years of age or older.
Terminal Screening
- All guests above the age of 2 will be required to complete a SARS-CoV-2 Rapid (antigen) test prior to boarding. Azamara will provide tests at the pier and will ensure all guests are pre-registered upon arrival for the test. Results will be provided via email.
- All guest documents, including the pre-arrival Health Questionnaire and a recent negative SARS-CoV-2 rapid polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result, will be verified and processed.
- Additionally, proof of vaccination will also be verified and processed.
All Guests
All guests must take either a RT-PCR/Antigen test to board the ship. The wait time for results will take up to 15 minutes.
Arrival Time
For the best boarding experience, please make sure to check-in online only before your voyage and arrive only during your scheduled time.
Wellness Screening
At the terminal, you will complete a simple Health Questionnaire. Additionally, we will process your pre-arrival SARS-CoV-2 negative test—with a 15-minute waiting period— prior to boarding, as well as conduct a temperature check. If you are feeling flu-like symptoms or have a fever above 100.4 F, a second screening will be administered.
Check-in At Pier
Proceed to check in.
Boardway
Proceed to the gangway to board the ship.
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When can I check-in for my cruise?
The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities in which we operate are our top priority. We are guided by the recommendations of our Healthy Sail Panel and the requirements of countries where we sail. We will provide clear communication about what you need to know for your cruise in advance of your sail date, including check in dates, health and safety information, and the shore excursions available for your cruise. Our cruise check-in window opens closer to your sailing date, which differs from our traditional check-in timeline.
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What is the definition of a traveling party?
The term "traveling party" can include guests traveling in the same stateroom or reservation; guests traveling in multiple staterooms or as part of multiple reservations; as well as guests we determine to be legally or socially related or proximate in any way, at any time prior to or during the voyage, for any duration of time. It is important to note that contact tracing may deem you or someone in your traveling party a "close contact" of another guest if you were within 6 feet of someone infected with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes in one day). If you are found to meet this contact threshold, certain actions may be required for your safety and the safety of your fellow guests.
When it’s time to check in, it’s recommended guests check in using our website up to 48 hours before sailing. Azamara requires guests to be checked in no later than 60 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time. Guests arriving late will not be permitted to sail.
When you check-in at the terminal, show your Xpress Pass to the terminal agent to scan and complete the check-in process.
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If I'm denied boarding at the pier or arrive late, can I board the ship at the next port?
No, due to the specific boarding day processes required to evaluate the health of everyone onboard, we cannot have guests join the cruise downline once the sailing has embarked.
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If I’m vaccinated and in the same traveling party as an unvaccinated guest who tests positive for Covid-19 at the terminal, what is the protocol?
Vaccinated Guests in the same traveling party as the unvaccinated guest who tested positive for Covid-19 must be tested at embarkation with a negative result in order to board the ship.
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Am I able to get off of the ship once I’ve boarded to explore the city, as long as I return before the boarding time closes?
No, once a guest boards the ship they may not disembark. We require all guests to remain onboard.
Onboard Experience
Guest Safety Briefing
This new briefing streamlines the traditional muster process, making the key elements of the safety drill available on a more personal basis. As soon as you arrive onboard, you will be escorted directly to your muster station, where a member of the ship’s team will go over the safety information in person, including what to expect, where to go in case of an emergency, and how to properly use a life jacket.
Key-in-Room
Keys will be waiting in your stateroom for convenience and quick access.
Mask Guidance
Masks are required indoors when physical distancing isn't possible including public areas, terminals, and during shore excursions. Guests will not be required to wear masks in staterooms, while dining, or in outdoor areas when physical distancing is possible.
Physical Distancing
Guests must maintain 6 feet between travel parties.
Shore Excursions
Views on independent exploration by international visitors vary by country and by departure port. This remains a very fluid situation. Guests visiting Athens, Mykonos, Heraklion, Santorini, Rhodes, and Cyprus will be able to go ashore either on an Azamara shore excursion or independently, at their leisure. All guests must follow local health and safety requirements.
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Will I be required to wear a mask while onboard and when going ashore?
Public health experts agree that proper physical distancing and the use of facemasks are effective in helping reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Face masks may be required for all guests and crew while onboard our ships, depending on conditions at time of sailing. We’ll continue to evaluate protocols and make updates as public health standards evolve.
All guests and crew sailing to Greece will be required to wear face masks when physical distancing isn’t possible including indoor public areas, terminals and during shore excursions in accordance with the Healthy Sail Panel and CDC latest recommendations. Guests will not be required to wear masks in their staterooms, while dining in restaurants or in outdoor areas where physical distancing can be maintained.
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Where and when will physical distancing be required on board? How will this be enforced?
Physical distancing should be practiced throughout your vacation, from the moment you arrive at the terminal until you return home— allowing at least 6 feet (2 meters) of space between guests who are not in the same traveling party. Seating in public spaces such as dining venues, theatres and pool decks will be spread out, and elevators will be limited to no more than four guests or one travel party at a time.
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Are there any experiences or venues that are closed?
Almost all of our onboard venues or experiences will be operating. You may notice protocols in place for your health and safety. Signage will be posted at venues and experiences to guide you.
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Are reservations required for dining, and will there be limits on party sizes at your restaurants?
All your favorite restaurants you've been craving will be waiting for you onboard— though some changes have been made for your safety. Reservations are recommended for all dining venues and can be made once onboard. Restaurant seating will be arranged to allow for physical distancing, so guests can eat and drink without face masks while seated, and tables and chairs will be sanitized regularly. Buffets will now be served by crew rather than self-service, and more covered or wrapped grab-and-go items will be made available for your convenience around the ship. We’re continually monitoring public health guidelines and will modify policies as new information becomes available and standards evolve.
Getting off the Ship
An antigen test is required for re-entry into Greece. The test will be administered free of charge by our medical staff on board prior to debarkation. Additional home country test requirements will be administered on board free of charge. More details on re-entry tests will be provided once onboard.
Debark Testing
- Debark testing will be conducted on board by our medical staff prior to debarkation, and can be easily scheduled onboard.
- If staying in Greece longer, please be sure to follow any retesting guidelines based on your length of stay.
