COVID UPDATE: Top Yacht Charter Destinations Easing Up On Entry Requirements
by Veronica Chiatellino on Jul 14, 2021
There are many countries that have gradually softened their COVID entry requirements for travelers, and thus favor tourism. Among them are the top destinations for Yacht charters, that have put in place travel and entry protocols to ensure they are safe for travelers to enjoy.
Check the updated information below!
*Please note that the information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only. As the situation is unpredictable and changes quickly, please check the official governmental websites for each destination regularly as updated information can be released again before your dates of travel.
Bahamas
PCR Testing:
Vaccinated travelers
Visitors travelling to The Bahamas from other countries who are fully vaccinated and have passed the two-week immunity period will be exempted from COVID-19 testing requirements for entry and inter-island travel.
Fully vaccinated travelers will be required to upload valid proof of vaccination (such as CDC or government issued vaccine record card) in lieu of PCR test requirement.
At this time The Bahamas Government will only be accepting vaccines by Pfizer Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.
Unvaccinated travelers
Unvaccinated travelers entering The Bahamas must obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR (swab) test taken no more than 5 days prior to the date of arrival. Test must return a negative result.
Negative PCR test results must be uploaded in order to complete a Bahamas Travel Health Visa application, and must be presented upon arrival in The Bahamas.
Any unvaccinated person who enters The Bahamas or travels inter-island from Abaco, New Providence or Grand Bahama is required to undergo a rapid antigen test on the 5th day after their arrival.
Quarantine:
A person that tests positive on their Day-5 rapid antigen test, will be required to take a RT-PCR COVID-19 test and must “vacation in place” until the results of the RT-PCR COVID-19 test are returned. If the RTPCR COVID 19 test also returns a positive result, then the traveler must submit to a mandatory 14-day quarantine or until the traveler tests negative with a RT-PCR Covid 19 test.
Portal/Health Visa:
All persons travelling to The Bahamas, and those travelling inter-island, are required to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa at travel.gov.bs.
As part of the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application, travelers will be required to opt-in to COVID-19 health insurance that covers them for the duration of their stay in The Bahamas. The cost of insurance is included in the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application fee. The fee is dependent on length of stay and vaccination status.
Bahamas Travel Health Visa applications take up to 48 hours to process and should be completed with adequate lead time.
If you want to see our available yachts to charter in the Bahamas click here!
US Virgin Islands
PCR Testing:
Passengers (aged five or older) entering or transiting through USVI must have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) molecular or antigen test result issued at most 5 days before departure from the first embarkation point, or a medical certificate with a positive Coronavirus (COVID-19) antibody test result issued at most 4 months before departure from the first embarkation point. The certificate must be issued by an approved laboratory, details can be found at https://usviupdate.com/.
Portal/Health Visa:
Every traveler aged five or older who enters the U.S. Virgin Islands by air or sea, including anyone in-transit to another destination, is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal AND to submit a COVID-19 test result prior to travel. You should only complete the Travel Screening Portal once your acceptable test result is available. Your portal submission can only be completed within five days of travel.
British Virgin Islands
PCR Testing:
Nasopharyngeal RT-PCR tests taken 3-5 days before arrival are required for all passengers five and over who are NOT fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated travelers are required to submit a negative PCR test OR an approved rapid antigen test within five (5) days of arrival.
Starting July 12, 2021 all fully vaccinated persons will be subject to test on arrival.
Unvaccinated travelers will require an additional RT-PCR COVID-19 negative test upon arrival and a RT-PCR COVID-19 negative test on day 7.
Quarantine:
Vaccinated travelers must quaratine until a negative test result is received after arrival.
Partially vaccinated travelers must complete a four-day quarantine period.
Unvaccinated travelers must complete a seven-day quarantine period.
Portal/Health Visa:
Begin your BVI Gate registration up to 1 week in advance, however note that the earliest you can take your Pre-Arrival PCR test is 5 days before arrival in the BVI. You MUST start the application at least 48hrs in advance of arrival, and complete it no less than 24hrs prior to arrival. You do not need to have your negative pre-arrival test results in hand to start the application as you will be asked to upload it at a later date.
You are required to upload medical travel insurance that covers COVID-19 related costs.
If you want to see our available yachts to charter in the Virgin Islands click here!
Greece
PCR Testing:
Travelers arriving in Greece are required to have either a negative PCR certificate from a testing laboratory, for a Covid-19 test taken no later than 72 hours before arrival or a negative antigen (rapid) certificate taken no longer than 48 hours before arrival.
This test is mandatory for all tourists (including children over the age of 12), regardless of the epidemiological situation in the country of departure.
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.
Acceptable vaccines are: Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm among others.
Passengers could be subject to a COVID-19 rapid test upon arrival.
Quarantine:
Quarantine for visitors from abroad is no longer required.
However, upon entering Greece, visitors may undergo targeted tests. In the event of a positive result, travelers will be temporarily accommodated in an isolation hotel, free of charge.
Portal/Health Visa:
Passengers must complete a "Passenger Locator Form(PLF)" at https://travel.gov.gr/ not later than the day before arrival in Greece. A confirmation email or a QR code generated from the completed form must be presented upon arrival. Families can be accepted with one joint confirmation e-mail or a unique QR code.
If you want to see our available yachts to charter in Greece click here!
Italy
Requirements:
Passengers who have stayed or transited in the fourteen days preceding entry into Italy in Canada, Japan and the United States of America must present the COVID-19 Green Certificate certifying one of the following conditions:
That you have completed the prescribed anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination cycle (Comirnaty from Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Vaxzevria, Jansen -Johnson & Johnson-) at least 14 days ago
or
That you have recovered from COVID-19 (the certificate of recovery is valid for 180 days from the date of the first positive swab)
or
That you have taken a negative molecular or antigen swab test in the 48 hours prior to entering Italy. Children under 6 years of age are exempt from the pre-departure swab test.
Portal/Health Visa:
Passengers must complete a Digital Passenger Locator Form at https://app.euplf.eu/
If you want to see our available yachts to charter in the Amalfi Coast click here!
France
PCR Testing:
Passengers arriving from USA must have a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point.
This does not apply to passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and accompanying children younger than 18 years. Proof of vaccination is only valid if it proves that you are fully vaccinated:
Two weeks after the second shot for two-shot vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca);
Four weeks after the shot for one-shot vaccines (Johnson & Johnson);
Two weeks after the shot for vaccines administered to people who have already had COVID-19 (only one dose is necessary).
Only vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be accepted, i.e. Pfizer (Comirnaty), Moderna, AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen).
For more information check the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs website.
If you want to see our available yachts to charter in the French Riviera click here!
French Polynesia
PCR Testing:
Passengers must have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken at most 3 days before departure from the first embarkation point,
or
a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken at most 48 hours before departure from the first embarkation point.
Passengers are subject to a COVID-19 antigen test upon arrival.
Quarantine:
Passengers could be subject to quarantine for 10 days.
This does not apply to passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech at least 14 days before departure or fully vaccinated with Janssen at least 28 days before departure.
Portal/Health Visa:
Passengers must complete an "ETIS Application" at least 6 days and at most 30 days before departure.
Passengers must have a completed Sworn Statement.
For more information check the State Services website.
If you want to see our available yachts to charter in French Polynesia click here!
All of the above shows that countries are really easing up on entry requirements. If you are planning to enjoy an unforgettable vacation aboard a Yacht, don't hesitate to call us so we can help you plan a safe, fun, and memorable experience. Also, if you were planning to visit any of the above mentioned destinations any time soon, keep up with our blog and announcements!
