20220404 Some Thoughts: In 1962, Marian and I went on a ten-week adventure to Europe. In those days, 60 years ago, besides a valid passport, you had to have the international vaccine certificate showing you had been vaccinated for smallpox. Now, all these years later, Jeff and I have to bring our originals of our Covid vaccine cards with us. In 1962, it was a universal international document. In 2022, it’s all local as are the particular requirements in different countries. Then it was to show the certificate at border entry points. Now we have to bring the originals to restaurants, museums, etc. as well.
Just got word from Regent Seven Seas that the EU is tightening their vaccine requirements so that if you had only the original two shots, they had to be less than 27 months old from when you disembark from the cruise. Having a more recent booster no matter when the original shots works, too. And, as soon as the second booster was available, both Jeff and I got it the beginning of April. So, all good.
Regent informed us earlier we would need a PCR Covid test within 72 hours of embarkation. We will get the tests in Barcelona. Note that no test is required to fly to Spain. But there still is PCR test required within 24 hours before leaving Europe back to the US.
While visas are not required for the trip, we had to fill out a Spanish health form that we update online within 48 hours of our flight to Barcelona. There was the Italian locator form which, I guess, is to do contact tracing if they need to. For both of these forms, there are QR codes to be shown to the appropriate officials.
For the sights in Barcelona and Rome, we both have guides and, for our individual forays, we have time/date tickets gotten online and stored in our Apple Wallets. Everything digital. Some places you can get tickets for about any date; some, like the Vatican, earliest is 60 days in advance, Coliseum in Rome, 30 days in advance. Going online tomorrow for Colosseum tix for May 5…30 days in advance.
Today was the first day we could check in for the cruise. Needed to upload “security image” for both of us. Hard to find one of me without my red hat or one of Jeff without a cap. Looked at the one-minute “where-to-go” and “how to put on a life jacket” video. Put in a cc for onboard purchases. And, viola, they sent digital boarding passes.
April 5 Update: The Colosseum tickets are available 30 days TO THE HOUR in advance. Found this out by trial and error. So, went online at 7:30am STL which is 2:30pm in Rome and got our tix for 2:05 on May 5. Sigh.
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