Cruise lines not ready for Europe’s new border rules

Millions of tourists may soon be waiting in long lines to enter Europe. That’s because cruise lines don’t have the infrastructure and resources to implement the European Union’s new border-crossing rules, executives said at a panel discussion on Europe’s future border rules at the ITB Berlin travel fair. said.

The European Union has implemented two border measures for international travelers staying less than 90 days.

An entry/exit system for non-EU travelers is scheduled to be introduced around October this year, and border authorities will use a biometric system to manage and track the movement of travelers.

Countries will then start implementing the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) in mid-2025. The system requires travelers from the United States, Canada, and 58 other visa-exempt countries to complete an online verification process to enter the EU and Schengen Area countries.

Cruises, airlines, and other transportation providers are responsible for verifying traveler authorization forms prior to boarding. Failure to do so will result in a fine. Travelers without forms will be refused entry.

Many ports and cruise terminals do not have the resources to handle the large number of passengers under the new system.

“At ports and cruise terminals in many places, it’s basically just a hut with one booth and, if you’re lucky, a border guard,” said Marie-Caroline, European Director of the Cruise Lines International Association. Laurent said.

Cruise lines are not as advanced in communicating data with government agencies as airlines. He has spent more than a decade standardizing and developing the technology infrastructure that allows airlines to send data to government agencies during check-in. In contrast, many cruise lines still rely on paper documents.

“We have been using paper manifests for passengers and crew, and this is still the case in many environments,” Laurent said.

Cruise lines are still trying to catch up, but they have a long way to go.

“We just introduced a similar system in the UK two weeks ago,” she said. “Just for fun, we sent all the data about the passengers to the British authorities. The permission came two days after the ship set sail.”

Airlines need schedule details

Airlines are also waiting for clarity on the ETIAS schedule. Airlines still need to prepare their staff and their operations to adapt to the new rules.

“We’re training our people, anywhere in the world, across the airline network, on new systems that don’t yet exist, and there’s a responsibility here, and a lot of things are really clear at the moment. “We need to make people aware that this is not the case,” said Matthias Jacobi, Central Europe area manager for the International Air Transport Association.

Photo credit: Speaking at ITB Berlin on March 5, 2024 In the center of this executive panel is Marie-Caroline Laurent, head of one of the cruise lines’ largest lobbies. Photo by Dawit Habtemariam Source: Skift.