Skift Take
Cruise lines must make adjustments to comply with the European Union’s new border control regulations set to be implemented this year and next.
A significant number of tourists could face long queues upon arrival in Europe. This is because cruise lines are ill-equipped to implement the European Union’s cross-border regulations, as stated by industry executives during a panel discussion on Europe’s upcoming border control rules at ITB Berlin, a leading trade show in the travel industry.
The European Union is set to introduce two border control measures for travelers staying less than 90 days.
Initially, in October, the Entry-Exit System will be rolled out for non-EU travelers, enabling border authorities to monitor and manage traveler traffic through a biometric verification system.
Subsequently, in mid-2025, the European Authorization Travel and Information System (ETIAS) will become mandatory. Under this system, travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the U.S., Canada, and 58 others, must complete an online authorization process before entering EU and Schengen Area countries.
Cruise lines, airlines, and other transport providers will be responsible for verifying a traveler’s authorization prior to boarding. Failure to do so will result in fines, while travelers without authorization will be denied entry.
Many ports and cruise terminals lack the necessary resources to handle large numbers of passengers under the new regulations.
“In many ports and cruise terminals, the facilities are often limited to just a single booth or border guard,” noted Marie-Caroline Laurent, Director General of Europe for the Cruise Line International Association.
Cruise companies lag behind airlines in terms of data communication with government agencies. While airlines have had years to standardize and develop technology infrastructure for sharing data during check-in, many cruise operators still rely on manual documentation.
“We’re still using paper manifests for passengers and crew in many cases,” added Laurent.
Cruise operators are working to catch up but face significant challenges.
“We only recently implemented a similar system in the UK. When we tested it by sharing all passenger data with the UK authorities, the clearance came two days after the ship sailed,” she explained.
Airlines Need Timeline Details
Airlines are also awaiting clarity on the timeline for ETIAS implementation. They must train staff and adjust operations to comply with the new regulations.
“We have to train our personnel across our global network on systems that are still unclear at this point,” said Mathias Jakobi, Area Manager for Central Europe at the International Air Transport Association.
