Cruising in the Wake of COVID

By Gary Buchanan

A passenger shares what it’s really like to take a voyage right now.

As the pandemic engulfed the globe, the cruise industry stared into the abyss. In limbo for 17 months, tentative shoots of recovery for cruising have appeared in unusual places, and nowhere is this comeback more evident than in Greece. To tempt travellers, the country has opened its doors to intrepid companies such as Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Seabourn, propelling Athens to the epicentre of cruising’s new dawn.

Silversea Cruises went a step further with its comeback celebrations and took the bold decision to christen its latest addition to the fleet — Silver Moon — in the Greek capital during a series of highly successful ten-day cruises around the Aegean Sea. I was fortunate to join a cruise prior to the naming ceremony in late July 2021.

AERIAL VIEW OF SILVER MOON © SILVERSEA/FIIPPO VINARDI

Arrival at Athens Airport proved the resurgence in tourism was no hype. Flights from Montreal, Toronto, New York, Atlanta and Washington, alongside those from European cities, were lined up at the terminal building specifically designed for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Immigration formalities consisted of a perfunctory stamp in my passport, a fleeting glance at my certificate of double vaccination status, and a cursory check of my Greek Government Passenger Locator Form.

VERANDA SUITE ONBOARD SILVER MOON © SILVERSEA

An hour later, a black Mercedes pulled up at Miaoulis Terminal in the port city of Piraeus to take me to the Silver Moon. But first, I had to comply with some new hurdles that are integral to travel in the viral age. A member of Silversea Cruises’ staff arranged for my luggage to be tagged, she then escorted me to a passenger screening facility where personnel in full PPE gear took my temperature and performed a routine COVID antigen test.

The aura was one of vigilance and the Eurofins team appeared to be well trained in diagnostic testing. In less than 20 minutes, I received my negative result and proceeded into the main terminal to complete registration formalities. I surrendered my passport, filled out a Silversea Cruises Public Health Guest Locator Form, then headed for the ship’s gangway.

S.A.L.T. EXPERIENCE IN THE HEART OF THE WINE COUNTRY

Travelling now requires a sheaf of paperwork, so I recommend keeping documents in a sturdy file containing hard copies of the essentials, including Passenger Locator Form, proof of double vaccination against COVID-19 at least 14 days before travel, and cruise ticket. I noticed passengers who had downloaded data to their phones encountered problems with recognition of barcodes and QR codes.

The additional contingencies are undoubtedly a bit of hassle, but I believe Silversea has finely tuned the procedures, which made the welcome glass of champagne presented to me in the Dolce Vita Lounge all the more enjoyable. Butlers take guests’ temperatures each morning, and the onboard Eurofins team does a swab antigen test on days four and eight. The day before disembarkation, another antigen test comes with a ‘fit-to-travel’ certificate that’s now required by many countries for returning guests.

Undoubtedly things have changed since the advent of COVID-19, but the new procedures had little impact on my enjoyment of the cruise. Embarking Silver Moon was like entering in a safe bubble, thanks to their comprehensive science-based protocols. The generous space-to-passenger ratio aboard Silversea ships also meant social distancing was not an issue. Though Silver Moon has a capacity of 596 guests, on my cruise, it carried just 286. Guests are required to wear masks in all indoor public areas as well as during shore excursions, but not when seated in restaurants, bars, lounges and entertainment venues where they can sit in groups of up to six.

I was particularly impressed with the new sanitation regime in La Terrazza where the buffet area, which is open for breakfast and lunch, has been designed to comply with enhanced food hygiene procedures. Three innovative hand-washing units ensure guests fully sanitize their hands before entering the food court. Waiters serve all requested items onto guests’ plates. I felt reassured there was no cross-contamination using tongs and serving utensils. Silversea believes that vaccinations form part of a comprehensive, multi-layered set of science-based protocols to help safeguard the health and safety of guests, crew, and communities visited during the tours. I feel that it’s quite possible Silver Moon is one of the most COVID-secure ships at sea.

BAR COUNTER OF LA DOLCE VITA, SILVER MOON

© SILVERSEA/LUCIA GRIGGI