A year into COVID-19 pandemic, we sat down with our managing director, Ajka Matijevic, to get her predictions of the upcoming yachting season. We talked about current health protection (coronavirus) regulations in Croatia and Montenegro and how they will impact yacht operations in the Adriatic.
“Anniversaries” like this one are tough to ride out. What we hoped this summer to be, now seems far from likely. As regional vaccination campaigns run slower than anticipated, and new virus strains emerge and spread, I think we have another challenging summer season ahead.
The health protection regulations are expected to be similar to the last year’s ones, and we need to brace ourselves for travel restrictions yet again. Negative PCR test certificates and quarantines for some nationalities are, unfortunately, a “new normal” for the time being.
However, I would say that we are more prepared, that Goverments are more clear on the procedures and measures that they would implement in certain stages of the pandemic, and we expect less suprises and hasty decisions this year.
Unlike other EU countries, imposing stringent travel bans on non-EU citizens, Croatia is not a member of the Schengen group. This year, we will continue implementing our wise border management policies.
The latest update on March 25th 2021:
– As of today, UK citizens are no longer required to quarantine on arrival.
– It is important that with this provision children under the age of seven are exempted from presenting a negative test result and self-isolation if the parents/guardians have a negative PCR or rapid antigen test, or confirmation of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19.
Source: Croatia National Tourist Board
To prove their recovery, passengers need to have a positive PCR test certificate, or antigen test result, or a positive neutralization test (NT) result obtained within the last three months and older than 14 days, or a certificate of recovery from a doctor.
Croatia had a major four-month lockdown during the winter to ensure low virus transmission and remain a safe country for visitors in the upcoming summer season. Right now, all restaurants and shops are open, and apart from mandatory masks in-doors, life is the closest to the “old normal”.
Presently, Montenegro entered lockdown to slow down the transmission and lower number of cases for the upcoming season. Vaccination campaign has began, and the authorities assessed that 35% of the population will be vaccinated by summer.
Border crossing:
Similarly to last year, Croatia will be the most convenient place in Europe to execute crew changes and pick up your guests or owners regardless of nationality. Additionally, being an EU country, it will be easier to travel to other EU countries from Croatia than from Turkey or Montenegro.
All yachts can still come to Montenegro to take tax-free fuel and supplies, with no significant obstacles. Hopefully, regulations in Montenegro will be eased closer to the summer season, so that yacht crew and guests coming from EU countries will be allowed to enter without PCR testing, if they have previously spent 14 days in countries that have low virus transmission.
That would allow crews to use Montenegro’s superyacht marinas for the downtime between charters, get ready for the next trip, get supplies and tax-free fuel, and return to Croatia for the charters or owner’s cruise.
We sincerely hope that a flexible and unified approach to the Adriatic as one cruising region will once again bring great benefits for superyacht guests and crews, providing a safe haven and a feel of the old normal.
Contact us to assist you arrange your itineraries to suit your schedule and interests.
We will continue to bring you the latest Covid updates from the region, in the meantime, make sure to reach out with any specific queries.