Clearing customs in Mediterranean

[Putz]

We've only done Caribbean cruises where most of the islands have you just fill out and submit an immigration card and the U.S. ports have non-U.S. citizens meet with immigration officials. How does the clearing of customs work on a Mediterranean cruise? We're on Millennium sailing from Spain stopping in France, Italy, Greece, Croatia and then Italy again (all EU except for Croatia). Do you have to meet with officials before departing at each stop? I've heard that some cruiselines keep your passport for the duration of the cruise...is this so they can clear customs for you? Does Celebrity keep your passport?

 

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

Lynn

[TimeforTea]

We were on the Millie last May for the cruise from Venice to Barcelona. We never met with a customs agent, nor did we have to turn in our passport. Only time we showed our passport was when we checked into the ship. Process of getting on and off the ship was pretty easy, only required our cruise ID.

 

Have a wonderful time! We did!

[Globaliser]

How does the clearing of customs work on a Mediterranean cruise? We're on Millennium sailing from Spain stopping in France, Italy, Greece, Croatia and then Italy again (all EU except for Croatia).

If you weren't stopping in Croatia, the answer would be easy (and will still be a partial answer). If you fly to Spain, and then travel to France, Italy, Greece and Italy again, there are no immigration or customs borders whatever mode of travel you take. The customs borders were abolished when the single market came into force, and the immigration borders were abolished when the Schengen treaty came into force. Between those countries, you'd have as many customs and immigration checks as if you were to drive from New York to Boston.

 

The Croatian stop between Greece and Italy will probably mean that some sort of checking is done, but it may prove to be invisible to you depending on the arrangements with the Croatian and Italian authorities.