The number of coronavirus cases in France has been rising again for the past two weeks, with the latest figure being almost 4,700 cases per day. However, similar to Croatia and Germany, the increase is concentrated in two regions: the greater Paris area and the Mediterranean coast, specifically the Côte d'Azur.
And just like in Croatia, the Federal Foreign Office has now responded with a travel warning for the regions. For crews sailing on the Cote d'Azur, this means that they have to take a coronavirus test on their return or go into a 14-day quarantine. However, politicians are currently also discussing abolishing the free corona test after returning from a risk area and replacing it with a general 14-day quarantine. Anyone planning a cruise should therefore keep an eye on developments. The same applies if crews have booked a flight via Paris or are transferring there. Or the crews can do a test at their own expense.
This means that a third sailing area in Europe has now been hit by the travel warning, after Spain's mainland coast and the Balearic Islands and two provinces in Croatia from around Vodice to Hvar are affected. Once again, it is important for crews that the travel warning is not a travel ban, meaning that the charter company can provide its rental services on site. In addition, the rental law and not the travel law applies to yacht charters, so free cancellations are almost never possible. At best, customers can hope to agree on a postponement of the travel date. However, the willingness of many fleet operators to take such steps is already waning noticeably in view of the renewed problems.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
