Corona restrictions greece & turkey

[karabil]

Could those with real knowledge on restrictions please let us know how our sailing will be affected. Supposed to arrive back to boat in Bodrum end march, happy to med moor in quiet bays but full lock down would be a problem.

[Sojourner]

Hey there, living for the winter in Corfu at the moment. We are a few weeks behind France and Spain maybe IMHO. No forced lockdown yet bu just started a 2 week shutdown of everything but groceries and pharmacies, and a 6 week shutdown of all hotels, resorts, and public beaches. Everything is a ghost town. You are allowed to move around for the moment, but few are, and that can and I'd say will change any instant there is a jump in cases. We are effectively locked down at our marina (which is fine, it's very pretty and only 3 other liveaboards) but with everyone inside, you won't find any kind of help or mechanical stuff etc. Stores for food were jammed with people, I assume we'll have empty shelves tomorrow but we stocked up 6 months worth last few weeks. It sounds idyllic to go sailing now, all those nice empty bays, but the uncertainty of the situation makes it a nightmare on second thought.

Have a friend who hauled his boat last week to do some minor work (he lives on it). Oops, now it's stuck in the yard with no workers to put her back in and he is stuck in a friend's house indefinitely. Not good.

Not counting that there likely might be restrictions on you entering and if not, then going home. 14 day self quarantine kinda stuff. You can try to tell them a boat is a great self quarantine, but you are counting on a random official who has never done this before ruling in your favor...

This is not the time to travel anywhere.

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by karabil

Could those with real knowledge on restrictions please let us know how our sailing will be affected. Supposed to arrive back to boat in Bodrum end march, happy to med moor in quiet bays but full lock down would be a problem.

Here is the situation as of today. Pls note that these measures are being changed very often and I will try of keep these updated as much as possible:

TURKEY:

The citizen of the following countries are not admitted in the Coıuntry whether by air or sea:

-France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Norvege, Belgium, Holland.
-South Corea, China, Iraq and Iran citizens' were banned a long ago.

Any passenger who are not from these countries but has been in any of the above given countries within the last 14 days, will be put on quarantine on their arrival.
If any of the above countries' citizens are already in Turkey, they may leave the country.

There were no mention as to when these bans will be re-evaluated or lifted.

Above mentioned restrictions covers the crew not the flag of the boat. However if the boast has been in any of the listed countries or have taken any passaenger form above mentioned coutries 14 days prior to their arrival they can be subject to severe health controls and probably be quarantinated.
The arriving boats are also requested to call port of entry 48 hours before their ETA. (This used to be 24 hours and it was almost never cheecked..)

GREECE (Dodocanese)

Yesterday someone was positively tested in Rhodes and all of bars , restaurants, shops are closed. The fast feries running between Rhodes and Marmaris will not operate after tomorrow midnight.

There are also some restriction for cruising between Chios, Lesbos, Leros and Turkey but it's not certain the extend of these restrictions and whether they are imposed against the virus or to avoid immigrant traffic.

[De.windhoos]

Originally Posted by yeloya

Here is the situation as of today. Pls note that these measures are being changed very often and I will try of keep these updated as much as possible:

TURKEY:

The citizen of the following countries are not admitted in the Coıuntry whether by air or sea:

-France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Norvege, Belgium, Holland.
-South Corea, China, Iraq and Iran citizens' were banned a long ago.

Any passenger who are not from these countries but has been in any of the above given countries within the last 14 days, will be put on quarantine on their arrival.
If any of the above countries' citizens are already in Turkey, they may leave the country.

There were no mention as to when these bans will be re-evaluated or lifted.

Above mentioned restrictions covers the crew not the flag of the boat. However if the boast has been in any of the listed countries or have taken any passaenger form above mentioned coutries 14 days prior to their arrival they can be subject to severe health controls and probably be quarantinated.
The arriving boats are also requested to call port of entry 48 hours before their ETA. (This used to be 24 hours and it was almost never cheecked..)

GREECE (Dodocanese)

Yesterday someone was positively tested in Rhodes and all of bars , restaurants, shops are closed. The fast feries running between Rhodes and Marmaris will not operate after tomorrow midnight.

There are also some restriction for cruising between Chios, Lesbos, Leros and Turkey but it's not certain the extend of these restrictions and whether they are imposed against the virus or to avoid immigrant traffic.

To clarify, in the whole of Greece, everything is now closed, except supermarkets and pharmacies. BTW Lesbos now also has people tested positive. And given the situation in the refugee camps on Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Kos you can be pretty sure that these islands will become hot spots in the next few days.

Because of the refugee situation that started a week or 2 ago. No boat traffic is allowed around Lesbos, Chios and Samos with the exception of commercial, NATO and FRONTEX vessels.

[Sojourner]

Effective today, no sea traffic of any kind coming over from Italy, or Albania. Ports are requesting or doing health checks now.

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by karabil

Could those with real knowledge on restrictions please let us know how our sailing will be affected. Supposed to arrive back to boat in Bodrum end march, happy to med moor in quiet bays but full lock down would be a problem.

Hello Karabil, more specifically for you as I am in touch with some of our clients from down under ; there are no restriction for Australian pasports or boats (definately not so as you have wintered in Turkey)
The problem is that there are no direct flight from Australia to Turkey and you need to step in Singapour or UAE. Some people are concerned of being taken into quarantine in those countries en route. You better check this out before booking yr flights.
Otherwise, the life goes on as usual, all the shops, restaurants,marinas are operating normally.
If you happen to come around Marmaris, let me know, we'll share a beer or two.

Cheers

Yeloya

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Sojourner

Hey there, living for the winter in Corfu at the moment. We are a few weeks behind France and Spain maybe IMHO. No forced lockdown yet bu just started a 2 week shutdown of everything but groceries and pharmacies, and a 6 week shutdown of all hotels, resorts, and public beaches. Everything is a ghost town. You are allowed to move around for the moment, but few are, and that can and I'd say will change any instant there is a jump in cases. We are effectively locked down at our marina (which is fine, it's very pretty and only 3 other liveaboards) but with everyone inside, you won't find any kind of help or mechanical stuff etc. Stores for food were jammed with people, I assume we'll have empty shelves tomorrow but we stocked up 6 months worth last few weeks. It sounds idyllic to go sailing now, all those nice empty bays, but the uncertainty of the situation makes it a nightmare on second thought.

Have a friend who hauled his boat last week to do some minor work (he lives on it). Oops, now it's stuck in the yard with no workers to put her back in and he is stuck in a friend's house indefinitely. Not good.

Not counting that there likely might be restrictions on you entering and if not, then going home. 14 day self quarantine kinda stuff. You can try to tell them a boat is a great self quarantine, but you are counting on a random official who has never done this before ruling in your favor...

This is not the time to travel anywhere.

What Sojourner said.

Anywhere means anywhere.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by yeloya

Hello Karabil, more specifically for you as I am in touch with some of our clients from down under ; there are no restriction for Australian pasports or boats (definately not so as you have wintered in Turkey)
The problem is that there are no direct flight from Australia to Turkey and you need to step in Singapour or UAE. Some people are concerned of being taken into quarantine in those countries en route. You better check this out before booking yr flights.
Otherwise, the life goes on as usual, all the shops, restaurants,marinas are operating normally.
If you happen to come around Marmaris, let me know, we'll share a beer or two.

Cheers

Yeloya

Yeloya makes a very good point. Flights are being cancelled and restricted at a moments notice. Flights are having to be turned around in mid air, or rerouted for a landing / refueling without disembarking, and thence a return flight back to their origin as borders become closed at airports, sea ports and land crossings.

You can't count of getting anywhere. Truth is you should just hunker down where you are, or attempt to repatriate to your home country so as to get home and stay at home.

FYI, in this regard, as of today.

The UAE The General Civil Aviation Authority has announced the suspension of all inbound and outbound flights with Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Iraq, with effect from 17th March, and until further notice




The UAE has suspended the issuance of all visas to foreigners with effect from March 17.

The rule extends to all foreigners except diplomatic passport holders, official news agency WAM reported.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Yavuz Selim Kiran said on Twitter that citizens in nine European countries would be able to return to Turkey by midnight March 17.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan said Friday that Turkey added nine more European countries -- Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, and the Netherlands – to a list of suspended flights.

Flights from the affected countries will be suspended as of 8 a.m. (0500GMT) Saturday, until April 17.

Turkey also suspended flights from China, Iran, Iraq, Italy, and South Korea.

One should expect further restrictions of air travel into Turkey as the virus spreads to other countries.

So getting to Turkey from Australia may not be possible for the indeterminate time.

[Montanan]

Greece said it would ban road and sea routes, as well as flights, to Albania and North Macedonia on Sunday, as well as banning flights to and from Spain to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Only cargo and citizens who live in Greece will be allowed to travel to and from Albania and North Macedonia, authorities said.

Athens also extended travel restrictions to Italy, saying it was banning passenger ship routes to and from the neighboring country, while no cruise ships will be allowed to dock at Greek ports.

[OrinocoFlo]

Originally Posted by Montanan

What Sojourner said.

Anywhere means anywhere.

It’s actually an excellent time to travel from a city or town location to a more remote setting for the next few weeks. We’re spending our time island hopping around Guadeloupe enjoying secluded or minimally filled anchorages, snorkeling in remote uncrowded coves aboard our fully stocked, self-contained Oyster.

Our Italian friend who recently retired is enjoying a caravan adventure visiting empty campgrounds in Portugal. Nobody comes near him or his wife due to the force field created by his Italian license plate.

Pam

[spiv]

I am booked on a flight from Perth to Doha to Istanbul on Sat 21st March.
As at today I have not heard from Qatar airlines of any restriction to fly to Turkey.

Atila, you said "the citizen of the following countries...", did you mean citizen coming from the following countries?
I intended to enter Turkey from Doha, but with my Italian passport as it makes entry formalities easier....

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by spiv

I am booked on a flight from Perth to Doha to Istanbul on Sat 21st March.
As at today I have not heard from Qatar airlines of any restriction to fly to Turkey.

Atila, you said "the citizen of the following countries...", did you mean citizen coming from the following countries?
I intended to enter Turkey from Doha, but with my Italian passport as it makes entry formalities easier....

Qatar announced today that they are suspending all their flights.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/qatar-sus ... ronavirus/

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by spiv

I am booked on a flight from Perth to Doha to Istanbul on Sat 21st March.
As at today I have not heard from Qatar airlines of any restriction to fly to Turkey.

Atila, you said "the citizen of the following countries...", did you mean citizen coming from the following countries?
I intended to enter Turkey from Doha, but with my Italian passport as it makes entry formalities easier....

Your plans have been changed.

http://https://thepointsguy.com/news...s-coronavirus/

While European airlines are slashing flight schedules amid new travel restrictions, the country of Qatar just announced it would also stop all commercial flights into Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) starting Wednesday, March 18, for 14 days. Cargo and transit flights are exempt, and the country will reevaluate the protocol after the period ends, The Peninsula reported.

As state-funded airline Qatar Airways only flies internationally, this essentially halts all commercial flights in and out of the country.

In a statement to TPG, Qatar Airways said the following: “”Alongside all airlines, Qatar Airways is taking significant steps to combat the COVID-19 virus and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and employees. Like everyone, we have watched the developments over the five weeks since this interview and the increasing scientific knowledge around COVID-19. We have also supported our friends in China with the delivery of hundreds of tonnes of medical equipment to assist their fight against the virus.”

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by spiv

Atila, you said "the citizen of the following countries...", did you mean citizen coming from the following countries?
I intended to enter Turkey from Doha, but with my Italian passport as it makes entry formalities easier....

Ciao Stefano, there is no way you can enter to Turkey with yr Italian passport,
use the australian one..

Cheers

Yeloya

[yeloya]

As of today, all ferries operating between Turkey and Greece , the busiest ones being Marmaris-Rhodes and Kos-Bodrum have been suspended until the end of March.

Cheers

Yeloya