October 16, 2026 — Royal Caribbean International (Royal Caribbean Group) is warning guests on two late-October transatlantic crossings that boarding in Europe could take far longer than usual because of the European Union’s new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES).
What is changing
EES replaces passport stamps with fingerprint and facial scans for travelers who are not EU or Schengen nationals, and that includes U.S. citizens. In emails to booked guests, the line says every passenger must clear face-to-face immigration inside the terminal after check-in and before boarding, regardless of citizenship or residency. Royal Caribbean Blog reports the email describes the wait as “possibly exceeding 90 minutes.”
| Ship | Departs | From | Length | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odyssey of the Seas | October 25, 2026 | Civitavecchia (Rome) | 14 nights | La Spezia, Barcelona, Cartagena, Lisbon and Ponta Delgada (Azores); ends in Bayonne, New Jersey |
| Explorer of the Seas | October 31, 2026 | Barcelona | 13 nights | Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Ponta Delgada and King’s Wharf, Bermuda; arrives Port Canaveral, Florida, November 13 |
Document reminders in the notice
- Bring a passport book, not a passport card, valid for at least six months after the cruise ends. Guests who do not meet this will be denied boarding.
- Some travelers need a U.S. visa or ESTA for the arrival in the United States. A new passport needs a new ESTA, even if the old ESTA has not expired.
- ETIAS, the EU’s separate travel authorization, is not required yet. Its start has been postponed with no date announced; it is expected in 2027.
Royal Caribbean is also asking guests to arrive only at their pre-selected check-in time. Terminal space is limited, and guests who turn up at other times may be turned away to wait outside in potentially uncomfortable weather.
What it means for airline travelers
- Fly in at least a day early. With 90 minutes or more of immigration on top of normal check-in, a same-day arrival at Rome Fiumicino or Barcelona–El Prat leaves very little margin, especially if you are flying standby.
- Spend the extra time at the hotel, not the pier. Arrive at your assigned check-in slot; showing up hours early will not get you aboard faster.
- Check your passport today. It must be a book with six months’ validity past the end of the cruise. If you renewed recently and need an ESTA, apply for a new one.
- Plan the flight home from the end port. Odyssey finishes in Bayonne, New Jersey (Newark, JFK and LaGuardia are the nearby airports); Explorer finishes at Port Canaveral (Orlando International is the main airport). Leave room for a later flight if debarkation runs long.
- No change to interline or travel-industry cruise rates was mentioned.
Sources
- Royal Caribbean Blog, “Royal Caribbean warns cruise passengers of long boarding delays under new rules” — https://royalcaribbeanblog.com/2026/10/15/royal-caribbean-warns-cruise-passengers-of-long-boarding-delays-under-new-rules
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