COVID-19 - The effect of the 2020 Coronavirus on Baltic Sea Ferries
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As of September 2020, if you are a national of a Schengen / EEA state, you can generally travel within the Schengen Zone, however there are increasing restrictions upon arrival, e.g. testing and self-isloation. It is on a country-by-country basis, so read carefully. Foreigners not belonging to the Schengen Zone / EEA are likely still prohibited entry and/or facing tight restrictions for entry. Read the fine details below before attempting a reservation.
If you are travelling for work, the regulations may be more relaxed.
Countries in the EU/Schengen are beginning to open their borders to external (non-EU/Schengen/EEA) countries on a country-by-country basis. As a foreign national of one of these external countries, it may be possible to take a ferry on the Baltic Sea, but you should surely research ahead of time. Citizens and lawful residents of the EU shouldn't face difficulties in taking a ferry for recreational purposes at this time.
Also note that ferry operators in the Baltic Sea have implemented strict social distancing and cleaning rules in order to continue operating. As a result, many common areas such as cafes, restaurants, and saunas have been closed for the time being.
| Country | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus |
| Denmark | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://politi.dk/en/coronavirus-in-denmark/travelling-in-or-out-of-denmark/entry-into-denmark |
| Sweden | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://polisen.se/en/the-swedish-police/the-coronavirus-and-the-swedish-police/travel-to-and-from-sweden/ |
| Finland | No restriction for recreational boats from Schengen countries to Finland. No ferries from external countries (Russia) for the time being. | https://www.raja.fi/current_issues/guidelines_for_border_traffic |
| Russia | Restricted entry until further notice | https://ru.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ |
| Estonia | "From 1 June, Estonia admits people with no Covid-19 symptoms arriving from the European Union, the members of the Schengen area or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - but quarantine requirements may apply." | https://www.visitestonia.com/en/why-estonia/coronavirus-and-travelling-to-estonia |
| Latvia | "Since 3 June 2020, citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the Swiss Confederation, as well as people with permanent residence status in those countries, when travelling from their home countries to Latvia no longer face a 14-day self-isolation period, so long as in the European countries from which they travelled have a 14-day cumulative number of COVID-19 cases which does not exceed 15 individuals per 100,000 (or if they have been in Lithuania or Estonia during the 14 days immediately prior to entering Latvia)." | https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/consular-information/news/66019-emergency-situation-in-latvia-to-restrict-the-spread-of-covid-19 |
| Lithuania | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://urm.lt/default/en/important-covid19 |
| Poland | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://www.gov.pl/web/coronavirus/travel |
Ferries to/from Russia during Covid
The only current ferry operator between Russia and Europe is St. Peter Line. This ferry has unfortunately been cancelled until the end of 2020. Refer: https://stpeterline.com/en/-/cancellation-of-cruises-2020.