COVID-19 - The effect of the 2020 Coronavirus on Baltic Sea Ferries
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As of November 2020, most EU states are following the same patterns. If you are a national of a Schengen / EEA state, you can generally travel within the Schengen Zone, but be prepared for mandatory testing and quarantine if the country in which you came from has a high number of cases. There is some flexibility for countries bordering each other, for example Estonia and Latvia, or Germany and Denmark.
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 restricted. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus |
| Denmark | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries restricted. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://coronasmitte.dk/en/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 | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://www.raja.fi/current_issues/guidelines_for_border_traffic |
| Russia | Restricted entry until further notice | https://ru.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ |
| Estonia | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | https://www.visitestonia.com/en/why-estonia/coronavirus-and-travelling-to-estonia |
| Latvia | Travel to/from other EU/Schengen countries allowed. Travel from non-Schengen restricted. | 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.