There are plenty of destinations that are now allowing cruise ships to dock, however. Here are 20 strong options for the year ahead if a holiday at sea takes your fancy.

Egypt gives Heathrow preferential treatment

There is nothing particularly odd about Egypt’s requirement that unvaccinated passengers must arrive with a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before travel. Many countries have a requirement along these lines.

What seems somewhat epidemiologically shaky, however, is the fact that people arriving from Heathrow airport are given a further 24 hours to get swabbed up. 

The FCDO page reads: “The Egyptian authorities have advised that PCR tests must be conducted no more than 72 hours prior to flight departure. Passengers arriving from London Heathrow only are permitted to have their PCR test conducted no more than 96 hours prior to flight departure.”

Your guess is as good as ours, as to why Heathrow is given such preferential treatment.

Masks on the beach in Turkey and South Africa

This deep into the pandemic, we now know that your chances of catching Covid-19 are significantly reduced when outdoors. Yet many countries still demand face coverings be worn outside.

In theory, masks are mandatory on the beach in Turkey. The FCDO advice reads: “The wearing of masks is mandatory at all times outside the home throughout Turkey. This includes, but is not limited to, all public places, including streets, side streets, parks, gardens, picnic areas, markets, sea side and public transportation including Metro, buses, taxis and ferries. Masks are also mandatory in all shops, restaurants, hairdressers and barber shops.”

People are also required to wear a mask at all times in South Africa. The FCDO advice reads: “You are legally required to wear a face mask when in public and may face a fine or imprisonment for breaking this rule.”

Countries are still banning travellers from southern African countries

Many countries around the world, including Greece, the Maldives, Russia and Peru, continue to impose strict sanctions on African countries, even though omicron has now spread across the world and the WHO has confirmed it is the dominant variant, ahead of delta. 

The bans affect countries including Botswana, Eswatini, Hong Kong, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and typically anyone who has been to these countries in the last 14 days.

This, despite the fact that in South Africa for example, cases are at 37.93 per 100,000 over seven days (compared to, say, 1,225 in Greece or 843 in Peru). 

France’s tangly rules on teenagers

Nothing is entirely straightforward, anywhere on Earth, when it comes to Covid regulations. But our friends across the Channel have got themselves into quite the pickle when it comes to how they treat teenagers. 

In terms of getting British teenagers over the border into France, things are fairly straightforward. Under-12s can enter without any additional documentation. For 12- to 17-year-olds, a negative test taken 24 hours before travel is required, and there is no need for vaccination or isolation if you are accompanied by a vaccinated adult.