Top European Travel News From October

From the banning of cruise ships to yet another postponement of a much-talked-about visa, there was a lot of news breaking across the pond this month. Click on the slideshow to get all caught up with October's biggest European travel stories and don't forget to register for the TravelPulse newsletter to keep up to date next month. 

After a summer of rumors, the European Union made it official: its new ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) Border Entry Security System has been delayed again, this time until 2025. Once ETIAS is finally in effect, for a small fee, travelers from outside the EU will be required to apply for—and acquire—pre-approval before entering the European Union.

After years of discussion and regulations working their way through the halls of city government, passenger cruise ships were officially prohibited from docking at the World Trade Center pier in the center of Barcelona on October 22. Instead of tying up just steps from the city's famed Gothic Quarter, cruise ships will now dock at the the Moll d’Adossat pier, which is located just south of the city center. 

Earlier this month, it was reported that MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) are taking action to preserve passengers’ rights to take carry-on luggage on the plane without a fee. Much is still to be hammered out, but it looks as though Europe could be heading toward becoming a “Bags Fly Free” zone. 

Boutique river cruise brand Uniworld announced a range of brand-new European experiences for the 2024 season. Highlights include cruise & rail itineraries that visit regions like Transylvania, the Swiss Alps and Italian Lakes and make stops in cities like Budapest, Vienna and Istanbul. In addition, Uniworld announced that they have added two new ships to its fleet. 

Evolyn, a new high-speed rail start-up, revealed plans to launch services between London and Paris in 2025. The non-stop services would run from London St. Pancras International station to Paris Nord station. Eurostar has been the only rail company operating in the Chunnel for nearly three decades, and the competition can only be a good thing for European travelers. 

Numerous rural villages in Europe were recognized this month for their continuing commitment to preserving their local landscapes and unique cultures. Among those included in the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages List were Ericeira (Portugal), Morcote (Switzerland), Tokaj (Hungary) and Ordino (Andorra). 

Long synonymous with Italy, Perillo Tours expanded to Greece this year with great results. Steve Perillo, the company’s third-generation owner, told TravelPulse that the brand will be adding an additional tour in Greece in 2024 in addition to three new excursions in Italy, which will focus on history, art, food and off-the-beaten-path locations. 

Rail Europe, the leading provider of European train tickets and rail passes, announced that it is teaming up with the European LGBTQIA+ Travel Alliance (ELTA) to encourage greater inclusivity and diversity in European travel. The partnership will take the form of specialized travel packages and various sponsorships. 

Due to recent events in the Middle East, Windstar announced a shift of its Star Legend ship and the announcement of a new set of European cruise sailings from December 2023 to April 2024. Travelers will have the chance to visit places like Nice, Marseille, Florence, Rome and Barcelona during the Holidays, Carnival and the quieter winter season. Cruises go on sale November 6. 

After recently dipping its toe into the transatlantic flight game, JetBlue revealed that it will be adding new flights to Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland. The seasonal services will launch next year, making the two cities the fourth and fifth European destinations serviced by JetBlue, joining Paris, London and Amsterdam.