Planning your first British Isles cruise with Princess in 2027? If you’ve come across references to UK ETA, EES and ETIAS, you might be wondering how many applications you need to complete before your vacation.
The good news is that these systems do different things, and they won’t necessarily all affect your cruise in the same way.
This guide focuses on Princess British Isles cruises starting and ending in Southampton, including itineraries with a day visit to Le Havre in France. If you’re boarding or leaving the ship in another country, your requirements may be different.
What You Really Need to Know
Flying to the UK to join your cruise? Most American and Canadian visitors need an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as an ETA, before travelling, unless exempt.
Going ashore in Le Havre during your Southampton round trip? These cruises are usually exempt from EES biometric checks for that day visit, although French authorities can require checks.
Visiting Ireland? Ireland does not participate in EES or ETIAS.
Considering Paris after your cruise? Travelling independently to France after disembarking in Southampton is a separate journey, with additional entry requirements to check.
ETIAS is not yet operating. Check the official position and Princess’s instructions before your 2027 departure.
Before Your Cruise: Check Your UK ETA
Southampton is in England, which is part of the United Kingdom. If you’re flying into London before travelling to the cruise terminal, you’ll enter the UK when you arrive at the airport.
Most visitors travelling on American or Canadian passports need a UK ETA, unless they already hold a UK visa, qualifying immigration status or another exemption. British and Irish citizens do not need one.
This is an online travel authorisation that you arrange yourself before travelling. Your cruise booking does not replace it, and Princess does not obtain it for you.
For a fuller explanation, read our guide: Do I Need a UK ETA When My Cruise Starts and Ends in Southampton?
During Your Cruise: Will You Encounter EES in Le Havre?
Le Havre is a French port included on many British Isles cruise itineraries. Although your cruise starts in England, this port call takes you to France.
France belongs to the Schengen area, a group of European countries that share common border rules. The UK and Ireland are outside this group.
EES stands for Entry/Exit System. It is a digital border system that records eligible visitors entering and leaving the Schengen area. Where registration is required, it can involve a passport scan, a photograph and fingerprints. EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026.
The Usual Cruise Exemption
For passengers sailing round trip from Southampton, there is an important distinction.
Official UK government guidance says cruises starting and finishing outside the Schengen area will usually be exempt from EES checks for day visits to Schengen ports.
That fits a Southampton round trip where you visit Le Havre for the day and return to the ship to continue your cruise. You would therefore usually not need to provide fingerprints or have an EES photograph taken simply to go ashore during that visit.
French port authorities can still require checks in some circumstances, so follow any instructions Princess provides for your sailing.
Reports we received during the 2026 cruise season, with passengers going ashore without individual biometric checks, were consistent with this guidance.
What About Your Stops in Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland is a member of the European Union, but it is not part of the Schengen area. It does not participate in EES or ETIAS.
That means your Irish port calls do not trigger either of these systems. Belfast, in Northern Ireland, is part of the UK and is also outside both schemes.
Follow Princess’s instructions about any local immigration arrangements and which identification to carry ashore. Separate entry rules may still apply depending on your nationality.
Heading to Paris After Disembarking in Southampton?
During the 2026 cruise season, we saw passengers continue their vacation with a trip to Paris after disembarking in Southampton at the end of their cruise.
If you’re considering the same for 2027, your onward journey to France is separate from your cruise’s day visit to Le Havre.
For example, you might leave the ship in Southampton, travel to London and then take a train or flight to Paris. You would be entering France independently, so the usual EES exemption for your cruise’s day visit would not cover this journey.
Eligible travellers should expect EES registration or verification when entering the Schengen area. There is no EES application fee, and you do not need to buy an “EES authorisation”. If you travel by Eurostar from London, the relevant border checks take place before you leave the UK.
The same principle applies if you visit France or another Schengen country independently before joining your cruise.
ETIAS: What’s the Position for 2027?
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a planned online travel authorisation for eligible visitors, including American and Canadian travellers, visiting participating European countries.
It is separate from both the UK ETA and EES:
UK ETA: permission to travel to the UK.
EES: digital registration at the Schengen border.
ETIAS: an online authorisation for travel to participating European countries once the requirement applies.
Can You Apply Yet?
As of November 2026, ETIAS is not operating and applications are not being accepted. The EU says it will announce the specific start date before launch.
There will also be transition and grace periods, so the launch date will not immediately mean identical requirements for every traveller. Your travel date and circumstances will matter.
Will You Need It for Your Cruise’s French Port Call?
The usual EES cruise exemption should not be treated as confirmation of an ETIAS exemption.
For your 2027 Le Havre call, check Princess’s instructions and the official EU guidance once the applicable arrangements are confirmed. We cannot yet give every passenger a definite answer for the whole 2027 season.
If you’re planning an independent trip to Paris after your cruise, check the ETIAS requirements for that journey too. Any authorisation required for your trip will be something you need to arrange before travelling.
Use the official EU ETIAS website for updates. Applications are currently closed, so there is no need to pay anyone to obtain one now.
Your 2027 Cruise Preparation Checklist
Before leaving home:
Check your UK entry requirements and obtain an ETA if required.
Read Princess’s travel-document instructions for your particular sailing and nationality.
Consider your whole vacation, including any travel before embarkation or after disembarkation.
Check the latest ETIAS position before departure, especially if travelling independently to France or another participating country.
Follow onboard instructions for immigration arrangements and identification to carry ashore.
For a Princess British Isles cruise starting and ending in Southampton, the usual EES cruise exemption offers reassurance about your day visit to Le Havre. The extra planning comes when you add independent travel, such as continuing to Paris after leaving the ship.
With your documents organised, you can get back to the enjoyable part: deciding what to see when you come ashore.
