From September 1, 2021, cruise passengers with a valid European Digital COVID certificate don't have to fill out an electronic "Covidpass" form when entering Port Riga (Latvia).
The regulations' amendments stipulate that the validity of the certificate presented by guests is checked by the cruise line. Those who do not have a valid certificate will be required to complete an electronic ‘Covidpass’ procedure for entering the port.
On August 8, 2021, Phoenix Reisen’s ship Artania became the first cruise ship to visit Riga after a break of nearly a year and a half caused by the Coronavirus crisis.
On August 17, Phoenix Reisen’s ship Amera called the port for the first time. Viesturs Zeps, chairman of the board of the Freeport of Riga, and CEO Ansis Zeltins presented Riga's coat of arms to the second captain of the ship, Vitaly Materynsky.
On September 3, Oceania Marina, carrying 400 guests (mostly from the USA), visited the Latvian capital. These sailings are operating with the requirement that 100% of the crew members and passengers are vaccinated. Marina resumed sailings from Copenhagen Denmark on August 29 following a break of 524 days.
In order to comply with security standards and reduce the risk of the virus spread, Riga Port, the Freeport of Riga Authority in cooperation with Latvia's State Border Guard, SEMS, and SPKC, created a Management Plan to Mitigate Covid Virus Spreading Risk. All cruise ships calling Riga have to comply with the plan.
Several more cruise calls are planned for 2021.