A lot of Americans expect a trip to Europe to work the way travel works at home. It doesn't, and that's the point of going.

Cameron DeJong, CTA and Top 100 Virgin Voyages First Mate, walks through a Europe trip in order: booking it, the paperwork, the border, and being there. Along the way: why the flight can cost more than the cruise, the UK's £20 ETA (good for two years), why nobody should be paying for ETIAS yet, flying with an insulin pump, the "three hour" disembarkation warning that turned into a ten-minute face scan, and why a hotel in Europe may not confirm your booking with your travel advisor.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

0:49 Booking: the flight can cost more than the cruise

3:15 Paperwork: passports

3:33 The UK ETA

4:59 ETIAS

5:25 At the border: flying with an insulin pump

7:34 Three hours vs. ten minutes: the EU's new face scan

8:28 Being there: language

9:13 Privacy: why European hotels won't talk to your advisor

10:35 The checklist

11:36 Wrap-up

Official sources

UK ETA: gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

EU Entry/Exit System and ETIAS: travel-europe.europa.eu

The transatlantic fare figure compares July and August with June, from one summer 2026 fare analysis. Flight times to Athens vary by departure city.

Cameron is a travel advisor, not an immigration lawyer or a medical professional. Always confirm entry requirements on official government sites, and talk to your doctor and device maker about traveling with medical devices.

Plan your Virgin Voyages sailing with CamJon Travel: camjontravel.com