We're flying to Europe and then taking a Transatlantic cruise from Rome back to the US. I'm trying to find out how many of the 14 cruise days count towards the 90/180 limit in the Schengen area. Days in port only, all days until we reach international waters, or the total cruise days. I don't want to cut our days in Europe short if I don't need to, but also don't want to exceed the limit. The cruise line doesn't seem to know either... Thanks for any answers or help or advice about where else to check!
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It really boils down to where you will undergo exit border checks. As of April 2022, the length of your stay is still determined based on the stamps in your passport. There is no central database of entries and exits and no way for other Schengen countries to know when you last left than looking at the passport stamps. You will therefore be able to determine how long your stay was based on those stamps (at least in theory).
The Schengen Borders code has special rules regarding checks for cruise ships but I think the last exit check should happen at the last port in the Schengen area. If the ship and its passengers are subject to a full exit border check, you will get a stamp dated from the day you leave the port.
Days at sea between ports in the Schengen area, even in international waters, can count as part of your stay. Days at sea en route to a port in a third country like the US should not count. It doesn't really matter when you reach international waters and cruise days after getting an exit stamp definitely do not count. If you underwent an exit check when boarding the ship, days in a Schengen port where you don't go ashore wouldn't count either. Even short excursions can sometimes be exempted from entry and exit checks.
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