Problems in Casablanca (Marrakech)

[Cruise To Relax]

We are considering whether to take a shore trip from the ship or do something on our own in Casablanca. I have read a couple of places where it was a little different in Casablanca and folks have said they would only take a ships shore excursion. My question is this - has anyone been there recently and were there any problems? With the state of the world, is this a safe place to wander around with or without a tour? Just looking for honest opinions. Thanks for your time.

[CRUISERTN]

Casablanca is just a typical big, modern, polluted city....like so many others in the world....if you want to get to Marakech, it is quite a drive....I would not wander around either city on your own....take an excursion from the ship....if you do the Marakech excursion, it will take up your entire day.

[wwinfl91]

We are also going to be on a cruise that stops in Cascablanca this fall and have watching the news for information on terrorism and anti-Western activities in that country. We have decided to take a cruise line sponsored tour of Cascablanca and Rabat because we often do that for our first time in most ports and also because of what I have been reading. I don't know if these links will come across. One is from the Washington Post on recent arrests by the Moroccan goverment of a terrorist cell planning on attacking tourists and tourist targets.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092900750.html

 

The next one is from ABC News on the same topic.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2508070&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

 

The next one is from the World Travel Watch.

 

http://www.worldtravelwatch.com/archives/africa/morocco/

 

I really don't think this is the time to be wandering around in this or for that

matter most Muslim countries without a local guide. IMHO

 

Have a safe next cruise.

[Foxhill]

After reading the previous posts, would we be any safer with a local guide in Casablanca? Would we be more likely to be the target of a terrorist attack if we were on a cruise ship bus tour? I would hesitate to just go off on my own here, but wonder if a private local guide would be a good choice. I have found it very difficult to get any information regarding local guides at this port and I am wondering if it is because most people would rather book a ship sponsored shore excursion. Not many people seem to have hired a local guide.

[wwinfl91]

I also tried to look for local guides before we elected to go with the cruise ship tour and was unable to find any good recommendations on this board and also at other sites.

 

Here are some of the links I did find but since I elected not to use any of them I am NOT recommending them just sharing them.

 

http://tayara.com/club/mrocbd1.htm

 

http://www.al-bab.com/maroc/Default.htm

 

http://lexicorient.com/morocco/rabat.htm

 

http://www.tourism-in-morocco.com/index_en.php

 

http://www.virtual-morocco.com/

 

http://lexicorient.com/morocco/casablanca.htm

 

If you check out some of these sites there are some tour guides but most seem to be for people who are coming for a week or so not for cruise passengers looking for a day trip.

 

Good luck and be safe.

[CRUISERTN]

There is not really much to see in Casablanca....it is not that exotic, beautiful mystical city that one would think......traffic is a mess and overall I think the better way to go is through an excursion booked through the ship. We always do the same on our first time in a new port....and you should, too, especially in a Muslim country. We are seasoned travelers and veteran cruisers and have traveled and cruised all over the world.........and would recommend doing an excursion booked through the ship while in Morocco.

[luvnorway]

Suggest this thread should be moved to the Africa & Middle East forum.

 

A quick search there on 'Casablanca' that turned up quite a few recent posts about it:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/search.php?searchid=3897678

[travelteam]

RCCL has substituted Lisbon, Portugal for the scheduled port of Casablanca for our TA on 12/2/07. We were told it was for a berthing conflict. After reading the above two press releases, I can see why the port was cancelled. Although we booked the cruise because of the exotic port in Morocco, I'd rather be traveling safe than sorry. Thanks for the info.

[misseulalie]

Just to give everyone a head's up, Morocco is VERY safe for tourists. My husband is from Morocco and we go there quite often. (I'm the typical American; blond,blue eyed) There are no problems with terrorism (no worse than any other country right now) and as long as you try to blend in (no loud T-shirts that scream "I'm American") you'll be fine.

Morocco is geared for tourism right now and trying to make it their number one industry. Marrakesh is a LONG drive from Casablanca and wouldn't do it if your in port for only one day. Not far from Casablanca is a town called Mohammedia. It is a very nice beach city. Also, Fez is a great historical city to see.

For the women cruisers: Moroccan men like to look, but they're harmless. Just like any big city; be confident, walk tall, and you'll be fine.

 

If you have any specific questions about Morocco, please feel free to PM me, and I will try to answer any questions.

 

Jennifer

[Parrot Mom]

RCCL has substituted Lisbon, Portugal for the scheduled port of Casablanca for our TA on 12/2/07. We were told it was for a berthing conflict. After reading the above two press releases, I can see why the port was cancelled. Although we booked the cruise because of the exotic port in Morocco, I'd rather be traveling safe than sorry. Thanks for the info.

 

thanks for the heads up.. we are looking into trans-atlantics in 12/07 on Celebrity and all three ships have Casablanca which would be a drawer and Tangiiers.. I'll have to watch that problem...

[Hlitner]

We were in Casablanca at the end of April while on the Grand Princess transatlantic. It was our first visit to this city, although I should add we are very experienced world travelers. We decided to simply walk off the ship and explore the city on our own,,,and since we love to walk we decided to do everything on foot. We walked from the ship to the Hassan II Mosque. This is one of the most amazing buildings I have seen anywhere in the world, and it alone is enough to justify visiting Casablanca. The walk from the port was perhaps 1 1/2 miles, so many might prefer to grab a taxi. When we arrived at the Mosque we bought tickets for next English tour (we had a 45 minute wait) and than enjoyed the outside area while we waited for our tour time (you can only visit on a tour). The tour was really nice, and its hard to fathom that 50,000 people can pray in this Mosque at one time. After leaving the Mosque we continued walking back towards the center of town, stopped at the Hyatt Regency for a drink and snack, and than spent a couple of hours exploring the nearby bazaar (reminded me a little of Istanbul). Although we did walk through some "not so nice" neighborhoods, we never were in an area where we felt threatened. We found the Morrocans to be pretty blaize about tourists. and we were not hassled nearly as much as in many other places we have visited.

 

Hank

[wander]

In November I spent two days in Casablanca as part of two cruises. I had absolutely NO safety concerns while there except for the normal cautions one must use in so many large cities around the world. There were certainly some areas I would not have walked in alone, and one did have to be careful of potential pickpockets in the souks and crowded small streets. (But then, I live in a very middle class community and last week alone, 15 wallets were stolen from folks in two local stores.)

 

Suggestion - IF you want to visit Marrakesch or Fez, take a ship's tour!! This is not for personal safety reasons, but they are each long drives away from the ship and to see much once there you need to push the edges of the time available. A problem on the way back to the ship and you may well miss the sailing. With a ship's tour they will somehow get you back to the ship either in Casablanca or elsewhere. Just a suggestion.

[clvali]

Hey Parrot Mom,

This is clvali and we are doing the century on 10/22 out of Barcelona. I am in the south for the winter and do not have your e-mail'

I am at clvali@gulftel.com

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