....how it all went.
Well, thanx to this forum and P Girling + the morocco-knowledgebase.net by T Cullis and C Scott = smooth n' neatly as an oiled smoke. Actually.
Thanx!

We stopped more or less at the very first ticket office when we arrived to the Algeciras area (from Malaga), happen to be a FRS office with a very friendly and helpful 'clerk' behind the desk. Price per person + MC = 110 EUR, open ticket for Algeciras - Tangier-MED. Perhapps (very) expensive, I have no idea..

We filled in our White and Yellow in-and-out travel card/documents. All other bureaucracy-need-to-have-important documentations (like insurance for our bike etc) incl the infamous D16TER had been filled in and printed out way back home (SWE).

Went down to the harbour - loaded with ALL papers - and passed by the checkpoint without any problem. Our bikes got, surprisingly, perfectly 'noded' by the ferry staff!

On 'Das Boot', we went straight for the police/passport control, all papers in order: STAMP STAMP - nice and easy.

At Tangier Med Port, we just followed the exit sign for D16TER/customs - wot a circus/joke. We were among the first to enter but left the circus among the last... The main problem was to get attention by the 'correct' customs officer (biggest hat, most knick-knacks on their shoulders). When we finally got some attention, it was like they for the very first time saw/meet some foreign strangers on bikes (and all our strange vehicle doc's from SWE). They had to consult each other... scratch their heads... And of course, our CIN/Identifiant No got badly STAMPED in our passports and we had to double-check 'em... (they had later to 'hand fill' the CIN no in our passp.) At the final check-point (for wot reason?!), where we more or less only told them: Zlatan Ibrahimović... It was: WELCOME to MOROCCO :-)

After three days on Moroccon roads (2 tent nights; one camping/one wild camping), mainly around the 'notorious' RIF region, incl one horrifying/nasty almost-overturn accident due to diesel..., we got back to Tangier Med Port and the TOUTS. I don't think I ever-never have ignored one person/human being so much they way I did before I reached (fighted my way to) the FRS counter. Two touts almost clinged onto my arms... We didn't pay a single penny to anyone, not even a glance. All other check-points went by without any problems - all you 'only' need to have: 100% control of all your PAPERS.

Been there - done that.
Magnus c",)

PhotoGallery --> MC

Well done Magnus!

Nice to know it's "situation normal" at TangerMed. Congrats for fending off the touts. The more that folks give in to their persistence and hand over cash, the more hassle everyone gets. Stand your ground - they're not officials, you don't need to give them anything.

We entered through Ceuta in April - same old faces, same old tricks. However, exiting was much smoother - no touts and we didn't even have to get out of the cars. Long queues though, even at 0900.
By the time you read this the new customs area should be open. Their aim is to get everyone through quicker including the scores of white vans filled with "liberated" bicycles. We're heading over again in October - I'll report back if no-one's done it sooner.

Happy trails,

Peter

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Found this video which maybe helpful for getting an idea of what to expect at Tanger Med, leaving at least.

Tanger \ Tangier Med Ferry Port - exiting Morocco 2014 - YouTube

useful vid Matt, but makes things look quicker than the time indicator shows - just over 3 hours from entry to boarding, looks like business as Normal

Thanx Peter!

Regarding the video; hrmmmm... interesting. Now I fully understand the vehicle scanning - checking for bodies. We came on motorcycles, perhapps they suspected we'd hidden a baby in our 'pack rolls'...? ;-)

Magnus

Things weren't going so well at Ceuta a couple of days ago with two Moroccans dead and a total of 43 people injured.

Video and report: 2 Moroccans Dead After Clashes with Spanish Police at Ceuta’s Border crossing | Morocco World News

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Problems in Ceuta and Melilla are becoming daily ocurrences.

time for them both to be returned to Morocco?

The altercation was nothing to do with sovereignty.

Why undo 600 years of Portuguese and Spanish rule for a few 'smugglers'?

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

never suggested it was a issue of sovereignty Tim

Anyway this is a thread about the ferries from Spain to Morocco not Politics and we're leading it off topic

I've just bought a ticket from the bureau in Sete, next to the port:
one person, one motorbike, one way including two nights shared cabin traveling on 27th September 196 Euros; heading slowly to Agadir then 3 or 4 weeks travelling south of the Atlas
Let's hope there's no strike this time....

Following on from my post above I can report there were no problems at Sete. The boat left on time, (21:00) and arrived in Tangier Med via Barcelona lunchtime today.
Accomodation was good, food ok but not cheap, ok crossing, just a shame about the miserable and unhelpful staff. Grandi Navi the company and the name of the boat...... 'Fantastic' which made me laugh.

I wasn't impressed with the attitude of the men loading the ship whose job it was to secure the bikes; two of them being quite rude and one especially very aggressive. Judging by the smell on his breath he'd obviously been drinking all day. Would I travel with them again? ...unlikely.

No problems at Tangier Med despite two boats arriving together. With no 'helpers' hastling, I was through in 15 minutes!

Hi Tim, I'm a new boy here, not sure how to start a question so I'v done it this way.I'v been reading some blogs telling travelers not to cross via ceuta, they dont really say why, what do you think / heard? Thanks, Martin.

Hi Martin and welcome to the HUBB. Best complete your profile with your country as this might well affect some responses.

As to your questions, I have no idea. These are all transient situations, what happened last week is unlikely to happen next week. Best to ask the bloggers.

I've been travelling in through Ceuta since 1972 but in recent years I tend to use Tanger Med as it's a cheaper crossing and passport control is done on the ferry.

How to start a new thread. Look to the top of the page where it reads
Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Morocco

If you want to post in this subforum, click on 'Morocco', then click on 'new thread'.

If you want to post elsewhere, click on 'The HUBB' and choose your subforum.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)