Ferry prices to Algecerias - Ceuta prebook or turn up?

[men8ifr]

Can anyone remember if the prices are about the same if you just turn up, has anyone had problems with ferries not being able to fit motorbikes on?

Prebooking I've got a 107 (or 117?) euro price return for 1 person on a motorbike.

[men8ifr]

bump bump bump bump bump

[palace15]

Just turn up, never had, or heard of anyone getting a problem, for more accurate info contact Tim Cullis.

[JSerpa]

I've always just showed up & never had a prob. Whatever you end up doing, do consider the crossing Tarfia - Tanger. I found the overall experience to be a lot more user friendly!

[priffe]

I never much enjoyed coming into Tanger, so I am trying Ceuta next week.
Should be an advantage landing on european soil, and then make the actual border crossing a little later. At least that is what I am thinking - next week I'll know.
Anyway, there's like 15 crossings a day between Algeciras and Ceuta, plus the alternatives, so why worry about a reservation.

[rob_NL]

we paid e110 for a car and 2 persons, algericas-ceuta, just today. one-way ticket btw.

bought it at an office close to the ferry.

[chris]

I'm going Algeceiras to Ceuta in the next few day. Haven't booked anything and will just turn up.

Be aware as you get close (in the port complex, but maybe 500 yards before where all the ticket offices are) there may be some maties (there were on the last 2 times I crossed) who try to direct you off the main road into a parking area. I think they then try to sell over priced tickets. Just ignore them and drive past to the main terminal. Here there are lots of different offices/travel agents all selling tickets for the same prices for the same ferries. Take your pick.

cheers
Chris

[dave ett]

There's loads of touts along the road near the ferry port. Best price we got was from the shop listed here:

Proximamente

That's a little way from Algeciras, exit 112 off the motorway. Allow the guy time to sort the tickets - we had to go back a couple of hours later, but he was 30 euro cheaper than the touts. As you can se from the map, there's a supermarket close by for some supplies.

[Peter Girling]

Yep, that's Carlos. We paid 250euro Tarifa-Tanger return for a 4x4 with 2 pax.

Happy trails,

Jojo

[Toyark]

Juan Carlos Gutierrez
Normandie Viajes
Agencias de viajes en Algeciras, Venta de billetes a Marruecos y Ceuta.
C/Fragata, Local 3
pol. Ind. Palmones I, Salida 112
11379 Losw Barrios Cadiz
Tel 956 67 56 53
fax 956 67 57 19
email ticket.gutierrez 'at' telefonica.net
and better still, in ALGECIRAS his office is at GPS N36.17944 W005.44125 (check your gps format!)

or in Algeciras head for the CARREFOUR carpark , he's about 200 yds from there.
(as are all major stores McDonals, Lidl LeroyMerlin, Factory, etc)
Tiny shop on side of restaurant/motel SORIANO.
One 4x4 + 1 person, open return 160 euros on fast ferry (about 80 mins) to Tangers.

have fun!


TIP for web comms
Maroc Telecom are doing a promotion
USB dongle and SIM card for 280 Dirhams- (about 30 quid) includes one month free internet useage, rest pay as u go by top up cards.

[moodybloo]

Carlos is always cheapish,however imtc the maroc ferry company are offering a deal 2 persons and vehicle for 110 eoros RETURN carlos will do this but doesnt advertise it,The only downside its the slow ferry thats takes 2.5 hrs. to tanger.We sailed this route 7 days ago on a nice old sterna line ferry.If you want the quicker ferry its takes 1hr and costs 160 euros to tanger, the ceuta ferry is 240 euros.I hope this helps.

[Pugwash]

my experience: From Morocco Trip 10th -26th May 2009 - Innovate 4x4 if you want more info

Day 3
12th May 2009
Algeciras Rough Camp to campsite in Azrou, Morocco
320 Miles
Travelling time: 10.5 Hours
95% tarmac 5% Gravel
Fuel 78.8cents/l in Ceuta (say-Oo-ta)

After a late night, we still managed an early morning, with camp packed and everyone rolling by 0900- everyone was eager to get tickets and head in to Morocco.

Before leaving the UK we had agreed that we would take the Algeciras- Ceuta route by fast ferry as it we all felt that this would be quicker, and allow us to shop in the tax free enclave of Ceuta.

Unfortunately we had no tickets.

We chose initially to visit the ferry port and see what price we could source from the touts down there- we had a target of €220. We arrived at the port in Algeciras to find around 18 different touts in 2 different halls. Pikey and I took one hall each- price started at €310, but after around half hour we had the price down to €240 which was good enough for us not to hunt for Carlos. After a brief conflab to check that everyone was happy with this price, we returned to the selected tout to pays our money and get our tickets. Imagine our surprise to hear that the touts now wanted €290/vehicle return- it would seem that as we had "dared" to ask for the best prices at various offices, we were now "black listed" for the good prices! Be warned.

This was enough of a piss-take for a unanimous decision to find another supplier- a quick drive out of the city along the east coast saw us follow signs for a ticket office near the Carrefour supermarket and McDonalds. Unbeknownst to us we had found the infamous "Carlos behind Lidl's". The door was initially locked, but young girl eventually turned up and supplied us with tickets for €250/vehicle- not the €220 I had been quoted, but at that point I didn't actually realise we were at Carlos'!

All ticketed up we disappeared back through Algeciras and slipped onto the Hi Speed Cat about 10 mins before it was due to leave- they really don't care what time you turn up!

Ferry was as fast as advertised and reasonably clean- even had drinkable coffee and doughnuts (hmmmmmmmmmmmmm doughnuts). Barely 40 mins after we had left Mainland Europe, we hit Africa.
Disembarkation was quick with a cash and carry literally on the exit from the ferry port- quick decamp saw us all buying the last few bits of and water required, then to a fill up at one of the many big name fuel stations on the way to the border. At this point those carrying jerry cans filled up- "there's no point having an empty jerry can"! Of particular note on filling jerry cans is that if you have them strapped into a top box, its best to fill the jerry cans outside of the box- any spillage or over flow can be difficult to clean and could take a couple of weeks to fully leak out of the top box and spread itself liberally all over your nice shiny new defender (not that anyone in our group was silly enough to do this- or even let his co driver do it for him!)

[doues_1n2]

Originally Posted by men8ifr

Can anyone remember if the prices are about the same if you just turn up, has anyone had problems with ferries not being able to fit motorbikes on?

Prebooking I've got a 107 (or 117?) euro price return for 1 person on a motorbike.

Just passed through there two days ago. Cost was 112 euro for 2 pax and a big 4wd. Cheaper for person and bike.
Turn up at the terminal, dont listen to the hawkers trying to wave you down at the entrance selling tickets. Go directly to the ticket offices (marked 'Billetes'). I used euroferry's was a fast hydrofoil took about 35mins to get to cueta.

Good luck at the morrocco border down the road though!

cheers.

[chris]

Crossed on 19th Dec from Algeceiras to Ceuta. . 1 bike, 1 person, 1 way with fast catamaran was euro43. Purchased at ticket office at port. No touts in sight. Easy. Why should it be otherwise?
Chris