Morocco update

[bmw.bec]

For anyone wondoring about the ferry crossing we took euro ferrys from algericas to ceuta and the ticket from an office at a service area was around 60 euro each one way.

We have been caught out by some freak flooding here (not to mention a broken starter motor!) that was still bad around Tinjdad 2 days ago and only 4x4 were able to pass. Its worth asking the locals about the route before setting off.

[Gregorius]

My experience of buying a ticket was quite poor...

It has been posted in the past that it's better (cheaper?) to buy tickets from the agencies on roads heading into the port. I would disagree with that and suggest that you buy tickets on arrival at Algeceiras - simple matter of flexibility really,as if for example you buy a Barquebus ticket at an agency but miss the ferry, they run 4 hourly so you have to wait. If you buy your ticket at the kiosk, then you can get the next one irrespective of Shipping Line, potentially saving quite a few hours delay. I wish I'd done that!

The other thing (and I am mortally ashamed to admit that I fell for it) is that on the approach to the parking area for the ferries you will be confronted by individuals waving frantically who 'pretend' to be ferry officials and who want you to go to a particular area of the park. TAKE NO NOTICE OF THESE GUYS !!!! Like a complete twat I stopped when he waved his clipboard in front of me demanding to see my ticket... He claimed it was the wrong ticket and that I needed to pay an extra €40 to get the boat... Bear in mind that I had rushed for the 13:00 departure and it was 12:55 I was a bit panicked and worried about missing the ferry. Needless to say that was the last I saw of either him or the €40, much to the bemusement of the official ticketsellers at the kiosk when I got there... The consequence was that I missed the ferry, had to wait 4 hours for the next ferry and had to pay extra for my ticket as well ...!

I am wiser for next time.

Greg

[javierCarrion]

Hi Greg.

I fully disagree with your entire post. I have been crossing the strait for around maybe 30 times in the last years and I can assure you that :

1 It doesnt really matter where you buy the ticket. You can buy the ticket from "buqueBus" , "euroferrries" "transmediterranea" , or whichever agency you buy from that they are absolutely indiferent .There are only 2 choices , go via Ceuta , or going via Tanger. Other than that , there is simply no other option.

If you go via Ceuta , you can buy the ticket online , on the road , on the petrol Station, in Madrid , in the harbour or in a a Mc Donald (true , you can in Algeciras) that you can not choose the boat nor the carrier. There are fixed , public timetables for each one of the boat , and you simply buy THE ticket , go to THE queue , and get into next boat. That may be the dodgy "buquebus" or the post "EuroFerry" . Is as getting into a bus . Buy your ticket , get into the next one.

2 Those helpers INSIDE the port/harbour area are indeed working for the harbour/ferry thing. They do a really usefull work , specially if you think that most people using the ferry are not native (Spanish) speaking , lots of them is their first time (and hence confused about tickets , carriers , schedules , and even routes ). As you can see , most people arent aware yet that the tickets are not company-related . Last years It was an absolute caos , people thinking that If they bought the "Euroferry" ticket the need to wait for the next Euroferry (which is not the case, believeme) . So there were a huge confusion , people wasnt entirely aware which were they queuing for , etc.. . Add to this chaos a few hundred moroccan cars absolutely anaware of whats going on , and unable to understand directions written in Spanish ,etc..


so these helpers are there to help you . Basicly upon entry on the harbour they dispatch cars to any of these 4 possible options
....people going to Ceuta and without a ticket yet
....people going to Ceuta but in need to buy a ticket
....people going to Tanger without a ticket
....people going to Tanger with a Ticket

plus a few other options )there are ferries to Malaga , and Canary Islands

so as soon as you get into the harbour these employeees give you a number , and you are meant to follow all these crazy rundabouts following indications of that number . Its not a scam , they are employees paid to help you to get to the correct queue.

and there are ferries every hour and a half to Ceuta . From Dawn to Dusk .


regarding your 40 bucks Its obvious. When buying tickets for the ferry in petrol stations, etc (which I entirely reccomend ) , they dont really give a $hit about which fee you pay . For example , if you are driving a landrover and want to pay as a normal (<165cm) car . Its ok for them . They are only selling tickets. But once in the harbour , if you are carring the wrong ticket , they lead you to the Queue specially made for this case (which is a lot , as most moroccans vans , try to sneak out and pay as a normal car ) ,so you probbably had to pay the 37 Euros of supplement . Rest assured , you didnt fall for any scam. And those people are of great help



Have a nice day
Javier

[Detourer]

I cross almost every 14 days via Algeciras - Ceuta.then into Morocco. VERY RARE are there any officual persons stationed BEFORE the ticket booths to help. If there are it is to chase away the scamers who are courseing confusion and problems. The guy trying to stop you at the dock entry, waving bits of paper, clip sheets etc etc are in general trying to sell you Moroccan entre forms, which are FREE at the border..........The ones [not just Moroccans] who do hang around the ticket boths, are after free passage [hide in back, as there are no more checks after boths on the Algeciras side] ticket money [for drink] etc etc.......The uniformed ferry/dock personel are very herlpfull and polite. You should only follow their instructions.

Yes, ticket sales...get you ticket anywhere. I hardly makes a difference re cost and at least befoer the dock area you have time to haggle.

BUT.......I crossed just yesterday and as has been the case for many months now you can only sale on the ferry that the ticket is issued for. I pulled up on the Ceuta side as Euroferry sailed [my ticket] at first I was told 2 hours till next Euroferry and was, like many others, turned away. Furtunatly the guy at the bucuebus booth recognised me and I was on............but others were not.

Best option if time is an issue is buy ticket close to docks, given yourself time to reach next ferry.....all crossings costs are about the same. Good tickect agants will issue ALL paperwork needed for you Moroccan border crossing, so you need "buy" nothing from the "helpfull" chaps in/near the dock area.

Ray

PS...........4x4 + 2 persons was 287.00 euro last week. [ 48 euro in my case ]

[Gregorius]

Hi Javier ...

Thanks for your comments, but it was your advice I followed and it was your advice that cost me €40, and it was your advice that lost me 4 hours driving.

The 'helpers' at the loading area at Algeciras are nothing more than thieving gypsies who might, if you're lucky, take you to a commissioned sales booth where they hope they'll be thrown a finder's fee by the agent selling the ticket. The genuine staff at the BarqueBus ticket desk were fully aware of what these guys do, but are powerless to do anything about them as they operate outside the loading lanes.

If you are referring to the 'helpers' at the Maroc side, then yes I'd agree that for first time crossers they are useful, but I wouldn't use them again.

I think Detourer has confirmed the comments I originally made about ticket costs and ferries etc., so I can anly assume that your last crossing was made some time before these changes were made.

Greg

[javierCarrion]

hi Greg...

well , If you say and Ray afirm that -since a few months- the ferry tickets are company-based , I ll have to believe.

but I have actually phoned some of my fellow travellers ( quite a few ) and they are as sure that nothing has changed. There are a few scams , and one of these scams is making people believe that tickets are operator-based. But -as far as they know- they are not. You buy a ticket , get in the line to Ceuta , and get the next ferry.

I am in Australia now in the middle of the fu#%ing nowhere, so I can not check it until 2 weeks I won't be back in London , -I plan to drive again a truck to Gambia , and I will tell you then first hand. With pictures of the ticket and the boat



The only possible mistake is buying tickets from a COMANAV agent , and then triying to get in the BUQUEBUS (or in the Euroferrys ) but that's for another obvious reason .Actually , the difference in cost can be those 40 Euros aswell .

Well . the advice to give now if in doubt , ..is play safe and to follow your advice. In 2 weeks I will confirm how right or wrong I was.

have a nice day !
Javier

[craigcc]

Hi,

On the two trips over that I've taken. I bought tickets at a service station near Malaga. I don't think it makes much difference whether you buy as I did, or at the port, except perhaps that any queues at the port can be avoided.

I've not encountered, helpers, hustlers or anyone else like that at Algeciras port.

The border crossing from Ceuta into Morocco itself is a darn site less hassle than the mayhem of five years ago, the newer layout is easier to understand. Husters are fewer, but they'll still rip you off given half a chance. Avoid them (including the ones with ID cards).

Don't use the left hand lane going into Morocco. This seesm to be for locals.
Immigration booth is easy to spot (this one faces sideways on to lane two or three. Get passport done
Fill in white form for vehicle registration take to booth that faces back towards Ceuta on an island in the centre of the vehicle lanes. You need your vehicle docs here
Get a Green Card for Morocco before you leave home, or buy insurance from a place in the old buildings that face the Morocco exit lanes.
Money can be changed in a both set in these buildings as well, but it may be better to ride/drive to Tetouan and use an ATM.
See customs guys which hang around. A fomality.
Ride/drive out into Morocco. A possibility of a final papers check before you exit the border area.

I hear rumours of a new port being built between Ceuta and Tangier. Could make things even more easy. We'll have to see.

Regards

Craig

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