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Mongolian Explorer 11 Apr 2014 07:11

Ferries from Spain to Morocco
 
Planning to visit cousin in Agadir, do you need to book the ferry or can you just turn up ?
Any preferred companies or companies to avoid?
Best crossing for Tangiers ?

uknomad 11 Apr 2014 07:56

Hi,

Are you going by foot or taking a vehicle/bike? I've only entered by vehicle.

Planning to visit cousin in Agadir, do you need to book the ferry or can you just turn up ?
*** You can just turn up at the port and buy a ticket there no problem, or visit Carlos in Algercias.

Any preferred companies or companies to avoid?
*** The cheaper ferries are more Moroccan.

Best crossing for Tangiers ?
*** I believe you can go from Tarifa by foot, or with a vehicle probably Tangier Med would be easier.

Others more knowledgeable will be along no doubt, also worth doing a search on this forum, it's been covered quite a lot.

Cheers Mark

Endurodude 11 Apr 2014 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by uknomad (Post 461608)
also worth doing a search on this forum, it's been covered quite a lot.

Cheers Mark

What Mark said. I was anxious just turning up on the day, but the whole process couldn't have been easier. When you do get on the Ferry, you'll need to fill in a card and get your passport stamped - do this ASAP; I faffed a little and spent the entire crossing in a queue! You'll not need any vehicle details until you get to Morocco.

Happy trails!

diesel jim 11 Apr 2014 09:47

Vehicles can go from Tarifa too.

Mum & dad took their volvo over a few years back, and a friend of my sisters took his motorbike across (and posted a great story about it after, I'll find the link... break down and a lot of hassle getting back)

cruiser guy 19 Apr 2014 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endurodude (Post 461609)
What Mark said. I was anxious just turning up on the day, but the whole process couldn't have been easier. When you do get on the Ferry, you'll need to fill in a card and get your passport stamped - do this ASAP; I faffed a little and spent the entire crossing in a queue! You'll not need any vehicle details until you get to Morocco.

Happy trails!

I assume this is when you cross directly to Morocco. If you cross to Ceuta or Melilla (Spanish enclaves in Africa) I assume you do the passport stuff once you are in Africa.

uknomad 19 Apr 2014 16:46

Correct. Cheers.

Endurodude 19 Apr 2014 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiser guy (Post 462705)
I assume this is when you cross directly to Morocco. If you cross to Ceuta or Melilla (Spanish enclaves in Africa) I assume you do the passport stuff once you are in Africa.

Yes, as above. All the vehicle stuff once there, too.

diesel jim 20 Apr 2014 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel jim (Post 461616)
I'll find the link... break down and a lot of hassle getting back)


'yer tis... Spiro Goes Nomad in Morocco The Long Way Back Home - April 2012: Day 1 – 360km Tuesday 03/04/2012 Tarifa – Chefchaouen – Mokrisset – Zoumi – Fes

His name is Andrew Wysocki, lives here in Swindon.


PS... You'll have to click each day on the RH side to read the story. Starts with day one at the bottom...:confused2:

zandesiro 22 Apr 2014 20:48

You can take ferry from...

Genova-Tanger MED
Livorno-Tanger MED
Barcelona-Tanger MED

Or

Almeria to Marocco (i dont remember the destination in Marocco but i see the signs on the road).

Tarifa-Port de Tanger
I took the last one in 2012(65 euros if i remember) and it was a piece of cake,45 min ferry,empty of vehicles,paperwork for Maroc entry on board ready on the arrive....
In 10min border paperwork and 10 euro tip i do nothing and i was riding in Marocco.

On the way back, Tanger MED-Barcelona-Genova no booking 245 euros the tolls, the fuel expensive and the night stop(s) comes equally to the Tanger-Genova ferry and you save some tyres!

cruiser guy 24 Apr 2014 19:51

Anyone have recommendations for the best crossing (route and company to use) to avoid the touts and cross into Morocco fairly easily.

A safe ferry is preferred to a cheap ferry but as always cost is important.

priffe 25 Apr 2014 07:44

Barcelona ferry is the best choice moneywise
save 1000 kms driving on empty motorways
Sete is also ok
preferred entry port is Nador

cruiser guy 25 Apr 2014 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by priffe (Post 463603)
Barcelona ferry is the best choice moneywise
save 1000 kms driving on empty motorways
Sete is also ok
preferred entry port is Nador

directferries.com shows the first departure from Barcelona for Nador doesn't happen till August!?!?!

There is a Barcelona/Tangier Med route operating already with Grimaldi. 36 hour crossing. Do they work the same as a cruise ship or do you pay for meals and entertainment separately?

zandesiro 25 Apr 2014 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiser guy (Post 463629)
directferries.com shows the first departure from Barcelona for Nador doesn't happen till August!?!?!

There is a Barcelona/Tangier Med route operating already with Grimaldi. 36 hour crossing. Do they work the same as a cruise ship or do you pay for meals and entertainment separately?

You pay for meals....And the only entertainment is the people on board!

Get some books!

AxeMan 20 May 2014 15:43

Regarding the; Déclaration d'un véhicule (D16 Ter) at
http://www.douane.gov.ma/web/guest/d...ter/formAT.jsf

As a preparation, I'm planning to pre-print two copies depending of which port we will be enter into Morocco; Tangier-Med port or Ceuta (from Algeciras or GIB).

However, when looking at the options under; Bureau d'entrée (which is a 'Champs obligatoires' in order to be able to print the doc), I'm not able to find an applicable entry point for the CEUTA option? Fnideq not even mention... but Tetouan further south is.

Anyone - any recommendation/experience?

Thanx, Magnus

Peter Girling 21 May 2014 11:00

Hi Magnus,

It's Bab-Sebta. Bab meaning gate and Sebta meaning Ceuta.

Happy trails,

Peter

AxeMan 16 Jul 2014 13:10

....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

Peter Girling 16 Jul 2014 17:31

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

twenty4seven 16 Jul 2014 18:40

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

TheWarden 16 Jul 2014 18:55

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

AxeMan 17 Jul 2014 08:23

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

Tim Cullis 17 Jul 2014 14:10

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

Plooking 17 Jul 2014 15:15

Problems in Ceuta and Melilla are becoming daily ocurrences. :(

TheWarden 17 Jul 2014 17:58

time for them both to be returned to Morocco?

Tim Cullis 18 Jul 2014 13:50

The altercation was nothing to do with sovereignty.

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

TheWarden 18 Jul 2014 16:56

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

dommiek 2 Sep 2014 11:51

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....

dommiek 30 Sep 2014 00:39

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!

dozukime 2 Sep 2017 16:46

ceuta
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Cullis (Post 473418)
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

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.

Tim Cullis 2 Sep 2017 18:59

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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