Kamfish642 Posted March 17, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Booked for a February 10-day cruise out of Barcelona on the Spirit. There appears to be no shortage of nightmare postings about Casablanca, Morocco. What are the positive aspects and possible excursions? I'm thinking positive here, and hoping that most of the negative reviews are due to cultural differences. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggitt Posted March 17, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Most people on our Spirit cruise who did a proper excursion did the fancy Mosque tour. We did a self tour. City was a bit of a dump, the market we felt everyone was out to rip us off for the maximum possible. Market was mostly crap fake Chinese or Bangladesh tat. Why they felt a need for 100 shops all selling fake adidas tee-shirts, or 100 shops all selling the same fake Rolexes, I don't know. If they closed everyone down, and only let back in proper artisans or local producers, they would sell an awful lot more. Even Sams place is a fake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamfish642 Posted March 17, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Casablanca doesn't sound promising. I wonder if NCL is looking at eliminating this port call? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Single Cruiser Posted March 17, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Did the mosque one two weeks ago. Whilst the mosque was aesthetically pleasing the tour after that went downhill. When the guide points out highlights like a McDonalds! We then got taken to the "government store" for 20mins! Then a stop at a hotel for a drink Then a walk through some grotty old streets with rubbish everywhere in the street (not even bagged) and what smelt like raw sewage with half dead feral cats running around. Put it this way if I was unfortunate to stop their again I'd stay on the ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Single Cruiser Posted March 17, 2014 #5 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Casablanca doesn't sound promising. I wonder if NCL is looking at eliminating this port call? Yes when Epic takes over they are switching it to Tangiers which is more touristy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish1c Posted March 17, 2014 #6 Share Posted March 17, 2014 I'm disappointed to hear that when the Epic takes over they will be dropping Casablancas. Even with the bad reviews we were looking forward to it just to say we were there. When is the Epic taking over btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Single Cruiser Posted March 17, 2014 #7 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) I'm disappointed to hear that when the Epic takes over they will be dropping Casablancas. Even with the bad reviews we were looking forward to it just to say we were there. When is the Epic taking over btw? Not until winter 2015/16. Oh and hope you like fish as the fish port where it docks had a persistent aroma Edited March 17, 2014 by Single Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdvmd Posted March 17, 2014 #8 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Subscribing to this thread for updates. Really planned on seeing Casablanca via NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarolinaMamma Posted March 17, 2014 #9 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Did the mosque one two weeks ago. Whilst the mosque was aesthetically pleasing the tour after that went downhill. When the guide points out highlights like a McDonalds! We then got taken to the "government store" for 20mins! Then a stop at a hotel for a drink Then a walk through some grotty old streets with rubbish everywhere in the street (not even bagged) and what smelt like raw sewage with half dead feral cats running around. Put it this way if I was unfortunate to stop their again I'd stay on the ship! I'm going in 10 days and am still hemming and hawing about what to do. Help me decide! Believe me, I am fine with "cultural differences." I am living abroad, for the second time, and have come across people from a lot of different countries, but the negative reviews of Casablanca are giving me pause as well. It seems the local authorities make it difficult for many private tour guides to do business by not letting them pick you up at the port. And if you DIY I hear you are constantly harassed. I have decided it's either ship's excursion or nothing for us. And I don't generally like ship's excursions because of the time wasted, the fact that you are in a giant herd of people, and the focus on shopping at touristy places for stuff I don't need. We are a family of 5, so ship's excursion is quite an investment. I don't want to drop several hundred bucks for an experience that is going to be hellish. Marrakech looked interesting, but then I read the description about the one bathroom stop at a squatty potty along the way, and the recommendation to bring one's own TP and wipes. That was a little off putting. The mosque seemed to be the highlight of a lot of people's tours. If the markets are anything like they were in Tunisia, I have absolutely no interest in going. The sales people were the pushiest I have ever encountered and kept trying to get to us through our children, making comments to my six year old daughter that were inappropriate, trying to hand my kids "free" stuff, etc. Never again. But I just hate to waste a port and not get off the ship in a country I have never been to before. I am having trouble getting my head around that idea. We have awesome excursions planned for all the other ports on the cruise though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveH2508 Posted March 17, 2014 #10 Share Posted March 17, 2014 We did the Exclusive Rabat and Casablanca tour. Rabat was fine - clean (but then that's where the bosses live!) The lunch was excellent. Casablanca is a complete sh**hole IMHO - the only thing of note is the mosque and some spectacular waves on the beach beside it. The rest of it is dirty, smelly and crowded. We would not go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizboyle Posted March 17, 2014 #11 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Two words... Hell hole! Stay on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye82 Posted March 18, 2014 #12 Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm going in 10 days and am still hemming and hawing about what to do. Help me decide! Believe me, I am fine with "cultural differences." I am living abroad, for the second time, and have come across people from a lot of different countries, but the negative reviews of Casablanca are giving me pause as well. It seems the local authorities make it difficult for many private tour guides to do business by not letting them pick you up at the port. And if you DIY I hear you are constantly harassed. I have decided it's either ship's excursion or nothing for us. And I don't generally like ship's excursions because of the time wasted, the fact that you are in a giant herd of people, and the focus on shopping at touristy places for stuff I don't need. We are a family of 5, so ship's excursion is quite an investment. I don't want to drop several hundred bucks for an experience that is going to be hellish. Marrakech looked interesting, but then I read the description about the one bathroom stop at a squatty potty along the way, and the recommendation to bring one's own TP and wipes. That was a little off putting. The mosque seemed to be the highlight of a lot of people's tours. If the markets are anything like they were in Tunisia, I have absolutely no interest in going. The sales people were the pushiest I have ever encountered and kept trying to get to us through our children, making comments to my six year old daughter that were inappropriate, trying to hand my kids "free" stuff, etc. Never again. But I just hate to waste a port and not get off the ship in a country I have never been to before. I am having trouble getting my head around that idea. We have awesome excursions planned for all the other ports on the cruise though. Don't let the potty break put you off. NCL needs to update that info. The rest stops were in modern clean buildings along the highway, with clean bathroom facilities and snack bars/cafes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv77 Posted March 18, 2014 #13 Share Posted March 18, 2014 We did the non-exclusive imperial Rabat tour. I second the exclusive Rabat review. Very clean, awesome lunch at a restaurant on the water. I believe there were three stops, then a drink stop, then lunch, then a stop at the second largest mosque in the world. Last stop was 20 minutes at a carpet store and spice shop. Very glad we did it vs staying in Casablanca. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggitt Posted March 18, 2014 #14 Share Posted March 18, 2014 It seems the local authorities make it difficult for many private tour guides to do business by not letting them pick you up at the port. And if you DIY I hear you are constantly harassed. I have decided it's either ship's excursion or nothing for us. The ship has a shuttle to the town centre. Where it drops off, there are loads of taxis and tour guides touting for business.....its an alternative to an NCL tour and a DIY walk around the dump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted March 18, 2014 #15 Share Posted March 18, 2014 We did Casablanca in 2011 and very much enjoyed our excursion. We took an NCL excursion to Rabat that also visited the Mosque in Casablanca. It was an excellent tour. Some of our shipmates took a private tour to Marrakesh and loved the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggitt Posted March 18, 2014 #16 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Be aware Marrakesh is almost three hours each way.....not a lot of time left for carpet shopping :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted March 18, 2014 #17 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Be aware Marrakesh is almost three hours each way.....not a lot of time left for carpet shopping :D Morocco is not the place to buy oriental carpets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggitt Posted March 18, 2014 #18 Share Posted March 18, 2014 (edited) Who mentioned oriental carpets? Morocco and North African countries are well known for carpets, and tours are well known for visiting carpet shops. You've gotta be slightly unhinged if you're buying carpets on a cruise holiday. Edited March 18, 2014 by Froggitt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkensmaze Posted March 18, 2014 #19 Share Posted March 18, 2014 (edited) You've gotta be slightly unhinged if you're buying carpets on a cruise holiday. Do they sell by the square yard or are they metric?:D:D:D Edited March 18, 2014 by falkensmaze Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggitt Posted March 18, 2014 #20 Share Posted March 18, 2014 By the roll only :D:D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted March 18, 2014 #21 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Who mentioned oriental carpets? Morocco and North African countries are well known for carpets, and tours are well known for visiting carpet shops. You've gotta be slightly unhinged if you're buying carpets on a cruise holiday. I lived in Saudi Arabia for five years and became somewhat familiar with oriental carpets, having purchased many. Also, read a couple of books on the subject. North African countries are not well known for handmade carpets, with the possible exception of Egypt. The very best quality come from Iran, with Pakistan, India and Turkey in the next level. http://www.internetrugs.com/blog/where-are-oriental-rugs-made/ "Oriental rugs are made as far west as Morocco and as far east as eastern China; as far north as Mongolia and as far south as India. Today’s most important oriental rug weaving areas are in Turkey, Iran (Persia), Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and China." http://www.internetrugs.com/blog/the-best-rugs-being-made-today/ I recommend before you purchase any oriental carpets overseas that you shop for a carpet (not to buy, just compare) in the US. Get a sense of what a double knot carpet will cost in the US, so if you find the prices overseas are too high, as a minimum you can bargain. ALWAYS BARGAIN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steepndeep Posted August 22, 2014 #22 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hi, For those of you who have been in 2014, do you have recommendations? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DipBrat Posted August 22, 2014 #23 Share Posted August 22, 2014 We did Casablanca in 2011 and very much enjoyed our excursion. We took an NCL excursion to Rabat that also visited the Mosque in Casablanca. It was an excellent tour. Some of our shipmates took a private tour to Marrakesh and loved the city. As others have said Casablanca doesn't live up to its reputation. The Mosque is worth visiting otherwise it is a run down industrial city. Those that went to Rabat had good things to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steepndeep Posted August 22, 2014 #24 Share Posted August 22, 2014 As others have said Casablanca doesn't live up to its reputation. The Mosque is worth visiting otherwise it is a run down industrial city. Those that went to Rabat had good things to say. Thanks for the suggestion, after reading tons of recent reviews tonight, we are going to opt for the Rabat/Casa 1 day tour with the ship. Glad to have a place to look for advice. Thanks, Rob from Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted August 22, 2014 #25 Share Posted August 22, 2014 We did the Rabat excursion and enjoyed it. We also, saw a bit of Casablanca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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