We left the beautiful island of Tenerife and began a day-and-a-half journey to reach Agadir, Morocco. Our ship arrived around 7:00 PM—an hour later than planned—due to rough seas off the northwest coast of Africa. Despite the delay, we docked safely and began the lengthy immigration process. We were about to join 120 other guests on a three-day overland excursion through Morocco, based in Marrakech at the Savoy Hotel. This adventure would allow us to explore the city’s Medina (the ancient heart of the city) and the souks (the bustling marketplaces).
If you’ve never experienced the souks before, be prepared—they’re a sensory overload of people, goods, and aromas, all packed into narrow alleyways crisscrossed by darting motorbikes. If you’re not ready to embrace the art of haggling over everything, you might want to sit that part out!
We arrived at the Savoy Marrakech after midnight, checked into our room, and quickly got some rest. The next morning, our guide (we were in bus #1 of four) took us on a tour of local gardens and several parts of the city. We visited a Jewish temple and the Bahia Palace, both stunning examples of Moroccan architecture and craftsmanship.
Later, we headed to the Medina and took a brief walk through the souks before stopping at a restaurant where all the cruise guests were treated to a traditional Moroccan meal, complete with music and entertainment—belly dancers and even performers balancing trays of candles on their heads! After the meal, our guide gave us a more in-depth tour of the souks, showing us areas dedicated to lighting, rugs, ironworks, metalwork, woodcraft, leather goods, and other artisans. We felt a bit rushed, but our guide was clearly trying to cover as much as possible. Gina and I wanted more time to explore, and eventually, we were given 40 minutes—definitely not enough—but we managed to revisit a few interesting jewelry shops.
The souks are fascinating, but it’s very easy to get lost in the maze of narrow alleys and vendor stalls. We stuck to one path in and out to avoid getting disoriented.
The next day, we rose early and set off for Essaouira, located on Morocco’s northwest coast—about a three-hour drive from Marrakech. Essaouira offered a different but equally beautiful experience, with Portuguese fortifications overlooking the sea, charming architecture, museums, and another lively Medina. After lunch and a bit of shopping, we visited an Argan oil cooperative. There, women were seated at individual stations, cracking open Argan seeds and processing them into oil used in many beauty products that soften, hydrate, and nourish skin and hair. Watching their meticulous work, we felt compelled to purchase some products to support their craft.
Two highlights of the drive to Essaouira: seeing goats perched in trees along the roadside (yes, they really climb and stand in trees!), and spotting a caravan of camels walking along the beach—both unforgettable sights.
On the third day, we checked out of the hotel and traveled northeast to Casablanca, where our ship had rejoined those guests who hadn’t taken the land excursion. It was another three-hour bus ride, capped off with a city tour, a visit to the newly constructed Hassan II Mosque (an architectural marvel), and a stop at Rick’s Café—a replica of the iconic bar from Casablanca, the classic Humphrey Bogart film. We only had time for a quick photo outside, though some of our fellow cruisers had dinner there the night before and raved about the food.
Back on board, Gina and I still had a few hours to explore Casablanca, so we took the shuttle into the city center. We ventured into its Medina and souks, but unlike in Marrakech or Essaouira, we actually got lost! It took some quick thinking and a bit of backtracking to find our way out and return to the bus.
Final Thoughts on Morocco:
It’s a beautiful country that stimulates all the senses, full of history, color, and culture. We thoroughly enjoyed our time, especially in Marrakech, and would love to return to explore it more deeply. As for Casablanca, we hope to one day get tickets to go inside the mosque and explore what looks like an incredible space.
