Cruise Port Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca is Morocco’s larges city and a major port along with being the commercial center of the country. Located on the central Atlantic coast it is a modern metropolis with a vibrant social scene. It is also a melting pot of Moroccan cultures but leans toward Western dress and lifestyle.

Where Your Ship Docks

Cruise ships dock at a dedicated pier and terminal in the center of Casablanca’s harbor. Leaving the port usually requires a shuttle bus and there are public facilities on the pier.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. The xxx pier disembarks right into downtown. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with in both locations.

Port Area Characteristics – This port has an average wheelchair infrastructure typical of large cities. The port area has moderate inclines in sidewalks. Intersection crosswalks may have curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.

Transportation

Getting around Casablanca is remarkably convenient with various transportation options.

Tramway – The tram system is modern and efficient, connecting key areas of the city. Cost: Affordable fares, with tickets available at stations.

Taxis – Petit Taxis: Small, metered taxis for short distances within the city. Always ensure the meter is running for petit taxis. Grand Taxis: Larger taxis that can be shared with other passengers for longer routes.

Buses – Several bus lines cover different parts of the city. They’re inexpensive of each other, but are often crowded and comfortable.

Walking – While Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco many attractions are within walking distance of each other, especially in the Old Medina and coastal promenade.

Car Rentals – Available from various agencies for those who prefer driving. Be cautious of traffic and understand that while Morocco has specific traffic laws, city traffic is best described as a form of controlled chaos. For example, vehicles in a traffic circle have the right of way but normally traffic starts and stops through a circle for no apparent reason.

Ride-Sharing – Uber is available in Casablanca, providing a convenient way to get around the city.

Currency

1 Moroccan Dirham equals 0.10 United States Dollars. Generally Dollars and Euros are not accepted but credit cards are generally welcome. The are ATMs in many locations.

Tipping

In Morocco, tipping is customary, particularly in tourist areas, with the standard practice being to leave around 10% of the bill for good service at restaurants and cafes; for smaller establishments or street vendors, rounding up the bill is often sufficient, and always check if a service charge is already included to avoid double tipping.

Attractions

Visit the Hassan II Mosque This stunning mosque is one of the largest in the world, located on the coast and features beautiful architecture.

Explore the Old Medina Take some time to wander through the historic streets of Casablanca’s Old Medina, filled with shops and local vendors.

Relax at La Corniche Enjoy the beachfront area of La Corniche, known for its vibrant atmosphere, restaurants, and stunning ocean views.

Casablancas Best Restaurants

Dar El Kaid A highly-rated restaurant known for its traditional Moroccan cuisine, perfect for experiencing local flavors.

A ma Bretagne Located on the corniche, this is one of Casablanca’s oldest French restaurants, offering stunning sea views and classic dishes.

loli A modern Japanese restaurant hailed for its sushi and contemporary atmosphere, making it a must-try for food enthusiasts.

Casablanca The Movie

Morocco, Casablanca and the movie by the same name have been linked in many peoples minds for ages. Casablanca is considered one of the best movies every made. Set during WWII in Casablanca Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), who owns a nightclub in Casablanca named Rick’s Cafe, discovers his old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). The cynical expatriate American cafe owner Rick struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French controlled Morocco.

In truth there never was a Ricks Cafe in Casablanca and the movie was filmed in Hollywood but today Ricks Cafe has been recreated as a tourist destination in Casablanca.

The New Rick’s Cafe
More On The Hassan II Mosque

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Top Destinations in Morocco: Must-See Cities and Sites

Explore Fascinating Morocco

Morocco boasts a fusion of Berber, Arab, and French cultures with touches of Spanish and Portuguese thrown in, offering a unique blend of traditions and customs that you’ll find reflected in its architecture, music, and cuisine. You’ll find Moroccans to be warm and hospitable, making social interactions a common occurrence.

Our recent trip to Morocco was planned for ten days traveling around the country and covering 1,200 miles. The trip started in Casablanca and finished in Marrakech with visits to Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, camping in the Sahara, crossing the High Atlas Mountains, and stops in Ouarzazate and the beach town of Essaouira.

Casablanca • The economic hub, Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and serves as its economic and business center, influencing commerce across the region. A cultural melting pot, the city boasts a unique blend of Arab, Berber, European, and African cultures, reflected in its diverse cuisine and architecture.

Rabat • One of Morocco’s four imperial cities, rich in history and architecture, reflecting the influences of various dynasties. The capital city, Rabat showcases a blend of modernity and tradition, making it one of the cleanest and safest cities in the country.

Chefchaouen • Often referred to as the “Blue City,” it is renowned for its stunning blue-washed buildings creating a tranquil and picturesque atmosphere. Nestled in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen serves as a gateway to beautiful mountain scenery, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

Fes • Known as the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco, is often referred to as the ‘Mecca of the West’ and the ‘Athens of Africa’. The city features historic architecture, notably the extensive medina, which is one of the best-preserved old towns in the Arab-Muslim world.

High Atlas Mountains • The most prominent section of the Atlas range, running diagonally across Morocco and reaching heights over 12,000 feet. The region is primarily inhabited by the Berber people who engage in agriculture and pasturing livestock in the range’s fertile valleys.

Ouarzazate • Often referred to as the ‘door of the desert,’ serves as a gateway to the Sahara and offers stunning scenery, including palm groves and vast desert landscapes. Known for its film industry, Ouarzazate is nicknamed ‘Africa’s Hollywood,’ featuring famous sites like the Kasbah Taourirt and Ait Ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Essaouira • Formerly known as Mogador, it is a port city with a rich history, rebuilt in its current form by Mohammed III in 1764 and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its 18th-century architecture. The city is known for its unique multicultural environment where Muslims and Jews coexisted, featuring 37 synagogues interspersed among mosques, showcasing a rich tapestry of cultural heritage. Offering coastal charm, Essaouira’s bustling medina, maze-like streets, and lively vibe create an artsy atmosphere that attracts visitors seeking an authentic Moroccan experience.

Marrakech • An ancient city known as one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, featuring a UNESCO World Heritage Site medina filled with rich history and culture. The city is famous for its vibrant souks, Jemaa el-Fna square, and remarkable structures like the Kutubiyya Mosque, creating a unique cultural atmosphere.

Key Definitions

Medina – A medina in Morocco refers to the old, historical part of a city, characterized by narrow streets, bustling markets, and traditional architecture. It often serves as the cultural and social heart of the city.

Casbah – The term ‘casbah’ refers to a fortified part of a city, often featuring a citadel and historic buildings, especially in North Africa.

Souk – a marketplace or a street market, commonly found in cities like Marrakech, known for a vibrant atmosphere and a variety of goods. It plays a vital role in the social and economic life of Moroccan communities. Traditionally, souks have been crucial for trade and cultural exchange, serving as centers for commerce and social interaction among locals and travelers.

Oasis – In an arid landscape an area with access to water, either a stream, river or well. Morocco is blessed with a number of large oases. In the south of Morocco, in the region of Tinghir-Ouarzazate, Zagora, is the largest Oasis in the world. It is a breathtakingly beautiful landscape that combines the desert with flowing water, green islands and rich valleys.

USEFUL LINKS FOR ADDITIONAL MOROCCO INFORMATION

THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS
THE HASSAN II MOSQUE
MOROCCAN CLOTHING
MORE COMING SOON

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Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains

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The highest peak in the High Atlas range is Toubkal, which reaches an elevation of 13,671 ft. The range extend approximately 700 miles across Morocco, separating the Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. The High Atlas is not only famous for its scenery but also for the Berber villages that inhabit its slopes, adding cultural interests to the region.

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The Burqa In Morocco

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An Update On Our Recent Post On Moroccan Clothes

Burgas are pretty common in North Morocco and a bit more rare in the south. Besides the burqa you will often find places where women often are wearing veils. It wasn’t until after the trip and doing research that I discovered that the Moroccan Government is trying to get people to abandon the wearing of burqas and veils. Within the past decade the king has decreed that the future of Morocco is dependent on a population that includes highly educated women enjoying equal status with men that resulted in new laws being enacted.

Morocco now has a policy that effectively bans the wearing of burqas (and full face veils) in public, prohibiting the sale, production, and import of them, meaning women are not allowed to wear burqas in the country; however, other forms of hijab (headscarves) are not explicitly banned, though some restrictions may apply in certain settings like government workplaces.

Key points about Morocco’s burqa policy

  • Ban on full face veils: – The Moroccan government has banned the wearing of burqas, also known as niqabs, which completely cover the face.
  • No manufacturing or sale: – This ban includes the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of burqas within the country.
  • School restrictions: – The Ministry of Education also prohibits the wearing of niqabs in schools.
  • A moderate interpretation of Islam: – Morocco is considered to have a moderate interpretation of Islam, so while head coverings are common, the full face veil is no longer widely accepted.

Enforcement has had problems and often is confronted with the question of who is the offender. Is it the woman wearing the burqa or the man forcing her to wear it?

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Exploring the Hassan II Mosque: A Casablanca Landmark

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Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

A recent addition to the Casablanca shoreline the Hassan II Mosque is actually constructed on a massive foundation platform that extends out into the Atlantic. Its location is of great significance in Islam as water is a symbol of life, purity, mercy, and divine power. It is a basic human right and a gift from God.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco was commissioned by King Hassan II in 1986 and completed in 1993. The mosque is a symbol of Morocco’s cultural identity and Islamic tradition.

It was esigned by French architect Michel Pinseau and constructed to withstand earthquakes as well as. the salt in the air.

Major Features

  • It is one of the largest mosques in the world
  • The prayer hall can accommodate over 25,000 worshippers
  • It features a 689-foot minaret
  • The mosque is a masterpiece of contemporary Arab-Muslim architecture
  • The mosque complex contains a Koranic school, a hammam, a public library, and a large green area.

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Understanding Moroccan Culture through Clothing

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The Islamic faith is deeply imbedded in the culture of Morocco if not in the nation’s laws and regulations. A majority of restaurants and cafes do not serve alcohol even though Moroccan law allows it. Literally, everywhere you go, you’ll hear the call to prayer five times a day and the locals mostly seem to ignore it. When it comes to clothing, there are no real laws applied to dress for men or women but a large number of the people continue to wear traditional kaftans, hijabs and even burqas* in some areas.

For Moroccan men, the traditional Moroccan jubba is still popular. It is a long, loose, floor length outer dress that usually includes a hood. It is worn as an outer garment over the gandoura. The gandoura is a traditional, loose-fitting robe worn in Morocco by both men and women. It’s a staple of Moroccan culture dating back before the introduction of Islam and is still popular today.

For women out in public, a kaftan with a hijab is the most common dress, but in major cities western clothing is starting to gain in popularity. The kaftan is a long flowing robe that is often worn with a hijab which is a headscarf covering the woman’s hair and neck. This combination is worn almost exclusively in rural areas and small towns. The styles often change by region. In many places they are solid black but in a few areas they are white. You’ll also discover locations where the kaftans can be made of colorful prints and in major metropolitan cities they are becoming a high fashion statement. The wearing of these, however, is a personal choice and not enforced by Moroccan law.

Today women’s clothing in Morocco varies between the northern and southern regions as well as urban and rural areas. In cities like Casablanca the kaftans are reserved for special occasions and are usually highly styled and decorated, with Western styles becoming common everyday wear.

Northern cities like Marrakech maintain more of a connection to traditional Moroccan attire and even burqas are still very common.

*In recent years Morocco has adopted a policy that effectively bans the wearing of burqas (full face veils) in public, prohibiting the sale, production, and import of them, meaning women are not allowed to wear burqas in the country; however, other forms of hijab (headscarves) are not explicitly banned, though some restrictions may apply regarding the covering of the face or in certain settings like government workplaces.

In the course of two weeka traveling around Morocco we say a lot of burqas, but this young lady above really stood out. If it’s possible to make a fashion statement while wearing a burqa her glasses are IT!

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