Morocco

24/11/2025

Once again we arrive in port when it is still dark, we are still getting used to the reduced hours of sunlight here at this time of the year. The cruise port here has gone through a significant upgrade and the new terminal only opened 2 months ago, so even for our Viking Captain, this is a new experience. It is pretty impressive.

Casablanca Cruise Terminal

Today we have booked a full day excursion which takes in both Rabat (the Capital of Morocco), and Casablanca. Our bus leaves early at 8.30 am picking us up within the terminal, only a short walk from the ship. First we travel to Rabat, about 1.5 hours North of Casablanca and the Capital of Morocco.

A few photos of Casablanca from the bus as we head out of town.

As we wind our way trough the morning traffic through Casablanca, our guide provides us with some background information on Morocco. The total population of Morocco is 38 million, of which Casablanca comprises around 4 million, making it Morocco's biggest city and Rabat has around 2 million residents. 

Morocco is a leading producer of phosphate, holding roughly 70% of the World's reserve. It exports both raw phosphate rock and downstream products produced from phosphate. it accounts for a large portion of Morocco's GDP. 

We soon reach the highway and head North along the Coastline towards Rabat. morocco is currently building a high speed rail system based on the French TGV. The first section is expected to open late next year. Work is well advanced with some of the stations already completed.

It took about an hour along the highway with regular glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean before we reached the outskirts of Rabat.

Entering the City's defensive wall built in the 12th Century

Our first stop is to see theRoyal Palace of Rabat. Morocco is one of the World's oldest Monarchies and this palace is the official residence of the King. The current palace was built in 1864, it is located in a sprawling enclosed compound covering around 200 hectares.

It includes the Royal Mosque

The Royal Mosque

The Royal Palace

Palace Entry Gate

Looking from the Palace towards the Mosque

Two key Government Ministries come under the control of the King. The Ministry of Culture and of Defence. The headquarters for these two Ministries are located in the Palace Grounds.

Ministry of Defence

Moving on from the Palace, we next went to see the unfinished Mosque and Mausoleum commissioned by King Hassan 11 in memory of his Father King Mohammed V who died in 1961. The Mausoleum was built on the site of the unfinished Mosque.

In 1184, Almohad caliph Yacoub El Mansour, launched a project to build the biggest mosque of the Mediterranean West. The project was abandoned shortly before his death in 1199. The minaret was completed to 44 metres high, (original planned height was 80 metres), the rest of the mosque incomplete. Minarets in Morocco are built using Berber Architectural style and are rectangular in shape, rather than circular.

This landmark, known as Hassan Tower, is located high on a hill overlooking the Bou Regreg River, also on the same site is the Mausoleum of Mohammed  V.

Remains of the unfinished mosque

The minaret, Hassan tower

The Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Intricate marble carvings near the steps

Royal Guards at the entrance

Inside the Mausoleum with the tomb of Mohammed V in the centre

Royal Guards at the entrance to the site

Next on the agenda is lunch, and we are to be treated to a traditional Moroccan tagine at a small local restaurant. 

Hiding in a narrow street we ventured in through a small doorway into what could only be described as a cosy restaurant.

There were a few twists and turns before we finally entered a "private room" to indulge in our local feast.

It was a bit cosy, but the food was quite tasty

Tagine is served

Our last stop in Rabat is the Kasbah des Oudayas, located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River, and next to the Medina.

The Kasbah is a fortress dating back to  the 12th century, inside the walls now housing an Adalusian style garden, a museum.

Main gate and old wall of Kasbah des Oudayas

Our guide also advised us that stairway leading up to the main gate was used in the filming of Mission Impossible, when Tom Cruise drove a car down the stairs.

Inside the walls are lush gardens, with plants mainly from Spain on display.

Seville orange tree

There are also stunning views of the Bou Regreg River and the sister city, Sale, located on the other side of the river from a viewing platform that incorporates a cafe.

Walking down the tight alley to the cafe we saw this elaborate door with a door knocker in the shape of Fatima's hand to ward off the evil eye

Viewing balcony and Cafe

River mouth

City of Sale across the River

As we leave Rabat we are taken past a couple of very modern buildings that are in stark contrast to the old city of Rabat

Rabat Grand Theatre (known locally as the Cobra Building)

Mohammed V1 Tower (250m high located in Sale)

It is time to return to Casablanca to complete our days tour there. We have been waiting for the mandatory

shopping opportunity and where else, but Casablanca to visit a small souk to get that must have momento of Morocco. The guide had been softening us up on the bus ride back to Casablanca telling us the things Morocco is most famous for.

He firstly explains that Morocco is the native home of the Argan tree, from which argan oil is derived. Apparently a magical substance which has many health benefits if taken in its roasted form, or in raw form is a miracle cosmetic that makes wrinkles disappear. In our group this seemed to strike a chord.

Next most important to purchase is Ras el Hanout, a miracle Moroccan spice mix containing 31 spices and is the key to Moroccan cooking.

Third is saffron, which he claims is the best and cheapest in the World.

Soon we arrive at United Nations Square where the souk is located.

United Nations Square

Fully briefed on what we should be buying, we arrive at the souk and are escorted inside. Miraculously we end up at a table which has all three products on display, and a resident expert to support the sales pitch.

Entering the Souk

Recommended products all on display on one table

The Argan Oil product range and it's innumerable uses is compelling, resulting in a purchasing frenzy from some of our fellow travellers. Purchases of the magic spice mix and saffron were equally impressive amongst some of our travelling cohort. 

The usual wares were on offer, although we didn't see much interest in the carpets or ceramics, just the souvenir products and those promoted by the tour guide.

From here we were back on the bus to travel to see the Hassan 11 Mosque, the second largest functioning mosque in Africa.

Along the way we travel through the Jewish Quarter of the City. Apparently buildings with wooden balconies are normally Jewish. One of the refreshing things about Morocco is that they are tolerant of other religions. Our guide estimates there are around 40 synagogues in Casablanca.

Casablanca is undergoing a bit ofa transformation at the moment with some modernising of the Medina underway. Dererict old buildings are being demolished to make way for more modern residential areas whilst preserving the more important parts of the old city.

Finally we reach the Hassan 11 Mosque, an amazing structure both in scale and architecture. Capable of accommodating 25,000 worshippers inside the mosque, and another 80,000 outside. so large is this mosque it could not be captured in one photo shot.

It is now time to return to the ship after a pretty full day. On the way back to the ship we are taken for a scenic drive along the waterfront to see some of the more expensive residential areas of Casablanca. 

Just so our tour of Casablanca is complete, we have a photo stop out te front of Rick's Cafe, which features in the famous movie, Casablanca. One of the shore excursions available was a visit to Rick's Cafe to enjoy a meal. So the people who signed up for that experience must have been very disappointed to find out that Rick's Cafe actually didn't exist at the time of filming, and was just a set. An enterprising American woman established this cafe, many years agfter the movie was filmed as a tourist attraction.

Rick's Cafe

 Tonight we sail to Cadiz in Spain, looking forward to another great day in this fascinating region.