COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[levelo]

Same update from the French Consulate in Tangiers.
What is the phone # of the shipping agency selling the tickets ?
The one Tim gave in one of his previous posts ?

[levelo]

Here's an article about the ferry which made it to Sète :

https://www.midilibre.fr/2020/03/31/...te,8826058.php

For those who don't understand French it basically says that priority in Tangiers was given to the elderly and families with kids. People had to undergo a medical test before leaving ( temperature control ) and had to remain inside their vehicles during the crossing. That would explain why travellers with 4x4s, motorbikes or bicycles weren't allowed. All passengers undergo medical screening upon disembarking. 70 foreigners were on board ( meaning non-French ).

[TheWarden]

Sorry don't have a phone number, the email just had balearias website link.

There were some cabins available, I think the guy in the long winded video above had one

Rained a bit last night, sun out again though

[TheWarden]

another email from embassy with phone numbers

+212 539934463
+212 661499684

[RayCaldwell]

Interesting reading. We got a call from the consulate yesterday, it seemed offering us a place on Thursday's boat which we accepted. Got all excited: got a transit letter from the embassy so were this morning going to take this to the local police station to obtain a Moroccan transit permit, only to receive an email from the Consul this morning telling us how to buys tickets i.e. as described above. The two numbers don't pick up and there is nothing on the website. So in view of the fact that we do not have actual tickets for the ferry, we will not be moving. I'm now going to have to go to my wife and break the bad news.

[TheWarden]

Ray, I've just had an email from the embassy with a web link to book the ferry

http://www.balearia.com/fr/service-s...ry-tanger-sete

[TheWarden]

https://www.balearia.com/documents/2...=1585586130644

Costs for the ferry, strangely lists a price for cars when everything else says campers and caravans only

[RayCaldwell]

We have just come back from a failed attempt (with our campsite owner) to get to Ouarzazate Carrefour and have received a similar email from the Consulate wrt ferry. We have tried to make a booking with a cabin (went through successfully) and I'm now awaiting an email reply to see if we've been successful. I'll let you know.

[Tim Cullis]

Scraped off other sources...

For all those UK Nationals travelling in their Motorhomes to Tanger Med to get the ferry on Thursday.

You should contact the UK embassy which is issuing a letter with permission to travel to get the Ferry. To get your letter from the embassy you can WhatsApp Ahad Miah at +212 6 66 29 34 44 or email him Ahad.miah@homeoffice.gov.uk

You should also have the Moroccan Government form that allows you to be outside of your place of confinement. This needs to be stamped by the local authorities. The form is in Arabic. The last box is for travel for another reason. Tick this box and write that you are travelling to catch the ferry boat from Tanger Med.

The UK embassy have had confirmation, from the ferry company, that as long as your vehicle has the correct EU registration (or UK or Swiss as mentioned in the Ferry company's announcement) you can buy a ticket and board the ferry. The ferry is not restricted to just camper vans. 4X4 vehicles were able to board on the Sunday sailing.

I don't believe it's true that you have to stay in the vehicle all the time, nobody else has mentioned this, but certainly foot passengers, motorcycles and cars are not accepted on this ferry.

Comment from Ian Fearn, "We have now arrived in Sete. The ferry was very good. Exceptional staff on Balearia. Temperatures taken 3 times. French port officials firm but kind and compassionate to the situation. We have been issued with official paperwork to travel home," (through France).

[TheWarden]

Yesterday's ferry had 164 Campervans, 37 Caravans and 2 light vehicles (type not specified).All published info (except the price list) says camping vehicles only that I've seen.

Also reports that some peeples 200euro cabins turned out to be just chairs.

We've not had anything from the embassy about paperwork to get there or a reply to the query yet. The German Embassy does have a letter to print but also they say they cannot guarantee that it will get you through to Tanger.

Other news, the Wilya of Marrakech has banned the sale of alcohol, not sure about other regions yet

[levelo]

Damn.
So many hurdles to get to that damn ferry.
My friend ( cycling ) is not allowed on.
Good luck.

[RayCaldwell]

We finally received an email with confirmed tickets and have the letter from the Embassy in French (locally poorly) printed off so we are going to go for it. My host (the French campsite owner) said the local police wouldn't issue a permit when we got it printed off as they couldn't read what the Embassy letter says so he has suggested when we get nearer to "civilisation" that we detour to a gendarmerie and get one then. In any event, we've now paid for the ticket so being a tight Scot ( ) we will be going for it. I note though that the timing is now 0800 on 2nd and not as previously indicated which was 1600. We've paid EUR 1400 and, hopefully, that includes a cabin, as I suspect we'll not be using the rooftop tent. We have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow. . I don't know what kind of internet we'll get over the next couple of days but as soon as I can, I'll update how it all went.

[TheWarden]

Keep us updated on progress, there's free WiFi at Tanger Med and also most of the motorway services.

[levelo]

Best of luck !

[Tim Cullis]

Go for it Ray.

Alcohol sales are banned from midnight tonight. Quite how this will help in the fight against Covid-19 escapes me.