NEW! Iberia & Mediterranean Antiquities

Admire the culture and historic monuments of Tangier’s colorful medina. Start at the Casbah, the former fortress that dominates the northern section of the medina. Inside, tour the Casbah Museum. Its exhibits showcase artifacts spanning Morocco’s history from the Romans through the Islamic dynasties and include textiles, manuscripts and antique ceramics. Then, walk through a fruit and vegetable market while perusing stalls displaying local produce. You will pass through the medina’s main gate and into the Grand Socco. Once the city’s main market, today its plaza, lined with palm trees, is more of a meeting place and transportation hub. Mingle with the local vendors, sip a coffee in a nearby café or escape the noise and relax in the Mendoubia Gardens—a quiet sanctuary that is home to a reportedly 800-year-old banyan tree. Afterward, you will have time to shop before returning to your ship.

Explore Tangier’s alluring medina and immerse yourself in the coastal beauty of Cape Spartel. Drive by motor coach to Cape Spartel, the African mainland’s northwesternmost point. Visit the Caves of Hercules, in which legend says the mythological demigod recuperated after completing his 12 labors. Return to Tangier to view the Moorish-style Anglican Church of St. Andrew with its minaret-inspired bell tower, then continue by coach to the Casbah district for a stroll through the medina. Take in the sight of the Casbah or the Grand Mosque of Tangier while navigating the vibrant produce markets, then head to the Grand Socco. Once the city’s main marketplace, today it functions as a meeting place and transportation hub. Walk its palm tree–lined plaza or relax in the shade of the Mendoubia Gardens before heading to a local hotel for refreshments. After, return to your ship.

Travel south along Morocco’s scenic coast to explore Asilah, the region’s culture capital. Tracing its founding to 1500 BC as a Phoenician trading post, Asilah has reinvented itself in recent decades as an important center for the arts with its yearly festivals. View the city’s quaint harbor, where small fishing boats still dock in the shadow of the extensive 15th-century defensive fortifications, before disembarking for a guided tour through the medina. Walk the narrow streets between whitewashed buildings trimmed in blues, greens and yellows. Appreciate the intricate latticework designs of the mashrabiya windows dotting the upper floors of many of the homes. View Raissouni Palace, built by a successful pirate during the early 20th century and now an important part of the city’s cultural revival. Stop for refreshment at the Hotel Al-Alba en route to your ship.

Delve into the sights and souks of one of Morocco’s important Mediterranean port cities, Tétouan. The former capital of Spanish Morocco, the city is located in the fertile Martil Valley at the northern edge of the Rif mountains. Your tour will start at the Bab El Oqla, one of the city’s seven historic gates. Visit the adjacent Bab Oqla Museum to view artifacts showcasing the city’s heritage, from prehistoric times through the Phoenician, Roman and Islamic eras. Then, head to the cozy Souk el-Hot to view its wide selection of ceramic pottery and gold jewelry before continuing to the Royal Palace to see its impressive facade. Built during the 18th century, its ornate main gate is a fine example of the city’s prominent Hispano-Moresque style. Stop for refreshments, then spend time exploring or shopping for the perfect memento before returning to your ship.

Discover two of northern Morocco’s most fascinating cities during visits to key landmarks. Begin with a panoramic drive through Tangier as you head to Cape Spartel, the African mainland’s northwestern-most point. Here, you will see the Caves of Hercules, where legend says the mythological demigod once rested. After your visit, continue to Tétouan, the former capital of Spanish Morocco. See the Bab El Oqla, one of the city’s seven historic gates, and visit the adjacent Bab Oqla Museum to view artifacts showcasing the city’s heritage, from prehistoric times through the Phoenician, Roman and Islamic eras. After lunch, explore the souks of el-Hot and Guersa el-Kebira inside the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. View the Royal Palace—its ornate main gate is a fine example of the Hispano-Moresque style, then enjoy free time to shop before returning to your ship.

Leave the noise of Tangier behind for the peace of Chefchaouen, the famous “Blue Pearl” of Morocco. Begin your tour with a short stop to view the Nakhla Dam—a 151-foot-tall, rock-filled embankment dam that supplies water to the city of Tétouan—before continuing to Chefchaouen, located in the foothills of the Rif mountains. The origin of its medina’s dazzling blue-rinsed facades is a matter of debate. Some say they were created as a way to ward off mosquitoes; others say they were brought about by the city’s Jewish population as a reminder to lead a spiritual life. After a refreshing drink, meander the narrow cobblestone streets to El Maghza square, then view the Casbah, a former fortress that now houses a small museum, and Uta el-Hammam Plaza. Explore the souks full of clothing and other regionally significant items. Later, enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Moroccan cuisine before returning to your ship.

Experience Moroccan culture and learn about the long history between the United States and Morocco. Take a guided tour to a produce market before stepping into the medina to explore the Grand Socco, or “Big Square.” Then, visit the American Legation, first presented to the US in 1821 and its diplomatic post in Morocco until 1956. After decades of neglect, it was refurbished and reopened as a museum in 1976. A US National Historic Landmark since 1982, the Moorish-style complex is now a cultural center, museum and research center. Tour its elegant state rooms or lush courtyard while learning about how Morocco was one of the first countries to formally recognize the nascent US in 1777, which culminated in the Moroccan-American Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1786—the longest unbroken treaty in US history. Afterward, enjoy free time to shop before returning to your ship.

Expand your knowledge of regional cuisine and build your repertoire in the kitchen with a Moroccan cooking class. Your journey begins at a cooking school, located just outside the medina. Head with your guide to a nearby market, an integral part of community life, where locals shop for fruits and vegetables and socialize. Then, head into the kitchen to learn about the eclectic mix of Arab, Andalusian, Berber and Mediterranean influences on Moroccan cuisine. Learn about tagine, a traditional dish named for the earthenware pot it is cooked in—a dome-topped or cone-topped pot whose design requires minimal water to boil its contents. The chef will demonstrate a variety of techniques and methods. Then, under your chef’s guidance, practice what you have learned to create a traditional tagine with side dishes. Finish your lesson by dining on your creations while sipping a glass of mint tea.