Beyond the Scare Stories: Why Tangier, Morocco Completely Blew Me Away

by Angela Straw, Guest Blogger

Sailing into the Port of Tangier aboard P&O Azura, I was filled with dread.

Warning stories of aggressive bag-snatchers, rude locals, and women being treated as second-class citizens had me on high alert before we even disembarked. But honesty demands a total rewrite of that narrative. Tangier wasn’t just a pleasant surprise, it was an absolute highlight of our cruise.

At no point did I feel uneasy or threatened. Instead, we found a warm, welcoming, and remarkably green city actively modernising to embrace global tourism. If you are hesitant about getting off the ship in Morocco, here is exactly what you can expect, based on our P&O "Highlights of Tangier" shore excursion.

Cruise Line vs. DIY: The Booking Details

We weighed up P&O’s official tour against a nearly identical itinerary on GetYourGuide. While GetYourGuide included a camel ride, P&O featured traditional Moroccan tea and pastries.

By booking ahead of our sailing, we stacked a 10% pre-booking discount with a 5% Peninsular Club loyalty discount. This made the cruise line's tour incredibly cost-effective, offering total peace of mind for our first visit.

Cruiser Tip: Passports are mandatory for disembarking here. Security conducted a swift passport check right on our coach before we were permitted to leave the cruise terminal.

The Tangier Itinerary: What You’ll See

1. Cap Spartel: Where Two Oceans Meet

A short, scenic drive from the port brings you to this iconic lighthouse. Standing at the edge of the cliff, you can look out at the exact marker where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. There is a small, vibrant souvenir market onsite. Refreshingly, the traders were incredibly polite and entirely unaggressive, happy to barter, but never pushy or pressuring.

2. The Caves of Hercules

This is a quick but essential photo stop to see the famous "Africa Window", a natural rock opening facing the Atlantic that perfectly silhouettes the map of the African continent in reverse. Legend says the Greek hero Hercules rested here after splitting Europe from Africa.

The Reality: It gets crowded fast. The path slopes steeply downward, and the cave floor can be quite wet and slippery, so wear shoes with good grip.

3. The Medina & Souks: A Sensory Explosion

The real magic happens when you dive into the winding, narrow streets of the old Medina. Our guided walking tour kicked off at a local castle, taking us up to a hidden rooftop garden. The architecture was stunning, and the garden offered a serene, cool escape from the vibrant chaos of the city below.

From there, we dived into the markets:

The Souks: We passed vibrant stalls overflowing with hand-woven rugs, leather bags, and glowing lanterns.

The Food Markets: This is a sensory overload in the best way. Spices are piled high in brilliant pyramids of red and yellow, and the fruit displays look like works of art.

The Culture: The meat market is a cultural eye-opener (with whole sheep's stomachs hanging open). It's a completely different way of life, and watching the locals shop at the bustling fish market was fascinating.

Money Matters: Morocco has a closed currency, but many traders happily accept Euros, and currency exchange spots are frequent.

The Architecture: Tucked away right in the middle of the bustling stalls is a historic Jewish synagogue. We stopped inside to admire its beautiful, intricate interior architecture.

A Quick Warning on Accessibility & Pace: The Medina is a labyrinth of steep hills, uneven terrain, and frequent steps. If you have limited mobility, you will struggle on this walk. Furthermore, the crowds move fast. Keep your group in sight - one lady on our tour got separated, though she was quickly reunited with us thanks to a sharp-eyed guide from another group.

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The Standout Moment: Tea & Traditions

The tour concluded at a stunning local hotel. After climbing several flights of stairs to the top floor, a gentleman appeared to pour us traditional Moroccan mint tea alongside a plate of delicious local pastries.

As a gentle breeze drifted through the open windows, the afternoon Call to Prayer began to echo across the rooftops in the background. It was a profoundly moving, authentic moment that will stay with me forever.

Getting Back to the Ship

After our tea, a short walk down a few flights of steps brought us right back to our waiting coach. There were some traders walking around trying to sell items but none of them where aggressive.

Independent Traveller Tip: The P&O Courtesy Shuttle bus drops you at the top end of the Medina. If you decide to explore on your own, this is your anchor point.

The Verdict: Is Tangier Safe for Cruisers?

An absolute, resounding yes.

Not only did I feel completely safe, but I would return to explore on my own without an official tour guide in a heartbeat. While older generations still wear traditional headscarves, younger Morocco is visibly moving with the times. They recognise that tourism is a massive industry and are doing everything they can to make visitors feel welcome. Tangier completely subverted all my fears and left me desperate to go back.

By Angela Straw, Guest Blogger.

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