The best cruise excursion from both Casablanca and Agadir is a private 2-day Marrakech & Agafay Desert experience. Most Morocco cruise stops give you a full day or an overnight in port, and the highest-impact way to spend that time is to head inland: a guided tour of Marrakech followed by a sunset camel ride, dinner and an overnight in a luxury camp in the Agafay desert — then a private transfer back to your ship with a safety margin. This guide covers what to do on a cruise stop in each port, why the 2-day Agafay trip beats the alternatives, and how the timing works around your ship.
- Best excursion (both ports): the private 2-Day Marrakech & Agafay Desert experience — from €650 per person.
- Casablanca: Marrakech is about 2.5–3 hours away; an overnight stop is ideal for the 2-day trip.
- Agadir: Marrakech is a similar 2.5–3 hours; works best with a long stop or overnight.
- Short on time? A 1-day Marrakech & Agafay day trip (from €450) is possible from about 13 hours ashore.
- Every itinerary is planned around your ship’s departure with a built-in safety margin (Cruise Ship Return Guarantee).
What to do on a cruise excursion in Casablanca
The best cruise excursion from Casablanca is a trip inland to Marrakech and the Agafay desert. Casablanca’s own highlight — the Hassan II Mosque, one of only two mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors — is worth an hour if you have a short stop. But if your ship stays overnight or gives you a long day, the far bigger payoff is heading to Marrakech (about 2.5 to 3 hours away) and on to the Agafay, a stone desert just 40 minutes beyond the city.
A cruise stop in Casablanca typically breaks down like this:
- Short stop (under 13 hours): visit the Hassan II Mosque and central Casablanca.
- Full day (13+ hours): a private day trip to Marrakech and the Agafay desert.
- Overnight in port: the full 2-day Marrakech & Agafay experience with a night in a luxury desert camp.
What to do on a cruise excursion in Agadir
From Agadir, the standout cruise excursion is also Marrakech and the Agafay desert. Agadir is a beach resort city, and while you can spend a stop on its marina, souk and beach, the region’s most memorable experience is inland. Marrakech is roughly 2.5 to 3 hours from Agadir by private transfer, and the Agafay desert lies just beyond it.
Because the drive from Agadir is a little longer, a same-day trip needs a genuinely long stop. As a rule of thumb:
- Long day ashore: a private 1-day Marrakech & Agafay day trip, when your port time allows a safe return.
- Overnight stop: the 2-day Marrakech & Agafay experience, which is the most relaxed and rewarding option.
Why the 2-day Marrakech & Agafay trip is the best cruise excursion
A 2-day Marrakech & Agafay trip is the best cruise excursion from Casablanca or Agadir because it combines the country’s most famous city with a desert experience in one seamless, private itinerary — without the stress of racing back to the ship the same day. Instead of a rushed day trip, you get an unhurried two days: the medina and monuments of Marrakech, then the golden calm of the Agafay at sunset, a night under the stars, and a slow desert breakfast before heading back to port.
The Agafay desert is the key. Only 40 minutes from Marrakech, it is a landscape of rocky, dune-like hills with panoramic views toward the Atlas Mountains — close enough to visit on a tight schedule, yet dramatic enough to feel like a real desert. It is the single most accessible desert experience in Morocco, which is exactly why it suits cruise travellers.
What the 2-day experience includes
The private 2-day Marrakech & Agafay Desert experience includes:
- Private round-trip transfer from your cruise port (Casablanca or Agadir)
- A guided tour of Marrakech with an official local guide — Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia, the medina and souks
- A sunset camel ride in the Agafay desert
- Dinner and an overnight in a luxury desert camp
- Breakfast in the desert the next morning
- A private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
It is priced from €650 per person, based on two people. You can see the full itinerary and book online on our Morocco cruise excursions page.
2-day vs 1-day: which cruise excursion should you choose?
Choose the 2-day trip if your ship stays overnight — it is the most complete experience and removes all time pressure. Choose the 1-day trip (from €450 per person) if you have a single long day ashore, from roughly 13 hours in Casablanca. The 1-day version keeps the guided Marrakech tour and the Agafay camel ride but returns you to the ship the same evening, without the overnight, dinner or camp stay.
For most cruise passengers with an overnight in port, the 2-day experience is the clear winner. If your schedule is tight, use the feasibility checker on our cruise excursions page to see whether your exact port times work.
Will you get back to your ship on time?
Yes — every cruise excursion is planned around your ship’s scheduled departure, with a safety margin built into the return. Your driver stays in contact throughout the trip, and the itinerary is timed so you are back at the cruise port well before you need to re-board. Cruise schedules can change, so we always confirm your ship’s times before finalising the plan. This is the difference between a private, cruise-focused operator and a generic day tour: the whole day is designed around your departure, not the other way around.
How to book a Morocco cruise excursion
Booking is simple: choose your port and duration, enter your ship and cruise line, pick your date, and pay online. Because the tours are fully private, you travel only with your own group and a dedicated driver and guide. Start on our cruise excursions page, or go straight to the option that fits your stop:
- 2-Day Marrakech & Agafay from Casablanca
- 2-Day Marrakech & Agafay from Agadir
- 1-Day Marrakech & Agafay from Casablanca
- 1-Day Marrakech & Agafay from Agadir
Turn your Morocco cruise stop into a private Marrakech & Agafay experience
Cruise excursion FAQ
What is the best cruise excursion from Casablanca?
The best cruise excursion from Casablanca is a private 2-day Marrakech and Agafay Desert experience: a guided tour of Marrakech, a sunset camel ride, dinner and an overnight in a luxury desert camp, and a private transfer back to the cruise port. It is priced from 650 euro per person.
What is the best cruise excursion from Agadir?
From Agadir, the best cruise excursion is also the Marrakech and Agafay Desert trip. Because the drive is a little longer, it works best with an overnight stop (the 2-day experience) or a long day ashore (the 1-day day trip).
How long does it take to get from Casablanca or Agadir to Marrakech?
Both cities are about 2.5 to 3 hours from Marrakech by private transfer. The Agafay desert is a further 40 minutes beyond Marrakech.
Can I visit the Agafay desert during a one-day cruise stop?
Yes, when your port time allows a safe return — generally from about 13 hours ashore in Casablanca. A 1-day Marrakech and Agafay day trip includes the Marrakech tour and an Agafay camel ride, returning you to the ship the same day, from 450 euro per person.
Will I get back to my ship on time?
Yes. Every itinerary is planned around your ship’s scheduled departure with a built-in safety margin, and your driver stays in contact throughout the trip. Cruise times are always confirmed before booking.
How much does a Morocco cruise excursion cost?
The 2-day Marrakech and Agafay experience is from 650 euro per person, and the 1-day day trip is from 450 euro per person, both based on two people and fully private.
What is included in the 2-day Agafay cruise excursion?
Private round-trip transfers from your cruise port, an official Marrakech guide with the main monuments, a sunset camel ride, dinner, an overnight in a luxury desert camp, and breakfast.