For any of you booked on this cruise and already have your tickets you might want to know that you will NOT be going to Cassablanca. We booked the cruise specifically for there and this week they've changed it. It's very disappointing and we are no longer looking forward to this cruise. We accepted the air change (after booking seats and making wheelchair arrangements for my Mother)but since that port was the only reason for booking this cruise it's a real letdown.

Hi Emerald2 and welcome to Cruise Chat.

We were supposed to go on a cruise that included Casablanca, too. I can't remember if it was on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. We chose that cruise because of Casablanca, because we had been to most or all of the other ports already. Our cruise also eliminated the stop in Morocco, but the itinerary change came many months before the cruise, and we ended up canceling and doing something else. It was our third attempt to go to Morocco; something had happened each of the first two times, too. Those first two were not cruise related. Sometimes I think my visiting Morocco just wasn't meant to be!

Usually, an itinerary change like that is not really the fault of the cruise line, but rather, is because of some change that the country involved has made. Sometimes they decide to limit the number of cruise ships in port at any one time, sometimes it's a tax issue, or whatever.

I truly understand your disappointment, particularly this close to cruise time. Are there other ports in the itinerary to which you have not yet been? Sailing on the Century will be fantastic, wherever she goes. This will just be good incentive to plan another trip to Casablanca at another time...

Sandy

Thanks Sandy for responding. I doubt that I'll get back there again. My Mom is 86 and other than maybe a cruise in the caribbean it will be the last cruise that far I think. We did Asia last fall and she's done almost all the other ports on the itinerary but booked it just because of Casablanca.
Dianne

Dianne, I bet if you asked your mother what the best part of the Asia cruise was, she'd put having the chance to spend all that time with you higher than whatever ports she experienced.

The same will be true of your upcoming cruise.

I'm betting you'll be able to take another cruise to other exotic ports. I know that many 86 year olds are pretty spry these days. My dad just turned 85 last week and still loves to travel.

Sandy

Sandy you dont know my Mom. I know she enjoys spending time with us but she's a complainer and negative alot. She's great on a trip though and seldom complains except now that they changed our air then the only port she was interested in I will get the brunt of it. My sister lives in Toronto so will mostly just hear the complaints when we get there. I've been on many cruises but never Celebrity and I hear the Century is nice so I'll enjoy the service, food and getting together with my sister.
Dianne

Dianne, the fact that the itinerary change was not your fault and not within your control, should make her complaining a bit easier to take.

Maybe your mom will be too busy eating the great food to complain??

Sandy

We are on that cruise also. I wonder why we are still going to Tangiers. We call Celebrity but they were no help at all. They didn't even inform us or our travel agent that the port was cancelled, we found out on this site. We aren't very happy about that.

Celebrity canceled the port because of security concerns. This was posted on another board by a TA, I believe:

>>Events in Casablanca, however, have caused us to have some lingering concerns regarding safety issues. Because of these concerns, and after extensive input from U.S. government officials, as recently as the last few days, we have decided that the most prudent course of action is to cancel our port call in Casablanca.

This decision is based on our concern for safety of your clients, and that of our crew members. We apologize for this alteration to your clients’ scheduled itinerary, and we thank you and your clients for understanding.>>

I have had a few different responses when I've contacted Celebrity about this so I don't know what the truth is. When I got on this morning Malaga had disappeared off the itinerary and Casablanca was back there. I got excited & phoned again but after waiting for her to check I was told no it's still cancelled. I couldn't get an answer as to when the amount for the excursion booked a couple of weeks ago would be taken off the credit card either. Credit card company will happily keep charging interest I guess I still have not been notified about this change in any way shape or form. You'd think they'd at least put a message on your file.

Hi Emerald, We went to the travel agent yesterday and she contacted Celebrity. They told her Cassablanca was on the itenerary. When I spoke with the Celebruty rep on the 8th she said it had never been cancelled. I dont know what to believe.

I also work for a travel agency and phoned about it...actually I have contacted them several times (4) about it and have rec'd a different response each time. Last week I just happened to get on to book the rest of my excursions when I noticed that it was replaced with Malaga and that was when I made my 1st inquiry. This week I get on and Malaga is off and Casablanca is showing up again so again I called and the girl said no Malaga is on the itinerary now. I'd like a straight answer about this mess. I've heard the berth booked by Celebrity was cancelled and then it was due to security (I think that's more a standard line). I have no idea why Casablanca was taken off on the computer, replaced by Malaga then this week Casablanca shows up again. I have not been informed of this change nor is there any message showing up for me when I get into my booking. I just checked again and Casablanca is still showing. We already booked our excursions for this port awhile ago but those are still showing up there too. This is my 1st time with Celebrity and so far not too impressed. I do hear that they are great and any customers we've had on them have enjoyed their cruises. What deck will you be on? We'll (Mom, Sister & myself) will be on Panorama Deck. Mom will be 86 the week we get back so I've arranged a cake for her on Oct 30 so she can celebrate at sea.

We are on the Vista Deck. We have concern about getting off the ship in Morocco. We have already booked an excursion in Tangiers and it's too late to cancel or we will lose our money.

Why are you worried? I haven't read anything lately that gives me any concern, but maybe I'm missing something. We have also booked an excursion in Tangier. We plan on being very careful, staying together, not wearing any jewelry and keeping money to a minimum. We booked the cruise so we could visit Morocco and enjoy the sites, smells and people.

When I spoke with the celebrity rep she read a memo regarding the cruise that is currently underway stating that there had been some militant fighting in Tangiers and Cassablana. She assured me the situation would be monitored on a day by day basis. I just feel that if the is even a hint that our safety is in question that I do not want to visit that particular port. The world is just not as safe as it was before 9/11