Last cruise from Al Hoceima to Motril concludes summer holiday season

Heba Press: Abdel Salam Belgarbi, Mohamed Zariouh

At the end of the summer holidays, the last cruise left the port of Al Hoceima for Motril, Spain, carrying more than 1,400 passengers from the Moroccan community living abroad. This farewell voyage brought together mixed feelings between homesickness and the resumption of daily life in the diaspora.

The ship set sail in the late hours of the day, carrying passengers from Al Hoceima and the neighbouring regions of Caldriouch and Taza, where they were preparing to return after spending their summer holidays in Morocco. This community is a pillar of the local economy, with its remittances and visits supporting regions such as Nador and Al Hoceima.

Speaking to Heba Press, a number of travelers expressed their feelings before departure. Some of them stressed the difficulty of being separated from family and friends, while others expressed optimism about an upcoming return. One of the passengers from Taza said: “This vacation was an opportunity to reconnect with the homeland. Even if returning abroad is inevitable, the homeland always remains in our hearts.”

This trip is part of the sea bridge linking Morocco to Spain and is in high demand from the community during the summer.