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| Day 1 |
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US
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Fly from the U.S. to Casablanca, Morocco.
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| Day 2 |
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CASABLANCA, MOROCCO | EMBARK
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Arrive in Casablanca and transfer to the port to board Callisto. Overnight in port.
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| Day 3 |
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CASABLANCA | RABAT | CASABLANCA
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Built on a promontory facing the Atlantic, cosmopolitan Casablanca is a repository of fine French colonial buildings. From Casablanca, drive to Rabat, Morocco’s elegant capital. Tour Rabat’s main sites, including its Medina, situated between the sea and the river. Within are colorful souks; the Kasbah des Oudaias, the evocative quarter of the old Almohad, Merenid and Andalusian towns; and the Chellah Citadel.
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| Day 4 |
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SAFI | MARRAKECH | SAFI
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From Safi, drive to fabled Marrakech, one of Morocco’s four Imperial Capitals, founded in the 11th century and set among gardens and palm groves. Our exploration includes the 12th-century Koutoubia Minaret; the Bahia Palace; the Ben Youssef Medressa; the Jewish Quarter; and Djemma el-Fna, the city’s central square at the heart of the Medina. There will also be the opportunity to walk through Marrakech’s colorful souks. |
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| Day 5 |
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AGADIR
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Built around a sweeping bay, Agadir was first colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century and was captured by the Saadians in the 1600s. Today Agadir is one of Morocco’s loveliest and most vibrant coastal towns. Drive north of the city to Paradise Valley to explore this scenic palm lined gorge and its Berber villages.
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| Day 6 |
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ARRECIFE, LANZAROTE, CANARY ISLANDS
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Call at Arrecife, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the seven islands of the Canary Archipelago. From Arrecife, visit the National Park of Timanfaya, a lunar landscape shaped by volcanic activity and renowned for its distinctive plant species. En route to the Park, pass small villages of red-tiled houses that are in bright contrast to the ash-covered mountains . |
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| Day 7 |
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PUERTO DEL ROSARIO, FUERTEVENTURA
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Christmas Day will be spent on Fuerteventura. The second largest but least populous island of the Canary Islands, only 100 km separate it from the coast of Africa. Explore the stark beauty of the desert-like landscape with miles of golden sand dunes at the Parque Natural de Corralejo. Enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner aboard ship.
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| Day 8 |
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LAAYOUNE, WESTERN SAHARA
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Laayoune is the main city in Morocco’s Western Sahara, an area that was held by Spain until 1975. Explore the Souk ez Zaj, Laayoune’s old district, with its Spanish-Saharan architecture, and the Artisans Center, with its workshops of jewelry, metal, wood and other craft.
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| Day 9 |
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DAKHLA
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Cruise along the coast of Western Sahara. Early in the evening, arrive in Dakhla.
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| Day 10 |
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DAKHLA
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The southernmost town of Western Sahara, Dakhla is located on a long peninsula jutting into the Atlantic. Capital of the old Spanish colony Rio de Oro and known until 1975 as Villa Cisneros, Dakhla is now mostly populated by Moroccans and tribesmen who previously lived in the desert. Whitewashed houses characterize this easygoing and friendly town.
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| Day 11 |
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NOUADHIBOU, MAURITANIA
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Built on the Cap Blanc peninsula, Mauritania’s Nouadhibou is a mix of African, Mediterranean and Oriental elements. Visit the sprawling Grand Market, with its silversmiths, cloth sellers and other artisans, and then drive to the desert, where a special lunch will be served in a tent, accompanied by traditional music. Explore the desert, and then return to the ship. |
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| Day 12 |
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NOUAKCHOTT
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Arrive today in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, built between the sea and the desert. Visit the National Museum, with its fine collection of artifacts, and the Artisanal Center, a market where exquisite silver jewelry, embroidery, batiks and other items are sold. End the tour of Nouakchott with a stop at the atmospheric Fishermen’s Beach.
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| Day 13 |
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DAKAR, SENEGAL
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After cruising along Senegal’s coast, Callisto arrives in Dakar late in the afternoon and remains docked for the night. Enjoy a festive New Year’s Eve celebration this evening.
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| Day 14 |
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DAKAR | DISEMBARK | GOREE ISLAND | DAKAR
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Disembark in Dakar in the morning for a visit to Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within Dakar, visit the Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noir, one of West Africa’s finest museums, then stop at the Marche Soumbedioune, a craft market with fine examples of artisan workmanship. Transfer to the Hotel Sofitel Teranga Dakar for dinner and accommodations until the late evening return flights to the U.S.
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