Motril-Al Hoceima ferry cancellations: what MRE can claim
Every Motril-Al Hoceima crossing was cancelled between July 7 and 13, at the height of Marhaba, forcing Rif families to switch ports with extra costs and hours on the road. What many travelers do not know: since departures leave from a Spanish port, EU Regulation 1177/2010 applies. Refund, rerouting, assistance, compensation: your rights, step by step.
The essentials in 30 seconds
- •Every crossing between Motril and Al Hoceima was cancelled between July 7 and 13, 2026, according to the ASSORIF association, which has asked the operator Armas for explanations. The cause of the cancellations has not been made public.
- •Since departures leave from a European Union port, EU Regulation 1177/2010 on maritime passenger rights applies to these crossings.
- •In case of cancellation, you choose between a ticket refund within 7 days and rerouting at no extra cost to your final destination.
- •A written complaint must be sent to the carrier within 2 months of the scheduled travel date.
What happened
The seasonal Motril-Al Hoceima line is the direct route for families from the Rif: without it, travelers must go through Nador, Tanger Med or Tanger Ville, adding hours of driving on both sides. ASSORIF, an association defending the interests of MRE from the Rif, denounced repeated cancellations on this Armas-operated line and reported that all scheduled crossings between July 7 and 13 were cancelled. It is asking the company to clarify the reasons and to guarantee continuity of service during the summer, the only period when this line operates.
For travelers, the consequences are concrete: tickets bought months in advance, leave already booked, and at the last minute a change of port with extra costs.
Your rights under EU Regulation 1177/2010
The regulation applies to passengers embarking from a European Union port, which is the case in Motril, regardless of the passenger's nationality. Here is what it provides, based on the official European Union and French DGCCRF guidance.
If your crossing is cancelled or departure is delayed by more than 90 minutes, you choose between:
| Option | What you get |
|---|---|
| Refund | The ticket price, refunded within 7 days, plus a free return to your initial departure point if needed |
| Rerouting | Transport to your final destination at no extra cost, under comparable conditions, at the earliest opportunity |
While you wait, the carrier must assist you: snacks and meals in reasonable proportion to the waiting time, and if a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, accommodation on board or ashore, capped at 3 nights and 80 euros per night, including transport between the port and the accommodation.
Compensation on top of the refund applies to delays at arrival: 25% or 50% of the ticket price depending on the length of the delay relative to the journey duration. It is not due, however, when the cancellation or delay is caused by weather conditions endangering safety or by extraordinary circumstances.
How to claim, step by step
- •Keep everything: ticket, booking confirmation, proof of extra costs (fuel, tolls, new crossing, accommodation), and if possible written evidence of the cancellation (email, SMS, photo of the departure board).
- •Send a written complaint to the carrier within 2 months of the scheduled travel date, stating the crossing concerned, your contact details, and what you are claiming (refund or compensation). The company must acknowledge receipt and give a final reply within the deadlines set by the regulation.
- •If the answer is unsatisfactory, refer the case to the national enforcement body of the departure country. For a departure from Spain, the complaint falls to the Spanish maritime authorities; the European Consumer Centres can assist you free of charge with this cross-border process.
Our advice for the rest of the summer
If you need to travel to the Rif in the coming weeks, check the status of your crossing with the company before hitting the road, and prepare a plan B through Nador or Tanger Med. A useful reminder since July 15: entering the Tanger Med port requires a confirmed ticket with a set date and time, as explained in our dedicated article.
Frequently asked questions
Does the regulation apply if I bought my ticket in Morocco? Yes. What matters is the port of embarkation: departing from an EU port such as Motril, the protection applies wherever the ticket was purchased.
The company offers me a crossing from another port. Should I accept? That is the rerouting option, and it must come at no extra cost and under comparable conditions. If it forces significant uncovered expenses on you, keep the receipts and mention them in your complaint.
I gave up on the trip because of the cancellation. What can I recover? A full ticket refund within 7 days. Other losses (non-refundable accommodation in Morocco, for instance) are a matter for an additional claim to the company or your travel insurance.
What is the deadline to claim? Two months after the scheduled travel date for the complaint to the carrier. Do not wait, and keep a copy of everything you send.
What if the company invokes the weather? Weather conditions endangering safety exempt the company from delay compensation, but not from the refund or rerouting choice, nor from the duty of assistance.
To go further
See our Marhaba 2026 dossier and our complete Spain-Morocco ferry guide.
Sources: Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010 (EUR-Lex), Your Europe (European Commission), DGCCRF (economie.gouv.fr), ASSORIF via Yabiladi, Bladi.
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