Island Escape Cruise Ship

4 readers found this review helpful

just back from a great holiday 4.10.11 cabins do need a make over,but are kept clean,bedding and towels changed every day,food and variety was very very good,all staff were very frindly and helpfull,and yes i will travel again on island escape.

5 readers found this review helpful

Having never been on a cruise before, I'll note some of our experiences of the Island Escape -- Escape to the Med:
The Cabin: It was in a reasonable state, although the shower was bulging -- presumably from water seepage -- and it could do with a spruce-up. The shower was hot and powerful, the beds comfortable and it was ably cleaned twice daily. The towels being folded into animal models was a nice touch.
The Food: The food was relatively good throughout but, as you'd expect from a buffet restaurant, some of the food was bland, cool and overcooked. We had English breakfast early doors each morning in the Beachcomber to watch the ship come into port with the sunrise and had every evening meal in the Island restaurant. The quality of the Island restaurant was distinctly better quality.
Facilities: The gym was freely available and, as you'd expect on a cruise with generally older and more overweight individuals, empty. Getting a sun-lounger on deck is an art as people leave their pool-towels out on the loungers all day whether they're in attendance or not. The pool is laughably small -- don't bother taking swimming gear; you'll not need it. Internet access isn't free, nor is getting a safe-key (note 'nominal fee' does not mean 'nominal' it means 'unexpectedly expensive').
Drinks: If you're on an all inclusive package, then there's plenty available. For those intending to pay for drinks, note that the prices for drinks are eye-wateringly expensive. £3.30 for a pint of 'lager' (brand not specified), Coke £1.70. Neither I or my wife are heavy drinkers but the prices of the drinks kept us particularly sober. You can't take alcohol onto the ship and you will be checked at every port. Considering the sum paid for the holiday, the price of the drinks is a considerable bugbear.
Staff: The cabin steward was fantastically efficient, friendly and informative. Other than that the staff's attitude ranged from forcedly friendly to positively hostile (the latter in particular at Customer Relations).
Entertainment: Firstly the two theatre areas (the Ocean Theatre and Bounty Lounge) have distinct blind-spots and it's often difficult to see what's happening on the 'stage' (as the stage isn't elevated). As for the entertainment itself, it's evident that they work very hard. The review shows in the Ocean Theatre by the on-ship team ranged in quality from West-End quality to Butlins quality, often in the same show. The comedian we saw was hideously poor, more suited to the 70s than 2011 (although this may reflect the demographic being targeted). Apart from the main shows, there's plenty on of varying quality from on-board singers (more at home at karaoke in a pub), dire game shows, to fun games, pub quizzes and dance lessons. It really depends upon what you enjoy.
Destinations: We visited Palma, Trapani, Naples, Olbia, Toulon and Barcelona. Frankly Olbia isn't a suitable destination for any kind of tour being a tiny town with little going on. Toulon isn't much better. We had an excellent time in the other destinations and took one excursion to Pompeii, which was surprising value for money. At £40-60 a pop, though, we could only really afford one excursion and it was disappointing that more wasn't done to enable us to enliven our visits to the smaller ports.
Overall: We had an excellent time. Notwithstanding what I've put above, it's worth noting that:
1. Different things appeal to different people. We're 30 years old in decent health. We took a cheap option and weren't expecting gilt-edged quality. If you want 5 star service, food and entertainment, then this isn't the cruise for you; and
2. The cruise is what you make of it. We were slightly out of step with most of the guests as we were up every morning at 6am for breakfast and to see the beautiful sunrise while entering the ports. We would then leave the boat as early as possible and, dependent upon destination, spend all day out and collapsing into bed at 10pm. So, we treated it as an opportunity to have fun rather than be treated like royalty (although we felt well treated).
Also note that you feel like you're being constantly sold tat and to be ripped-off. Be prepared for this and you can avoid it successfully.
All in all, had an excellent time and, provided the price was right, would definitely do it again.

9 readers found this review helpful

we have just returned from the island escape for one weeks holiday had a fantastic time .this holiday has to be the best ones we have been on .we have been on thomson cruises before and yes the island escape needs a makeover theres no doubt about it but has to be one of the friendliest,relaxed ships we've been on .the food was good so don't listen to other reviews if they want posh then they should pay for posh!!plenty of choice in island restaurant we dined more in beachcomber so more relaxed and ate when felt like it which pleased our party.we had a cabin with a balcony so was fantastic to get fresh air in cabin especially at night,nothing nicer than falling asleep to sound of ocean but no doubt some people would complain of noise!!there was also plenty of trips to go on which we did'nt do this time just got off independantly so again more relaxed for us just do what we want.also staff and entertainment team brill so we will defo be booking again also may be tired but spotlessley clean and cabins spacious

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just returned from two weeks on the Sunshine & Souks Cruise on The Island Escape. Like others we read the reviews and we were not expecting the usual Thomson standards. However we were disappointed by the tiny shabby cabin. Tiles came off the shower and the plastic sink was chipped. The towels were tiny and grubby looking, I used the pool towel to dry with as it was much bigger and softer.
The food was of a cheap canteen standard. We paid twice £15 for a meal with was much nicer but was the same menu for the two weeks.
The entertainment was reminiscent of my days at Butlins and often the jokes were in very poor taste. However the entertainment team worked really hard and there were some good games shows.
The saving grace was the excursions we went on one every day and had a fantastic time.
Sad to say that we would not travel on this ship again

when we arrived on board i was quite dissapointed expected it to be far better than it was the cabins were dark had to have the light on at all times the bathroom needs a make over new sink etc the beachcomer restaurant have plastic plates and plastic mugs like been at butlins not on a cruise ship the food was very limited in both restaurants very bland to say the least the trips well you had to be up at the crack of dawn for a two hour drive approx to reach the fabulous places of the trips on offer after three days trips need a rest but could not fault the brilliant staff allways had a smile 4 everyone this ship needs a complete referb will cruise again but on a different ship.

10 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from our second cruise with Island Escape on the Sunshine and Souks holiday.We enjoyed everything. The waiters were always on hand to serve our drinks and there was always something going on in one of the many venues. The cabin was plenty big enough, after all we only wanted to shower, change and sleep in it. The cabin steward was lovely and kept our cabin spotless. Good, hot and powerful shower. The entertainments team work hard. Loved Ross to bits and the comedian Paul Eastwood was brilliant. We spent our nights in the Ocean Theatre for the shows, the Bounty Lounge for the quizzes and game shows and the Sundowner listening to the singers.
The staff in the bars and restaurants work very hard and can’t be faulted.
The selection of food in the Island and Beachcomber restaurants was great. We had breakfast and evening meal in the Island restaurant and lunch and midnight snack in the Beachcomber . Can’t understand all the moaners, I sometimes think that is all some people like to do.
Have already booked for next year on the Celebration ship

13 readers found this review helpful

just returned from two week cruise on isand escape did sunshine and soukes and jewels of the med never cruised before so nothing to compare it with.have to admit we read all the reviews before we travelled and wondered what we were letting ourselves in for but believe me we had absolutely nothing to worry about.everything was first class from the food to the entertainment.the waiters were always happy to help there was always something going on in one of the many venues.ok the pool was a bit on the small side but we were too busy doing other things to use it.the cabins were plenty big enough(inside deck six)with loads of storage space.smoking was allowed on deks 8'10'11 and 12 outside.and food was available 24 hours a day buffet style and first class with plenty of choice and varied.if you are thinking of booking DO IT...you will not be disappointed...

8 readers found this review helpful

just back from the sunshine and souks cruise had a great time onboard the ship the entertaiment team work hard all day we spend most night in the bounty lounge where kerri and her team did a great job to keep everyone laughing , this ranged from quizies to game shows , i was up just about everynight, taking part or singing. , there is a show down the stairs in the ocean theatre with ross or rossino the show team director lol , put on a fantasic diffrent show every night ,
the staff in the bars and resturants work there socks off
and the team that clean the cabins do there best as the cabins are dated and need refurbed
go if your up for a laugh met a lot of fellow passengers that were older than me but could and did liked the party atmosphere in the bars

2 readers found this review helpful

the palm tree painted on the side should be removed and replaced with a red cross.ship well past its sell by date food dreadful un less you pay £15 each for the resturant with delph plates. otherwise ite plastic not fantastic

4 readers found this review helpful

Booked a stay and cruise with the 1st week on Majorca and the 2nd week on the Island Escape,previously done cruise and stay but 2nd week was always a letdown after cruising so tried reversal with cruising the 2nd week to give us something to look forward to-----BIG MISTAKE! To say that the I.Escape was a letdown is an understatement,ship filthy,staff spent most of the time trying to flog cigarettes,furnishings shaddy,carpets in public areas threadbare,room linen and towels looked as if they were from a travellers squat,food barely edible,entertainment team were non-existant as they did not interface with the paying passengers (this was not the case in other Thomson cruises),only recommendation I would put in place is for this ship to be sent as soon as possible to the scrapyard,------the one that we docked in on our visit to Naples!