Reviews of Island Escape Cruise Ship, Island Escape, Island Cruises

Brilliant holiday, easily the...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr B Smithers

Comments:

Brilliant holiday, easily the best for many years. Lots to do in the evening and the food was superb too. The entertainers worked really hard to give us a good time and suceeded. The cabin on Coral deck (5) was clean, but if I'm honest, the decoration was a "bit tired". Given that we really only slept in there it wasn't so bad.



Our excursions were very well organised and has been already said, the staff were brilliant and always willing to please. In our 50's we didn't find that the kids were out of hand. They were having as good a time as us it looked like.



I don't readily give 10/10 but this was a great holiday and I want to go back!



- Brian

We have just returned from a...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

MED DISCOVERY

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Miss SJ DAWSON

Comments:

We have just returned from a weeks cruise on the Island Escape. As first time cruisers we had a fantastic time! we have a 2 and a half year old who was spoiled by captain and crew. We were made to feel SO WELCOME. Staff were friendly and efficient and couldn't do enough for us. Food was fantastic with a great variety of fish, meats and lots of healthy options too. Our cabin was small but clean and the animals that greeted us on our return to the cabin each day had us in stiches!! We will definately go on the Island Escape again. It's a brilliant holiday!!

Bad points( If I'm being picky!!!).... lots of more mature travellers who can tend to be very fussy at times

Shore excursion staff tell you the wrong information at times... We asked for directions to the nearest beach on arrival at port and were told it was a 10 minute walk away. In fact it was a 30 minute local bus ride way!

Neither spoiled our holiday however. I would definately recommend Island escape.

We have just arrived back from...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mrs K Family

Comments:

We have just arrived back from our cruise and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't know why so many people moan, if you go to enjoy yourselves then this is the cruise for you. My son who is 15 made many friends and even went to dinner all together on the last night (25 teenagers). There was no trouble from any of the children they all just wanted to enjoy themselves. A special mention to Nurul our fantastic waiter who could not have done more for us and Rosemarie on Emereld Deck our Stewardess who always had a smile and made us very welcome. I have been on many holidays in hotels and have never found such a nice atmosphere as on this ship, amongst the passengers and crew.

Beware holiday makers. The...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

JACK SPARROW

Comments:

Beware holiday makers. The Island Escape is a converted car ferry - not a cruise ship. Make no mistake. If you want to experince the positive go to a cruise company that sails ships not ferries. If you want to cruise the med or the Atlanic in a ferry go ahead - other wise stay clear of The ISLAND ESCAPE.

They say cruising is no longer...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Select

Submitted By:

Other SE Excell

Comments:

They say cruising is no longer and old people holiday.It is on this ship.If like me you are an active teenager this ship holds nothing for you.When you are at sea the only things you can do are eat,sunbathe or play basketball.



I simply found myself wandering around aimlessly because I dont sunbathe and playng baketball for 13-15 hours a day is a little boring.This cruise ship is ace for those who wish to sunbathe and play in the tinniest pool the world has ever seen.At night if you dont play bingo,watch the show or get hammered it is really boring.



The ship is designed for the vain and the old,if you dont make friends really fast you need to have people on suicide watch.Yep it is that bad.The rooms seem to have come straight out of the 1960's and need a good scrub because mould runs rampant.The shower has no power and is too small.



For you teenagers out there dont go it isnt exciting



The only good thing is the staff are mostly very friendly and receptive

We are first time cruisers and...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Select

Submitted By:

crewser

Comments:

We are first time cruisers and have returned last week from 2 weeks aboard the Island Escape. I have read some of these reviews with a smile on my face, esp the comments about knife crim teens and 'chavs'. Well, myself and my family are neither of these and may I suggest that those comments obviously belong to people who should dig further into their pockets and pay a bit more for a more 'formal' cruise where they may even meet royalty. LOL

This cruise is just as it decribes - relaxed, friendly, informal cruising. And also, if I am not mistaken 'family cruising', so for the person that doesn't like children, check when the school summer holidays are next time and go when maybe its just you and the captain onboard!

We had a fantastic 2 week holiday, we had 3 rough nights when the ship was rocking but you cannot help the weather! Service was excellent, staff very friendly, kids club excellent, my 2 girls aged 4 and 8 loved it and the girls worked very hard to make sure the girls had a fab time!

Cabins at first glance didn't leave me that impressed. Very tired looking, the bathrooms (we had adjoining cabins) a bit damp and mouldy so didn't look very clean. But, we only showered, changed and slept in them so not really a problem. We were on Deck 8, so had a walkway/deck outside out window, but nobody could see inside so not a problem. As mentioned before we also saw the volcanic island of Stromboli and was an amazing sight. That was the highlight on the 2nd week for sure!

Entertainment was good, although we did not see all the shows etc as were a bit late for my children (yes, when they were not stealing the knifes(see previous review, LOL) from the restaurant they were tucked up in bed asleep)!!

The captain is the ship's celebrity and rightly so, he is fantastic and has time for everyone. Staff morale seems very high and I can only assume that it starts at the top!

Food was good, we used the Beachcomber mainly as it was quick and hassle free with the children.

The day we had at sea was very busy everywhere. Hard to get a sunbed and the restaurant was packed all day. This is to be expected though as nobody is off the ship for excursions etc. Most of the time no probs getting a sunbed until late in the afternoon.

I would go on the Island Escape again, but would like to do a different itenarary next time to the ones we have done. Would recommend to anyone.

Thanks to all the crew on the IE!

Just returned from a week on the...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Virgin

Submitted By:

Dr  Mathieson

Comments:

Just returned from a week on the Island Escape, and had a great time. Our Premier outside cabin on deck 8 was small, and a bit dated, but it was spotlessly clean and had everything we required. I didn't have a look in any of the standard cabins, but I doubt if they could have been much smaller than the Premier, although we paid a large supplement for the Premier cabin. The cabin was pretty basic, but adequate for our needs. The cabin stewardess popped in a couple of times a day to fill up the ice bucket and attend to anything else that needed done. The animal towels were very good. Each time we went back to the cabin we wondered what animal would await us. The monkey hanging from the ceiling was a favourite. The food was plentiful and of a high standard, and the service was wonderful. It compared favourably with a 4 star hotel, in both presentation and quality. Despite the fact that the crew work extremely long hours, they were always friendly and attentive. Absolutely everyone we came into contact with had a smile and a cheery attitude, hence the well deserved reputation as being the friendliest ship around. The crew, from the captain down, work hard to give everyone a good time. You can't please everyone, but they do try. The excursions were, in my opinion, over priced, but it was easy enough to do your own thing in each of the ports if you preferred. We went on a couple of the organised excursions, and they were pretty good, if a bit expensive. We were on a Full Board package, and had to pay for drinks, but many of the passengers were All Inclusive. I think the difference in price was about £140 a head for a week, including children, so unless you think you will drink that amount of alcohol, it may not be worth while. Some people were making sure they got their money's worth though! The drinks prices were OK, although £1.45 for a coke was a bit much. There were lots of activities at most times of the day, like quoits tournaments and dance classes etc., and the evening entertainment was good and varied. Some of it wasn't our cup of tea (eg Bingo, which seemed to be on all the time, and for some reason was very popular among the guests), but overall they pretty much catered for everyone. My only criticism about the entertainment would be that it was a bit too "adult" in content on occasion. They either must have forgotten that there was a large number of children in the audience, or didn't care. At one point the comedian, after telling a risque joke, said "and if you find that offensive, get a life", which I thought was a bit out of order. People sitting in the audience with young children had every right to find it offensive! The shows in the Ocean Theatre were very good, but again, sometimes a little bit adult. The standard was high, much like going to see a musical in theatre at home, with great costumes and they made the most of the rather small stage. Very professional. The Island Chat itinerary booklet, which the cabin stewardess left in the cabin each evening, made sure that you could make a point of going to the things you wanted to go to and avoid the ones you didn't. The sundeck around the pool was very cramped, and because of the selfish people who put their towels on sunbeds and then wandered off for the day, it was almost impossible to arrive in the afternoon and get a sunbed, which was a shame. The crew do request that nobody leaves and empty sunbed with a towel on it for more than 20 minutes, but this rule was largely ignored. The drinks waiters are very attentive (perhaps a bit pushy in some cases though), as are the ship's photographers, who seem to pop up all the time. The evening we stopped at Stromboli to watch the vocano erupt at night was a great experience. The ship stopped for about 15 minutes, and classical music was played on deck while we watched the spectacle. The captain said that the Island Escape goes closer to the volcano than any of the larger ships are able to, so, if volcanoes are your thing, this one is probably the best bet. The childrens club kept the youngsters amused while the adults had a little bit of time out. They coped well, considering there were so many children on board. All in all, we had a very enjoyable holiday. The good points outweighed the bad points by far, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Island Escape to anyone who is looking for an informal cruise and a bit of fun. If you are looking for upmarket and formal evenings, it's not the one for you though!

Just got home form my cruise on...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Itinerary:

med spirit

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Miss A Burridge

Comments:

Just got home form my cruise on the Island esape!!

Arrival at airport was great, easily signposted where to go and staff very hepful.

transfer very quick. Luggage taken to our cabins once we got off coach.

When we arrived at our cabin however we were a bit dissapointed, it was quite small and decoration a bit old. and the bathroom had a damp smell. although the cabin otherwise seemed clean.

We then went for a walk on the ship and found that the swimming pool was very small and actually was far too small fo the amount of people on the ship. Obviously full of kids due the the hols. they did have 1 hour a day adult only swim but not enough and also a large group of teens decided they were over 18 and started jumping and bombing into the pool and it took one of the older ladies to tell him off as there was no staff supervising this. Aso there was announcments stating that people could not reserve sunbeds with towels and they would take your towel away if you left for longer than 30 mins ( which is fair enough) but this was not then carried out and we found ourselves walking round for 20 mins waiting for a bed to be free even tho there were tons of beds with peoples stuff on them saving them?? In the end we found our selves doing the same as we were fighting a losing battle.

The food was lovely, a large choice and the staff in there were fantastic!! we mainly ate in the Beachcomber restaurant as it was easier as you could seat yourself. The island restaurant only had a select amout of tables for two and we had to ask to be seated on our own as they wanted to seat us with other people.

Entertainment was great, suited everyone. again you had to get there early to get a good seat or any seat at all as it was always full up. The bingo seemed a bit dull. The band suprise were ok but saw too much of them. Shows and dancers were quite good.

Casino good fun too. Some very good comedy tho and the entertainment staff as a whole were excellent.

The deck parties were a highlight as it was a great atmosphere. Also we saw an active volcanoe one evening which was also a highlight.

The excursions were ok, a bit pricy but we found it cost alot in Italy and france anway. Unless you do some research into train times etc and know where your going. we went to Pompeii well worth it and we went to Pisa and puccinis lake. very good but bit rushed at Pisa. other places we went on a tour bus that was about 15-20 euros and you can get on and off as you please.

Generally I feel exhausted as there is so much to do and you dont wana miss anything and a week isnt long to fit it all in really. I had a thoroughly good time but if I cruised again I would go with a higher star cruise as this was only a 3 star and our room more like a 2 star. It was also frustrating as we were only full board and some were all inclusive and there were no upgrades available so the bar staff constantly hassle to sell drinks which is fine if your AI but not for us being careful what we spend. A few people AI were moaning as it didnt include all branded spirits and certain drinks and no ice creams?? The ship is constantly trying to sell sell sell too so you best save lots!! ha ha



Otherwise very enjoyable, food geat, entertainment great and weather excellent!!

I LOVED this cruise. I've been...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Mediterranean Spirit

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

lizveall

Comments:

I LOVED this cruise. I've been on bigger, better MUCH more expensive cruises, but I have to say that this one was my favourite. The staff really are the most friendly I have ever encountered. And yes, its old, it was a ferry, but it was the smoothest sailing (I know the weather has a lot to do with that) it was spotlessly clean and constantly kept so. The dining was excellent, from the buffets to the a la carte restaurant, I really couldn't fault the food or the service. My kids loved the kids club and I can't praise the team enough. The best I have ever known. Could barely drag the kids away. It gave me quite a lot of free time, which was excellent. The pool is small, but to be expected on a cruise ship. It was enough to cool you off and they enforced the strictly adult hour every day. The itinerary was superb. Because its a small ship it docked in harbour every time within walking distance of the city centres, but the organised tours were excellent, and reasonable I thought compared to others I've been on. And obviously I don't need to mention value for money. Even in the middle of August, it was a bargain. The cabin was a bit snug, but perfectly adequate for the 3 of us, we really didn't need it for anything but sleeping. I suggest you pay more and get a bigger one if thats important to you! The bathroom was actually bigger than the balcony cabin I had on my last princess cruise, and the water pressure better than I have at home! I also thought the drinks were very reasonable. I paid £2.99 for a glass of sparkling wine - no service charge or tipping added, so much cheaper than anywhere. In fact, there were no obligatory envelopes left on the last day for tipping (which I have encountered on every other cruise). I wasn't sure how to tip the staff so had to find the ones I wanted to reward and give them cash. But it wasn't expected at all and so richly deserved.



For the value, itinerary, friendliness and sheer joy of cruising, I would so go on this cruise again, and thats something I've never done.



If you like Celebrity Cruise style, I'm afraid you're going to have to pay celebrity prices, but if you just want a great, good value cruise experience, go with Island escape.

the island escape is quite a...

Overall Rating:

5/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr F Smith

Comments:

the island escape is quite a contradicting name as there is literally NO ESCAPE from this "ship"... unless you jump on the emergency rafts and blow a hole on the ship. The cabins are as small as baby jesus first cott and proberly just as dirty.... Do not be fooled by other good reviews that give it 10/10 as this was proberly there first holiday everrr or they are just island escape staff. the showers are tiny and with small amounts of mould around the edges, also, the drains are most proberly blocks as they use a special "vacuum system which is better for the enviroment" but not for the smell of the cabins.

entertainment on the ship is very limited unless you are over the age of 60 and enjoy sitting in the sun for a week.. the swimming pool is a very very small and salty and burns your eyes.... unless you do not like the beauty of sight, i reccommend you to stay away.

Have you heard of all the knife crimes going on in the UK? well at least now you know where the criminals are all going on holiday... yes it is full of chavs. and old people.



the only positives are that the serivce was soo good it was unbelievible. the waiters are very funy and entertain you well... in addition the food was very good and healthy. however, the receptionist was quite poor. however, i feared for her life as i saw that a stocky chinese man nearly abused her with table tennis bats.

also, our room sterward was awesome, he actually could withstand the smell of the room and clean it!! Imagine cleaning a piece of dog poo.. all joking aside, he made 3d animals out of our towels daily which was very imaginitive e.gmokeys, dogs and next door to me there was a white panda.



also, it was good value for money as the places we visited were actually interesting.... but they did charge us £50 per person...



in summary the trip had a lot of bad points and some good points but i do not reccommend it for teens unless you are interested in knife crimes.

we have just returned from our...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr J Harrison

Comments:

we have just returned from our first cruise ever and we had a great time. the staff are constantly working hard. if you could not find anything suitable to eat then you are a fussy eater they catered for absolutely everyone. everywhere was spotless the room was excellent you get what you pay for, so the people who moan about not having a fridge need to pay for an upgrade. some people say this isnt the nicest ship but it is their second or third time of cruising on it. doesnt that say everything, if it was that bad why are they on the ship again. we cant wait for our next time on this ship you dont get first class service like that in a hotel.

we have just returned from our...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr J Harrison

Comments:

we have just returned from our first cruise ever and we had a great time. the staff are constantly working hard. if you could not find anything suitable to eat then you are a fussy eater they catered for absolutely everyone. everywhere was spotless the room was excellent you get what you pay for, so the people who moan about not having a fridge need to pay for an upgrade. some people say this isnt the nicest ship but it is their second or third time of cruising on it. doesnt that say everything, if it was that bad why are they on the ship again. we cant wait for our next time on this ship you dont get first class service like that in a hotel.

1/10 Island Cruises are budget...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Med Spirit

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Miss M Genson

Comments:

1/10 Island Cruises are budget cruises. Remember that. If you are expecting luxury then DON'T go on the Island Escape. The ship is almost 30 years old and is an ex car ferry. The bedrooms are TINY and old. The ship is 'past it'. If you have ever been on a P&O mini cruise to Bruges or Rotterdam, then expect the Island escape ship to be just like the ferry and you won't be disappointed. To be fair, the ship is clean and the food is good.

WE ENJOYED OUR FIRST CRUISE ON...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

CRUISE 118

Submitted By:

Mrs A MALCOMSON

Comments:

WE ENJOYED OUR FIRST CRUISE ON THE ISLAND ESCAPE, FOOD WAS FANTASTIC, ROOM WAS OK A LITTLE CRAMPED BUT SPOTLESS, ENTERTAINMENT WAS OK ROSS ROBERTS MADE THE ENTERTAINMENT WORTH WHILE HES A LEGEND ROSS YOU WILL GO FAR !!!! SOME OF THE OTHER ENTERTAINERS NEED TO MODERATE THEIR JOKES IN FRONT OF KIDS, A BIT CRUDE TO SAY THE LEAST. THE PORTS WE STOPPED IN WHERE LOVELY TO SEE, TRIPS VERY EXPENSIVE, NOT WORTH IT AT ALL. A GREAT CREW, DONOT THINK I WOULD GO AGAIN NOT ENOUGH ON IT FOR MY KIDS (AGED 11 AND 13) A GREAT EXPERIENCE BUT WOULD GO THE EXTRA MILE NEXT TIME FOR A BIGGER SHIP, WITH MORE FOR KIDS TO DO.

I was disappointed with my...

Overall Rating:

5/10

Itinerary:

Mediterannean Cruise

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs L E Young

Comments:

I was disappointed with my cruise experience. After reading and listening to the experiences of other cruisers about the luxury and service I had been expecting 5 star treatment. There were too many extras charged or over-priced. For example a cappucino was not included in the meal. The internet access was over £4 for 30 minutes while the treatments in the spa were vastly over priced.



But perhaps my biggest complaint was the number of unsupervised children and young people who had the run of the ship. Many of these these young teenagers were rude to staff and passengers and on one occasion in the Bounty restaurant a group of them was throwing food at each other.



The swimming pool was very small and as a result grossly over crowded. It was monopolised by screaming, shouting children (again there was no evidence of parental control or intervention) whose only game seemed to be to be to push or pull one another into the pool squealing all the while. The crew's answer to this was to organise a period in the day where the pool was at the disposal of adults. This period lasted between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day so if you were on a shore trip you missed out. Having paid a considerable sum of money for my holiday I had not expected to be treated as second class passenger to children. As a result of this experience I would not recommend Island Cruises for a holiday during the school holidays unless they were to review their policy on children.



The service from the crew was of a high standard and staff were pleasant but we have to bear in mind that constantly asking if you would like another drink has the dual purpose of making sure that you spend money.



The entertainment was of a reasonable standard but the whole experience was that of a glorified Blackpool.