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

A absolutely fantastic cruise,...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Not Specified

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Miss V Hales

Comments:

A absolutely fantastic cruise, cruise hosts were fab, well recomended, food great, very friendly

A absolutely fantastic cruise,...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Not Specified

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Miss V Hales

Comments:

A absolutely fantastic cruise, cruise hosts were fab, well recomended, food great, very friendly

Four First time cruisers, one of...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship - meditre

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr D Wilson

Comments:

Four First time cruisers, one of whom had never been abroad or even on a plane before, meant we had no idea what to expect or how we would like it. But as it turns out, there was nothing to worry about other than the fact that a couple of times I had to get sea sickness pills from the customer help desk, after which I was fine.



The ship was very well appointed, very smart and immaculate. People were constantly cleaning, everywhere you looked. Overall, the staff could not be faulted, from the bar and restaurant staff, to the housekeeping staff. The food was out of this world, always well presented, plenty of variety and plenty of it, sometimes the choice was just too much.



The cabins were small, but perfectly adequate and very well laid out, with everything you could need and more.



The weather was varied on our cruise, making some of our days ashore rather damp and cold, but obviously that could not be blamed on the ship, and on the really nice days there were always some sunbeds available if you looked hard enough.



The embarkation and disembarkation both went ahead fairly smoothly, with the inevitable queueing, but this is a necessary evil and was as quick as it could be.



The entertainment which we saw was very good, although we never quite got to the theatre, or the gym or the spa. My one complaint is that the duty free was rather poor, but apart from that I can honestly say that the ship was fabulous and although I would not go on that cruise again, I would definitely go on the Island Escape again.



One last point though, we were all inclusive, which was just as well, because the drinks are a bit on the pricey side, and it is not as if you had the option of going elsewhere or even drinking duty free in your cabin. If we had had to pay our bar bill I think we would have needed to remortgage the house, and with staff circling the boat asking if they can get you a drink, sometimes before you have even finished, it would be quite easy to get carried away and spend a lot more money than you realise.

Being our first big cruise we...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Tropical Transatlantic

Date of Holiday:

Nov 2007

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Miss L M Freeman

Comments:

Being our first big cruise we were not sure what to expect & after reading some reviews were a little bit doubtful but the cruise itself was amazing! i went on this cruise with my dad & sister & had a laugh from start to finish. We flew with first choice from Birmingham & was told it was a direct flight to Palma, but when we went to check in was told it was stopping at Gatwick, & when it arrived at Gatwick we was left sat on the plane for 1.5 hours before they finally started to board the passangers! Our first impression of the ship was that it looked like it hadnt been decorated in about 20 years! but apart from that was very clean. Our cabin was a little on the small side but was cleaned twice a day & our cabin man was very helpfull. All the staff on board from waiters to entertainments team were FANTASTIC! They were all very polite & could not do enough for you. One name i must mention is Mr Ross Roberts assistant cruise director he is an absoloute diamond & such a nice person. There was lots of different food to choose from & one of our favourite places was the beachcomber which is open 24 hours. The pool was a little small & there wasnt many sun loungers around the pool either so if you wanted one you had to get there very early! They had lots of different entertainment every night from musicals, comedians, singers to live bands so there was plenty to choose from. The Look Out Bar up on deck 12 was very good with a DJ & closed when ever the last person left so some nights was open till early hours in the morning! On our cruise it was mostly the older generation (40-85) & being aged 22 & 24 the day time activities werent really for us so we didnt really bother with them. They had a crossing the equatior ceremony which was fantastic as we got to see captain Guy Lockwood along with a few others covered in food then thrown in the pool! When stopping at ports of call we went off & did our own thing as the excursions were overpriced & you could do them alot cheaper yourselves. Mindelo in Cape Verde was the worst place i have ever been to in my life! but all other ports of calls were fantastic. We also had 2 extra nights in rio de janeiro which was fantastic & by far was the nicest place i have ever been to. I would definetly go on a cruise with Island Cruises again & wouldnt be put off by the bad reviews on here!!!

Having cruised with Thomson and...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Itinerary:

Med islands & spirit 08 to 22 May

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

Booked direct

Submitted By:

Mr BE Oliver

Comments:

Having cruised with Thomson and Sun Cruises several times we decided to try The Island Escape because the Itinerary and Dates fitted our plans



I wont say it was a mistake because we saw some amazing places. However the ship was a let down. We booked a premier Cabin on Deck 8 and paid £30 extra so we did not need to chance cabins on the second week. In 25 years as a Coach tour driver, and believe me I have stayed in some rough Hotels, I have never seen a bath room so bad.

The corners were thick with mildew and mould,the tiles were cracked and in a poor state of repair. Tiles on the floor start coming loose on the second night. The whole floor was eventually retiled but it took six days and four attemps to get it right. For the second week we were offered a different cabin a few door away but that bathroom was just as bad. We had the use of a cabin on Deck 4 for day whilst they re did the floor and found the decor and beds to be superior to ours (it would have cost about £300 less) I did leave the cabin steward a Tip (A bottle of Spray shower Cleaner and a brush)



On the plus side although we spent over £700 on 9 excursions I thought that they all excellent value for money. and the standard of the lunches that we were served on the full day excursions was superb

If I could give this cruise a...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr Lpk Kavanagh

Comments:

If I could give this cruise a minus score I most defiantly would. Holiday from hell? You bet it was, An AC units which had our cabin at temperatures between 26 deg in the day to 18 deg. at night. Awful food, tough meat, no vegetables. Swimming pool! Ha! There wasn’t enough room to walk let alone swim!

The day trips were a joke, as soon as we left the ship. (ship? Ferry is the truth) you had to get back on (An unstable boat which rocked violently from side to side). We were hit by a rip tide between Scilly and mainland Italy and almost capsized, there was genuine panic, people actually ran for the lifeboats, all drinks on the bar hit the floor, which were not refilled, TVs broken, plates and to cap it all off we could not leave harbour once because we were told the sea was to rough, meaning we missed a visit (without refund).

Nearly half the passengers were from a cruise which obviously went wrong and were given a choice of their money back or a cruise at a later date. The year before we had a fantastic cruise with another company but after this never never never again!

We booked on Island Escape about...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Mediterranean Discovery

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mr J Batch

Comments:

We booked on Island Escape about six months in advance after seeing a great price in a paper and poring over brochures. By booking ahead we got all inclusive.



The idea of buffet food concerned me after many unappetizing buffets ashore. I expected to end up paying each night for the waiter service restaurant. Was I wrong!



We got an early flight out and late back to enjoy the boat more and see Palma (rather nice). Arrived at 0400 for a 0615 flight to see a massive queue at Gatwick. By the time we checked in the queue was out the entrance doors.



I wasn't impressed by the flight with Monarch - less legroom than a local bus and late both ways. There was no upgrade option, presumably as it is short haul.



However, at Palma, Island took over - what a difference. Smooth, efficient and speedy.



Entering the boat, the third deck seemed to need a bit of decorating. We were on deck 9 and I understand they are working down. Apparently they had spent £25 million in February on the public areas.



I cannot believe how friendly and industrious everyone is. All of the crew are amazingly friendly, readily volunteer help and no-one expects a tip. Of course, being friendly to them in return helps. Even the Captain (Guy Lockwood on our cruise) wanders round and chats. The ship's crew are always painting and cleaning. The only down side are the reception staff who I felt just wanted to fob off any complaints and didn't appear concerned to me. A complete contrast to everyone else.



The passengers range widely in age and there are a number of children who have their own club.



The buffet food is great: Tasty, good and hot and varied. I was amazed and we didn't bother with the extra charge restaurant. The 24hour buffet serves the same food at meal times as the main buffet and the same quality the rest of the time, unlike 24hour buffets on other boats.



Drink prices are at the low end of UK prices. All-inclusive has a somewhat restrictive list compared to others but good enough for me. The staff will say if a particular drink is AI or not. Be aware that waiters will drop by every ten minutes or so with a smile to ask if you want more drinks. I imagine that could be a bit annoying if you were pay as you go. if you are AI, check that the chit says 'free AI'. One of mine was run through as something else and I had a heck of a job to get £2.40 refunded to my credit card!



The cabin was big enough and well-appointed for the price. AC was a bit noisy. There was no problem bringing 15 litres of our own water on board.



Entertainment was good with decent acts brought on board for one to two nights (We had a Sinatra tribute who'd sung in the Brat pack in Vegas). The resident acts are fun too. There was plenty of room in the entertainment areas but don't expect a Broadway theatre. The piano-player in the bar is a good entertainer.



Did we have any disappointments? Well, I wouldn't want to live in Olbia, our first port of call. Docking in Nice rather than Villefranche initially concerned me as we wanted to explore Monaco independently and I'd planned from Villefranche. Shore trips always seem expensive to me so I sort out my own trips. However, Nice is an amazing place and I'm glad we went there. Oh, and end March can be a bit cool but we spent most days in shorts.



In summary, it was so much better than I imagined it would be for the price. Fantastic time. Would I recommend it? Yes. Would I spend my own money to go on the ship again? Absolutely!



Sorry my review is so long: I was impressed!

Before I start I don't work for...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Med

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

Virgin

Submitted By:

Mr T Steel

Comments:

Before I start I don't work for anyone connected with the cruise!! (After they have read this they can send me 50 quid in the post though)!!



My Beloved had been going on about cruises for a long while. I had resisted for as long as I could but my ear ache was intensifying to the point of blood oozing from my ears! Never one to close my mind entirely to anything, I gave in and chose the ISLAND ESCAPE, number one because it was quite cheap for a cruise and number two it was only for a week and most of that would be off the ship during the days.

It started well with Exeter Airport being about as organised as a riot in Iraq. Ha, but that wouldn't get me down, I managed to make it for breakfast and karma was restored.



We were greeted at Palma and arranged onto coaches to take us to the ship, this was very well orchestrated and not at all stressful.

We then boarded the ship and although not the prettiest from the outside, inside was quite respectable. We were shown to our rooms and yes it was small but it was comfortable enough. This was an outside cabin on deck 8. An excellent deck if anyone is wondering which deck to book! Straight through to the bounty bar and shops at the blunt end.



The day at Sea was fine, deck 10 was our destination with the pool being the main attraction. Too cold to go in though. So Anthony (the barman) dispensed several cocktails amongst others to ease us on our journey.

We met some wonderful people including the hippest minister from Scotland you're ever likely to meet and his lovely wife. They danced us off our feet that night and they still wanted more!!



The Island Restaraunt was busy but serviced exceptionally well with a fantastic array of food to tempt even the fussiest of tastes. Yes it could get a bit uncomfortable if you were on the inside seats of a table of eight, but all you have to do is wait until the outside seats are free and hey presto, comfortable as you like! Entertainment wise, you have deck12 the sundowner, more of a disco bar which can get a bit chilly at night. Deck 8 had the bounty bar, Bingo (Yuk), The Pink Panthers doing their Amy Winehouse impressions and other entertainments. Deck seven had the Ocean Theatre (Two shows per night) I didn't hear anyone complaining about the shows.



They also have The pub (My adopted home) Where you had Hassan playing his electric guitar and singing very well, A younger Duo which were also very good and lastly a piano playing chap with a coarse voice which was very bluesy, again very good. The Casino is on deck seven also, I'm not quite sure I liked the croupiers laughing at me every time I lost which was often, but again I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Listen to Igor, the assistant manager in the casino, He sounded remarkably like you would expect from Vlad the impaler. Top man though.



The trips were ignored by us and we went on our own merry way. Don't get a taxi directly outside the port. Very expensive. They wanted 90 euros to Pompeii, we declined and thought we'd get a train but it took us fifteen minutes to cross one road in Naples and decided that rather than play Russian Roulette we'd go back and haggle with a taxi driver. We hired a chap called Galliano, (My Mrs thought he owned the wine company bless her). We went on a twenty minute ride like no other. Whilst Galliano had his right arm on the seat next to him and directly looking at us in the back telling us about his five kids he seemed to weave through the traffic like Luke Skywalker using "the force". It took ten minutes to dry my trousers when we got to pompeii! Great day though.



Livorno was lovely too and not to touristy. Barcelona was fantastico. I shall be going back there thats for sure. You name it, it's got it. Just Go, you won't regret it.

Our trip was excellent, the staff superb, the food lovely, the ship a little tired but not enough to put you off. The Victor Meldrews live all all over the world and sometimes go on cruises, you can tell who they are though. They look like the bulldogs chewing the wasps.



Take a chance you won't regret it 8 out of ten cat owners say so!

Bon Voyage!

Just further to my last message....

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

med spirit

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr N Rosendale

Comments:

Just further to my last message. We arrived on time, there were no delays,embarkation was so easy and like clock work.We had a 4 berth on deck 5 then 2 two berths at the rear on deck 3.The weather wasn't too bad. So to all you guys that have moaned.In reading a lot of the messages I agree that the weather was your major problem.



So lets get it into some sort of prospective. As a pilot (aircraft),don't come to me and moan about the turbulance,there is nothing I can do about it. Aircraft have engines just like ships, they often do go wrong and they do have vibrations and make a noise. Don't come and expect me to land when I feel the weather is not safe to land in.Likewise don't expect a ship to sit still on the water while the waves swell over the bows and don't expect a captain to put your life or the ships life into a port where it might end up being parked on the main street of Messina or Naples. So just because you wanted to visit a particular port,please accept the judgment of the captain, he has probably done one or two more cruises than you have and the port authorities would have to say no its not safe to come in here.



Its funny just how daft Jo public is. But just to say if you can't stand the movement of the ship and some engine noise and vibration,don't book a cruise, If you think everything will be just rosey and without a hitch then your a bigger fool than Jo public. Patronising this may sound but some people just have to have situations and realities spelt out to them,mainly because they can't think beyond their nose and their own tiny world. I should know I have met enough of Jo public.

To quote a comedian member of the crew.What some people have asked.



"What time does the 24hr beachcomber restaurant open?"



"Does the ship generate all its own electricity?"



" Do all the crew live on board too?"



So if you guys out there with the perfect answers to the perfect cruise,that are still alive after the crew made lifesaving decisions to keep you safe. Could you please have a word with him upstairs for perfect weather and a risk free life. I really do feel for those who's holidays have been spoilt by the weather,but don't judge the crew and the ship by the weather.



I still wouldn't want to cruise with you.



N Rosendale

Well,where do I start appart...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape cruise ship Mediteran

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr N Rosendale

Comments:

Well,where do I start appart from "BRILLIANT".We sailed on the Island Escape on the 15th April 2008.There were 22 of our family on this cruise.Ages ranged from 7 years old to 70 years old. The weather wasn't good and when you can keep 22 of my family with those age ranges happy your doing well.



Every single member of staff on this ship works hard and tirelessly to give you a very good service,not one of the staff didn't smile and call you sir.What makes a good cruise for me is how at home you feel aboard.We felt totaly relaxed made very welcome and the ALL the crew made you feel like you owned the ship.



"Adi," our cabin "friend" was fantastic with his towel folding skills,not once did this guy faulter, in his service to us four, in the two cabins on deck 3.Not only did he keep the cabins spotless the whole trip but was a good friend to my youngest 7yr old,always had time to play a little,always polite and most of all a beeming great chessire cat smile for you at any time of the day.



We had two birthdays to celebrate on our trip.The staff made two cakes (for a small fee) and all the waiters came and sang happy birthday to us.We dicided to dress up for the occasions and felt very at home with the dress sense.If you don't want to dress for the occasion then don't you won't feel out of place doing either.Thats the nice thing about this ship its so easy going.



Captain Lockwood has a charm and really good sense of humour always happy to join in as do a lot of the crew( isn't that why we take holidays)



I spoke to one chap who had been on six cruises from Royal carribean,Princess line and he said that this was the best vallue for money cruise,and best entertainment he had come across. Thats the spirit of the Island Escape ship. Its not an MSC,Royal Carribean nor is it a Queen Mary 2............Its the warm ....friendly.........cosy SPIRIT that comes from "THE ISLAND ESCAPE."



If you want all the spirit and pomp and ceremony of the Titanic,then book another cruise that has it.One day you too will realise ITS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.



This is a fine ship with a crew that puts love into their work.................Look after her guys till we can come back.



Nigel Rosendale

We feel so upset about the whole...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2008

Tour Operator:

Virgin

Submitted By:

Mrs Janet McAlone

Comments:

We feel so upset about the whole holiday,both my husband and myself are still recovering. After being told by my GP that I needed a relaxing break we booked this cruise through Virgin at the last minute. We are shocked to have been recomended such an appauling holiday through Virgin holidays as we have always trusted them in the past with so many of our holidays I am struggeling they want to put their reputation on the line, by associating with this company.

I can not discribe this holiday as relaxing it caused me more stress than my 3 teenagers have ever done in 18 years or my work does. Both my self and my husband were afraid that the boat would sink during the bad storms, it was most distressing. I have cruised before so was prepared for some turbulant weather, however most ships cope with it, not this one!!! I totally agree with other reviews that this boat was not fit to sail in poor weather, it was worse than riding on oblivioon the most scariest ride in Alton Towers, at least that only lasts for 7 minutes and you can get off, this trip went on and on hour upon hour day and night, and we couldnt get off. The majority of the holiday was at sea.

When we got to the aiport finally on our journey home we were physically still walking with sea legs, in fact were doing this for days afterwards.

I see some passengers say it was the holiday from Hell, I agree entirely, everything they say is true, Our window in our cabin was leaking, so they sealed it, then it filled up with water, 'the aquarium effect' all we needed was Nemo!!!! we wish we could have eaten the food, we were too poorley to eat, we would have liked to have had a drink but we were too busy holding on for dear life listening to glass smashing in the background, as well as passengers screaming and being sick

The health and saftey on board was a joke, passegers were allowed to form ques to the customer relations desk up two flights of stairs whilst the ship was listing from side to side, most dangerous.

The power going off was the point when I thought I was going to have a heart attack my already high blood pressure went sky rocketing I suffer from acute claustraphobia and went into a panic which has caused me to have night mares ever since. Over all we are tramatised not relaxed its such a shame, what ever the price, money isn't easy to earn, all of us have been to work and hoidays are precious, this was a waste of my hard earned money and holiday time, It would have been more relaxing staying at home cleaning the drains.

I feel really sorry for those who were elderly and those who had younger children on board, you must have really felt the strain.

Anyone who wants to keep in touch regarding this trip email jwmcalone@aol.com



I put a complaint into the company but still heard nothing I would like to comment on Ports but we didn't really stop at any. when we did it wasn't for long except Palma at the beginning due to the delays.

Hey ho, one day we might get to Barcelone and Pisa hey. This hoilday was a bit like paying for an item up front then not getting it.........

As they say, you get what you...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr K P Nut

Comments:

As they say, you get what you pay for............and we certainly did ! Arrived in Palma at 9am, finally got on the ferry at 11.30pm, after watching scuffles in the queue and the police being called to restore some sort of order. If people had known what they were queuing for they probably wouldn't had bothered. Still the £50 credit made it all better......and off we went for a 36 hour sea journey for a couple of hours in Sicilly. Boat broke down in rough sea's one evening........which was quite funny.......actually it was the highlight of the cruise for us.



Lets face it, this boats past it's sell buy date and either needs scrapping or turning into a prison ship. If you love bingo,smoking and listening to a resident band that only know 10 songs then this is the cruise for you!



On a plus side this boat must be near the end of it's days so hopefully not many more people will have to suffer............gotta take my hat of to the under paid cabin and bar crew though.............cant really say much about Captain Calamity though, because the only times you heard him was when he came on the tanoy to apologies for another let down. As for people giving this antique 10/10..........are they sure they were on the same ferry!

I booked this holiday in...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Itinerary:

Mediterranean Explorer

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs C A Ashley

Comments:

I booked this holiday in December so that I had plenty of time to fine-tune the details, as this was a "Once-in-a-lifetime" treat for my Mother on her 90th birthday. We sailed on 1st April - her birthday. When we arrived in our cabin, the flowers and fruit bowl I had ordered were disappointing - I could have bought the whole lot for £10 and they had cost £37. I had specified absolutely no champagne, as my Mother does not like it, and guess what! champagne on ice. I had paid for a good Asti Spumante.



When we went to the Oasis restaurant for our birthday meal it was very embarrassing for my Mother as it took several people telling me that we had to have the champagne, before the Maitre D came to the table and said that he could supply a very nice Martini Asti Spumante. I said that was what I had ordered and paid for. It duly arrived. The birthday cake, which I had paid £12 for when I booked the holiday, ended up being a £6 cake (Island Escape don't even do a £12 cake).



After dinner, Mum was getting tired so we went back to the cabin so that she could go to bed. No chance. Our very expensive balcony cabin was directly above the band stand of the Bounty Lounge!!!!! Apart from that we felt every vibration as the cabin was also directly above the engine. Surely the staff at 1st Choice should have been able to advise me that this was a totally inappropriate cabin for a 90 year old to be in.



To make matters worse, having paid £2,100 I was hearing about many people booking last minute, paying as little as £299 per person and being upgraded to cabin with balcony at no extra cost. Needless to say, I am still "spitting feathers".



First and last cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I would just like to say that the staff were all charming and helpful, the food was very good and plentiful and the theatre entertainment was excellent.

Hi
I sailed last year on...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Not Specified

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr D.W. MacLEOD

Comments:

Hi

I sailed last year on the Escape and was very satisfied so much so we sail again on the 6/5/08.

I have read reports by some people who cruised on her early this year and obviously were not happy.It appears that the weather played a big part in the problems,I do feel for most of them..One comment stated that due to the weather they could not get into certain ports,this is the decision by the port authorities for safety matters.As for the captain sailing into storms well the safest way to weather storms is to sail into the wind this would have been his decision for passenger safety.He also just cant sail into any port he feels like,there is a lot of organisation and red tape to get through.

I do take exception to Miss lesters comment regarding "Lies",I am not critisising her but I wrote a favourable report and I told the truth so therefor I am not a liar.

Mr J Baird who wrote a favourable report also passed on some very good information with regards doing your own thing ie. the train info,thanks!

We found out last year that you can do your homework and use public transport to visit all the places covered in the organised tours at a fraction of the price.

Do not dismiss the Island Escape if you are looking for a cruise without pomp and snobbery at a fraction of the cruises available..the crew are a pleasure to sail with !!

I have just returned home after...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr T A Cadden

Comments:

I have just returned home after a wonderful week touring the Med on board the Island Escape. I cannot understand people moaning and groaning they must live in ivory palaces. The cabins, food, entertainment, service, everything was just excellent. My only bad comment would be the ships photography and shore excursions was a bit expensive.

Thank you Island Cruises for a brilliant week.