Island Escape Cruise Ship Reviews

" Ignore the negative reviews! "

Submitted By: holidaymaker

Reading some of the negative comments on here makes me wonder what people expect on a holiday!!!! We went with an open mind on our first cruise and can honestly say we had no major complaints. Yes, the cabins are small but only like being in a caravan and this is a ship not a hotel remember! We ate in the main restaurant and if people complained about the food then I can only assume they were wanting beefburgers and chips instead of the food on offer! There was a good choice of meat, fish, vegetables and every eveing was a different theme, e.g. Italian, Indian but you could also have English food and there was always a carvery choice, e.g duck, beef, pork etc. As for the food not being hot, we never experienced this. We did eat afternoon tea one day on Deck 10 in the 24 hour restaurant and to be honest I was ashemed to be British as it was like a rugby scrum! People were rushing to fill their plates with sandwiches and cakes as soon as the buffet started at 4pm, sheer greed and just goes to show these people did not appreciate good food as served in the other restaurants and wanted to fill up on stodge!This is the restaurant where there are "plastic" plates, which are actually melamine such as you would use for an outside bbq, understandable as there are seats out on deck here. I have to admit that I did not like the melamine mugs though on this deck, where we had to eat breakfast a couple of times due to early departures. We didn't eat in the restaurant where you have to pay extra as the main one on Deck 6 was like any decent restaurant anywhere. It was buffet style but the waiters served the food, which we actually preferred rather than having people helping themselves then putting food back when they saw something else. I did hear people complain about having to be served, but there were no long queues at all as everything was quickly dished out. There was always soup or cold meat, cheese, salads, fruit for starters, excellent choice of main courses and a choice of hot or cold desserts, plus cheese and biscuits. If I were to moan about anything it would be that the bacon was fatty but that is usual in foreign countries. Hand sanitisers were situated around the ship and people worried this was because of the norovirus,which is actually the winter vomiting bug and affects people anywhere in crowded places and nothing to do with the ship. The cabin was spotlessly clean, yes the towels were a shade of grey sometimes but they were clean, as were the sheets etc. Considering the number of people using the ship on a 24/7 basis I think the staff did a marvellous job as they tidied our cabins several times a day, and turned the beds down in the evening. The cabin was a bit creaky some evenings (we were on deck 8) when the sea was not as calm on some crossings, but you are on the ocean and you have to expect this. The swimming pool was a bit small and I didn't like row upon row of sunbeds arranged around it. There were seats in other areas but it was annoying to see people sitting on a chair with their feet on another when others were looking for a seat, also it annoyed me that people left their towels on their loungers and chairs then disappeared for hours at a time. We are Brits not Germans and should be above such childish behaviour. There was a cupboard with a few books in, these were replenished daily as people left the ship, not what I would call a library though, so take your own reading matter then leave it behind for others to enjoy. Daytime activities were plentiful and the evening entertainment was good, although we only went into the main theatre not the bars. We didn't take the all inclusive or drinks package and found the food was plentiful and the drink prices reasonable. We did go on several excursions but with hindsight think we would have been better taking taxis or making our own way around, although the tour guides did give lots of information. If I was to have one complaint it would be that I missed my own "private space" to sit and relax without being surrounded by other people. Not having a balcony with the cabin meant everywhere we sat there were others around smoking or talking loudly when all I wanted was peace and quiet. All in all, I would say ignore most of the negative reviews on here,but do bear in mind this is not a luxury cruise liner, you get what you pay for and if you want to dress up and lord it then pay accordingly. This is an affordable cruise, people from all walks of life were on it. If you can't mix with the working class then don't go on it as they will be there with their Sun newspapers and beer bellies. But there are also lots of other more refined people and like in everyday life, you mix with your own kind of people. You won't get stuck with anyone in particular as at each meal time you sit at a different table, unless you choose to sit with friends. We met some lovely people on this cruise and not many who complained. although there were one or two exceptions. Such as those who moaned on one of the excursions when it rained and we were force to change coaches as the windscreen wipers broke. All the staff were polite, helpful and very pleasant. Onboard facilities are good, on the day at sea I had a manicure and visited the hairdresser, there was a gym, internet room (to pay for and quite slow), children's area and we hardly saw any children all week so they must have been kept occupied! The passengers were mainly middle aged to pension age, with a few younger couples. So having read this review, go on your cruise and enjoy yourselves!

Advice: Ignore the negative comments on here

Activities:

8 out of 8 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
8 / 10
Date of Holiday:Mar 2010
Board Basis:Full Board
Tour Operator:Booked Independently

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" A truly lovely holiday "

Submitted By: Durham pearl

We had been cruising before and had been on the Island Star some years ago so had a fair idea of what to expect.
The cabins are on the tight side but there is so much to do that you dont spend a lot of time in them.
Our cabin boy was fantastic, and like the comedian that was on one night said, "you go to the loo through the night and you get back and your bed has been made again!!!"
The whole team on board go out of their way to make shure you have a good holiday, from the captain to the lads and lasses who wait on you in the public areas and restraunts.Thank you to all of you especially Fabiolla!
Yes we often compared it to the Ocean village cruise we did 18 months ago but at the end of the day you get what you pay for, a bloody good holiday with a fantastic team.
Like all cruises the trips are on the pricey side, we did the trip to Troubant in Morroco. Word of warning, dont do this trip on your own! The guide was excellent, giving us some very interesting facts etc but the visit to the Souk was quite an eye opener! Quite a few of the female passengers were in a huddle together as the sellers in the market could be quite intimidating. It was well worth it though just to see it all.
We had a few choppy nights and being on a lower deck definately made all the difference. Some of the passengers on the more expensive cabins higher up the ship certainly had a night or two to remember!!
We visited some lovely places but I have to say our hearts went out to the people of Maderia, bless them they were still trying to put the damage right and get their beautiful island back on track. The cable car here is well worth a trip as the views from the top are stunning and sad as you see the devastation the floods caused. You can get to the cable car by walking right along the sea front past all the trucks and diggers.
We would like to say a big thanks to all the crew and all the lovely people we met, it is these memories we will hold close to our hearts and worth more than money can buy.
We had a lovely Pearl wedding anniversary. Thanks x

Advice: Dont be too picky, its not a 5 star holiday but a lovely and friendly ship thats doing its best.

Activities:

6 out of 6 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
9 / 10
Date of Holiday:Mar 2010
Board Basis:full board
Tour Operator:Thomson

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" Colourful Coasts "

Submitted By: happy cruiser

Just returned from our second cruise aboard the Island Escape. Yes the ship may be old but the atmosphere and the friendliness of the crew and oficers more than make up for it. The weather was warm, sunny, cloudy and windy but everyone coped remarkedly well.
i found the food well cooked with a good selection although, at time struggled being diabetic, but was never left wanting. I will definately book another gruise on the ship.

Advice: Lots to do and see

Activities:

4 out of 4 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
8 / 10
Date of Holiday:Mar 2010
Board Basis:All Inclusive
Tour Operator:Thomson

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" Great Value For Money "

Submitted By: DIGGER MAN

We have just returned from a week on the Island Escape. We were very reluctant to go having read so many poor reviews. IT WAS GREAT !!!! We have been cruising for a number of years, P&O, Cunard, Costa and Celebrity cruise lines. If you want to pay these prices, have chocs on your pillows, and Formal dining , don't go !! But if like us you are willing to take a chance, you will, for the fraction of the money enjoy fab entertainment, wonderful staff - both equal P&O, but you compensate with no formal dining, no posh frocks and a cabin that although perfectly clean and seviced to v.high standard somewhat more modest than those we had been used to. Would we go again? YES! certainly ! Captain informed us ship having 6 million refit in NOV. We will return. Go and enjoy, ignore the bad comments from the Cruise Purists!!

Advice: Great Value For Money

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7 out of 7 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
8 / 10
Date of Holiday:Mar 2010
Board Basis:Full Board
Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

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" Needing to be Retired "

Submitted By: seasick

This was our first cruise and didn't know what to expect, the ship is definitely passed its sell by date and should be retired but we were on deck 9 and although the cabin was small it was always kept clean. Staff seemed to clean the ship all the time and hand sanitisers were eveywhere and they made sure everyone used them. The food was ok, always found something to eat, much of the same. The stabilisers are obviosly not working, my husband thought it was funny when I kept saying this but I'm sure its true and the ship creaked and groaned through the night when sailing. Apart from this we managed to have a not too bad holiday but wouldn't really recommend if you haven't already booked and we wont be going on it again. Does Thomson's no favours this one.

Advice: Bearable just!

Activities:

4 out of 7 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
2 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:All Inclusive
Tour Operator:Thomson

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" Novovirus "

Submitted By: robertjrt

When we joined the ship on the 27th of February this year we were greeted by the novovirus. Within 36 hours we were both ill and stayed ill until we returned home today.
The ship is "tired", but on-going maintanace is making some headway. The lack of effective ventilation in the cabins and especially in the en-suiete, which, frankly, was dreadful.
The portholes are screwed shut, so, you can see the fresh air but, not smell it.
The rest of my comments must be discounted as when you have novovirus all you want to do is go home to recover as soon as possible.
This ship can roll tied up to the dock, so, expect some movement!
The Islands are wonderful, Morocco is a waste except to see the difference between an EU country and Africa.
The food is plain and plenty of it and the costs of drinks etc very reasonable. The entertainment is, as always, a matter of personal taste.
The library is a compleat joke, but, there are plenty of books amongst the passengers to swap.
Take lucozade with you!!

Advice: be careful

Activities:

1 out of 2 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
2 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:All Inclusive
Tour Operator:Virgin

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" Fleeced "

Submitted By: seasick

Missold were our first thoughts on embarking at Madeira on the 15/02/10. Our holiday will be memorable for the wrong reasons ie: poor state of the cabin dowdy especially the sheets and towels which were a paler shade of grey and had ingrained stains a previous travellers dirty knickers under the bed and a shower and toilet which leaked with tiles bulging off the walls uneven tiles on shower floor ingrained with black mould in places fittings that were down to the bare metal it really wasnt fit to use. The beachcomber restaurant was something else furniture disgusting some of it rusty certainly couldnt believe the plastic mugs and plates! However the Island Restuarant was reasonable although the food was mediocre and never hot.Breen algae adorned the swimming pool. I know the weather was inclement force 10 - 11 gales but sleeping was always difficult because of the noise of the ship all the constant clanging and loud bangs.

2 out of 3 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
4 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:Full board
Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

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" Good value for money "

Submitted By: newbie

A friend and I booked this cruise for a last minute break after reading all the reviews. Yes, the ship is a bit shabby but the atmosphere on board was really friendly and relaxed. Most fellow passengers had booked last minute and seemed more than happy with the value for money the cruise gave us. The ship was spotlessly clean, hand sanitisers everywhere and cleaning staff constantly wiping down handrails etc. The staff were friendly and helpful in all of the bars and restaurants and the entertainment was superb. We mostly ate in the Island Restaurant and found the food to be good and varied. We found the shore excursions good value for money and thoroughly enjoyable, especially the 16 mile bike ride in Las Palmas! We had great weather and apart from joining the ship in Gran Canaria as they had been unable to dock in Madeira, we were able to visit all of the scheduled ports. This was the first cruise for both of us and we would definately go again although perhaps not in this area at this time of year on this particular ship as it was getting increasingly bumpy towards the end of our week. We would both sail on the Island Escape again in calmer seas!

Advice: Book late for a value for money cruise!

Activities:

4 out of 7 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
7 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:Full Board
Tour Operator:Thomson

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" Excellent holiday "

Submitted By: jonis

We had a wonderful holiday the last week of feb 2010, the weather was fantastic the ship was great. A holiday is always what you make of it so if you go on board with a negative attitude like some people seem to then they will always have a terrible time. The ship and crew were friendly, the food was good and the entertainment was brilliant.

joniss photos of Island Escape Cruise Ship

Advice: Try it and see

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8 out of 10 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
10 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:All Inclusive
Tour Operator:First Choice

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" 19th-26thFeb, Colourful Coasts - Lovely .. "

Submitted By: carkel

After reading some bad reviews before our cruise my heart was in my mouth when boarding the Island Escape, yes its an old ship,but our cabin was well kept and clean, I must admit I would have preferred to be on a lower deck - we were on deck 9 at the front and felt the cabin a bit rocky some nights! Apart from that, the food was lovely, and the crew were all very pleasant and helpful. We went to most of the shows at night and found them very good. Best of all the weather was fantastic for the week, it was a shame we couldnt get to Madeira, but safety of the passengers must come first.
I did prefer dining in the Island Restaurant, found the Beachcomber too busy with loads of people bumping into each other especially at breakfast time. This is our 10th cruise and just booked this one to get away from our awful weather, so was definately worth the money we paid. Dont be put off by moaners!!!!

7 out of 8 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
7 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:All Inclusive
Tour Operator:Thomson

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" Island Escape (couldnt wait to escape from it)! "

Submitted By: LesleyP

Went weeks Canaries cruise Feb half term 2010 and have to say, was extremely disappointed at how shabby the ship is, badly in need of an upgrade. Expected far higher standards from Thomson's, would rate it as 2* accomodation. It was clean and the staff were lovely and extremely helpful, but the ship itself isn't great. The entertainment is also fantastic, expect for the monotonous house band who love themselves but are in actual fact crap - good guitarist, poor singers. Show team were fab though, put on West End quality shows and Ross the camp show director is extremely funny and talented.
The kids club were also good, my 11-year old loved it, but the pool was very small and no use for anyone looking to swim.
I would not recommend this cruise to anyone as the food was also poor - over cooked, lacking in flavour and unless you love the school dinner, line-up buffet routine, you will hate it.
I know that no-one can control the weather, but you felt even the smallest of waves on board and we had some massive ones - Canaries had unprecedented bad weather and we were there during it. Didn't get to La Palma or Morocco, but not taken to any substitute, which I thought was poor. We also had to leave behind 25 passengers in Lanzarote due to the weather - they were the lucky ones, we were out in the middle of the ocean in force 10/11 storms, terrifying as the ship has very poor stabilisation. Hard to walk at times as tilting so much, my chair started slidinb backwards at one point whilst in the restaurant and it was like going on the dodgems trying to get a sleep with loads of banging and noice coming from god knows where!
We did enjoy our holiday as at that sort of money, you have to make the most of it and laugh, but I will never, ever go another Thomsons cruise. We had previously cruised with Ocean Village, which was great, this was the opposite. Had to take sea-sick tablets the entire holiday and even for a few days after getting home, at is was 4 days later before I finaly got my land legs.
Old car ferries do not make good cruise ships and this one should be put to the bottom of the ocean!

Advice: Do not book!!

Activities:

6 out of 10 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
3 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:Full board
Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

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" Thank you, Captain & Crew "

Submitted By: gardenwise

This is a copy of the letter I have just sent to Thomsons re Colourful Coasts cruise 15/2/10
This is not a complaint – just the opposite. I would like you to send our thanks and congratulations to the captain and crew of the Island Escape for making our cruise a memorable one! Despite horrendous weather conditions at times the captain kept us well informed and, more importantly, safe. The cruise was a bit of a mystery tour, because some nights we went to bed wondering where we would be the next day, but it was certainly interesting!
It was our first time with Island Cruises but it will not be our last – we have not been put off.
Thank you, also, at Thomsons for organising the flight home with such efficiency. We might have got home a few hours later than we expected, at least everything went smoothly. Thank you for the very welcome meal on the airplane, too.
I know you will have complaints – that is the nature of your business – but please be assured that the majority of the passengers were very philosophically about events and grateful for everyone’s efforts.
Please make sure the captain and crew know of this letter

Advice: Very good value for money

Activities:

11 out of 13 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
8 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:All Inclusive
Tour Operator:Booked Independently

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" Weather no fantastic - but still a good holiday "

Submitted By: Deejay

February 12th to the 19th 2010.
Yes like many other comments, the weather was not fantastic, but it didnt spoil our holiday. This was our second cruise on the ship, and both times (especially this time)due to the weather, the staff on-board were very good, frendly, helpful and professional at thier individual tasks.
The Captain had to make some very tough decisions regarding our safety, and in our view he done a fantastic job. The food was always good with different selections available,in each of the resturants.
It really upsets me how other people have complained about the trip, yes people were left at 1 of the locations but it was for the right reasons, safety of others and the ship.
The experience that we have just had, will not put us off future cruises or booking again on the Island Escape - i would advise you give it a go!!!

Advice: Give it ago, dont let others put you off!

Activities:

10 out of 13 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
7 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:All Inclusive
Tour Operator:Thomson

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" Disappointed "

Submitted By: Disappointed

I also was on this ship, embarking at Tenerife on the 12/02/2010. Anyone who says that they had a good time on this boat must be easily pleased. I am no snob (i spend many a time camping in the UK and stayed in various youth hostels). I could have coped with wall paper peeling off the cabin walls, tiles missing from our bathroom floor, vomit stains on the carpets, water flooding the carpets from the spray off deck and mucky table clothes at dinner. But I payed over £1500 for me and my partner to go on this trip so I did not expect this. Can't fault the staff, very friendly. The weather was horrendous at sea and in my oppionion we should not have been made to sail in those conditions. We tried to get a flight home from Arrecife but was unsuccessfull. It was more like a test of endurence than an holiday.

Advice: Think carefully before booking

Activities:

Good for: Beach

7 out of 16 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
1 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:Full Board
Tour Operator:Thomson

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" Disappointing First Cruise "

Submitted By: livelife

This was my first Cruise and hopefully won't be my last, though it most definitely will not be on the Island Escape. The positive aspects of the cruise were: friendly staff except some of the staff on the "customer relations" desk, some of the entertainment was excellent (some was not, though of course it is impossible to suit everyone), being charged £1 for a used pencil with which to play the charged for bingo I thought a little penny pinching :), variety of food was good, friendly bar staff and waiters. As mentioned by previous reviewers we did have exceptionally bad weather and did for safety reasons have to miss out some ports, with the benefit of hindsight we would have longed to have been two of the 25 passengers left behind in Lanzarote as the following night for us inexperienced cruisers was the most frightening experience of our lives, so much so that the following morning we left the ship and found two nights accommodation and transfer to the airport in La Palmas at a cost to ourselves. Our major gripe was the way we were dealt with once we had made the decision to leave the ship, feeling more like naughty school girls rather than uncomfortable and frightened passengers. We did go on to have two wonderful, relaxing days on shore and suffice it to say that the sea after we left the ship, was akin to a mill pond! Had the staff when asked, been able to furnish us with a weather forecast for the next 24 hours we may well have felt able to stay onboard.
As was pointed out to me by many an experienced cruiser onboard that you "get what you pay for", I wonder therefore if I am in the minority of folk who expect that by paying in excess of £850 for a weeks holiday is not enough to get good service?

Advice: Avoid this tired ship unhelpful customer support

Activities:

7 out of 13 readers found this review helpful

User Rating:
3 / 10
Date of Holiday:Feb 2010
Board Basis:full board
Tour Operator:Thomson

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