Cruise Reviews

Excellent but Knackering

Reviewed By: Ottewell, Nottingham on 30th Jul 2008
Cruise Line: Island Cruises Times cruised before: 0
Cruise Ship: The Island Escape Sailed: July, 2008
Destination: Mediterranean Age: 26-35
We flew to Palma 22/07 to join the Island Escape. The swift and well organised transfer to the ship was good and we were taken to our cabin. We were on Emerald deck (level 7) in an outside cabin. I will review the cruise under each catagory.

CABINS:

The cabins are small but comfortable as we expected and had two single beds, tv, hanging space, window (outside cabin) and shower room. The decor and shower room are dated (burgandy sink)!! Some of the inside cabins on the lower decks are more modern which doesnt make sense. We experienced very little engine noise except from when anchoring in port.. lower decks reported engine noise more frequently.

FOOD/DRINK

Was excellent. Beachcomber is very informal buffet style, a bit like a school canteen to be honest with plastic plates etc but the food was excellent and you could eat your food on the outside deck. Breakfast was full english mmm. The Island Restaurant was also buffet but a bit classier as you got waiter service for drinks etc and the food was even better but queues were often long to get in here especially to get a table just for 2. We went into the Oasis a la carte three times and its soooo worth it (£10.95 supplement) for 4 course waiter service meal and the food ??? probably the best i have ever had. The fillet mignon (fillet steak) with peppercorn sauce was out of this world.
Drinks wise, we were all inclusive (which is not entirely all inclusive) BE WARNED!! Only selected drinks are all inclusive. The beer that is part of the deal is Stella, Boddingtons and Becks. Cider is payable as are any other beer brands. All house spirits (premium brands ie Jack Daniels etc carry a small supplement 90p etc).. House wine and soft drinks (cheap brands) are included but bottled water isnt.

ENTERTAINMENT

Excellent and so much choice. There are west end style shows, pool parties, bingo, live singers, etc and not to mention the casino that gets packed after 8 pm.

EXCURSIONS

Very expensive but you dont go on a cruise to stay on board do you!! We sailed to Olbia (Sardinia) and just got off and did our own thing.. next was Civitaveccia where you dock for Rome. We highly recommend you do the Rome Alone tour rather than with a guide. The guided tours are twice the price and you have no freedom to do what you want. Our tour gave us 5 hours free time in Rome with a map to do it ourselves.. we saw all the major sights and ate and drank when we wanted rather than when we were told we could. Next was La Spezia where you could do Florence or Pisa.. We did the half day Pisa.. was very good, saw the tower etc. Then was Nice.. from here you can do Nice itselft or Monaco/Monte Carlo which we did.. it was fabulous. Finally was Mahon in Menorca.. this docks right in the centre so just do your own thing.

WEATHER

Was VERY hot and probably too hot for walking in. average temp was circa 34 degrees.

GOOD POINTS

Overall Experiance
Food/Drink
Excellent friendly staff
Entertainment

BAD POINTS

Too many kids
Tiny swimming pool which the kids took over
Not FULLY all inclusive as led to believe.
Quality of Food5
MUST go to Oasis restaurant
Entertainment5
Loved the casino
Shore Excursions5
All were great
Staff5
All were fantastic
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Good facilites for kids but we have no kids and found that there were too many around.
Onboard Activities5
Cabins2
small and dated but comfortable.
Overall Rating5
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COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW
Question by ashton, torrington (16 Aug 08 12:35) about this REVIEW.
Hi we are going on island escape end september could you give us some tips on excursions, i.e. for rome, sardinia etc. would really appreciate it, there are four of us in our party. thank you. ann
ANSWER
Question by REILLY, GLASGOW (10 Aug 08 02:35) about this REVIEW.
HI AM GOING ON 2ND SEPT WITH MY MUM, JUST WONDERED IF TRIP TO ROME, PISA,FLORENCE IS SUITABLE TO TAKE HER AS SHE IS ELDERLY AND WALKS SHORT DISTANCES SO WAS THINKING OF TAKING A LIGHTWEIGHT WHEELCHAIR FOR HER TO GET ABOUT, ALSO COST OF THESE TRIPS WOULD BE APPRECIATED, ALONG WITH ANY OTHER INFO YOU COULD PASS ON TO ME THAT YOU THINK WOULD HELP , THANK YOU ANNIE
ANSWER
Answer by Ottewell, Nottingham (11 Aug 08 19:12) to a QUESTION by REILLY (10 Aug 08 02:35)
Hi, all the above trips involve walking.. although the Pisa one much less as everything is close to each other.. Rome is a big city and therefore to see everything it will involve lots of walking especially on the guided tours as you have to be quick and keep up so dont do a guided tour.. we did rome alone where you do your own thing.. much better.. There is however a coach tour you can do around rome instead which involves n owalking at all, it just means you cant get off and see things qyuite as well. We didnt do Florence as its either that or Pisa you cant do both as both on same day... and we prefered Pisa as its only a half day trip and we were knackered after Rome the previous day.. Also be aware that Rome is about 90 mins from the port on coach, Pisa about 1 hr and Florence is apparantly about 2.5 hrs. Any mroe questions please feel free to ask.
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Comment by mcguire, dunfermline fife (12 Aug 08 13:21) about an ANSWER by Ottewell (11 Aug 08 19:12)
hiya we done pisa and florence trip bye ourself in 2003 with about 5 other couples we were at dock side and hired mini bus and we had great time who should us some places on way gave us couple hours in florence then pisa not much time there had we look about very busy did not get up tower you have got to book in advance got picture taken next to it went to few sovenour shops not much to see at pisa our mini bus driver drop us off then told us to be back at certain time then back in time for ship .well worth money we paid cant remember how much but lot cheaper than ships trips .we done the same one time when island done charm in 2004 or 05 i think we done same again to do gibralter rock trip shared mini van with other guests works out lot cheaper and they act as guide as well tell you where to go and not where to go well worth it if you pair up with other guest
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