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Cruise Reviews

Island Cruises

Island Escape

Canaries Cruise

Canaries Cruise

Reviewed By: Mills, BIDEFORD on 15th Jan 2010
Cruise Line: Island Cruises	Times cruised before: 3-5
Cruise Ship: Island Escape	Sailed: December, 2009
Destination: Canaries	Age: 46-55
Cabin: Outside	Occasion: Family holiday

We travelled on the Colourful Coasts cruise, around Canaries, Madeira & Morocco on the Thomson ship Island Escape for a family holiday, husband, wife and three daughters aged 24, 24 and 18 on 4th December last. We enjoyed a very nice holiday and were fortunate with good weather except one day of torrential rain. Flight average; landing at Tenerife we were immediately transferred to ship by coach a smooth/enjoyable transfer through the port onto the ship. The ship is fairly old and badly in need of a refit, worn carpets, bedding clean but well used and decor shabby. Having said that it was spot on for cleanliness and the staff worked very hard to keep it that way throughout our week, our cabin steward was polite and nothing was too much trouble for him. Our cabin was on Deck 5, not plush but adequate. Food - good varied menu with different theme each evening. We learned to avoid the Beachcomber restaurant which became extremely busy with not enough table space at peak times, but brilliant for teas and coffee's. Plastic mugs (take your own china mugs). The Island restaurant in which you are shown to your table was excellent, also self service but a lot more civilised; table staff brilliant and extremely helpful, good choice of menu with none of the hassle/scrum of the upstairs restaurant. If you choose there is also a smaller select restaurant with small cover charge. Entertainment was good, varied choice of bars/venues with all sorts going on. But: If you wish to catch a show the late one is always full. We missed a couple because of lack of seats! The same went for the bars; if one of the popular acts were on at peak times there was not a seat to be had. The passenger capacity seemed almost too much for popular venues. So plan ahead. Deck space on the sunny days also at a premium. There is a gym, spa, salon with beauty therapies available and duty free shops open at various times. Bar prices on board are reasonable with extremely large measures, the all inclusive option was brilliant for the three girls wth a fairly extensive choice of drinks and some excellent cocktails, bar service speedy and delivered with a smile once again top marks for friendly first class staff. Itinerary was excellent, long days & nights in most ports, travelling overnight, only one day at sea, which meant that you could happily leave the ship and explore on your own without short time restraints. We did our own thing although there was a good excursion programme available, including a bike ride option at each destination. Ports of call - Every port of call enjoyed with the exception of Agadir, which was a large industrial port not scenic at all. Gran Canaria – berthed in the town, easy to explore beach, shops etc. La Palma – quaint pretty little stop, small market, cobbled streets. Would have liked to have seen more of the island but only a morning stop. Madeira, torrential rain all day, but you win some you lose some! (we will return). As we left port that night the lights were beautiful viewed from the top sailaway bar. Agadir - stepped down the gangplank and back on again. Ugly working port, but to be fair we didn't book an excursion - no chance of exploring on your own without using dubious looking taxi's, or walking along a very long dangerous road which we were warned not to do. Reports from excursion takers were not favourable. Lanzarotte – cheap shuttle bus to town, would have booked an excursion but too late all full. Shops, beach, history & sunshine. On the last day our transfer & flight home went smoothly – Island Escape staff attentive to the last ensuring that drinks and food were available until the point of leaving the ship. A thoroughly enjoyable sunshine break, we would definitely travel with Thompson again but preferably on another ship.
Quality of Food
Island restaurant - enjoyable cultural theme each evening. Friendly attentive table staff.
Entertainment
The Pub/Sundowner - Jedi Joseph was excellent also the Island Escape Pantomime in the Bounty Lounge. The Butterfly Collectors were perhaps not so good.
Shore Excursions
Cannot comment - did our own thing. The excursions were expensive.
Staff
Kirk our cabin steward was brilliant, very helpful. Anastasia the waitress in the Sports Bar was also helpful, always cheerful and ready when your glass was empty. But - all the staff were excellent!
Children's Facilities	n/a
N/A
Onboard Activities
Lots of activities of all sorts from ice carving to bingo, aerobics to deck shuffleboard.
Cabins
Have stayed in smarter, bedding needed replacing, carpet threadbare - but it was clean & kept so throughout.
Overall Rating

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Opinion: Agree Comment by Douglas, Eastbourne (21 Feb 10 15:09) about this REVIEW

Excellent review, we did the trip 22 -29 Jan and we had a similar good experience - Agadir was a no-no, but the rest was really very good; old ship, excellent crew especially the entertainment - The Butterfly Collectors are a 'must'! Avoid the 'Professional Moaners' they seem to flock together.

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Comment by scott, Falkirk (20 Apr 10 22:16) about a COMMENT by Douglas (21 Feb 10 15:09)

de gustebus non est disputandum. I m glad you had a good time. But surelyyou must realise thats it my right to complain about a bad time. The whole thing is that the shp was not up to the weather inth e atlantic in the winter. Also the cabin was bad ie rat like noises and bug infested. The second cabin stank from the drains. The bed had slats missingetc etc ad nauseum. As the captain of the titanic said the list is endless, yours i n indignation jimmac

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Comment by wood, edinburgh (16 Jan 10 18:41) about this REVIEW

thanks for the review,was on the ship 2 years ago and was thinking of going back next month.yes its not the ritz but you only get what you pay for.glad to hear the staff are still very helpful.

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Comment by Fowler, Bedlington (10 Aug 10 14:09) about a COMMENT by wood (16 Jan 10 18:41)

We have been on this ship twice and also on the Island Star. Since Thomson's have taken over we noticed last year that she was getting a bit tatty, but nothing that could not be put right. We were informed when we were on board her in September 2009 that she was going to have a refit sometime this year. THOMSON MAY I MAKE A SUGGESTION! DITCH THE DREAM AND USE THE MONEY TO REFIT THE ISLAND ESCAPE, YOU WILL NEVER HEAR ANYONE COMPLAIN ABOUT HER, EVEN IN THE STATE SHE IS NOW IN, HER AMBIANCE AND PRIDE IN THE WATER CAN NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER AND SHE COULD BE THE FLAGSHIP THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!!!!! Brenda Fowler bren.oli@live.co.uk

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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Ratcliffe, Caister (16 Jan 10 08:03) about this REVIEW

You must be very easily pleased!! See my review having just returned after leaving the ship after 3 days!!

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Comment by ellis, fareham (06 Feb 10 16:58) about a COMMENT by Ratcliffe (16 Jan 10 08:03)

I couldn't agree more wholeheartedly - with more than 500 unhappy passengers now actively communicating via the Christmas Carousal Action Group - I think the voice of dissent speaks for itself.

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Comment by James Ballantyne, Wishaw (23 Jan 10 09:47) about a COMMENT by Ratcliffe (16 Jan 10 08:03)

Really sorry that your trip on the Island Escape was not to your liking, but I'm sure you will agree that everyone has a right to their own opnion and your comment on "being easily pleased" is I'm sure not meant as it sounds.

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Comment by brooker, willenhall (18 Jan 10 18:39) about a COMMENT by Ratcliffe (16 Jan 10 08:03)

I do sympathise with you as you had such a bad experience but you shouldnt knock those who had a good experience , which I myself did. We travelled on new years day and decided we were going to enjoy ourselves no matter what (After reading the bad reviews ) and thats what we did, maybe we were lucky as we had fantastic weather and no problems. Yes the ship needs a good refurb but for the money we paid we couldnt grumble.

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Comment by cox, hamilton (16 Jan 10 14:35) about a COMMENT by Ratcliffe (16 Jan 10 08:03)

Now thats not very nice ,,,,,, everyone has a different experience

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