I had the first week of the year booked off work and found a last minute deal on the Island Escape flying from Bristol on New Year's Day so despite reading the reviews decided to give it ago (I have only cruised on the QE2 and QM2 previously but as I had served in the Royal Navy in the 80's anything is better than the grey funnel line - or so I thought).
The flight times were great and so was the embarkation process. The food was alright for the money and the entertainment was 1970's Blackpool camp. All of the junior staff were very friendly and provided very good service.
Now then the cabin - this was very poor and tired, however there were contractors onboard to measure up the cabins for a forthcoming refit (or it may have been out of desperation). The bathrooms stank of damp, and there was very little room to store anything - however the beds had memory foam type mattresses and were comfortable. I stayed on the 5 deck aft port side - bad place to stay it was directly below the galley and the early morning noise with banging and things being thrown across the upper deck extremely annoying. The ship is not the most stable of sailors especially when moving slowly or turning as the whole ship shakes and bangs - in fact it sounds as if its travelling on chains.
I will not start on the biggest problem of the whole cruise. One particular family of irish tinkers who where travelling on an all inclusive basis. This consisted of a Grandfather and Grandmother, three sons and their wives in their 40's and numerous children. Well from the start of the cruise until the end these people got drunker and drunker. The first night a fight broke out amongst the sons, second night granddad wet himself in the theatre and on the third night the grandmother was practically strangling a 2 year old little girl in the bar calling her a f***ing little ba****d - this really upset and distressed many of my fellow passengers. As a UK Police Officer I felt that I needed to do something about this and went to see the Security Officer. He was very attentative and admitted that he had been called 12 times the previous day to deal with this family - the children had been running riot all over the ship. On the last day I requested to speak to the Scottish Captain - after a whole raft of excuses I was given an audience. The Captain attempted to claim that he didn't know what family I was speaking about - I questioned him as to why he had not disembarked them sooner or why they had not stopped them from drinking - the Captain stated that all passengers had rights. Well in my navy the Captain would have been facing a courts martial for not addressing this issue sooner.
So if you are considering a trip on Island Escape may I suggest you pay a few pounds more and don't bother - the Island Escape is after all a converted car ferry.
The Captain and his dithering made the whole experience unsound and I felt at times unsafe.
Opinion: DisagreeComment
by McMillan, Glasgow (11 Feb 10 11:21)
about
this REVIEW
Been on the IE a few times and NEVER experienced any of what has been said,and I definitly do not like being called a CHAV,we to also went on both 14 nights stay, and 1week cruise and stay all inclusive,and YES I agree they should have been put off at the first avalible port,after all they would have been put off a plane,and may I add we have meet many nice people and still keep in touch to this day,would go on the IE again and again!
Comment
by Grover, Southampton (11 Feb 10 09:01)
about
this REVIEW
We were asked by some friends to join them on the Island Escape two years ago and most of the people were "all inclusive". (We were too.) It seems that it has deteriorated since then because we found the cabin quite acceptable, given what we paid for a 14 night cruise. I say this having cruised on the QE2, with Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America etc. However, it does seem that the all inclusive deals tend to attract heavy drinkers, as well as the more moderate ones. Whilst we didn't experience anything like Jones of Cardiff, we did see a number of people clearly "under the weather". Since we enjoy the experience of the formal nights where we can put on our glad rags, we wouldn't do the Island Escape again.
Comment
by Grover, Southampton (11 Feb 10 09:01)
about
this REVIEW
We were asked by some friends to join them on the Island Escape two years ago and most of the people were "all inclusive". (We were too.) It seems that it has deteriorated since then because we found the cabin quite acceptable, given what we paid for a 14 night cruise. I say this having cruised on the QE2, with Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America etc. However, it does seem that the all inclusive deals tend to attract heavy drinkers, as well as the more moderate ones. Whilst we didn't experience anything like Jones of Cardiff, we did see a number of people clearly "under the weather". Since we enjoy the experience of the formal nights where we can put on our glad rags, we wouldn't do the Island Escape again.
Comment
by Connolly, Manila (11 Feb 10 07:07)
about
this REVIEW
"....on the third night the grandmother was practically strangling a 2 year old little girl in the bar calling her a f***ing little ba****d -"
You state that you are a UK Police officer, but you didn't feel inclined to intervene in what sounds like a clear case of serious child abuse? Not even a call to the local police at the next post of call?
Comment
by Jones, Cardiff (11 Feb 10 21:07)
about
a COMMENT by Connolly (11 Feb 10 07:07)
I brought it to the attention of the Captain and the Security Officer. The other actions that I have taken would not be appropriate for this forum sorry.