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Island Cruises

Island Escape

Thomson Cruise "built With No View In Mind" ...

Thomson Cruise "built with No view in mind" ...	1 of 1 people found this review informative

Reviewed By: Byrne, Durham City on 30th May 2010
Cruise Line: Island Cruises	Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: Island Escape	Sailed: May, 2010
Destination: Mediterranean	Age: 56-65
Cabin: Outside	Occasion: Annual/regular holiday

This review is our own personal opionion and refects what "we" thought of our cruise on Island escape 20th to 27th May 2010 . We landed at the arrivals hall following a good transfer from Newcastle by Thomson flights and the weather was great in Majorca.. which was a good start. Having been on 10 cruises , one of which was on Island Escape in 2002 we were a bit apprehensive following some negative reviews. So first impressions were very favourable as the "ugly ducking" looked well painted and in good shape from the quayside. As we only booked 10 days before going ( on line via Thomson website) I was also nervous about " not knowing which cabin allocated" but we were sure of O/S Cabin on decks 7/8/9. ( More about that Later... and the reason for my Review headline !). I booked direct on the internet mid May and paid by debit card and then looked at the deck Plan and read " once youve booked you can choose your cabin by telephoning our offices , pay £35 and choose your cabin " fine I thought so I phoned the next day and was told , Sorry but you can choose a cabin if within 21 days of travel , its allocate on arrival ........ Its in the contract small print. "Can you make sure I have a double bed and please do not allocate a cabin which is facing the public deck or lifeboats, i said". . Its strange isnt it you can choose your seats on the plane at this stage BUT NOT your cabin . First thing we did was open the curtains (which were closed in the middle of the day!) when we saw a lifeboat stuck outside the window with a "crew walkway" right next to the window. Right down to reception we went to complain but the usual " no changes as the ship is full" sign was up . Strange as you could still book on line the night before we left UK so advise is, book early or book inside cabin. Overall we have to say ( the above issue apart) we had a great time on Island Escape , had good food , lovely ports of call some of which were new to us, its very clean, the drinks are about UK pub prices the bar service is good. In the week we met lots of very nice people from all over England Plus plenty of Irish, Scots and Welsh aboard . We dont have a bad word to say about all of the crew who work hard to please the passengers. Only two points for improvement first the windows Aft around the "outside dining area" and the were not cleaned which spoiled the view of diners on deck 10. Second, the gym on deck 10 is in a "walkthrough corridor" between dining and the sun deck and its a bit like exercising in Tesco while everyone is passing by also the equipmnent is the same kit which was in the gym in 2002 ........ Back to the cabin with No VIEW cabin 9058 (made up as a double) its a bit cramped for space but well carpeted, nice bedding clean white fluffy towels, bathroom was fine ( a safe which we didnt use that costs £14 to use.... WHY ?) Also a fridge for cold drinks which you can bring on board .. soft drinks only and water. The steward Carlo looked after us well and the cabin was lovely and quite and the "blackout curtains" did the trick . In fact it was a very comfortable cabin .. shame about the view. The oprts of call were great , dont miss the Sunday market at Marina Di Carrara. a 500 yard walk from the ships berth . Dont miss the beach at Propriano which again is a short walk and great for kids lovely sand and warm sea ( head Just past the marina to the beach and you can see Island Escape in the Bay with the tenders going all day) Of course we didnt do any organised trips and in Chivittavechia we took the train to Roma S Petro ( St Peters square ) for 9 Euros Return....... All in all we would not hesite to go on Island Escape again, its good value, relaxed and just what we like for a nice week in the sun. the atmosphere is the best you will find on any ship in the med and it lives upto its reputation as the friendly ship Its not for everyone but we like it and that all that counts to us..
Quality of Food
Mostly in the Island Restaurant and Plantation where the crew serve the hot meals . Lots of outside dining space rear deck 10 where windows could be cleaner .
Entertainment
Enjoyed the Karaoke session which was popular BUT the DJ guy running it only gave singers 1 song and he could have double the time because some great singers possibly "upstaging" the crew . Liked the casino which was buzzing all the bars are very prompt with service . the big shows are no our cup of tea but other said they enjoyed them. The Lookout bar is not used enough during the cruise
Shore Excursions	n/a
didnt do any as we we DIY and save a packet ( rome for 9 Euros return by train )
Staff
Ross as the Cruise Director works very hard and joined in everything.
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
Plenty going on all the time and its amazing this mid sized boat packs in so much
Cabins
Did the job and we slept like logs so it must have been OK but spoiled by having NO VIEW due to the Thomson Con.
Overall Rating

1 of 1 people found this review informative

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Question by bowery, Gilesgate, Durham (12 Aug 10 23:43) about this REVIEW

well..not so much a question as a comment.....going next thursday, first time for a cruise...2 weeks on this ship,looking forward to it.........nice to hear about 9 euro return to Rome.......the brochure trip prices scared the s**t out of me, i will go it alone as well and try to save a bundle...from Durham City also so.........hi to Byrne

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Comment by mcguire, dunfermline fife (31 May 10 12:57) about this REVIEW

Hiya seems island is back to its working order shes still got some life in her yet .we were on escape in 2003 in cabin no 9502 and never herd a thing only thing we herd was maid going into next room to bring cleaning trolley out in morning this was outside cabin .It was so quite we booked for 2004 but 2005 we could not get it so we were ondeck 6 cant remember no .Then 2006 done the island star must admit i liked escape better more frendlary ship .Would love to go back omn escape but would like to try the dream but its having so much bad reviews at present so will hold for now see if inproves for the better .

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Comment by North, Huddersfield (31 May 10 12:16) about this REVIEW

Your point about the prebooking of cabins is very valid however it is 15 days not 21 and the cost is £39 but I think from memory the website still says £35 !! I agree that this period could be reduced and am surprised Thomson/Island have not done so as it creates extra revenue for nothing.My understanding is that Cabins are not allocated in the UK but at the ship so that is at least one reason why your message was not adhered to. As regards the " ship is full" sign - you are right - that is always on display regardless of how full the ship is. I can see why though as some people request a change of cabin for the most trivial of reasons ( I was once on the Thomson Celebration and someone was asking to change as the cabin door squeaked when they opened it !! ). The ship will only want to change cabins etc when there is a true need or the cabin becomes inoperative rather than someone's preference if not everyone will be wanting to change and saying you changed so and so's so why can't you change mine etc - it's happened so that is why. Are you saying that you were not allowed to bring back alcoholic purchases on the ship for whatever reason - whether it was to bring home or otherwise ?

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Comment by Byrne, Durham City (01 Jun 10 11:14) about a COMMENT by North (31 May 10 12:16)

I dont think Island Cruises are as strict about bringing locally purchased acoholic drink on board as other cruise lines were been on. (as long as its not an excessive amount) , after all you have a fridge in the cabin so whats that for ?. Plus lots of passengers are "all inclusive" so no point in buying in. I am going to take up the THOMSON ON LINE booking systems with UK trading standards because having an "outside cabin" with "no view" should be made clear in the booking system and to advertise a guaranteed outside cabin on deck 7/8/9 is missleading. The message from my phone call to Thomson Offices about our request for "the beds to made up as a double" obviously got through to the ship but they ingnored the rest of it . Clearly its a way of filling up the "unpopular cabins" from the deck plan shortly before a cruise departs. As I said we enjoyed the cruise on Island Excape but I want people to be aware of this, as I feel its "sharp practice" and missleading to the general public.

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