This was my 4th cruise having previously saied on Thomson Topaz, Airtours Sunbird and MSC Armonia. I travelled alone and did not find this a problem.I found this to be a very relaxed happy ship and all of the people I spoke to were enjoying themselves with no complaints.
The ships crew work very hard to make sure you enjoy yourself and seem proud to be part of the Island Escape "team". I thought the shows,and entertainment were excellent. the singers and dancers especially.
There are a variety of activities going on all the time from 8am in the morning until 4am the following morning if you want, ranging from classes in indian head massage to bingo and disco.
I ate breakfast and evening meals in the Island restuarant and found the quality and choice of food excellent, and always hot enough. Good English based food cooked to perfection.I missed having fresh orange juice at breakfast though, they use reconstituted.It is open dining on board which I find easier and a good way to make friends. I used the Ocean resturant once, but found the service a bit rushed. They do a special offer for 2 for £24.95 including a bottle of wine. which on most nights was red or white, but our night it was sparkling which only 1 liked but they wouldn't alter. and although there were 5 of us we only got 2 bottles of wine as there is no offer for singles. When the bill came they charged 1 person £15 and the other £9.95 x2 and 1 £12.45, as they said they had to charge the drink separately.The food was ok and it was nice to have it presented prettily on a plate and we could have tried all of the deserts if we had wished.
I went on 4 excesions Etna and Taomina,Pompii and Sorento,Florence and Pisa, and St Tropez and Port Grimald.I thoroughly enjoyed all of my trips. They use local tour guides who know the areas well so give lots of local information as you go along as well as historic info at the sites. Each trip was about £47 as they were all full days. You could do a lot of the places by yourself,but as a single traveller it was safer on the organised trips.Most of the places we stoped had open top bus tours of the cities, these I did in Palma and Barcelona. In Palma it stops right next to the ship and was 13euro and Barcelona outside the terminal building for 19euros. There are also small land trains in lots of the places I took one around Sorento for 6euros which was very pleasent. They also ran around Toulon and I noticed 1 that went from where the coach stopped at Pisa into where the leaning tower is,about a 10 minute walk.My friends tried to see Naples on foot but gave up traumatised after trying to cross 3 roads and went back to the ship. The other thing is to beware of pickpockets a few of my fellow travellers got robbed,even when they thought they were being careful.
If you want duty free drink or cigs you could buy drink just after you check on board at Palma there is a litte shop to the left,we brought drink and orange juice here, and in Barcelona when we came back from our bus trip we were allowed to buy cigs and drink which was very cheap 22.50euro B&H, to pack in your case to take home, but watch your weight First Choice were charging £7 a kilo for overweight.
In summary this certainly wasn't the smartest ship I have sailed on and there are definately areas and the cabins that could do with updating,but for me it was like going to a party where everyone joined in and made you welcome,and I came home having had a very good holiday

I have been on a number of cruises which included budget lines and the more up market companies - to be honest the price difference is not that great if you book early. Unfortunately, although there were a number of positives, the Island Escape is not a ship I would wish to use again.

Good flight to Palma and the First Choice operation at the airport was excellent. At the port we were delayed on the coach for about 10 minutes due to the queues for embarkation. However the check in process was swift (at least for those who had taken the time to complete the necessary documentation in advance). Then onto the ship.

Home for the next two weeks was an inside cabin on deck 5. First impressions were positive, it had a small TV, a few minatures of spirits and an ice bucket and well supplied with towels, including pool towels. On further investigation it appeared not to have been that well cleaned - I found used cotton buds and I don't believe it was vacuumed in the two weeks I was there. The bathroom was adequate but during the second week the vacuum toilet failed a couple of times - this happened several times with the public toilets as well.

The pool area is most uninviting - loungers crammed together so that it was impossible to get up and mome around without having to disturb someone. Really rubbish music played over and over on a loop and a pool full of unruly children. For the first time I actually heard the Captain over the tanoy asking parents and grandparents to keep the children in their care under control as they had been disturbing other passengers. The gym is in a passageway from the pool and the equipment looked up to date and it appeared to be very popular. The beauty salon was nearby. Prices were comparable with home and there was a wide variety of treatments available. Parallel to these was the photo shop and gallery and the children's club. The quality of the photos taken was excellent and the prices reasonable. Further on was the Beachcomber with an outside eating area. Food was plentiful but mostlly tasteless and cold - it didn't matter if you waited for a new tray to appear, that was also cold. The only hot food I ate during the two weeks in either the Beachcomber or the Island was soup and custard. The Beachcomber needs totally gutting and refurbishment - too small, didn't look clean even though the staff were constantly cleaning and not at all inviting.

The Island was well laid out, food still cold and still buffet service but at least it looked like the sort of place where food should be served. After the first week I got fed up with the lack of properly cooked food and decided I would book the Oasis for dinners on week 2. The food there was hot and tasted of something and people did not turn up in the clothes they had been wearing all day. I soon learned to ask that my food did not have any sauces as these were made from a rather disgusting margarine instead of butter. The steaks I had there were excellent - a bit of variety with the vegetables would have been welcome - undercooked cauliflower was served every night.

As I had the all inclusive drinks package I thought I would not have to budget for drinks. How wrong I was. The package is not nearly as good as that offered by Thomson Cruises. The only cocktails included were the two cocktails of the day. What also disappointed me about the drinks service was the way the waiters were used as additional revenue gatherers for the company. They had to try to sell bum bags, flashing pint sized glasses etc as well as do the job they are supposed to do - take drinks orders and deliver them.

I didn't experience any of the entertainment apart from overhearing the din from the pool where they had the usual daily quizes and vegetable carving and occasionally hear the music from the Sundowner. Smoking is allowed on one side of the open decks, the outside area of the Beachcomber and The Pub. During changeover day it was decided that the Pub would become non-smoking. This almost provoked a riot. Smoking is not permitted in the cabins but several people I spoke with smoked openly and were even provided with ashtrays by the cabin stewarts. As a smoker I obeyed the smoking rules despite being told by my cabin stewardess that it was OK to smoke in the cabin bathroom. Another example of not adhering to the rules was on one of the last days when I went to the Island for breakfast. The disinfectant gel dispenser at the door was not working yet the staff insisted we did not wait for another dispenser to be brought the 10 feet or so from the other unused entrance.

Ports of call were excellent and the trips very good value for money. The entrance to Mahon is not to be missed and if you decide to do "Navigate with the Captain" this is the port to book for. Shopping on board was better than on some ships and there were regular sales. On the last day while waiting to be called to disembark I finally discovered Cafe Brazil - the sausage rolls served there are the best I have eaten in a long time. This is also the place where there is a small selection of books left by previous cruisers and also some board games.

Yes the Island Escaped is relaxed, friendly and informal but it is in danger of becoming too informal. I don't object to buffet service at mealtimes, I even enjoy not having to pack formal wear and I know from experience that there is a need for family friendly cruises. However I paid 2500 euro for the two weeks and for that money I do expect not to have to listen to non stop swearing and foul language from fellow passengers and food that is hot and doesn't all tase the same. I also expect a clean cabin, rules being enforced and entertainment that is a bit less Butlins.

On the Island Cruises web site it listed one of the excursions as being the "hop on - hop off" bus tour of Palma on changeover day. When I arrived on the ship I found that this had been cancelled and instead a flier was delivered with the Island Chat for a free trip in Majorca with a visit to a bed factory included. Another way of Island Cruises getting additionl revenue as they must be gettng a percentage of any orders taken.

On the last day while in the Cafe Brazil one of the original Captains was on board - I understand he is now Director of Operations for Island Cruises. Remembering his proactive attitude on the 2002 TV series I hope he took the opportunity to speak with passengers and takes their comments on board. This could be an excellent product but it needs a lot of work.

On a final note the check in at Palma airport was one of the worst I experienced. They were checking in about 5 First Choice flights together at 3 - 4 check in desks and the queues were long and it took 1 hour and 25 minutes for me to get to the top of mine.

Ideal for an informal holiday but slightly overcrowded, This was not a problem as there was only one day at sea. Food ordinary but more than adequate -sometimes cold but wait for a fresh tray. Tea bags - apart from herbal varieties only Lipton yellow label so take your favourites. There is a huge underground shopping mall including supermarket 5 minutes walk across from dock in Palma.

Tours were expensive. We got a bus from La Spezia to Porto Venere for about 3 euros return - the ship charged £29 by boat, We could have got a boat near where the ship docked but preferred the views from the bus. We got the bus near Garibaldi Square - it took about 20 mins. Tickets must be bouight from newsagents or machines and then stamped on the bus in Italy. In Nice we got bus number 100 (pay on bus) to Monaco - about 40 mins., Got off at the casino, walked down to the harbour then upto the Palace and got a bus back from near the little market at the bottom of the hill, again only a few euros. There is also a train but bus stop was nearer and views fantastic. It is possible to get a train into Rome and go on an open topped bus but we did the ships tour and the guide was superb and it was very well organised, we saw a lot in a day.

Having cruised with Cunard where the point of the cruise is absolute luxury, good food and a superb variety of entertainment I felt this cruise to be more about the Ports of Call.

A very different experience but relaxed and enjoyable taking into account the cost.

hi this is our third trip on the island escape and it just leaves us wanting to come back every year.our cabin steward could not do enough for us even opening up when i had left my key inside we loved the animal towels he even made a swan out of my pjs we left him a generous tip and put him on the top of our oscar list.the food was plentiful and very good i liked the themed nights so you could have chinese one night indian another etc and omeletes made in front of you . the staff are so friendly and its nice to see a lot of them are still there from previous years especially kummar and dinno and ana in the look out bar and gary by the pool also kerri(ENTERTAINMENT)etc to name a few .the shows were fab the dancers are so good even the captains got up in the pool area to give us a show really good.would i come again ,you betcha we have done floors 3,4,and 5 so next year we gonna try floor 6 island cruises are the best xxx

Could not fault this cruise,

Would travel with this company again,

The staff were always cleaning the ship it was spotless. Food was excellent high standard, the ship staff could not do enough for you, could not fault any of them. Onboard entertainment was very good.

I would sail with this ship again and would highly recommend it to anyone. When you go into the restaurant's there is a hand wash for you to use when you enter and leave ,staff all wear disposable gloves when handling food. You could eat from a very good choice of food to suit everybody, never heard anyone complain at all.

We asked if we could have a quiet, no smoking room when we booked, our room on diamond deck was a little small but was very quiet,

Every day we had a copy of the island chat posted under our door telling us our next port of call, where to go on the island and what to see, what time we would arrive and leave and if you stayed on the ship what was going on that day on the ship , you would find so much going on you would be hard pressed to get bored. Some of the shore excursions were a little pricey, so we only booked the Rome & The Vatican £65 per person, this was very good.

The other days we would use the local open top bus to see the town in Palermo (Sicily) 20 Euro for 1 day pass, you could get on and off when you wanted, you have head phones to listen to the guide telling you the local history.

We used the little train of Ajaccio (Corsica) to travel, 10 Euro for 1 hour 30 mins ride taking you to the local old houses and monuments telling you as you travel along a little history of the town.

On our last day we arrived in Majorca at 7 am and our flight was not till 6 so we were given a free 1/2 day trip to Alcudia from the ship of which was nice.

I am looking forward to traveling with this ship again.

My daughter and myself have recently returned from my first cruise and would just like to say a big thank you for all the hard work provided by Captain and Staff of the Island Escape, I came home thoroughly shattered but extremely satisfied. Could not fault a single thing.
Their was a good choice of food and restaurants to chose from, you could either sit on your own or be sat with others and everyone was friendly...the staff were brilliant.
Their was different types of entertainment to suit all ages ....good time had by all, I was going to bed midnight one night when the entertainment had finished and there were elderly folk just coming in for a drink, I was quite envious but very tired...been out all day on one of the various trips, we either made our own way or went on the organised trips.......
Our cabin was cleaned morning and night, our beds turned down and chocolate put on pillow....lovely.
Staff were fantastic, entertainment fantastic......everything everybody else says plus more.....friendly and nothing was too much trouble.
Cannot wait to go again next year.

This was out first cruise and can honestly say cannot wait to go again, has to be said it was also our honeymoon.

Cabin maid was exceptional and couldnt do enough for us. Cleanliness was top class, there was never a member of staff standing idle they were always cleaning. They were never too busy to stop and have a chat though and instead of giving you directions if you got lost (quite easy in your first few days) they took you to where you wanted to go.

Food was top class no matter which diningroom we dined in. My husband was over the moon when he found out that they buffet was open 24 hours ;o)

Entertainment was great. They covered kids to adults. Enjoyed the casino very much - had never been in one before but they gave a afternoon to learn how to play poker - I WON quite a lot and had never played in my life before.

All in all we had the best time and when they find out your on your honeymoon they really did go out of their way - we had a double bed, champers, flowers and chocolates in the room when we arrived and everytime we went to any bar and they swipped our card it showed up honeymoon couple and we got a good glass of very cold champers on the all inclusive.. at least a couple of time a day... I'm not complaining.

Would I do this cruise again - YES although we did a stay and cruise - I felt that we were so busy next time I would do the cruise first then the stay I felt I really needed a wee week's rest time.

Well, where do I start. I have just returned from a 2 week all inclusive holiday on the Island Escape and was a bit nervous after reading some of the negative reviews. This was our first cruise and we did the Med Spirit and the Med Discovery and seen places I might never see again.

For the people who gave this ship a poor review - you're talking rubbish. I honestly dont know what you expected for what you paid - its not the QE2 but I had a fabulous 2 week holiday and will definately use the Island Escape again.

What I liked was how informal the whole experience was - no need for shirt and tie at dinner and everyone is so relaxed and friendly.

On arrival at the port in Palma, check in was straightforward and we were shown on to the ship and taken to our cabin where our suitcases were already waiting. For 3 adults the cabin was ok but lacked some storage space and was a bit of a squeeze when the 3 of us were trying to get showered and changed but apart from that it was good - we had an outside cabin on deck 5. It was cleaned every day by our Cabin Steward Raja, who gave us fresh towels every day and I have absolutely no complaints. All areas of the ship - cabins, restaurants, bars, pool, deck were always very clean.

The food is excellent with a wide choice to suit everyone - you must try the Oasis Restaurant which you pay for (£12 per head for 4 courses) - delicious. The Island Restaurant is where we normally had breakfast, lunch and dinner and there was a wide selection. You are shown to your table and then help yourself from the buffet. The Beachcomber on deck 10 normally has the same food but can be difficult to get a table at times. This is more informal and you can wear shorts etc all of the time if you want. Theres no need to fill your plates 12 inches high as some folk did as you can go up as many times as you want and try different dishes.

I found the staff to be more than helpful. Full marks for Captain David Bathgate (who is Scottish) and all his team for a great holiday. The Captain regularly makes tannoy announcements to let you know where you are and welcomes you back on board before the ship departs for the next port. Every night, your cabin steward leaves you a copy of "Island Chat" - an information bulletin which tells you about the next port of call and gives details of everything which is taking place the following day - very informative. Bar and restaurant staff were very friendly and the bar staff very rarely left you with an empty glass. You dont have to constantly queue at the bar - the bar staff will bring your drinks to you.

The Entertainment staff put on various shows in the Ocean Theatre and Bounty Lounge so if you dont fancy one you can always go to the other but seats fill up pretty quick so you need to be there in plenty time before the show starts. There is also the Deck Party where you get to see the Captain and Senior Officers and everyone mixes and just has a laugh. The Lookout Bar was my favourite - plenty of glass to admire the sea views and have a dance while you have a few drinks. This brings me on to the subject of the all inclusive - well worth the money if you like to have a drink or six but not everything at the bar is included so make sure you read the information sheet in your cabin - Smirnoff Vodka and Stoly Vodka(cant spell it) is included and many whiskies, beers and soft drinks too. But if you're a JD person or Southern Comfort then it will be added to your bill as an extra. Included however is the cocktail of the day and you can have as many of them as you want.

No need to carry cash on board as you are given a swipe card which is used to buy everything on board and you settle at the end of your cruise. Any purchase needs to be signed for, even if you're all inclusive. Every time you have a drink you sign a receipt - we had to sign 3 times for each round of drinks we had which was a pain at the start but after a few times you get used to it.

There are also excursions which you can go on but they can be pricey. For example we paid £34 each to take a trip to Pisa from Livorno - but its only 20 mins away in a taxi and that would have been more economic. However, you learn by your mistakes. We got off the ship at each port to wander about ourselves but if you want to go further afield book an excursion or do your homework beforehand.

If you dont want to leave the ship you can lie on one of the many sun beds throughout the ship - the ideal spot is by the pool as it can get a bit windy on the top decks. Need to be up early to get a lounger by the pool though. One good thing is that if anyone decides to leave their towels on the sunbed and go away for a while, the bar staff will remove the towels so that someone else can get the bed. You can go for a bite to eat but for those of you who think you can hog a sun bed all day and leave your towels for hours then think again.

Cant really think of anything else to add except to say that we all had a great holiday and will definately do it again. In fact we are considering booking another for next year.

After reading many reviews about this ship I was going to give a long review but previous reviewer said it all. It is great value for money and staff could not have been nicer. Food ok and plenty of it. Would recommend it but not sure its for young families. Don't let other negative reviews put you off!!!

I have never been on a cruise before, nor have my family! I think it is more than fair to say I have had an amazing time and can not wiat to come back. The bedrooms are cleaned twice a day, towels changed, excursions are brilliant and the entertainment staff in the evening will have you in stiches. If you fancy your first cruise or any cruise on a fun packed family ship this is it! Absolutley brilliant!!