The Ship is Very Tyred Looking needs some Tlc , Food was 24 hr which was great drinks very reasonable cabins ok the staff were sensational frindliest ship we,ve ever been on , entertainment was excellent The Comedian Phil Doyle Made our Cruise he was Fantastic We havent Laughed so much in years.
The Tribute to Elvis was great aswell and the west end style shows were superb.
Would definatly go back on the island escape well worth the money great value .

My husband Friends and i have just returned from sailing around the Canaries on The Island Escape. It is the worst cruise i have been on. The 2nd day into our holiday my friend and myself went down with sickness and diarrhoea. There was an outbreak on the ship. There was many fellow passengers and crew went down with the virus. I am not surprised. The public toilets on the ship was so bad i refused to use them i would go back to my cabin to use the toilet there. i don't think the public toilets were cleaned through out the day . On floor 8 near the bounty lounge there was an awful smell coming from the toilet outside the lounge It was as if the drains was blocked It was so bad we couldn,t go to any of the entertainment in the bounty lounge.
The food was ok but it was self service not waiter service. This meaning everyone was touching the food on the trays . This is the quickest way for infection to spread .Who is to say everyones hands was clean. There was sanatising gel outside the doors of the restaurants . But people do need to wash there hands .
In one of the restaurants it is plastic cups and plates that are used . I know it is for health and safety reasons . But the plastic will be full of scratches which is a great place for bugs to harbour and breed even although the dishes will have been washed.
The staff are very helpful and they work very hard. The ship itself has seen better days. Thomson company has only taken the cruise over at the end of last year. The ship belonged to First Chioce before that . If i had known that before i booked i would have booked something else as i am not keen on First Choice.

I have been on this ship last year and enjoyed every minute.Food is abundant and available at any time,although i did not go all inclusive this time.I found that you would drink for drinkings sake, to try and get your money back.My favourite bars were The Bounty Lounge and The Lookout Bar, where i met Eve Sherratt after her show in the bounty lounge.Her voice is something else.There's plenty of tours from the ship,my favourite being the Pompei tour which i thoughly enjoyed.There's always plenty to do on the ship and the people are very friendly.I would recommend this ship to anyone.

First of all the 'Not so good news'
certain parts of the ship require a little TLC i.e window seals, shower cubicles etc., BUT the captain made it quite clear that such matters will be attended to shortly.
Now the good news!! You simply cannot fault the attention received from the crew,cabin staff and entertainers etc., and anyone who does is merely nit-picking.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable time on board and have already booked again for next year.

We flew from Bournemouth which was brilliant for us as it is half an hour down the road (pity Thomson are pulling out of Bournemouth so this wont be available again). Flights were on time both ways.

Check in was very straight forward and cases etc arrived no problem.

Island restaurant was the best for us and the food always looked fresh , with the kitchen staff cleaning any spillages as soon as they had occured. The choice of foods was good although the desserts were often called many fancy names when really they were just a variation of whipped concoction! Enjoyed the omelette and pasta station where you could choose your own fillings. We did not try the Oasis restaurant as we were quite happy to eat in the Island and didn't feel the need to pay extra on this particular cruise.

The staff were always friendly, hardworking and polite and Captain Guy was a real asset to this ship.

We loved the entertainment in the Ocean Theatre in particular the show team. Watching the kareaoki(sorry about spelling) was a hoot!

We decided to take two excursions one to Chefalu which was really just a lift to the beach although the tour guide did give us lots of information on the journey and she took us to a cathedral when we arrived. I think this was way over priced. A Taste of Corsica was very enjoyable sampling the wine and nougat as well as taking in that beautiful countryside.

Our biggest disappointment was the size of the cabin and its very worn decor (I know you don't live in your cabin but it is nice to have pleasant surroundings).

All in all an enjoyable holiday and we would consider going back again if the prise was right.

My hubby and i went on our first cruise on the Island escape and had a great time. The food, entertainment and staff were brilliant. There was a great atmosphere with the people so friendly. We went on the monumental Rome & Monaco/Monte Carlo trips and had a fantastic time, well worth the money. There is nothing bad i would say about the Island escape, in fact i am thinking of booking again for next year.

Just got back from our first cruise, from when we stepped of the plane in Palma we were escorted and given all our details from Island Cruises Staff, then we were escorted to our coach to take us to the ship after putting our luggage on the coach we did not see it agin till we boarded the ship and it was delivered to our cabin, this was great no heavy cases to carry waiting to go aboard we were given a nice cold drink which was wellcome after the flight we were swiftly given passes to board the ship and escorted onboard.
then again escorted to our cabin were our luggage was waiting.
The cabin was small but fine as you only sleep in your cabin and the beds were comftable.
Our cabin was cleaned and tidied every day and our steward made a different animals from towels each day.
The food was plentyfull the best resturant we thought was the Island the waiters really looked after you and the food was great, the Beachcomer was ok we ate her for lunch and breakfast it got very busy and the food was sometimes only warm but still edable.
We could not fault the staff they were very good and always cheerful, entertainment was superb a different show every nite. the ship does need some refubishment but staff were always painting and fixed anything that went wrong at once.
The trips were a bit expensive we went on the Pisa trip this was excellent the guide was very entertaining but it took a time to go round and an extra half hour would have been better to stroll around and look at everything.
all the places we visited except Naples was great.
Captain Guy Lockwood was always around and involved in the entertainment.
We will defo go on a cruise with Island Cruises again.

We booked an inside cabin and travelled independately stopping in Palma for 5 days.
We checked in at 1100hrs we were the only people there only took a few minutes we were surprised when we were taken to an outside cabin on deck 9 as we hod only booked an inside one.
It looked like it had been refurbihed the furniture was pine,When I went to see about the safe I was told it was one of the new electronic ones.
The cabin and bathroom we clean and kept so throughout the week.It had aflat screen tv which had sky and bbc news also film channels.
The staff were the best I have ever come across nothing to much trouble
We only used the Beachcomber and island restuarants the food was very good with a good choice.
Drink prices were reasonable.
The oasis restaurant was being promoted every day as cheap as £8 each people who used it spoke highly of it especially the service.
Entertainment was good they had a very good comedian from Hull he proved that good clean entertainment is still the best.
Ports of call were a good selection we only booked one trip to Pisa and puccinis lake which we enjoyed.
Made our own way at other ports did a bit of research before.
Having been on the Star I can see how people like the Escape the crew are its biggest asset from cabin attendant to Captain.

I feel compelled to write my own review on the island escape as i have read some negative reviews which really annoyed me.First of all, value for money is present in spades,the ship does need some tlc,that is a fact, but in our opinion you get what you pay for.i can honestly say that this was one the most enjoyable holidays we have ever been on.The food was very good ,the entertainment was enjoyable and ross deserves a special mention.at the time our daughter was eight and she loved the kids club,the girls were great with all the kids.The people who work on board really are as friendly as other reviewers have said.We have booked to go again in fact, in june 2011.Dont listen to the moaners who wouldnt be happy in a five star hotel in dubai.The captain is very aimaible,but i wonder how many times he has been asked whos driving or steering the ship the ship when he has a question and answer session by the pool.i think once you have experienced a cruise you wont look back,evryone on board deserves a pat on the back,whether their pleasantness is contrived or not .Cant wait to see the refurb after nov 2010.

I went on the 14 night 'Ancient Odyssey' cruise.

The trip was magnificent and the weather perfect apart from the one
afternoon in Instanbul when it rained. Everything worked out just right and
it was hugely social .


I made my own way to Gatwick by bus and coach the previous day. You can check-in your luggage the day before your flight.
Tuesday the 757 flight left before 7. Saw the Pyrenees and Barcelona en
route.
At Palma, once settled on the boat, I walked 2 miles west to Cala Major
beach which was spectacular. A 'Welcome Show' aboard was excellent. All the
theatre shows were good the entire holiday. Saw them all, including one
twice to get a photo.

Wednesday we were at sea. It was sunny. We passed southern Sardinia. We had
the emergency drill plus the first for five 'Solo's lunches hosted by two
cruise hosts. We had Solo's lunches in the restaurant on each of the five
Sea days. The solo passengers had interesting stories bein either widowed,
divorced or having a partner at home in care. In the afternoon there was
the 'Captain's chat' where we could ask him questions. That night a UK
comedian show was good. There were 1490 passengers and 538 staff on board.

Thursday, Sicily. Gorgeous clear weather. Passed the Aeolian islands before
dawn. We docked at Messina. I had booked a coach tour to Taormina which was
quite stunning. The same lady as last year was the Italian guide and
recognised me.
The views from Taormina and its Greek theatre were superb. Back in Messina
I climbed the campinile to see the mechanisms of the rotating figures and
animals. Back on board ship,
Lancashire Hotpot for lunch but a huge choice of fare on offer. That night
a 'Broadway Show' and clocks forward one hours. Talked to lots of pleasant
and very widely travelled folk.

Friday (Easter Good Friday in Greece)
Kotokolon on the west side of the Pelopponese. A delightful quiet village
on a wooded bay. Enjoyed ny best lunch - a Greel feta cheese and olives and
tomatoes lunch at a harbourside taverna. Many folk went off to Olympia
where it rained. Have been there before. Back on the ship, an ice carving
demo and a male singer cabaret show later. The cruise director had cycled
up into the hills on his own and had been bitten by a snake. No lasting
damage.

Saturday. Piraeus of Athens. Palled up with two couples off the boat. We
found the metro statio, took a train into Athens ( 2.40 pounds return) then
walked for four hours - first up and over the Acropolis then round all the
major sites. It was a great day. A couple off the ship were sat by the
Parthenon and said 'Hello John'. Time and time again I took people's photos
of themselves on their camera. There was much scaffolding round the
buildings on the Acroplis. The views out were great. Back to the boat by
train at 4.30. A great UK artist singer and trumpeter gave a show. Later it
emerged another passenger I later met was followed on to the train from an
Athens bank and nearly robbed. But he punched the would-be robber.

Sunday 27th April
At sea. Cloudy. a bit rough. Excellent 'Solo's' lunch. Passed the War
Memorials entering the Dardanelles near Gallipoli - but not the ANZAC one.
'Chariots of Fire' playing on the ship's external music systems. Colossal
experience. The 'Stars at Sea' show was good with a passable Elvis. A music
duo recognised me from last October and were very friendly. They wed soon.

Monday
Instanbul. Very busy city of 12 million. Went on the guided 16-mile four
hour bike tour with 13 others and our Austrian guide. Very exciting. We
stopped for half an hour at the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. I was given a
blue skirt to wear to enter the blue mosque. Then for miles through the
street bazaars and by the carpet shops and up to the Salaman Mosque and
through the Greek quarter. People clapping, saying hello and welcome and
posing with us ans shaking our hands and asking if I was [Lance] Armstrong.
Perhaps they thought we had come further than the quayside by the Galata
Bridge.
Returning to the ship in the rush hour we pushed our bikes through a
pedestrian underpass and carried them up and down flights of stairs. It
rained in the afternoon. That night a very good Frank Sinatra trubute
artist from Scotland performed. We steamed out of mighty Instanbul at
8.30pm.

Tuesday
At sea. Back across Sea of Marmaris and through Dardanelles. A Solo's lunch
then entertaining crew sports by pool.
A Mexican buffet and 'Celebrations' all-singing all-dancing show later. Had
a bit of a cold after getting a little chilly in Instanbul.

Wednesday
Sunny Kusadasi in Asian Turkey. A great place and a morning excursion to
the fabulous ruins of Ephesus. Back to the ship on the coach stopping off
for a 'fashion show' and high octane sales pitch at a leather coats outlet.
11 coaches went to Ephesus from the trip. The day before, Royal Carribean
cruises had delivered 3000 visitors into Ephesus.
After lunch on board, I walked to the town beach in Kusadasi. That night a
UK lady guest artiste performed a singing show of big ballads.

Thursday.
Santorini. Amazing. Brilliant clear day. 7 cruise ships in bay. Took tender
boat to shore; cable car to Fira town perched high on rim, walked round the
village. Chatted to some American students on a cruise from Athens. Then
walked down the 592 steps and ramps of the hairpin donkey path. There were
hundreds of rather tired donkeys working the path also. Great look-out
verandah half way down. Back to the ship for sunbathing and more travel
chat, then a big show - 'The Magic of the Musicals'

Friday
At Heraklion Crete. Joined a coach tour that went 60 miles south to visit
the ruins at Gortys and Phaestos. Great landscape scenes en route.
Sunbathing in the afternoon. Then a cabaret show and poolside deck party.

Saturday
At Sea - very sunny and warm. Solo's lunch. Swimming sunbathing and trivia
quiz and then a big musical show in the theatre. Unlimited food/buffet all
day every day. Enjoyed buying a few Stella beers.

Sunday
Malta - what a place! The first really clean and civilized place visited.
Went off with two of my 'Athens' walking companions.
Toured old town. Then I joined the 60 mile round trip open-topped Malta
sightseeing bus tour that took me and 36 other passengers off the ship up
to Bugibba on the North coast via Mosta, Mdina and the RAF Aviation Museum
then back to Valletta bown the East coast. 28 degree heat. Captain's
cocktail party for repeat cruisers in evening. Orange drinks or champagne
provided and lots of canapes - sausage rolls, vol-au-vents etc; then a UK
guest comedian show in the theatre.

Monday
At Sea. As before. Big farewell show at night. Many staff on stage.
Everybody singing 'Sailing'
More chat. Everybody had been everywhere.

Tuesday
Today went well. Sunny all dal and England and Cotswolds in particular
looking lush and gree.
9am coach from ship to airport. 757 flight home.

A great holiday ... but not for the faint hearted. At least 2 were robbed.
Two old and infirm folk died aboard. Nothing whatsoever to do with any conditions on the cruise.
Three ankles were broken on either the deck or stairs or pontoon
for the Santorini tender boat.
My bill for 'extras' - ie beers and biking and trips (but not the Malta one
which was not part of the cruise organisation
was 136 pounds on top of the fly/cruise costs.
All good value. A truly great and social holiday.