Hi there are any of you guys going on the Charm & Discovery cruise. on the island Escape Only 19 days to go and we are really looking forward to the rest. Just hope the weather will be kind to us look forward to hearing from you happy cruising
Gail & Rod

Hi was wandering if anybody could give me some more advice about this ship. I believe it has had a recent re-fit is this true?

Has anyone been on since the re-fit? We are booked to go on this ship in Aug 07 and this will be our first cruise. We are travelling with another party and they have booked seperatly to us, whats the chances of us being able to have our table for the week with them?

We are all inclusive are there any hints and tips please you can let us in on!! Thanks Liz.

Post merged with existing topic.

luci

Any hints/tips about the Island Escape Lois would really help?

Are all tips for staff included in the price?

What day trips did you do? We are thinking of a lot of DIY but guided tour with Cruise for Rome.

Whats the food/entertainment like?

Thanks Liz.

Hi Liz,

All the tips are included in the price. We tipped the guy who did our rooms as he was excellent. He left us chocolates and made our towels into animal shapes every night.
We did the organised trip to Rome, I think it was called Monumental Rome. It was excellent. We visited all the usual attractions and after a nice 3 course lunch (with wine) we went to the Vatican. I wouldn't have been brave enough to do Rome DIY and I felt I we saw more on this trip than if we'd gone by ourselves.
We also did the trip to Monte Carlo/Monaco and this again was very well organised and the tour guides are excellent.
We did our own thing in the other ports, had a wander round in the morning and back on the ship after lunch.
The food was ok, however, I had my 14yr old with me and he preferred the Beachcomber (24 hour self service). The Island Restaurant was nice but a bit crowded. We didn't manage to get into the Oasis as it was fully booked for the week, which I was a bit annoyed about. Book that as soon as you can if you fancy going there.
We thought the shows in the theatre were excellent and never missed one. The Bounty Lounge had live music and game show stuff, which was ok. To be honest we were shattered after going to the show and having dinner.
Hope this helps, have a brilliant holiday.

Lois

To Liz,

Rome DIY is a breeze, and is only 1 hour by train to St Peter's or 1 and a 1/4 hours to the Central Station. If you take the organised coach trip it will take 2 hours each way, including mandatory toilet/stretch stop. With lunch stretching to over an hour this is going to take at least 5 hours out of your "tourist time". Can understand though why people feel more confident with the organised trip.

I would say it depends on your outlook. Will this be a one-off trip to Rome? If answer is yes then probably better to have the whirred highlights on organised tour. If answer is no then much better to take more time seeing what you want to see DIY, and leave the rest till next time. This will allow you time to sit and relax at a cafe/bar and watch the world go by, which is fantastic in Rome.

If cost is important then DIY can be done easily for less than £10 per person as the rail ticket also covers the metro in Rome!! To take the open-top bus tour (hop on/off) will cost another £10 per person, and this also lets you see the context of where all the sites sit in relation to one another. Apart from st Peter's they are all relatively close to one another, and do-able on foot if you are reasonably fit. The organised trip will be £65 per person or thereabouts.

Let me know if you are interested in DIY and I will give a simple outline of what you need to do.

Thanks to both of you, Im really looking forward now to the Cruise, hope to book the Oasis restraunt, do you know if it can be booked prior to going on holiday? The Spa packages can be booked prior.

The trip does sound good to Rome a bit reluctant to DIY it though.... thoughts thoughts....

I have split the last 4 posts from the Countdown topic as they are more appropriate to this topic.

luci

hi going on island escape in october could anyone tell me if we can smoke onboard please

I was on the Island Star last year and smoking was permitted in some lounges. It was not supposed to be allowed in the cabins, but when the cabin steward found out I smoked he gave me an ashtray.

luci

Hi everyone
15 weeks to go to my first Cruise and counting!

Could anyone tell me If they have booked the Spa on this trip please and If so what was it like?

Do you have to book as soon as you get on board etc. Do they have offers on board for spa days etc?

I can pre-book but its hard to decide on when to go and at what time If we are of the ship each day... any advice would help.

Is anyone going soon or just returned?

Can`t wait...just one other thing does the price include ALL gratuities as it states or will I be billed at the end of Cruise for waiter service etc?

Thanks Liz.

Hi Liz and All,

Smoking - I smoked in the toilet on the Island Escape because there was a fan in there. There are smoking areas but definately not in the theatre.
All the tips are included, you won't get a bill for service unless you order room service I suppose.

I'll be going to Rome again this year on the Destiny and I'll be doing the organised trip, thoroughly enjoyed it last time and the guides are excellent.

Lois

WOW........just booked the 20 night transatlantic to Brazil. Good price too, around £800pp, not bad for 20 nights.

Did the same cruise a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Just hope the ship hasn't changed too much.

Only 6 months to wait it does seem a long time , doesn't it.?

There are normally offers for the spa in the cruise newsletter each night. You will be expected to tip 20% at the end of your treatment. You will also be expected to make a smaller tip to your cabin steward and waiters at the end of the cruise even though tips are included.

luci

Can't remember if the IE had coffee and tea-making facilities in the cabins. Anyone know?

Marn.

Hi can anyone tell me if they have had any probs with Mosquitos out at sea before?

Its just a friend of mine was eaten alive on a recent cruise when she was on deck of an evening!

I dont normally attract them but was thinking maybe I should ask your advice(never cruised before) Im booked onto this ship in Aug.

Thanks Liz.

I'm prone to getting bitten after getting badly bitten in Turkey. However I have never been bitten on 10 or 11 cruises, mostly in the Med. It may depend where you are sailing.

luci

just returned last week and had a great time. Smoking is permitted in loads of places, decks,hallways, bounty lounge and night club. All tips are included but we tipped the cabin steward well as the rooms are cleaned twice daily and towels made in to little animals. No mozzies whatsoever my sister usualy gets eaten alive. One thing to be wary of though when you order an alcholic drink just make sure they put the alcohol in. We had to complain quite a few times and were given excuses like the ice was melted in the drink or the coke was flat. Order your drink without ice and order your mixer separately then you'll know what you're getting. if you don't your drinks bill wont be long mounting up.

Can't wait now, im going in 7weeks and counting.... feels like its took forever to come around!

Has anyone been or going shortly on the med isles itinery?
Thats the one we are going on and would have liked some ideas.

The last few reviews are great it makes me want to go even more now!! We have never cruised before can't u tell????

Thanks Liz.