Welcome to Your Favorites, where you have the opportunity to share your travel experiences with fellow Internet Travelers around the world.

Island Cruises

MS Island Escape

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Roy Blythin
# previous cruises: 1
Date of Trip: March 26, 2002
Itinerary: Mediterranean

This was The Island Escape's maiden Voyage and we were expecting all the stops to have been pulled out. It was the worst holiday we have ever had. Total disappointment for our first ever cruise. Not what we had visions of. Sheer organised chaos was the order of each day. Disembarking for shore excursions was extremely tiring and stressful. It was like being herded around like cattle. The cruise directors recognised their failings and have offered us a free cruise later in the year and a 50% refund. We have received the voucher for the free cruise but cannot yet trace the cheque for our refund which our travel agent says they have not received 35 days after our return. Will things improve?

The Sundowner pub was newly fitted and was pleasant. The Lookout lounge was very nicely done and was nice to sit in on colder days and provided a modern evening environment for a late drink. The Ocean Theatre was nice but the lights on the tables were broke and so the few waiters there were had to work in the dark during the shows. Late stragglers to the shows were allowed to stand in the aisles and block the view of those who rushed to get a seat early.

Restaurants were poorly organised. We were told where to sit after queuing every night. Food was a very poor standard and no thought had gone into the presentation. Waiters were very inexperienced and some could speak no english. We sometimes had a cup of tea or coffee brought over to us after asking several times by the time we had finished our breakfast.

We had two cabins on coral deck 5. We were horrified when we opened the door for the first time. we had been promised newly refurbished cabins. A new piece of material for the closet door was the only modification made in our cabin. The shower cubicle was disgusting. It looked like it had not been modernised for 20 years. There was black mould all over the bottom of the shower curtain and the enamel was peeling of the sink. Some cabins had new carpets, ours didn't. It was a grubby gold coloured carpet. The beds were satisfactory but we spent a lot of time sliding from one side to the other. The ladders for the bunks fell out of the closet one evening, waking us up with a fright.

The cruise staff and entertainers were very good and dealt with the problems admirably. It wasn't their fault, it was a management failing. The shows were very good but not as high spec as we had expected. The entertainment in the bounty lounge was entertaining and the staff struggled to cope with the ever failing technical difficulties.

The plunge pool did not look at all inviting. It was never warm enough for that any way. The deck space around the pool gets crowded very early on and you have no where to sit. Shore excursions were very good but they were independently organised by local companies. Monumental Rome, Monaco & Monte Carlo trips were fantastic. Didn't enjoy Genoa.

There was a mix of all sorts of people aboard. All ages and backgrounds. For a lot of people this was their first cruise and were disappointed and others who were experienced cruisers. Everyone was friendly to each other and I'd say relaxed and informal would be the correct description for this cruise. However, 4 star it is not !