MallorcaChap

I have had words with the powers to be re the Island Escape where abouts and I'm pleased to say she is back in Cadiz :D

She hasn't been anywhere else this winter.

The I.E. has been in wet dock in Cadiz all winter as AIS shows. Why Marine Traffic is showing it in China is anybody's guess.

I would love it if you gentlemen and your lady wives would have a birthday drink with me sometime on this cruise,,I'm fairly normal ;)

It will be great to meet up with you and celebrate your birthday, although I can't say that myself and the famous RR could be referred to as 'fairly normal' :)

Hey MChappy,,looks like we are on the same cruise again this year!! Have you and Mrs MC done souks and sangria before? Will I like it:cool:

Hi Cappers,

Yes - we have done it a couple of times, last time was in 2012 with RR and the lovely Mrs RR - one of our favourite itineraries. Mrs MChap loves the shopping in Gibralter (and it is a great place) as they have the shops there like M & S, Morrisons etc. that we haven't got here in Mallorca.

Tangiers is not a very nice place but the other stops are fine.

But it is under 40k tonnes so under the limit

 

According to Thomsons :-Majesty Tonnage 40,876 GRT

 

But it does depend on which measurement they are using as there are a few ways of expressing a ships size.

AIS still has her in Cadiz. If she is in South China Sea, she will have to get moving as the crew start arriving at the beginning of March!!

Alrite everybody? It's very quiet here lately! Where's RR? I'm hoping someone can tell me if all the deluxe cabins on I.E are outside cabins and have big windows. Are they on the boat decks or further down? I think I've nearly decided on the Souks and Sangria job for my birthday..the itinerary really appeals to me as I've not been to any of the places it goes to and I know I'd have a ruddy good time on the good old Escape:)

Cappers,

The deluxe cabins are on decks 8 and 9. We have had one on deck 8 - only snag is people talking outside your window on the boat deck - can get a bit annoying. You don't get that problem on deck 9, but your view from most of them is a lifeboat!

Souks and Sangria is a great cruise - we love it.

Yes it's been raining here again this evening. I only have 84 days now to hopefully be enjoying some warm dry and sunny weather!!! Just out of interest does anyone know the cost of eating in the oasis I am intending to treat my group to at least one evening in here as I understand the food is very good. Thanks again for all your answers, they are much appreciated.

Pat

wiltonjam.

The Oasis was £14.99 at the end of last season, but they had scrapped the 5 for 4 offer. If you went after (I think) 9pm it was around £10. You could also have a meal for 2 plus a bottle of wine for around £35.

We ate in there every night - heaven!!

Hi Everyone,

I'm still here as well - I try to pop in now and again. Looking forward to the white lady returning from her rest, and just waiting for the right price before booking again.

Hi CityShopper,

It is true that the IE is a converted ferry, but that gives a rather misleading impression and conjures up pictures of a cavernous interior etc. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. When she was built, it was for the New York to Bahamas run as a cruise ship that carried vehicles, and only the very bottom decks were for vehicles - the rest of the ship was pretty much as it is now. For the first two or three years of her life from 1982 to 1985, she was the largest cruiseferry in the world - hard to believe when you see her next to some of the behemoths that she parks next to these days. Nowadays, the old girl is showing her age, but she has the most fantastic crew and loyal followers.

On the last cruise of 2013, over half the 1500 passengers were returnees, with 49 times being the record among those on board. I think most cruise lines would love a statistic like that :)

Hi CityShopper,

Generally, the higher up you are in the ship, there is more chance of being ill - if you are prone to it. As you are going in July, I wouldn't worry - the med tends to be like a mill pond at that time of year (unless you are very unlucky) so your cruise should be nice and smooth. :)

She is going into dry dock for her bi-annual MOT and have her bottom checked . :eek:

What has happened to your blog Sailaway?

RR - we always try (and I must say, usually succeed) ;)

Last passengers didn't arrive until 4am I understand.

Just noticed where you're going MC.....that was our favourite Thomson itinerary....we did it on Emerald a few years ago, some slightly different ports but mainly the same, superb!! :)

 

We might just pass you as we will be leaving Korcula and sailing out of the Adriatic on the day you join the ship .....so we may literally be on ships that pass in the night !!

Thanks for that Jenny - we are looking forward to it - hope you have a fabulous cruise as well.

Is that 2 weeks mchap your going for.

Yes - 'fraid so - we leave the week before you arrive here and get back a few hours after you leave - amazingly bad planning :(

Only 26 for us :)

Cabin Number: 6562

Cruise Ship: Island Escape

Date of Cruise: March 2013

Bed Formation: 2 singles

Bath/Shower?: Shower

Adjoining Cabin?: No

Balcony?: No

Comment on the Size of the Cabin: Plenty of room for two

Comment on any Noise Issues: none

Comment on Storage Space: More than enough

Comment on the Bathroom: clean

Any Other Comments?: Good position midships

Would You Recommend this Cabin?: Yes

Link to any Images:

Score out of 10: 9

It's gone quiet 'cos RR seems to have gone missing - we are starting to worry!

It is one of each in the cabins I have been in. If you get a hair-dryer from reception it uses the american socket.

To be on the safe side I will take a US and EURO plug!

 

Is it chilly walking about say from your room to dining room/bars, jackets needed?

We have found the best thing to do is take a short extension lead with 3 or 4 sockets on it and plug it into the euro socket with a euro adaptor. You can the plug in/charge more than 1 item at a time at 220volts - if you use the US plug it will only give 110 volts which makes charging things very slow.

The temperature around the ship is mostly quite pleasant, but you get odd spots in the Bounty Lounge where the aircon creates cold draughts. As a general rule it is quite comfortable in shirt sleeves.

Cabin Number:6562

Cruise Ship:Island Escape

Date of Cruise:26/03/2013

Bed Formation: Twin plus two unused bunks

Bath/Shower?: Yes

Adjoining Cabin?: No

Balcony?: No

Comment on the Size of the Cabin: Plenty of Room for 2

Comment on any Noise Issues: None - very quiet

Comment on Storage Space: Plenty for 2

Comment on the Bathroom: Shower walls & tray had been re-lined with plastic - shower temperature varied a lot.

Any Other Comments?: Near enough to centre of ship to reduce motion but far enough away to stop noise fron the Sundowner intruding.

Would You Recommend this Cabin?: Yes

Link to any Images:

Score out of 10: 8

Welcome back Mchap and Mrs Mrschap :D

Thanks RR,

It's great to be back home with shorts on and sun shining down on us - last time I could wear shorts was in Barcelona on the first afternoon and it has done nothing but p**s down ever since. Didn't spoil the ship experience though - had a great week and said hello to Leo for you in Oasis - we ate their every night and although they don't seem to do the special offer on the first night (still do 5 for 4 thought for £14.99) they have a new chef and the quality was far better than last year (I have a copy of the menu if you want it).

Just been back down to the port with emergency supplies for Danni & Ben (Pork pies, sausage rolls and mini eggs) - should keep them happy for a while :)

Mchap, had a good wind up this morning re the xrays of Suitcases on Island Escape FB.

 

 

 

 

 

PS Had a few nibbles :D

Just had lunch with Danni and Ben and were laughing about it - nice wind-up :)