Island Escape 27/11/09

[Gold Crew]

We are going to book our first cruise at the weekend for I.E Colourful Coasts :). Have been on various forums and are happy with our choice for our first cruise.

 

Looking for advice about cabins?? This is a special cruise 30th wedding anniversary and at first we were going to book a balcony room but after speaking to friends and looking at forums have been told the extra £600 is not worth it. So therefore looking at an outside cabin we think we would need some natural light in the cabin.

 

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated i.e what level?

 

Also going for the all inclusive package for drinks, have to say we enjoy a little aperiteef (sorry about spelling) so we have heard this is a must.

 

As we know the Canaries very well we intend to do the islands ourselves but want to do an organised trip for Morrocco, any tips or prices for this??

[bardunc]

Hi, we to have not cruised before .We spent a long time with the travel agent at Thompson,she had been a specialist for 10yrs on cruises.

we are celebrating our 40th ann next year. her advise to us was Emerald deck 7 up the front as there wes nothing noisy above or below.hope she's right

deck 9 has life boats outside the cabins wich could restrict both light and view ther is also an outside passage so it could mean noise.

Hope that is of some help to you bardunc

[Cymro1953]

Hi,

You should be fine with outside cabins in the front half of the ship on decks 5 Coral, 6 Diamond, 7 Emerald, if you don't want a balcony.

On Deck 8 Flamingo there is a promenade deck outside the Premier cabins. And now there is no smoking indoors that is one of the places the smokers go so you might have people hanging about outside.

When we were aboard last year the 1st thing DW said when she saw the deck 8 cabins was "I wouldn't like one of those with people walking about outside"

We had a balcony last year and didn't get much use out of it as the weather was so bad in the Western Med in April.

 

 

Berwyn

[Gold Crew]

Thanks folks for all the info.

[Cymro1953]

Hi to you both.

 

Most of the standard cabins are similar inside no matter which deck you have.

 

About Morocco, you can see most of the excursions available on the Thomsons website

http://www.thomsonbeach.co.uk/th/cruise/viewPortDetails.do?portCode=002112

 

From what i've read on here we aren't doing any solo outings in Agadir.

 

Personally we fancy the Taroudant one as you get a combination of 11th century walled city and a Berber market and souk for the shopping.

 

If you go onto the Thomson's board on here and then hit "Search This Forum" in the top right. Then put Agadir in the search box and you should get all the posts from last year's Colourful Coasts Cruises that mention Agadir.

 

Berwyn

[Cymro1953]

http://s727.photobucket.com/albums/ww273/Cymro1953/

 

P.S.

That's a link for some pics of the ship I posted including inside our balcony cabin.

Apart from the balcony it was same inside as others.

 

The bit behind the TV is the shower and toilet and opposite the other side of the door the wardrobe.

 

Berwyn

[Crinkle]

We'll be on that cruise too!

I can't wait. Done the colourful coasts before, but not on the Island Escape... Sooo excited!

[Cymro1953]

HI Crinkle,

As you've done the cruise before can you give us a rough idea of the transfer time from the airport to the port please?

 

Berwyn

[Crinkle]

Hiya,

I believe it was around 40-45 mins. I remember it didn't feel that long.

[Cymro1953]

Thanks Crinkle.

I'm having enough trouble to get DW into the belly of the great metal bird for 4 hours, she didn't fancy a long trip in a coach after and I couldn't tell from the map in the brochure how far it was.

 

You said that you were on that cruise too in your other post. Is that the 27th November or are you with us on 11th Dec.

 

Berwyn

[Crinkle]

I'm on the ship on 27th, it will be our 1st time on the Island Escape though. Really looking forward to it!

 

Fear not, transfer nothing compared to the length of the flight :o)

[Gold Crew]

Just to let you know that's us booked :D:D:D. Went for deck 7 and preboked our cabin, also went for the AI drinks package ;).

 

Roll on 5 weeks on Friday can't wait.

 

Crinkle maybe bump into on board.

 

Berwyn, decided on half day trip Souk and Fantasia.

 

Regards

Wilma

[Crinkle]

Oo yeah maybe.

We did the Kasbat Souss & Souk Shopping last year, and it was really good!

I am tempted to go for Souk and Fantasia this year.

 

Oh I am sooo counting down as well, other half just keeps rolling his eyes at my excitement lol

[Cymro1953]

Just to let you know that's us booked :D:D:D. Went for deck 7 and preboked our cabin, also went for the AI drinks package ;).

 

Roll on 5 weeks on Friday can't wait.

 

Crinkle maybe bump into on board.

 

Berwyn, decided on half day trip Souk and Fantasia.

 

Regards

Wilma

 

 

Hi Wilma,

The trip sounds nice, shopping and a show.

 

If my joints could have coped, I'd really have liked the 4 x 4 safari into the desert.

Definitely not doing the 12 hour one to Marrakech.

 

Have a lovely time.

 

 

Berwyn

[Gold Crew]

Hi Berwyn

 

Just checking out a few review sites. Some people will moan about anything??

Have to say we take as we find and are really looking forward to our holiday.

All in all reviews are pretty positive.

 

Regards

Wilma

[Cymro1953]

Hi Berwyn

 

Just checking out a few review sites. Some people will moan about anything??

Have to say we take as we find and are really looking forward to our holiday.

All in all reviews are pretty positive.

 

Regards

Wilma

 

Hi Wilma,

Just a little tiddly, celebrating Jenson Button becoming GP world champion. That's 2 British champions in a row.

If you don't mind the ship being a little worn but the food was great and the beds comfortable, lovely staff and we don't need to worry about the bar bill, unlike Royal Caribbean.

 

Berwyn

[Crinkle]

Oh my word, I am so excited. 5 weeks today and we'll be at the airport! And then no more carrot sticks! Weee!

[Cymro1953]

Hi Crinkle,

Not long to go now Crinkle.

Exciting and us 2 weeks after you.

 

Sounds like you've been dieting B4 the cruise:(

 

P.S. Is that you over on the other website asking if the I.E. rocks and rolls in rough weather.?

 

Berwyn

[Crinkle]

Hi Crinkle,

Not long to go now Crinkle.

Exciting and us 2 weeks after you.

 

Sounds like you've been dieting B4 the cruise:(

 

P.S. Is that you over on the other website asking if the I.E. rocks and rolls in rough weather.?

 

Berwyn

 

Yes been trying to be good, as i eat sooo much when on hol lol. And yes it was me asking. Only ever felt iffy once, on one crossing, and it wasn't even rough! Had a few rough days at sea and I was fine, other than bumping into people when trying to walk! Oo bet your also counting down those days eh

[Cymro1953]

Yes been trying to be good, as i eat sooo much when on hol lol. And yes it was me asking. Only ever felt iffy once, on one crossing, and it wasn't even rough! Had a few rough days at sea and I was fine, other than bumping into people when trying to walk! Oo bet your also counting down those days eh

 

Hi,

I thougfht there couldn't be 2 Crinkles about travelling in November :D

I've answered it over there, you should get an email from them soon.

WE haven't been on the Atlantic though so I don't know if it might be worse or better.

We just eat too much full stop :eek: thought about cutting down, but then we thougth we're so close and got Christmas straight after not much point.

 

Yes really excited now, it felt so far away when we booked last April.

 

Berwyn

[Crinkle]

Hi,

I thougfht there couldn't be 2 Crinkles about travelling in November :D

I've answered it over there, you should get an email from them soon.

WE haven't been on the Atlantic though so I don't know if it might be worse or better.

We just eat too much full stop :eek: thought about cutting down, but then we thougth we're so close and got Christmas straight after not much point.

 

Yes really excited now, it felt so far away when we booked last April.

 

Berwyn

 

Wow you've been waiting a while then. We only booked last weekend, after ouch nagging by me!

[Cymro1953]

We booked early to get the AI included and offer on cabin upgrades and also our TA is part of Thomson's group and does a cruise once or twice a year on her where they also chuck in escorted coach travel to and from the airport.

I thought we were early booking but the cabin we wanted had already gone by April, so we got one further down the corridor.

 

Berwyn

[Crinkle]

We booked early to get the AI included and offer on cabin upgrades and also our TA is part of Thomson's group and does a cruise once or twice a year on her where they also chuck in escorted coach travel to and from the airport.

I thought we were early booking but the cabin we wanted had already gone by April, so we got one further down the corridor.

 

Berwyn

 

I've been told the trick is to either book early or book late.

Wow ship must be pretty popular to your cabin choice to of already gone to early.

 

Well each Friday I will be getting more and more excited!

[Gold Crew]

Friday again Crinkle :D:D. Have you pre booked your cabin?

I'm sooooo excited.

 

Regards W

 

B have joined that other site to....lol

[Crinkle]

Friday again Crinkle :D:D. Have you pre booked your cabin?

I'm sooooo excited.

 

Regards W

 

B have joined that other site to....lol

 

No. Just somewhere on decks 7 to 9. Have you? Oo is there a sail away party on the fri night?