Island Escape

[Malch_uk]

From Thomson Communications centre:

 

Island Cruises is pleased to announce that the Island Escape will become an All Inclusive ship from March 2013, giving customers even better value for money as food and drinks will come as standard. This offering is unique to the UK informal cruising market, and with tips and service charges included in the price of its cruises too, Island Escape will offer a great value cruise experience.Sailing from Palma (Majorca) and Limassol (Cyprus), Island Escape will also be introducing ten new ports of call into her itineraries for Winter 2013 and Summer 2013. She will now be visiting Kusadasi in Turkey, Calgari in Sardinia, Piraeus for Athens, Corfu, Katakolon and Mykonos in Greece, Calvi in Corsica, Ibiza in Spain, Nice and St Raphael in France.

 

Available to book from 25 April 2012, customers can now pre-register for their cruise today through Thomson and First Choice retail shops.

The majority of new ports of call will be available on the new 13 night Temples and Tavernas itinerary. Sailing on 13 March 2013, cruisers will be able to take in the delights of the new ports of call of Kusadasi in Turkey, Mykonos, Katakolon, Corfu and Piraeus (for Athens) in Greece, as well as visiting old favourites such as Rhodes, Naples and Civitavecchia (for Rome), Ajaccio in Corsica and Mahon in Menorca. The Med Adventure will include stops in the glamorous Nice in the Cote D’Azur and historical Calvi in Corsica. St Raphael in France will be on the agenda for Best of the Med itinerary and Cagliari in Sardinia for Escape to the Med. Those wanting to visit the party capital of the Med Ibiza, should book on to the Souks and Sangria itinerary.

 

Island Cruises is also introducing All Inclusive Cruise and Stay holidays, for those wanting to experience the best of both worlds and not wanting to have to fork out extra money whilst abroad or at sea. The 4T Platja D’Or in Alcudia and Aparthotel Playa Mar in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca, will now be available as part of the Island Escape Summer 13 Cruise and Stay programme.

 

Island Escape offers a 7 night Spirit of the Med cruise from £779 per person, calling at Palma, Propriano, Civitavecchia for Rome, Livorno for Florence/Pisa, St Raphael, Barcelona and then returning to Palma. Prices are based on two adults sharing an inside cabin on an all inclusive basis including flights and transfers departing 7 May 2013 from Bournemouth.

[marylizcat]

So that rumour was true!

[ekco]

I don't like that. There's too much of a drinking culture as it is. I know it's not a popular opinion but when you don't drink much you are always out of the loop on booze cruises.

 

Jan

[Little Nell]

I don't like that. There's too much of a drinking culture as it is. I know it's not a popular opinion but when you don't drink much you are always out of the loop on booze cruises.

 

Jan

 

Couldn't agree more and I can take a guid drink and will on the Majesty in just over 5 weeks time but at no stage will I be the worse for wear, loud or obnoxious. We don't book all inclusive holidays on land and I wouldn't like to go on what may turn out to be a booze cruise and be stuck on a ship with people who drink until they drop. Hope that doesn't sound too snobbish.

[jaceyar]

I so agree, there are so many people who don't leave the ship so they can drink all day. We spoke to some people (and smelt them!) who were clearly totally plastered fairly early in the evening. Also isn't it a bit of a safety issue on board a ship?

All-inclusive is great in that your budget is fairly well calculated but I suppose it does encourage excess boozing. It seems to be a British thing wanting to be pi**ed up every evening - you notice when in Europe, other nationalities don't behave in the same way. I'm not talking about young people - they're a bit daft no matter what nationality they are - it's a rite of passage at a certain age.

I love the Thomson ships for their British-ness but of course there are aspects of behaviour from us Brits that aren't very admirable.

I'm no teetotaler and enjoy a party now and again but don't want my cruise ruined by hangovers!

[ekco]

Thank god for that, I thought it was just me.:D:D

 

You can always tell the AI passengers on ship, they're the ones with dozens of different size glasses (empty) on their tables in the middle of the afternoon, lol.:D:D

 

We really don't like AI anymore in hotels, apart from the Club Magic group who cater for Austrians mainly. The guests there don't drink to excess or try and get "their money's worth" but just have a glass of wine with lunch. Very civilized in their attitude to alcohol, we have been in their hotels 4 times and only in Fuerteventura which had a lot of Brits did we see drunkenness in the afternoon. I'm afraid Thomas Cook are barking up the wrong tree with their threat to go completely AI with their holidays. It might just have had it's day, we would rather go up a star rating and go half board and we do like a glass or two but don't like the atmosphere with AI. Sorry to those who do, it's just personal choice.

 

Jan

[kruzseeka]

Thank god for that, I thought it was just me.:D:D

 

No, it's not! ;) Agree with all the sentiments above!

[CRUISIN LINDA]

 

No, it's not! ;) Agree with all the sentiments above!

Well, for reasons that some of you know, so do I!

[happy v]

Thank god for that, I thought it was just me.:D:D

 

No, it's not! ;) Agree with all the sentiments above!

 

My opinion also. We've been very careful about hotels since we were in Cyprus, on half board but some were AI. A man was very upset one morning to be told the bar didn't open till 11 0'clock....he wanted beer with his breakfast :eek:.

[Rebel Rouser]

Not everybody goes over the limit on AI :mad:...it's just easy to manage the Money belt ;) but I do like a drik though and can honestly say I have never been worse for wear in case of feeling rough the next day :p and the back hand of Mrs RR

[Jim The Scot]

Exactly the same as RR on this however do agree with the previous posters that there are some who do go over board(pardon the pun)but I suppose they`ve paid their money.As long as the don`t interfere or spoil mine or others holiday,live and let live.

[Jdun5746]

I'm not one for drinking loads but when i'm on holiday and i've paid my money for AI and I feel I deserve to have a few more than normal ;)

[kruzseeka]

I'm not one for drinking loads but when i'm on holiday and i've paid my money for AI and I feel I deserve to have a few more than normal ;)

 

Oh I agree - we love to get AI free or cheap and enjoy experimenting with different drinks - and having a few more into the bargain. It wouldn't be worth us paying £200 each for it though as we don't drink enough (and I have enough problems with the movement of the ship without adding to it by getting drunk too). But I do think some people take it to extremes which isn't always a pleasant sight and sometimes can become a nuisance for others.

 

Once on the first night a guy was in the front row of the theatre and was clearly plastered singing at the top of his voice, standing up into the bargain swaying away so you couldn't miss him. He was obviously excited and in high spirits and had started on his AI as if it would run out the next day. He had to be restrained by his companion from jumping onto the stage. He was particularly animated when the show girls came on in skimpy costumes - leering and drooling are the words which come to mind (a rather nauseating sight to be honest). It was quite uncomfortable to watch and spoiled the show for anyone nearby. That isn't too common but when people become loud and have no consideration for others it's not something to be encouraged imo.

 

Unfortunately there are always a few who spoil it for the majority who enjoy their AI but adopt a sensible approach - and this gives the concept of AI a bad name. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people who deride Thomson and make very disparaging remarks about the clientele do so on the basis of knowing AI is available and assuming everyone on board is a binge drinker! Those of us who travel with Thomson know this to be far from the truth but people's perceptions often have no basis in first-hand experience. And as such I think this is an association Thomson are stuck with.

[Jdun5746]

Oh I agree - we love to get AI free or cheap and enjoy experimenting with different drinks - and having a few more into the bargain. It wouldn't be worth us paying £200 each for it though as we don't drink enough (and I have enough problems with the movement of the ship without adding to it by getting drunk too). But I do think some people take it to extremes which isn't always a pleasant sight and sometimes can become a nuisance for others.

 

Once on the first night a guy was in the front row of the theatre and was clearly plastered singing at the top of his voice, standing up into the bargain swaying away so you couldn't miss him. He was obviously excited and in high spirits and had started on his AI as if it would run out the next day. He had to be restrained by his companion from jumping onto the stage. He was particularly animated when the show girls came on in skimpy costumes - leering and drooling are the words which come to mind (a rather nauseating sight to be honest). It was quite uncomfortable to watch and spoiled the show for anyone nearby. That isn't too common but when people become loud and have no consideration for others it's not something to be encouraged imo.

 

Unfortunately there are always a few who spoil it for the majority who enjoy their AI but adopt a sensible approach - and this gives the concept of AI a bad name. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people who deride Thomson and make very disparaging remarks about the clientele do so on the basis of knowing AI is available and assuming everyone on board is a binge drinker! Those of us who travel with Thomson know this to be far from the truth but people's perceptions often have no basis in first-hand experience. And as such I think this is an association Thomson are stuck with.

 

That isn't what you want to see web your on a ship and I totally agree that it shouldn't be taken to such an extreme. I feel sorry for his partner who no doubt would have been totally embarrassed by his behavior.

[Jakanne1]

Oh I agree - we love to get AI free or cheap and enjoy experimenting with different drinks - and having a few more into the bargain. It wouldn't be worth us paying £200 each for it though as we don't drink enough (and I have enough problems with the movement of the ship without adding to it by getting drunk too). But I do think some people take it to extremes which isn't always a pleasant sight and sometimes can become a nuisance for others.

 

Once on the first night a guy was in the front row of the theatre and was clearly plastered singing at the top of his voice, standing up into the bargain swaying away so you couldn't miss him. He was obviously excited and in high spirits and had started on his AI as if it would run out the next day. He had to be restrained by his companion from jumping onto the stage. He was particularly animated when the show girls came on in skimpy costumes -leering and drooling are the words which come to mind (a rather nauseating sight to

be honest). It was quite uncomfortable to watch and spoiled the show for anyone nearby. That isn't too common but when people become loud and have no consideration for others it's not something to be encouraged imo.

 

Unfortunately there are always a few who spoil it for the majority who enjoy their AI but adopt a sensible approach - and this gives the concept of AI a bad name. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people who deride Thomson and make very disparaging remarks about the clientele do so on the basis of

knowing AI is available and assuming everyone on board is a binge drinker! Those of us who travel with Thomson know this to be far from the truth but

people's perceptions often have no basis in first-hand experience. And as such

I think this is an association Thomson are stuck with.

 

 

What about ship security personnel? If this was to happen in a good hotel I would expect that the "drunk" would be dealt with swiftly and calmly and threatened with withdrawl of his/her AI.

 

Just last year one angry, drunk young man started flicking lighted matches across the floor in the 5T hotel reception. Security removed him quickly and shortly after we observed him leaving the hotel with his suitcase. It was a quite small lady manager who escorted him out and she was overheard to say "I am not having that happen in my hotel"

 

Bring back the plank?:D

[Rebel Rouser]

Oh I agree - we love to get AI free or cheap and enjoy experimenting with different drinks - and having a few more into the bargain. and I have enough problems with the movement of the ship without adding to it by getting drunk too

 

 

The more you drink the straighter you walk :D

[Sailaway487]

I do agree with many here about the free AI. Although I do love to get the AI free or at a discounted price (usually its an encouragement that makes me book) I do think that having a ship exclusively AI may make some exploit it a bit too much.

[gillo]

Please don't tar everyone with the same brush. My husband and i enjoy A/I.

I don't think we have ever been drunk, or showed ourselves up.

We just like the ease of not having to put our hand in our pocket in the evening.

 

Happy cruising to you all.:mad:

 

Gill

[Rebel Rouser]

Gillo...don't worry only the secret alcoholics complain :p;)

[kruzseeka]

Please don't tar everyone with the same brush. My husband and i enjoy A/I.

I don't think we have ever been drunk, or showed ourselves up.

We just like the ease of not having to put our hand in our pocket in the evening.

 

Happy cruising to you all.:mad:

 

Gill

 

 

I'm sure no one has that intention - I certainly haven't and in reading all the posts, I think everyone has said, it's only when it's taken to excess that it becomes a problem and as you yourself have indicated, you've never been in that situation. I'm as happy as the next to have AI and like you enjoy the freedom of not having to think about costs.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruising too. :) :) (not :mad: !)

[Little Nell]

Please don't tar everyone with the same brush. My husband and i enjoy A/I.

I don't think we have ever been drunk, or showed ourselves up.

We just like the ease of not having to put our hand in our pocket in the evening.

 

Happy cruising to you all.:mad:

 

Gill

 

Gill, we are the same. We've always booked early and got the AI thrown in and we enjoy it very much but I would be wary of booking an AI ship as you will always get people who abuse it and will book it simply because it is AI. I can see where Thomson are coming from by branching out in different directions with this and the Platinum brand. AI is the icing on the cake for us, not the reason why we cruise.

[ekco]

I'm sure no one has that intention - I certainly haven't and in reading all the posts, I think everyone has said, it's only when it's taken to excess that it becomes a problem and as you yourself have indicated, you've never been in that situation. I'm as happy as the next to have AI and like you enjoy the freedom of not having to think about costs.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruising too. :) :) (not :mad: !)

 

I agree with that. No one was tarring anybody but just observing that a completely AI ship would not be to everybody's taste. At the moment there is a good mixture of different types of people onboard but it could deter a lot of people, including me, if it was all AI.:):)

 

Jan

[Sailaway487]

I'm sure no one has that intention - I certainly haven't and in reading all the posts, I think everyone has said, it's only when it's taken to excess that it becomes a problem and as you yourself have indicated, you've never been in that situation. I'm as happy as the next to have AI and like you enjoy the freedom of not having to think about costs.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruising too. :) :) (not :mad: !)

 

I agree with you kruzseeka. I like to have the AI as then you know how much you drinks are going to cost, and also not worrying about how much the bar bill will come to at the end of the cruise. It is just that if a whole ship was AI, it is the worry that the small minority might take advantage of this. There's more chance of this happening too if everyone has the AI rather than a certain number of people. More of those on AI, more chance that there will be a small minority that will exploit it. :)

[gingernick]

Hi, just back from my 1st cruise aboard the Island Escape where we were given the drinks package as we booked early. Never saw anyone worse for wear. I know not everybody was AI but the drinks prices are very reasonable so I don't think cost stops people from going overboard :D.

I think people who would abuse AI don't cruise or maybe we were fortunate with our cruise.

 

Also been on AI in hotels since my children have grown up (now 16 & 14) and not seen it abused there either.

[Jakanne1]

I agree. Out of the last 6 AI hotel holidays I have had, I have only observed 2 people who were obviously drunk and making idiots of themselves. They were in the same group and we put it down to being stuck inside the hotel due to 3 solid days of torrential rain:roll eyes As well as alcohol being served in the bars there were 4 bottles of spirits and beer provided free in each room so there was every opportunity for people to abuse the AI:D. I met a number of people who did not drink much alcohol but enjoyed the non alcoholic drinks especially during the day. When alcohol is available "free" 24 hours a day there is no reason to binge.

 

Yet go to many British local towns on a Saturday night and people can be seen staggering about drunk and they would not be on AI.

 

We have paid £99 each for AI for one week and that could be more than we drink (or what I would drink!) because my favourite drinks carry a supplement.:( But I think it is worth it for the convenience and so that we do not have to worry about keeping a check on a bar bill to pay at the end of the cruise.

 

I do think, however, that if anyone does get drunk and begins to upset other people, that 'management' should be available to deal with them promptly.